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Thoughtfully Christian Reflections?
Monday, April 26th, 2010When people see the main title of my blog, “Mark D. Roberts,” they pretty quickly figure out that this is my name. I admit that it’s not a very catchy title for a blog, but it’s the one I chose when I started blogging in 2003 and so it has become my “brand,” if you […]
Evangelism and Social Justice: Newest Cross Examinations Discussion Posted
Friday, April 16th, 2010The second installment of the Cross Examinations conversation has just been posted at Patheos.com. The latest question is:
“The nature and import of social justice ministry has been attacked and debated frequently in recent weeks. To approach the issue constructively: what exactly IS the proper relationship between evangelistic and social justice ministries?”
Once again, a diverse […]
What’s Better? Anticipation or the Real Thing?
Tuesday, March 9th, 2010I read an opinion piece in USA Today that got me thinking: “We expect too much of our presidents” by William Choslovsky. I’m not so interested in the main point of the column, which is a defense of President Obama on the basis that our expectations for him were unrealistically high. (I do have to […]
Webinar with Donald Miller Has to Be Rescheduled
Tuesday, December 15th, 2009Earlier today I was helping to promote a webinar by author, Donald Miller. This online event, which was scheduled for Thursday, had to be canceled because of a serious illness in Don’s family. I’ll let you know when I hear of the new time for the webinar. In the meanwhile, please pray for Don and […]
Newsbreak: American Idol Gets a Shot in the Arm
Thursday, September 10th, 2009Today the producers of American Idol announced that talk-show-host and comedienne Ellen Degeneres will permanently fill the role of judge, taking the position that had belonged to Paul Abdul.
Now this is news for American Idol fans, several of which live in my family. With the loss of Paula and the addition of Ellen, we lose […]
Sunday Inspiration from The High Calling
Sunday, March 8th, 2009Signposts of Nature
READ Psalm 19:1-14
The heavens proclaim the glory of God.
The skies display his craftsmanship.
Psalm 19:1
I grew up in Southern California. The combination of smog and ambient light from Los Angeles and its suburbs meant that I could see very few stars at night, even on a relatively clear summer evening. Thus I loved […]
National Worship Leader Conference
Friday, July 25th, 2008First, a word of explanation. Many of you have emailed me, asking me to get back to my series on the PCUSA. I will do that. But I should explain that this is my “high season” at Laity Lodge, with several retreats almost back to back. Last week it was J.I. Packer and Terry Hargrave. […]
Sunday Inspiration from The High Calling
Sunday, January 27th, 2008“Walking with God”
READ Genesis 6:1-10
“This is the account of Noah and his family. Noah was a righteous man, the only blameless person living on earth at the time, and he walked in close fellowship with God.”
Genesis 6:9
Genesis 6 reveals the sorry state of humanity because of sin’s pernicious influence. Human beings not only did […]
We Interrupt This Regularly Scheduled Blog . . .
Tuesday, September 4th, 2007. . . for a special announcement.
Tod Bolsinger, my friend, fellow pastor and blogger, is preparing to run the Chicago marathon. Why? A change to get away from San Clemente, California to enjoy the Windy City? Probably not. An effort by an almost middle-aged man to preserve his svelte youthfulness? Perhaps.
But, seriously, Tod and […]
An Very Honest Ending to a Book
Tuesday, June 19th, 2007Recently I read The Velvet Covered Brick: Christian Leadership in an Age of Rebellion. As you may suspect from the subtitle, this book was written in the aftermath of the 60s, when traditional notions of leadership had been tossed aside, often in favor of chaos. The author of this book, Howard E. Butt, Jr., was […]