Homeward Bound

The book of Genesis is as raw as they come. We see the whole wheelhouse of man’s depravity exhibited throughout this introductory book: murder, deceit, adultery, incest, envy, pride. All manner of wanton wickedness is laid bare for the modern reader to see. There is also the corresponding judgment on the part of God against those made in his image. There is the expulsion from Eden, there is the worldwide flood, the confusing of the languages, the fire and brimstone upon Sodom and Gomorrah. In this primal setting all pretenses are put aside and the true natures of things are laid bare. God is holy and mankind is lost in the effects of sin and death. While much of the plan of God is still hidden in the dim light of early revelation, we nevertheless see aspects of God’s character that should cause us to wonder at His goodness and grace. There is the promise for redemption after the fall through the seed of the woman, the provision of the ark for Noah and the animals, the calling of Abra...

2020 thus far looks like something out of a dystopian novel. We have been in various stages of quarantine and shutdown due to COVID19 since March. Riots mirroring revolutions of a former era are taking to the streets. The city of Portland looks like Falujah. The government appears to be enjoying flexing muscle to see just how far they can go in the name of public health and safety. All of these are ominous indications of what is to come. Bear in mind we have an election this year as well. As Christians there is always bad news it seems. Prominent figures "de-convert" with frequency. Christians everywhere are being taken up with the latest cultural political movements. A Supreme Court ruling LGBT discrimination from businesses to be unconstitutional looks to be disastrous for churches and schools that wish to remain orthodox. And our nation is still aborting hundreds of unborn children every day in the name of choice.  In light of all this, I am so encouraged. This past Sunday...

I ran across this from Thomas Manton’s sermon on Psalm 119:1. I thought I would share: "But now you must know, there is a twofold keeping of God's testimonies--legal and evangelical. Legal keeping is in a way of perfect and absolute obedience, without the least failing; so none of us can be blessed. Moses will accuse us; there will be failings in the best. But now evangelical keeping--that is, a filial and sincere obedience is accepted, and the imperfections Christ pardoneth. If God's pardon help us not, we are forever miserable. The apostles had many failings; sometimes they manifested a weak faith, sometimes hardness of heart, sometimes passionateness when they met with disrespect, Luke 9; yet Christ returns this general acknowledgment of them when he was pleading with his Father, 'Holy Father, they have kept my word.' When the heart is sincere, God will pass by our failings, James 5:11, 'Ye have heard of the patience of Job.' Ay! and of his impatience ...

It is common today to look at our culture and our world, and despair that things are bad. "Look how far we our nation has fallen," we cry. "Look how feeble and worldly the church has grown." The temptation is the same temptation of the people of God throughout history: the temptation to make what is presented to our immediate senses greater than our God.  We are not so much different from the Israelites in the time of the Exodus. For years I have marveled at the seeming idiocy of the people. What other generation witnessed more incredible acts of God than the plagues and the parting of the red sea? Time and time again they saw with their very eyes the supernatural hand of God. And with all of that in their recent memory, when finally on the door step of the promised land they somehow are filled with despair: "There we saw the giants; and we were like grasshoppers in their sight." How could anyone, after witnessing what that generation witnessed, doubt...

I made another video about what to do when we experience wayward emotions. How are we to keep them in check? I talk about Psalm 42 and 74, and how they are examples of "taking yourself in hand" and pointing yourself to the truth.  We don't have to fake it until we make it, nor do we have to resign ourselves to our all-powerful emotions. We can combat them with truth and force them into proper alignment. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=WfLwN5_-eyg

I found this from C. S. Lewis in Perelandra when the narrating character runs into an angelic-like being: I felt sure that the creature was "good," but I wasn't sure whether I liked goodness so much as I had supposed. This is a very terrible experience. As long as what you are afraid of is something evil, you may still hope that the good may come to your rescue. But suppose you struggle through to the good and find that it is also dreadful? How if food itself turns out to be the very thing you can't eat, and home the very place you can't live, and you r very comforter the person who makes you uncomfortable? . . . Here at last was a bit of that world from beyond the world, which I had always supposed that I loved and desired, breaking through and appearing to my senses: and I didn't like it, I wanted it to go away. We all assume to be well-received by the "goodness" of that "world beyond the world" when we finally make contact. This is d...

Hi everyone, I hope you are all staying safe amidst the craziness out there! The Harrises are doing well. I am working from home, and enjoying the extra time with my kids. While there is a lot of uncertainty, there is also great opportunity in these times to re order some routines and change some habits.  I tried something new yesterday and made a 15 minute video of what gives me hope in this time. All old stuff to those familiar with the blog: The link if you cannot view the video:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7QoWR21qtg&t=5s Be blessed and stay safe!

Here is a short list of what I have been reading and listening to of late: The Ball and the Cross – G. K. Chesterton When I find myself stuck in the morass of modernity I return to Chesterton. This fictional work tells of a hardened atheist confronted by a pious Roman Catholic as he emerges from his childhood bubble. The two clash violently as both swear to either kill the other or die trying in a duel, both identifying as symbolic representatives of their creeds. Society does not agree, and the book follows a comedic pace as the two try to kill each other, get interrupted by the police, run away together, and try once more to kill each other. The book is thus far an indictment, not of the atheist, but of the dull masses who do not consider these eternal dogmas worth dying for. In one exchange, an objector to the violence says, "Well, we won't quarrel about a word." To which the young Catholic responds in a most Chestertonian fashion: "Why on earth no...

I remember being very influenced by Ben Sasse's book The Vanishing American Adult which discusses the phenomenon of "adolescence" as we have come to know it today. Adolescence is a very novel thing, being birthed out of modern affluence and business marketing that recognized this "in between child and adult" demographic had money to spend. I was horrified to learn that we are today extending adolescence into our early 30s, where many young adults (and young men in particular) are choosing to stay with their parents longer and longer. Where previous generations were forced by economic conditions to go out, find a wife, get to work as soon as possible--our wealth and culture has accommodated a more relaxed approach. This is to our detriment, both to individuals and society. We are creating a generation of men who are passive, apathetic, addicted to technology--instead of living in the fullness of what God has called us to as men. So here are five things (in...

My Grandfather passed away this past Thursday. This is my favorite picture of me and him.  In many ways I find it difficult to grieve his passing appropriately. We were separated by thousands of miles. He didn't speak any English and I did not really speak much Finnish beyond the rudimentary basics. I saw him when we would visit, usually about every other year throughout my childhood. That was my family's big vacation: going to Finland, staying on their farm for three weeks. As I think on it, those unique Finnish trips, memories, people--can all be quite easy to compartmentalize as I try to get on with life over here. Yet, those memories and people remain a part of me. Pappa remains a part of me.   Some might wonder how I could have a good relationship with someone who I did not see often and who did not share a language with me. It really was not difficult. If anything it made the interactions more precious, the translations from my mom more treasured. I had t...