Blog - Page 194 of 318 - John H Armstrong

The Soloist: My Favorite 2009 Film, So Far

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:20:23-05:00April 28th, 2009|Categories: Film|

The Soloist, starring Robert Downey, Jr. and Jamie Foxx, is my favorite movie in 2009, at least so far. Likely there will be better movies but this one touched me very deeply. The Soloist tells the true story of Nathaniel Ayers (Jamie Foxx), gifted cellist and former Julliard student whose schizophrenia derailed his musical goals. Steve Lopez, a Los Angeles Times columnist, befriended Ayers and eventually told his story, first in his column and then in a book which led to the movie.

Ayers went from Julliard to the sidewalks of Skid Row in L.A. The story is both fascinating and tragic. At the same time it has a beauty to it that gives dignity to the many homeless people we all ignore every single day. (L. A. has more than any city in America.) To say that Jamie Foxx deserves an Academy nomination for best actor, based on this performance, is an understatement. If the judges are fair, and remember […]

Taxation and Politics: Are You Fed Up Yet?

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:20:27-05:00April 27th, 2009|Categories: Politics|

The morning paper sometimes ruins my breakfast. Such was the case a few weeks ago when the Daily Herald ran a front page story with the title: "Five Myths Told By Illinois Politicians." I am not surprised that there are such myths. I am just surprised at how blatant they are and why almost no one in my state cares, or seems to care. Here are the five myths:

1. The Illinois Lottery pays for public education

This line was fed to almost every state in America that has a lottery. (Which states do not have them? I guess there are a few left but I am not sure.) The lottery began in Illinois in 1974 but the money wasn't earmarked for education until 1985! But the law has a huge catch in it. The lottery money does not get added to the budgeted funds. The legislators can spend it elsewhere by taking from the state's education budget […]

Dealing With Criticism

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:20:30-05:00April 26th, 2009|Categories: Unity of the Church|

I learned a long time ago that anyone who entered the Christian ministry would have to deal with criticism. The late Vance Havner once said a minister needs the heart of a saint and the hide of a rhinoceros. I have found that to be true. My problem has been that I do not always handle criticism very well. I think about it too much, focus on the offense unduly, and then beat myself up. Sometime I turn against the critic in my spirit and grow to deeply dislike them. All of these responses, though common, are clearly wrong.

As I have worked through Scripture I have noticed that every man or woman of God whose story is told in any detail was likely criticized. Moses and David, two of the greatest leaders who ever lived, were profoundly criticized. Poor suffering Job was judged and criticized by his friends. (With friends like those who needs enemies?)

But the […]

Criticism: Have We Crossed Over the Line?

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:20:30-05:00April 25th, 2009|Categories: Unity of the Church|

One of the favorite pastimes of modern Americans in general, and many Christians in particular, is judging or criticizing others. We seem to relish the opportunity to find fault, assign blame or just plain criticize others. This is so common in everyday conversation that it is like a plague in the social system of our culture. This may be one reason why I think we handle politics so poorly. I know this is why we handle a lot of theological differences so badly. We believe that we must be right and thus the other person must be wrong. We then reason that we have a right, indeed a responsibility, to discern what is wrong and thus we judge/criticize the person (people) who teach what is wrong.

I think we can safely summarize the biblical teaching regarding criticism in the following way: God's people are to exercise judgment in legal and church matters (cf. Dt. 16:18-20; Lev. 19:15; Ex. 23:6-7). And […]

Focusing on the Church Outside the Walls

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:20:32-05:00April 24th, 2009|Categories: Emergent Church|

Emergent churches often receive considerable attention in the press because they offer an element of surprise to readers who know little or nothing about them. One such church, with the fairly typical emergent type name of Fusion Church, meets in a Chicago suburb about a 45-minute drive from my home. Fusion Church is in Lake Zurich (IL). It was featured in an article in our suburban paper on the Monday following Easter. Because Fusion represents many of the "trends" we find in similar "emergent" churches this story is worthy of some comment and response.

