Blog - Page 136 of 318 - John H Armstrong

Hereafter

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:18:14-05:00November 3rd, 2010|Categories: Culture, Death, Film|

Clint Eastwood’s new film, Hereafter, tackles a subject that seems to have been emerging in Eastwood’s body of work for some years. When you listen to Eastwood talk about Hereafter, you can readily see this film is a significant departure from his earlier films, though Gran Torino, one of his best and most iconic films, seems to lead you right to the door of Hereafter in its famous closing scene. Josh Hurst, writing for Christianity Today, says: “Eastwood called this his ‘French’ film, which is only partly true on a literal level—about a third of the movie is set in France, and in the French language—but is a reasonable enough way to summarize its comparatively artsy feel, as well as its structure of three initially unrelated but eventually intersecting stories. He's also called this his ‘chick flick,’ which is, again, an exaggeration, but only a slight one; by Eastwood standards, there's very little violence here, and a larger-than-usual role for romance.” Having seen the movie on opening […]

A Prayer for Election Day

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:18:15-05:00November 2nd, 2010|Categories: Uncategorized|

I confess I have very little to say about the general elections across the country today. I am dispirited by the whole process. I expect the end result to be the same regardless of who has power at the end of this process. This election will not turn the country around as promised by almost every one running for office.

I recently watched a documentary about President Gerald R. Ford, Time and Chance: Gerald R. Ford’s Appointment with History, that underscored my deep dismay. The story of Ford underscored what disturbs my spirit the most deeply. We have no truly great leaders, at least leaders of the kind that care about the nation before the advance of their own careers and personal futures.

As I vote today, and I considered not voting at all for the first time in my life, I will seek to express something of my concern in the way I vote. I will split my ballot in ways that I have not done in […]

Elections and Democracy: WWJD?

By John Armstrong|2010-11-01T13:00:00-05:00November 1st, 2010|Categories: Politics|

When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.

A wise and frugal government, which shall leave men free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned – this is the sum of good government.

Dependence begets subservience and venality, suffocates the germ of virtue, and prepares fit tools for the designs of ambition.

Every government degenerates when trusted to the rulers of the people alone. The people themselves are its only safe depositories.

I own that I am not a friend to a very energetic government. It is always oppressive.

I would rather be exposed to the inconveniences attending too much liberty than those attending too small a degree of it.

It is incumbent on every generation to pay its own debts as it goes. A principle which if acted on would save one-half the wars of the world.

My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government.

Sometimes it is said that man cannot be trusted with the government of himself. Can […]

Is There Only One Church?

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:18:15-05:00November 1st, 2010|Categories: Missional-Ecumenism, The Church|

This question has troubled Christians, East and West, for a thousand years or more. In fact, if history is read without undue bias it has quite frankly troubled the church since the first century and beyond. There are several ways to come at it.

First, you can argue that there can only be one “visible” communion (with its beliefs, practices, leadership, sacraments, etc.) that is the true church. Both the Roman Catholic and Orthodox Church arrive at something like this position through a series of well-argued points and conclude that they are in the one “true” church. The Orthodox actually do not speak about “true” as opposed to false so much as they say they know where the “church is but not necessarily where it is not.” Either way, both these great church bodies believe they are the continuous, one, catholic and true Christian church. If I personally believed this then I would begin the conversion process today. Obviously, to the disappointment of some good friends on both sides, I am not in the process of converting. I have been asked, “Have you ever considered converting?” The […]

A Catholic Insight Into the Reformation’s Central Truth

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:18:15-05:00October 31st, 2010|Categories: Books, Church History, Theology, Unity of the Church|

Today, as some of you know, is not only Halloween, and All-Saints Eve, but it is Reformation Day. There was a time when this event was celebrated in many Protestant churches. I miss those celebrations. I do not miss the triumphal attitudes or the pride that often went with the celebration but I miss the powerful reminders that something very important did happen in the 16th century and it really does still matter.

