There’s a certain delight and trepidation to having one of your books reviewed, especially when those examining it fundamentally disagree with the doctrine in question. The spark of steel and the clang of metal gets the blood flowing. Ishmael might find himself “growing grim about the mouth” and in need of finding open water, I [...]
My Books for Free
Over the past decade, one of my chief pursuits has been to write beautifully written, thought-provoking books. To what degree I have accomplished this remains something of an unanswered question in my mind. Having recently gone back over my earlier volumes, I cannot help but marvel at how awkward and unpolished they were at times. [...]
The Meaning of Limited Atonement: A Defense of the Title of my Book
One of the criticisms that has been leveled at my latest book A Boisterously Reformed Polemic Against Limited Atonement has been my choice of terminology. By daring to say that I have a problem with limited atonement, some take this to mean that I am denying the second head of Dort, or that I am [...]
The Book Is Out!
I’m thrilled to announce that the book is available! As the culmination of years of research and study, this little volume represents an ardent passion I have for the glory and wonder of the atonement made on behalf of humanity. The beauty of God’s astonishing love is a beacon of light in this dark and [...]
A Brief But Passionate Inquiry Into My Disdain For Dante’s Inferno
Various jewels and gems are certainly embedded in the text of Dante’s Inferno. As much as I might begrudgingly admit this, given my overall dislike of the work, it is a fact. The problem is that the task of unearthing said jewels and gems requires Herculean feats of persistence. To my mind, this is owing [...]
Change My Mind: As A Conservative Christian I Should Not Vote For President Trump
When it comes to voting in favor of President Trump, the Christian's rationale often goes something like this: since there is no such thing as a perfect candidate, voters will inevitably have to wrestle with a lesser of two evils scenario. President Trump certainly exhibits failures of character and competency at times, yet for all [...]
McIlwain Shepherding Study: A Resource List
[The following is intended for a shepherding class at McIlwain Presbyterian Church] Books Systematic Theology Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Christian Belief (Link) John Frame (Note: This is available on Audible) A Visual Sweep of Warnings OT: Ezekiel 18:20-26, Deuteronomy 29:18-20, 2 Chronicles 15:1-2, etc, etc. Matthew: 5:27-30; 7:21; 10:21-22, 32-33; 18:6-9, 28-35; 24:9-14, [...]
The Controlling Principle of Hyper-Calvinism and its Various Lesser Shades
The term Hyper-Calvinism has become something of a phantom, eluding definition and substance; as if the creature is essentially extinct, and not clomping about in modern day Reformedom. It is easy to think this way, so long as one pulls the right definitional levers to suite their theological tastes. “Simply preach to all men and [...]
Lesson Outline for 1 Timothy 2:4
[The following is intended for a Sunday School class at McIlwain Presbyterian Church] 1 Timothy 2:1-6 “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in [...]
My Favorite Works of Fiction
With the reading of books there is no end. But with the reading of great books there most certainly is an end... and sometimes it feels like I have long ago reached that end. Search as I might, digging here and there for the next literary treasure, I haven't found a gem in quite some [...]
The KJV Only Controversy: A Reasonable Conclusion
Suppose a person claims that the Nestle-Aland Greek manuscript is best, while another claims the Majority Text is best, while yet another upholds the Textus Receptus. Or maybe something else? Or some peculiar variation among them? For the average Christian who weighs these competing claims and wants to discern the truth of the matter, he [...]
(Sunday School Items) The Case for Utter Hopelessness
The following is intended for a Sunday School class at McIlwain Presbyterian Church. Atheists: A Sampling of the More Popular Players: Sam Harris Richard Dawkins Christopher Hitchens (deceased) Daniel Dennet Bill Nye Lawrence Krauss Peter Singer Alex Rosenberg Steven Pinker Alex O'Connor (Cosmic Skeptic) Frederick Nietzche (deceased) Bertrand Russel (Deceased) ---------- Humanist Manifesto I [...]
Thought of the Day
Theological distinctives are those peculiar articles of doctrine that a particular denomination holds with great conviction but which everyone else can see is patently false. Sinless perfectionism. Exclusive Psalm singing without instruments. The papacy. Limited expiation. Second Blessing theology. And on it goes.
The Down-To-Earth Duty of Radically Normal Hospitality (Lesson Outline)
[The following is a lesson outline for a Sunday School class at McIlwain Presbyterian Church] Why do you think God so highly values hospitality? (Romans 12:13; 1 Timothy 5:10; Hebrews 13:2; 1 Peter 4:9; 1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:8; Luke 14:12-14; Leviticus 19:33-34; Isaiah 58:1-12) What does the incarnation teach us about hospitality? Jesus reaches [...]
Homeschool, Private School, or Public School? (Lesson Outline)
[The following is a lesson outline designed for McIlwain Presbyterian Church) Public School, Private School, or Homeschool? (A sober investigation into the parental duty of Christian education) Part One: Education. What is the Biblical Directive for Christian Parents? Does the Bible call parents to train their children? If so, unto what end? And to what [...]
Can’t We All Just Get Along?
[The following is intended for a Sunday School class at McIlwain Presbyterian Church] Can't We All Just Get Along? (The surprisingly challenging task of forming and maintaining good family relations. Or, more bluntly, why is it so hard for sinful barbarians to love each other?) Part I So what is a family? How to have [...]
