Blog - Page 128 of 318 - John H Armstrong

My Top Five Films for 2010

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:17:57-05:00January 21st, 2011|Categories: Film|

The number of really superb films has declined in recent years. The last year in which there were a significant number of truly great films was probably 2007. But there were some good films this year, even perhaps a few great ones. I have not seen all the biggest films but I have seen all that I want to see and I’m thus prepared to share my Top Five List. (There are a few art house films I have not seen and will when they come out on disc and of course the great foreign films are not included since they are generally only available on disc, at least in my suburban part of Chicago.)

1. The King’s Speech

After the death of his father King George V (Michael Gambon) and the scandalous abdication of King Edward VIII (Guy Pearce), Bertie (the superb Colin Firth), who has suffered from a debilitating speech impediment all his life, is suddenly crowned King George VI of England. With his country on the […]

An Interview on Radio Free Acton

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:17:56-05:00January 21st, 2011|Categories: ACT 3, Missional-Ecumenism|

Acton Institute produces an audio blog called Radio Free Acton. When I was in Grand Rapids in December I spoke to Acton on Tap. After my presentation I was interviewed for this Acton online program. The link above takes you to this audio feature, which has two parts. You will have to listen to the first to get to my interview in the second part but if you are up for it check it out and listen. Acton has a lot of great material and I commend it to you as my readers.

The Bible in 90 Days: A Whole-Church Challenge

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:17:57-05:00January 20th, 2011|Categories: Biblical Theology, Books, Personal, Renewal|

On January 1st I embarked upon a challenge given to the members and friends of the Lutheran Church of the Master in Carol Stream, IL. I signed up to share in, and also lead a small group of, The Bible in 90 Days. You read approximately 12 pages a day in this program. (Zondervan produces an NIV that is nicely laid out for you but you really do not need to buy one at all. Divide 90 into the pages in your own Bible and you have your plan! I am reading the NRSV for myself.) It takes anywhere from 40 minutes to 90 minutes to get through the reading each day, depending on your speed and pace. You read from Genesis right through Revelation at the end of the canon, without any jumping around from here to there at all. Reading the Pentateuch in fifteen days was noticeably “big picture” for me personally. Anita and I discuss the reading most days and this has been fun […]

A Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:17:57-05:00January 19th, 2011|Categories: Unity of the Church|

January 18-25 has been a week of prayer for Christian unity for over a century. This blog will help you understand more about this week and how you can share in this important time for Christians around the globe.

On Delivering Reproof in Love

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:17:57-05:00January 19th, 2011|Categories: Discipleship, Friendship|

For as long as I can remember I have found that few Christians know how to deliver reproof to their brothers and sisters in a way that is effective and humane. We have turned “speaking the truth in love” into a virtual blank check to correct others at any time and in any form we think permissible.

Our reasoning seems simple enough. The Scripture speaks of loving reproof and the wounds of a friend. We then take these kinds of wisdom texts and immerse them in our personality and emotional life. Then we feel free to correct almost at will. Blogs have made this even easier. I tried to refer to something like this about six months ago and it was widely misunderstood.

I receive reproof routinely. I suppose this goes with the territory if you write publicly. The logic seems to be that a writer must be willing to take anything since they posted their comments online. I understand the argument but I simply do not agree with it. If a person is my friend I deal with them accordingly. If they are not then I treat […]

Christians in Dangerous Places: The Call to Die for Christ

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:17:58-05:00January 18th, 2011|Categories: Discipleship|

We in the West do everything within our power to keep ourselves out of harm’s way. We are routinely told the state is always seeking to protect us. In fact, we are ostensibly engaged in two wars to this end. Our leaders know that we are in some danger all the time and they remind us routinely that they are doing everything that they can to protect us. This is one of their roles according to Romans 13.

