Husbands/Dads, Do You Shepherd Your Families?

I loved this short article. I would really like to implement this sort of thing at home.


"How I Pastor My Family" by Justin Hyde

So You Want to be Holy?

"Let no man think he makes any progress in holines, who walks not over the neck of his lusts."

--John Owen

The Mortification of Sin

The High Priests Have Spoken--Trade Your Geneva Gown for a Lab Coat

Stephen Hawking has recently declared that, based on his work in physics, God is not necessary to explain the origin of the universe.

“Because there is a law such as gravity,” writes Hawking in his new book, The Grand Design, “the universe can and will create itself from nothing."

Christians have been quick to respond, of course (see The Solas Centre's response here), and I'm sure there will be many more articles to come in the future so I'll keep my response short.

Hawking says that, given gravity, the existence of the universe is inevitable. Now I need his help in completing this sentence:

"Given _______, the existence of gravity is inevitable."

Bono, Bonhoeffer, and Carl

"It would be tragic and a travesty of New Testament church life  if, in spending so much time listening to everybody else out there, pastors ended up with no time on their schedule to listen to the voices of their own people."

--Carl Trueman in "Life Together--or Maybe Not"

I love Carl Trueman. Lately it seems like half the quotes that grab my attention are from him. If you're a pastor, I highly recommend the above-linked article. If you're not . . . read it anyway and forward the link to your pastor!

Life Together: The Classic Exploration of Faith in Community

#651; Those Volatile Menu Options

I currently work at a hospital. A doctor, you ask? No, I'm a receptionist. And being a receptionist I spend a lot of time on the phone. It's startling how accurately Dave Malki captured my "on-the-phone" experience in today's Wondermark. Enjoy!

#651; Those Volatile Menu Options

Good Reading + Raising the Bar for Biblical Studies=the everlasting covenant

I met a lot of cool people in seminary, but one of the coolest was definitely Chris Morgan. We had a lot of fun getting to know him, his wife Michelle, and their kids while we lived in St. Louis. I was thrilled when I found out he started a blog because that meant I could regularly hear from a friend I miss.

As it turns out, Chris's blog--called the everlasting covenant--serves a two-fold purpose. First, it will allow Chris to share his learning with the rest of us, and believe me, Chris is a sharp and careful thinker. There's plenty to share.

Second, it will help Chris and Michelle prepare for their future. All that learning and careful thinking Chris did in seminary lead him to three different opportunities for PhD work in Biblical Studies. That's exciting, but Chris and Michelle are facing some financial hurdles. The blog, along with the rest of Chris's website, will serve as their on-line 'home base' for fundraising.

I know Chris will do excellent work as a Biblical scholar and I want him to be able to take advantage of the opportunities God has given him. We need evangelical voices in Biblical studies, so go to his website, find out more about him, and pray. Pray to see if God wants you to support Chris and Michelle, but most of all just pray that God will buoy the Morgans up during an uncertain time in their lives.

Straightforward Words from a Straightforward Boy

This conversation took place yesterday:

Max: Dad, can I talk to you?

Me: Sure, buddy.

Max: There are three things I know about you, Dad.

Me: Yeah?

Max: Your skin is the same color as mine.

Me: True.

Max: You have blue eyes.

Me: Yes.

Max: And some of your teeth are green.


Suddenly dental hygiene became a higher priority . . .

Gospel Challenge

"Because of this reality of disobedience, the Gospel will always be experienced as a challenge. It will challenge the mind, for it confronts false belief with the truth. It will challenge the will, for it cuts to the core of our insistence on turning away from God and going our own way. It will challenge our heart, for for our hearts are devoted to many masters in place of the one true Lord."

---Jerram Barrs, The Heart of Evangelism, p. 267.

Whither Joy and Slavery?

Welcome to "Wherever I Am," the blog formerly known as "Joy and Slavery," which was formerly known as "The Lazy Logician." Back when I started the first incarnation of this blog I wanted to focus on philosophical issues with occasional forays into every day life topics. I did that for a while, but my interests shifted to theology. In the interest of appropriate signage I changed the blog to "Joy and Slavery," which I took to be a "theologically friendly" title. A friend told me it sounded a bit more like a blog for masochists, but the title hung around until this year.

After graduating from seminary (and failing to get into an MFA program) I realized that I had a problem: my interests are too diverse. I kept waiting for something to hook me and keep me forever, but now I realize it's not going to happen. There is no ONE THING that will be my eternal writing topic.

I like fiction, but I also like essays. I like theology, but I also like philosophy. I like football, indie rock, comic books, serious lit, etc. I suppose most of us are like this, but I needed this blog to be a place where I could feel free to write on any of those topics.

So the name change happened. The title "Wherever I Am" can be taken in a few ways.
First, the "Wherever I Am" could be interpreted as allowing a day-to-day topic shift. I'll write from wherever I happen to "be" mentally that day. There is, however, a sort of back door theological reference some of you may have noticed.

In Exodus 3 the Lord told Moses to that his name was "I AM." The second way to think of the blog's new title is to stick a comma in the middle. "Wherever, I AM." In other words, I don't know where you're taking me, but that's where I want to go, Lord.

And that's the way I want to live life: pursuing the interests that God has given me with his direction serving as the backbone.

So, wherever I am I say, "Wherever, I AM."

Good Eating

Good Eating: A poem about sin.

Sin is a many-toothed mouth;
broad, flat, and iron black.
grinding, crushing, cursed.

Sin is a many-toothed mouth;
wet edges glistening,
broken like glass

Sin is a many toothed mouth;
we gorge tooth to tooth and forget
it is not food if it eats you back.

Still More Applications

I completed a cluster of applications over the Christmas/New Year's holiday season. The candidates are:

Indiana University






















Another Big 10 school not quite in the top tier, but very close. In terms of program quality and funds, Indiana would be tough to turn down. Not that I would turn them down . . . it would just be tough.


UNC-Greensboro

UNC-Greensboro is a good solid program. The funding is good, though not every student gets a stipend as I understand it, and I have heard very good things about the atmosphere cultivated there. It's also much closer to the beach than we have ever lived, so Mary Ann would be pleased with that.

The University of Michigan

Michigan ranks up there with the best of the best in the MFA world. Another tough admit for me, but it doesn't hurt to apply, right?


Washington University in St. Louis
























'Wash U,' as it's known, is one of the best academic schools in the country. The MFA does not rank in the top tier, but is still highly regarded. They get fewer applicants, so that's good for me, and they're more known for poetry than fiction. That also works in my favor. It would also mean a mere cross-town move, so that would be less expensive.

University of Iowa


















The granddaddy of them all. The first Creative Writing MFA. Flannery O'Connor's MFA. The MFA that has the spectacular Marilynne Robinson on staff. I don't reckon I'd shred that acceptance letter if I got it.

Nearly there. Just a few applications left to go. Then it's that horrible waiting game.