Blog - Page 134 of 318 - John H Armstrong

The Iron Bowl

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:18:08-05:00November 26th, 2010|Categories: College Football|

Only big-time college football fans understand rivalry games. People in Ohio and Michigan, at least a lot of them, understand Ohio State vs. Michigan in their annual battle. Texas and Texas A & M fans understand the same. So do those who went to West Point and Annapolis when Army plays Navy.

But no game has more emotion, more lasting joy and bitterness, than Alabama vs. Auburn. In this rivalry the state legislature had to force the schools to play in the 1940s after a long lull in the series because of events surrounding the game that made it difficult to play it without danger to the fans.

This game even has a special name: The Iron Bowl. The reason for this is because the game was annually played in Birmingham, until about twenty years ago, and Birmingham was the iron city. The name stuck even though the game is play home and away now. Today’s crowd, because of Alabama’s stadium addition, will be the largest to ever witness […]

Thanksgiving

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:18:08-05:00November 25th, 2010|Categories: Divine Providence, Personal|

Today millions of Americans celebrate what we call Thanksgiving Day. My friend Steve Brown wrote in his recent Key Life publication that he’s a little bothered by devoting one day to this or that. “It’s as if the point is: You are a dolt and can’t pull this off all the time, but try hard for just one day.” He says this is something like Pastor Appreciation Day or Brotherhood Week. You can love your pastor for one day and then abuse him the rest of the time. (He is being humorous folks, if you do not know Steve.)

Steve Brown relates that when he is going through a season of complaining God reminds him that he is a lot bigger than he ever thought. He says that this Thanksgiving he will be thankful because he knows that Someone who loves us and who is in “large and in charge.” He relates the story of an atheist friend who was so thankful about the birth of a […]

The Sermon on the Mount: Indicative or Imperative?

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:18:08-05:00November 24th, 2010|Categories: Ethics, Spirituality|

One of those oft discussed books which has enough weight about it to remain important twenty years after publication is Resident Aliens, by Stanley Hauerwas and William Willimon. Even if you have read it I encourage you to read it again. It is that kind of book. I do not share the neo-Anabaptist vision of the authors yet a great deal of their appeal still rings true with much of what I have come to understand about culture and the church.

The authors root Christians ethics in the Christian church, not in moral commands for the culture. They argue that ethically speaking when Jesus begins the Sermon on the Mount with the beatitudes something very significant is happening that we all too easily miss. Jesus does not ask us to do anything, rather he gives us a vision of what we are before we are given any instruction about what we should do. This means the indicative comes before the imperative, a common New Testament appeal to […]

A Visit to Grand Rapids: Acton on Tap & Calvin Seminary

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:18:08-05:00November 23rd, 2010|Categories: ACT 3, Missional-Ecumenism|

I will be in West Michigan November 29-December 1. I will speak at several different venues as well as meet with the staff of several organizations. There are two public events. The first, and most accessible to most of our friends, will be Acton on Tap. This meeting takes place Wednesday evening, December 1. There is information available at Acton Institute on this event.

The discussion will begin at 6:30 p.m. but I will arrive for conversation and meeting folks by 6:00 p.m. The place is Derby Station (formerly Graydon's Crossing), 2237 Wealthy St. SE, East Grand Rapids 49506. Check here for directions: www.derbystation.com. There is no need to register and there are no registration fees. Seating is limited so arrive early!

I will share my vision of the unity that is possible for Christians across social, cultural, racial, and denominational lines. When Jesus’ followers seek relational unity through participation in the kingdom of God and the mission of Christ, they demonstrate God’s character to a watching […]

How Are Unity and Mission Related?

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:18:09-05:00November 22nd, 2010|Categories: ACT 3, Missional-Ecumenism, Unity of the Church|

In my book, Your Church Is Too Small, I make a link between unity and mission based upon John 13:34-35; 17:20-23 and 20:21. It is clear that the unity Jesus prayed for in John 17 was intended to lead the world to understand that the Father had sent the Son (17:21). My discovery of this principle was rather simple but totally life-transforming. One does not need a theological education to see it in the text. Our relationships with Christians are meant to model the Father and Son relationship in the incarnation in such a way that the world will see the reality of God’s love.

