Radically Happy

  • Psalm 28 Pit? Stop!

    Questions: Is God silent? Rather, is He ever not silent? When — if ever — will he answer? Why? And why would He answer me, and not the “wicked” — Is that fair? Does it work? “Read More” to pursue answers in the Psalms.

  • Psalm 27 No Fear

    Questions: Whom do we fear? Whom should we fear? Where are we safe? With whom are we safe? When? Why? How? Click “Read More” to pursue answers in the Psalms.

  • Psalm 26 The Vindicator

    Questions: Do we want God to judge us? Should we? On what basis? To what end? Do we walk in integrity? Can we? How can we know for sure? What does it allow us to ask of God? “Read More” to pursue answers in the Psalms.

  • DiaBlogue: My Standard Model of Christianity

    Or — as I suspect Alan is thinking but is too polite to say — “What the Hell Does Ernie Believe?” I concur with Alan’s opinion in The Weight of Justice that “our meta-discussion … seems to be making some progress”, rather than merely going Round and Round. However, while…

  • Psalm 25 Uplifting

    Questions: In what do we trust? In what can we trust? Why? Who do we turn to in our distress? Will He turn to us? “Read More” to pursue answers in the Psalms.

  • Da Vinci Codswallop

    Think the Da Vinci Code reflects real historical research? Think again. My friend Todd Rider, one of the smartest people I know, has written a delightful yet thoroughly documented expose of the real facts behind the Da Vinci Code. [Read more] for a summary of the key points.

  • DiaBlogue: Round and Round

    I think Alan hits the nail on the head when he asks, Where Did We Put Those Goalposts? We do appear to have converged on a reasonable definition of “Round One”, but as he points out, ‘this is not a one round “fight” ‘. Specifically: The overall goal that I…

  • DiaBlogue: Convergent Elocution

    While Alan wonders whether or not I am finally Reaching Escape Velocity by Reviving the Classics, I worry whether the yolk may be on me after reading my friend Seth Godin’s cautionary tale about miscommunication: I realized that every single time I used an analogy, he didn’t “get it.” Instead,…

  • Interlude: 2 Timothy 4(a) End Game

    Today’s blog entry is more of a “practice devotional.” My friend Vince Andrada is running a Boy’s Upward Basketball League hosted by our sister church, Capital Christian Center. While mostly it is just a way to connect with and serve the community — plus have fun! — they do have…

  • DiaBlogue: Reviving the Classics

    While Alan appears concerned that my Fundamentalish Theory incorrectly asserts that he is Fundamentally Mistaken in his beliefs, I actually found his replies quite helpful, which implies that my sally was at least partially successful. 🙂 In particular, it was quite nice to see a direct contrast between my definition…

  • Psalm 24 Global Warding

    Questions: Who’s in charge here? Whose favor should we cultivate? Who gets the glory if we succeed? Which generation do we belong to? Whose face do we seek? Does any of it matter? “Read More” to pursue answers in the Psalms.

  • The Coconut Generation

    My favorite cousin, Vineet Kantayya, just sent me a blurb for a new book about “our” demographic, by Sam George: Understanding the Coconut Generation: Ministry to the Americanized Asian Indians is a multidisciplinary study of the Indian American experience, including a brief historical review, demographical data, psycho-social analysis, anthropological and…

  • DiaBlogue: Fundamentalish Theory

    I am going to take the unusual step of starting with Alan’s reply to my comment on Psi-lent Night?, about why he believed moral standards are “objective, but [not] necessarily universal”: By way of analogy, one might say that Newtonian mechanics are objective, but not universal, since they break down…

  • Our Dwelling Place by Charles Haddon Spurgeon

    Abstract: Today’s devotional from Spurgeon is particularly apt, since we’re leaving in a couple hours to look for a house in San Jose. Of course, Spurgeon is talking about spiritual dwellings, not physical ones. Yet, does not the knowledge of our spiritual homeland impact how we relate to our earthly…

  • Psalm 23 Sheepish

    Questions: Why would a king need a shepherd? Why do we? Do we want to walk in paths of righteousness? Through the valley of death? Even if goodness and mercy are following? Especially if our table is surrounded by enemies? “Read More” to pursue answers in the Psalms.

  • Psalm 22 For-Heaven-Saked

    Questions: Why do we feel forsaken? Whom do we blame? Does God still hear? Will he deliver? Is there anything we can do that makes a difference? Really? “Read More” to pursue answers in the Psalms.

  • Give Thanks by Philip John

    And in the process of our ‘letting go’ you can be sure that He is changing your character and increasing your trust in Him.[Read more] for the full text.GIVE THANKSby Philip John, Chennai, IndiaA well known prayer of thanks goes like this:We thank you for the flowers so sweet;We thank…

  • DiaBlogue: Hell. Why Not?

    First of all, let me apologize for not doing a better job of replying to Alan’s questions. I share his sense of frustration that we’re talking past each other, and agree that my last post probably pushed us even further in the wrong direction. Sorry ’bout that. So, let me…

  • DiaBlogue: Systemic Failure

    I appreciate Alan’s attempt at “Getting Back on Track,” as I do agree we seem to have lost our way. I remain concerned that Alan doesn’t seem able to articulate a coherent ontological position as an alternative to Christianity — as I would consider that essential for a fair comparison…

  • Psalm 21 Mercy Feat

    Questions: What is our heart’s desire? Will God grant it? Do we deserve it? Can we deserve mercy? Is that fair? Is it real? Is it good* “Read More” to pursue answers in the Psalms.