But I admit I am puzzled by how reactive we are about self-protection. In a class I taught last week we discussed Dietrich Bonhoeffer because I assigned the reading of Life Together, one of his best works. We asked, “What would be our reaction if our local church knew there was a distinct chance that a service might be disrupted by a terror attack or armed opponents?” We agreed that we would probably tell everyone to stay home that week. We would never want the whole church in harm’s way, […]

Religion & Liberty: The Work of Acton Institute

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:17:58-05:00January 17th, 2011|Categories: Economy/Economics, Ideology, Poverty|

About seven years ago I got to know the work of the Acton Institute by attending a conference aptly called: “Toward a Free and Virtue Society.” There were about 30 young adults at this event at a location in the Northeast and hosted by Acton. It was taught by Catholic and Protestant scholars on the subject of religion, economics and culture. I was allowed to sit outside the circle and listen to the teaching and interaction and then share fellowship with the scholars and students over meals and breaks. It was a wonderful firsthand encounter with a religious think tank that I have come to regard with high regard.

I encourage you to check out the Acton University event as well. This year it takes place June 14-17 in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan. I will be teaching a seminar on “Protestant Social Ethics.” The speakers, fellowship, resources and event are all superb. I have attended twice before as a participant. I heartily encourage every […]

A Conference on Faith & Sexuality

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:17:59-05:00January 16th, 2011|Categories: Culture, Current Affairs, Homosexuality|

Yesterday I attended a local conference on faith & sexuality hosted by Dr. Tracy S. Malone, senior pastor of Gary United Methodist Church in Wheaton. Dr. Malone, and her congregation, invited four panelists to share in a civil, respectful and grace-filled conversation. Though the purpose of the event was to discuss sexuality more broadly the primary thrust, as you might guess, turned out to be a discussion on homosexuality. I am profoundly interested in the topic and believe all church leaders should be. I just told a doctoral class I taught last week in Ft. Lauderdale (Knox Theological Seminary) that this is the “greatest struggle” in the church in America in the first half of the twenty-first century. For most mainline churches this struggle is being resolved by embracing marriage between homosexuals, both in the church and the clergy. For most conservative churches the struggle is being resolved by embracing the language and responses of another era identified more directly with the power and language of American Christendom. The divide is growing and this debate has become a war in many cases. Friendships are being destroyed […]

Egypt's Muslims Stand By Coptic Christians at a Mass

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:17:59-05:00January 15th, 2011|Categories: Islam, Love|

I wrote a post on January 7 about Muhammad and Muslims. I think it is important for us to realize that what we are fed by the media, especially the more conservative TV media and the numerous talkers on radio, is often imbalanced. It is definitely not gospel. We ought to see it for what it really is, opinion and often opinion of a militant sort.

Here is a wonderful story that could help us build bridges of peace. Not all Muslims are committed to violence and not all Muslims read the Koran in the way the radicals read it. To suggest otherwise is slanderous and dangerous. My central point is this: If Jesus calls us to be peacemakers should we not actually be known as real peacemakers in how we respond to the modern world? Check out this story you are very likely to have missed.

Egypt's Muslims attend Coptic Christmas mass, serving as "human shields" – Ahram Online.

An American Spiritual Awakening?

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:17:59-05:00January 14th, 2011|Categories: Christ/Christology, Renewal|

Since I was twenty years old I have made a study of true revivals. I wrote a book some years ago with the title: True Revival. My life was profoundly altered by the campus revival at Wheaton College in 1970. I have never been the same since those remarkable days of blessing.

My very good friend David Bryant recently sent me some encouraging news about an awakening that is going on right now within the United States. You will not likely read about this great movement of God anywhere else. Why? This awakening is happening in a prison.

Here is David’s description sent to me a few days ago:

As you've heard from me previously, there is a "Christ Awakening" in progress in the East Jersey State Prison, a high security penitentiary. At this point upwards of 200 inmates (out of 2000) are turning out regularly for seasons of strong worship, Bible teaching and discipleship. This movement is shepherded by the full time chaplain, formerly a top exec with GM […]