Applied Theology
When it comes to music, I got stuck in the ‘70’s. In my mind, very little compares favorably to Carole King or James Taylor—or Gordon Lightfoot, America, or Seals and Crofts. My favorite Spotify playlist is called “Dad’s Groovy Music” because since the ‘70’s, I have been groovy—the way a 33LP ought to be. So... Continue Reading →
On a day when cultural crusaders are appreciating Chick-fil-A for the statement made by Dan Cathy in support of traditional marriage, other concerned Americans are heartily bemoaning the implementation of the HHS mandate in Obamacare. Whereas many see the swelling support for Chick-fil-a as a ray of hope for the future of freedom, a few... Continue Reading →
Prefixes are fascinating little pre-words. Kids studying for the National Spelling Bee learn prefixes in order to quickly unlock the meaning of words. The prefix para can help a contestant unlock the meaning of the more than 11,000 English words which employ it. The only problem is that English is notorious for its exceptions. Not... Continue Reading →
Stay tuned. My hiatus has not been in vain. My fresh new site is about to launch. My pledge is to offer you regular updates on persecution around the world and weekly articles to encourage your journey in the narrow way. Thank you so much for keeping in touch. In the meantime, enjoy these 4... Continue Reading →
Presently, a small group of Southern Baptists have stirred a mini-controversy over the issue of Calvinism (just in time for the convention). This group (mostly affiliated with the seminaries in New Orleans and Fort Worth) have undertaken an effort to exclude or diminish the impact of Calvinism from "traditional Baptist soteriology." I have strong opinions... Continue Reading →
Apparently, Ronnie Spriggs, pastor of Hager Hills Freewill Baptist Church in Eastern Kentucky, has Barry Lynn all in an uproar. Lynn told on Spriggs, reporting him to the IRS because Pastor Spriggs doesn't like President Obama's stance on gay marriage. You can read my take on this case over at Project 13:3. There are sure... Continue Reading →
A few days ago, I reluctantly re-entered the gay marriage debate. Believe me, I don’t enjoy this debate. I feel the brunt of all the “hate” language it saddles me with, and I am burdened by the weight of the discrimination label, as though I am in the camp of George Wallace, the Democrat governor... Continue Reading →
There is a growing consensus among the cultural commentariat that gay marriage is inevitable: Given time, a majority of Americans will embrace gay marriage as the norm. This position is not the sole property of liberals. There is no small number of conservatives parroting the same meme (as this post illustrates). The argument rests on... Continue Reading →
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has released its annual report, detailing the 16 countries which are of particular concern because of their stringent opposition to freedom in matters of religion. The countries of particular concern this year are Burma, North Korea, Egypt, Eritrea, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, China, Saudi Arabia, Sudan (North),... Continue Reading →
What! A doctor attempts to pray for his colleagues? Be ready, Christians. Shining your light might cost you.
Imagine bragging that you have a light in your home, but you never turn it on. What would be the good of having a light but never letting it shine? Light is meant to shine. Light, by nature, shines into darkness. Jesus calls Christians “the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14). Just as it is impossible for the sun to remain the sun without shining its light, so, too, it is impossible for a Christian to remain a Christian without shining the light.
Therefore, Christians will be persecuted by those who hate the light (John 3:19-21). We understand the dynamic, even if we are saddened by it. At times it is difficult to 
understand why we enrage people merely by shining a little light into their lives. Take, for example, the case of Dr. David Drew in the UK.
As Christian Concern reports, Dr. Drew had the audacity to…
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UPDATE: Poor Chen Guangchen. His case is reportedly moving along, but the answers are not coming to some serious questions about Chen's future. Will there be retribution for those who helped Chen escape? Will he actually be permitted to leave the country? How is his health? Apparently, the U.S. Embassy has abandoned Chen. It is... Continue Reading →
“Blind unbelief is sure to err…” so penned William Cowper in his final and perhaps most poignant hymn, composed in 1774. Of course, Cowper wrote from a Christian perspective and, though he suffered terribly from depression, he understood that God’s ordering of and teleological purposes for creation would always prove wise and good in the... Continue Reading →
What is it with all this death and suffering in our world? Has science not yet eradicated the inimitable Grim Reaper? In the age of nuclear medicine and MRI’s, we seem to be capable of better identifying the diseases which cause our suffering, but we still can’t seem to eliminate the pains. And as for... Continue Reading →
Tom White has been the face of Voice of the Martyrs for the past two decades. With Tom White as its head, the ministry of Voice of the Martyrs increased exponentially. What will happen next to that ministry is in the Lord's hands (which is the best place for it to be). The tragic details... Continue Reading →
Any pastor worth his salt (as the saying goes) must, at times, identify with the prophet Ezekiel. Ezekiel was more than a preacher to God’s suffering people—he was a vicarious enactment of their plight, having to lay siege against Jerusalem (Chapter 4); eat “unclean” food; pack his bags for exile (Chapter 12), and lose his... Continue Reading →
Gregory C. Cochran 