Study Questions on the Word of God
[The following is meant for a Life Group at McIlwain Presbyterian Church] The Westminster Confession of Faith The Holy Scripture 1.4: Why do you think the confession stresses that the authority of the Scriptures depends not on any man or church, but wholly upon God? What gives God the right to be ultimately authoritative? [...]
What is the Objective Bar For Determining Whether or Not Your Child is a Brat?
[The following is an outline meant for a Sunday School class] An Argument for Spanking Sons loved by their fathers are disciplined (Hebrews 12:5-7). Discipline at the time is painful rather than pleasant (Hebrews 12:6,11). Discipline is meant for the good of the child. Holiness is the ultimate aim (Hebrews 12:9-10). Spanking is a prescribed [...]
What Does “Sufficient for All” Mean? A Dialogue Between a Moderate and High Calvinist
Moderate Calvinist: How do you understand the first part of the oft quoted phrase, “Christ's death is sufficient for all, but efficient for the elect?” High Calvinist: Christ's sacrifice, by virtue of its worth, is infinitely valuable, capable of forgiving the sins of a thousand worlds. It is in this respect sufficient for all. Moderate [...]
Limited Expiation and the Problem of Gospel Gratitude for the Non-Elect
The following is another (yes, I know... yet another) line of argumentation designed to cause my High Calvinist brethren to fall to the ground in bewilderment, wondering how they could ever believe in limited expiation. This is meant to be read in conjunction with earlier posts on the subject. One, Two, and Three. ------------ It's [...]
Unlimited Expiation and the Universal, Well-Meant Gospel Offer: What Benefit is there for the Non-Elect?
It is sometimes asked by High Calvinists what value or benefit Christ's death has for the non-elect, given that they will certainly never believe. To this I reply: 1) Since the non-elect do not avail themselves of God's gracious offer of forgiveness, in one very real sense the death of Christ does not benefit them. [...]
Limited Expiation and the Universal, Well-Meant Gospel Offer: Illustrating Yet Again the Problem
The following is the third in a series of posts attempting to elucidate, for the sake of my High Calvinist brethren, the inevitable and insurmountable problem that arises when they affirm both limited expiation and a universal, well-meant gospel offer. Over the years I have tried to think how to best present the predicament. How [...]
Sharpen Your Mind and Soften Your Heart: 30 Or So Talks You Ought to Gorge Thy Ears With
Redeem the time. Listen to great lectures. Whether in the shower. Or while commuting. Or working out. Just do it. And grow. Broad Range of Topics. Wonderfully Powerful. Give them your ear. The Triumph of the Gospel in the New Heavens and New Earth, John Piper The Ultimate Essence of Evil, John Piper God [...]
Is The Character of a Civil Leader Crucially Important to His Task?
When it comes to the world of mixed martial arts, you'll hit someone in one of two ways. The first occurs in the gym while sparring. Here the idea is to sharpen each others' skills without intentionally crippling the other. The second happens in the ring. Here the intent is to take your opponent's head [...]
A Long Time Dream Has Come True
Yesterday I received news that my transfer request to Pensacola, Florida was approved. It came in the form of a call from my Postmaster declaring, “You got Pensacola!” Immediately after that conversation, I called my wife and shed tears of joy, crying like a baby in a parking lot off of south 3rd street. That [...]
In Defense Of Film: 60 Or So Movies You Might Want To See
I am sometimes reminded by the comments of Christians that tastes in movies vary wildly. This isn't too surprising- though one might wonder how it could be that some actually enjoy what they do in fact enjoy. Here one need only peruse the myriad of Christian productions of the past decade or two. Most seem [...]
Thought of the Day
Chief among those sins that are today not thought of as especially sinful- given the near ubiquitous assumption that there exists a hidden clause behind every verbalized commitment that it will be most assuredly done if nothing else more interesting or trivially pressing comes along- is unreliability. Or untrustworthiness. Or unfaithfulness. Or whatever other word [...]
God’s Sovereignty and Human Responsibility: A Window Into Deep Mystery
[The following is intended for a Life Group, which is to say that they are questions designed for a small group setting.] God's Sovereignty and Human Responsibility ~A Window into Deep Mystery~ 1) When you think of something like divine sovereignty, what comes to mind? How would you describe it? How pervasive is it? [...]
The Beatific Vision
[Note that the following is a lesson outline for a Life Group at McIlwain Presbyterian Church] The Beatific Vision The Transforming, Joy-Inducing, Infinitely Overwhelming, Frightening, Hope of all Christians ------------------------------------- The Objective Our task is “simple.” Figure out what this passage means. “Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not [...]
A Brief Reflection on the Problem of Evil
[The following post is taken from my book "Satan's Awful Idea" which is available for free as a PDF. See link. It is taken from appendix B.] Appendix B Satan’s Awful Idea and Theodicy If God knew that Lucifer was going to fall, why did He create him? Our answer has been that God did [...]
The Down-To-Earth Duty of Radically Normal Hospitality
Hospitality is the fertile soil in which relationships grow. This is true for friendships both new and unexpected as well as old and established. Show me a gathering of believers where there is warmth and love expressed through hospitality, and I will point and say, “Look there! On that hill! Shining brightly, as if a [...]
Your Catechized Kids Might Be Doomed If…
[I have no idea who to credit this picture to. But I stumbled across it on the web]
The Sound of Doctrine 