Some argue that nothing that ever comes from Rome, or from a Roman Catholic writer, can ever understand the central point of the Reformation. (It intrigues me that such people are “sure” they do understand the central point but then their lives often deny it!) I strongly differ with this polemical perspective. In fact, I believe the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification has gone a long way to show us all how close the respective communions of Lutheranism and Catholicism have actually come in nearly 500 years. A myriad of conservative naysayers, found on both sides, are skeptical about all this talk about justification, believing we cannot agree no matter what […]

Our Three Idols: Power and Pride, Popularity and Success, Wealth and Greed

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:18:15-05:00October 30th, 2010|Categories: Evangelism, Missional-Ecumenism, Renewal, The Church, Unity of the Church|

Cape Town 2010 Congress Video

Chris Wright, International Director of Langham Partnership International, which was begun by John R. W. Stott, challenges the people of God to confront the idols of power and pride, popularity and success, and wealth and greed. He called the Church to repentance and simplicity in this address given in Cape Town on Sunday, October 24. If you watch this message, which is 23 minutes long, make sure you watch the last two minutes. In short, this is my burden and the vision of ACT 3 in a nutshell. The link to see and hear this powerful sermon is: http://conversation.lausanne.org/en/conversations/detail/11556

Changing Education Paradigms

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:18:15-05:00October 29th, 2010|Categories: Culture, Economy/Economics, Education, Postmodernity|

For over 250 years the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA) has been a cradle of enlightenment thinking and a force for social progress. Their approach is multi-disciplinary, politically independent and combines cutting edge research and policy development with practical action.

I discovered this particular web-based learning resource a few days ago, via a friend’s link to it on his facebook page. Of course I do not agree with everything in this presentation, who would? What fun is it if you simply agree with everything you see and hear? If I already know something and agree with it then the sole reason for reading it will very often be to buttress my present view not to think at all. I encourage real thinking so I read and watch things that help me do that and then seek to make every thought captive to Christ.

This cleverly animated program is so relevant to our time. And it is completely apropos to training in discipleship and mission thus I believe it is extremely important for most of you to see it.

[…]

While You Watch the World Series Consider the Lives of Those Who Play

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:18:15-05:00October 28th, 2010|Categories: Baseball|

I just spoke to a friend in the Bay Area who is a huge San Francisco Giants fan. He explained to me why closer Brian Wilson gestures in the unique way that he does when he closes out a game. He is thanking God and praying for his family. Wilson, I was told, was a believer who drifted away and came back. I do not know the Giants players well but my guess is that there are other Christians on this team. Almost every team has several believers and chapel is conducted in every clubhouse every Sunday. I have spoken to several MLB teams over the years in several different places: Chicago, St. Louis and Atlanta. For me, as a lifelong fan of the game, these were great times to meet and talk to baseball stars personally. They were also great times to share the love of Christ.

As you watch the games, if you do, please get to know the amazing player in the outfield for the Texas Rangers by the name of Josh Hamilton. This video tells his remarkable story, one that is widely known […]

Help Determine CNN’s Top Hero for 2010

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:18:15-05:00October 28th, 2010|Categories: Donors and Funding, Leadership, Personal|

I do not normally promote a cause like this, in fact I cannot ever remember doing so on my blog spot, but today I make an exception. Two long time good friends of mine in California, Scott and Kim Reno, have a special relationship with a brother who has been nominated for an award to soon be given by CNN. The man’s name is Harmon Parker. Harmon has been nominated as one of CNN’s top ten Heroes for 2010. Scott wrote the following to me this week telling me about his friend. I share it with you in order to urge you to vote for this deserving brother in Christ.

I’ve known Harmon since 1983 and have been supporting his work in Africa since 1986. He is a man of high integrity with a heart to serve those who are in need of a unique gift he brings to those in the bush of Kenya – BUILDING BRIDGES – Bridges that save thousands of lives and bridges that connect human lives.
Harmon is the founder of Bridging […]

Letters to a Young Calvinist, Part II,

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:18:15-05:00October 27th, 2010|Categories: Books, Reformed Christianity, Spirituality|

James K. A. Smith’s little book, Letters to a Young Calvinist, is a nuanced and relational book. It avoids the sweeping polemical tone of so much modern neo-Calvinism. And it takes the reader into what Western Theological Seminary’s (Reformed Church in America) theologian J. Todd Billings calls “a wider and deeper Reformed tradition.” This is why it is a small book filled with incredible value for both pastors and faithful Christians without formal training in theology at all.

On Smith’s own blog site he writes of his new book:

Now my hope is that it finds its audience: there are all sorts of folks who I hope will read it, but I'm especially hoping it might be received by a younger generation who, like my younger self, were awakened to thoughtful Christianity by a certain stream of Reformed theology. Letters to a Young Calvinist is an invitation to see other streams of the Reformed tradition–to value the complex richness of the Reformed voices across the spectrum.

Sometimes […]