The New Commandment, given in John 13:34-35, underscores the same point in the clearest words possible. When we love one another Jesus says that “everyone will know that you are my disciples” (13:35). Francis Schaeffer was right when he said this “love” was “the mark” of the Christian. Yet far too few of us really believe this and even fewer of us make it our actual practice. No matter what the situation is you can never go wrong if you […]

The Passing of the Peace

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:18:09-05:00November 21st, 2010|Categories: Liturgy, Sacraments, Unity of the Church|

When I began to understand ancient liturgical practice some years ago one of the more beautiful discoveries was “The Passing of the Peace.” I had never heard the term until I was introduced to the practice in a liturgical context. Like everything else I encounter in the practice of worship I wanted to know what this term really meant and where the practice came from.

First, for those who do not know the term, it is used in many liturgical services after the reading of biblical texts, the sermon and The Lord’s Prayer. It always comes before the Eucharist or communion. The church will be led in prayer as a congregation and various ways of responding and praying are used. Following this the “passing of the peace” generally occurs. The leader says, “The peace of Christ be with you.” The congregation responds, “And also with you.” And then the leader urges the people to share the peace with one another.

Second, the “passing of the peace” occurs just before […]

What Do You Really Sacrifice for the Kingdom?

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:18:09-05:00November 20th, 2010|Categories: Donors and Funding, Money & Stewardship, Wealth|

Self-denial is generally misunderstood by Christians. The common wisdom seems to be that self-denial is denying yourself something that you should not do in the first place. Such is simply not the case. We truly deny ourselves when we refuse to do something that we are free to do but then choose to surrender because of the Spirit’s leading us to give for the sake of Christ’s kingdom. The spiritual irony here is that nothing we ever give up will not be replaced, if not in this life, then clearly in the next. This does not mean that we are all called to make a vow of poverty. The church has never taught such an idea except in cultic contexts. A vow of poverty is a voluntary witness made by a few who are called to witness to the gospel in this unique way.

But all of us, rich and poor, can make free choices to forego legitimate pleasures and activities for the kingdom. This thinking comes to bear particularly on those of us who earn a pretty decent amount of money. The truth is that the […]

Catholic Faith in Chicago

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:18:12-05:00November 19th, 2010|Categories: Roman Catholicism|

Historically one of the most diverse and vibrant Roman Catholic dioceses in America has been Chicago. It was once the largest but I believe that is no longer true. Chicago is known for many things but any consideration of this great city is incomplete without consider the role the Catholic Church has had in the city and its history.

One of the more controversial voices in the modern American Catholic Church is Father Andrew Greeley, author of scores of books, both fiction and non-fiction. Father Greeley is a renowned figure but what is often forgotten is that he is a trained sociologist. In 2008 he fell while getting out of a cab and suffered what the Chicago Tribune called “a near fatal brain injury.” One of Greeley’s passions was to complete a comprehensive study of Catholics in Chicago. His research is intriguing to say the least. Outcry about sex-abuse, disdain for arrogant bishops, disagreement with the church about birth control and abortion rights all exist in Chicago but […]

My Upcoming Ministry in Philadelphia

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:18:12-05:00November 18th, 2010|Categories: ACT 3|

I will be speaking at several different venues on several different days during an upcoming trip to the Philadelphia area. I will speak to a luncheon on Monday, December 13, at Biblical Theological Seminary. This lunch is free but registration is required. You can register by calling 800-235-4021, extension 158. You can also register online at Biblical Seminary. I hope many of my friends in Philadelphia will come and invite others. If you know people in that area encourage them to attend as well.

I will speak several times internal to the seminary. I teach a large class as well as faculty/staff. There will also be an ACT 3 Friends night on Thursday, December 16, at 6:30 p.m. We will enjoy pizza and soda. In order to plan for the crowd accordingly I need to know how many are coming. Please register for this evening via our ACT 3 home page at www.act3online.com.

The Social Network

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:18:12-05:00November 17th, 2010|Categories: Film, Web/Tech|

The critics insist, rightly so I think, that one of the true blockbuster films of 2010 is “The Social Network.” The film, directed by David Fincher, opened in October in the U.S. to strong reviews and fairly large box-office success. It traces the beginning and development of Facebook into the cultural phenomenon that it is today.

Facebook began at Harvard in a university dorm room where student Mark Zuckerberg, and a few friends, imagined and created a new means of communication between students. The rest is the story as they shared their network and began to market it beyond the university environment in which it was created. Mark Zuckerberg is played by the brilliant young actor, Jesse Eisenberg. Eisenberg apparently gets very close to the real person in his portrayal of Zuckerberg. Mark Zuckerberg is ambiguous, if not simply unlikable in the extreme. He destroys everyone who might be called his friend and consistently finds ways to ruin every human relationship he had or might have. Ironically, the […]