Fusion is a small, non-denominational (though connected to various ministries) congregation that is five-years old. It is a thoroughly orthodox congregation in its beliefs and ethical commitments. Fusion says, about itself:

We are a group of people from all walks of life
attempting to follow Jesus. We recognize following
Jesus is a 24/7 commitment, done in God's power,
with the support of intimate relationships [community].
It has incredible implications on how we […]

An Update on David Stopke

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:20:32-05:00April 23rd, 2009|Categories: Personal|

Thanks to scores of you who have prayed for David Stopke and the Stopke family since I posted their story a few days ago. I have now been to Las Vegas and am back home again in Illinois. David was able to hear me speak to him on Tuesday and heard my prayers for him. His eyes filled with tears as he tried to thank me several times. He could move his head and clearly acknowledged my presence there. It was so moving to spend these moments with him. Other visits did not elicit the same kind of response so I am profoundly grateful I had this first one on Tuesday around 1:00 p.m. local time. I wish I could have been there much longer but I was able to accomplish my pastoral desire to minister to him in this hour of life and death.

Today and tomorrow (April 23-24) I am working with two film producers a film for an ACT 3 video. We hope to produce three different versions: 1) A longer version for a DVD […]

Prayer is Irksome

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:20:32-05:00April 22nd, 2009|Categories: Prayer|

We must be honest about it, prayer is difficult for all of us. No one is immune to this great difficulty. Only immature Christians think otherwise. C. S. Lewis wrote:

Well, let’s now at any rate come clean. Prayer is irksome. An excuse to omit it is never unwelcome. When it is over, this casts a feeling of relief and holiday over the rest of the day. We are reluctant to begin. We are delighted to begin. While we are at prayer, but not whole we are reading a novel or solving a crossword puzzle, any trifle is enough to distract us. And we know that we are not alone in this.

For too many of us prayer is something to check off our “to-do list.” It is a daily duty but not something we truly enjoy doing. But the necessity of prayer is seared into our hearts by words like those of the apostle Paul: “Pray without ceasing” (1 […]

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:20:32-05:00April 21st, 2009|Categories: Baseball|

Baseball is back and spring is in the air, or at least on some days. Chicago has experienced a rather cold spring this year, making me wonder where the impact of Global Warming is in the snow and cold of the last few years. (Please smile, this is not a political statement!)

My hopes often spring eternal when baseball returns but I fear my two favorite teams, the Atlanta Braves in the National League and the Chicago White Sox in the American League, are not going far this year. The Braves have a very full cupboard in the minors and could be on the cusp of another good run soon. (Watch for the 22 year-old pitcher Tommy Hanson when he comes up later this season.) The White Sox have some huge holes in their lineup but could have good starting pitching again. They also have a great closer in Bobby Jenks. But both teams need middle relief, a huge problem in many places it […]

Tragedy Can Strike Anywhere or Anytime

By John Armstrong|2021-07-02T06:20:32-05:00April 20th, 2009|Categories: Personal|

Back in the 1980s several fine men in Lake Havasu, Arizona, got in touch with me after they had begun to listen to sermons of mine on tape. (This was pre-Internet so tapes were made and mailed by my local church, some even going overseas and to many small groups around the country.) These men, and their families, soon became friends. At first they were part of a small group who listened to my sermons on cassette tape for group study. One of these brothers, who drove about three hours to finally meet me in person, was David Stopke. David then drove me back to the Phoenix Airport. We became good friends over time. David would write me and we would also talk more and more on the telephone. Eventually I made the journey to Lake Havasu in 1992 to speak to this small group in person. I can still recall driving across the desert to meet the group for the first time. I especially recall the time I had in David's home with his family one Sunday after we had a […]

A Prayer for Ministers This Lord's Day

By John Armstrong|2009-04-19T05:00:00-05:00April 19th, 2009|Categories: The Christian Minister/Ministry|

Lord God, revealed in the preaching of Jesus

    at the seashore,
    in the city and highway,
    in home and upper room,
    in a synagogue and temple,
    in mountain and wilderness,
    to the sick and despondent,
    to the sinner and outcast,
    to soldier and ruler,
    to alien and pilgrim,
    to rich and poor;

Because you have commanded us

    to preach your Gospel to the nations
    to shout if from the housetops,
    to speak it in the light,
    to bring your peace to all,
    to announce the coming of your kingdom;

We pray you,

use our ministers of the word
[…]