“We are not called to obey God in order gain what we do not have, but in response to what we already possess. The commands of God do not establish the covenant relationship, they reflect it.” ~ Scott Hafemann
“Religion is I obey, therefore I am accepted; Gospel is I am accepted therefore I obey.” – Tim Keller
“Salvation is a project chartered by grace, not performance characterized by good works.” – Dodson
Singer/songwriter Miranda Dodson is a rising Austin artist. Influenced by the likes of Patty Griffin, her sound boasts strong vocals, steady acoustics, and emotive lyrics. Download or stream songs from her forthcoming EP at Virb or MySpace.
Is the future of our congregations tied to the fate of the family? Professor W. Bradford Wilcox of the University of Virginia is sure that this is so, and his research and analysis is impossible to ignore. In his essay, “As the Family Goes,” published in First Things, Wilcox argues that the future of America’s Christian congregations will “rise and fall with the fortunes of the intact, married family.”
I hesitate to cheer for cultural transformation, though not because I like the world just the way it is. Hardly. I read the paper this morning. I hesitate, though not because I don’t believe that the church impacts the world. It has impacted the world and will continue to do so. I hesitate because I think the goal of transforming our city, our culture, or our world can lead to little good.
