Monthly Archives: May 2011

Lay Plumbing

By D. G. Hart | Published: May 31, 2011

Since relocating to Michigan I have not only had to think about whether Christians plumb differently from non-Christians. I have also had to think and act plumbingly. First, I had to purchase a toilet auger to unblock a clogged septic line. Then, I had to figure out how to displace a large puddle that had… Read More→

Posted in Wilderness Wanderings | Tagged , , , , | 83 Comments

Oldlife.org 101

By D. G. Hart | Published: May 30, 2011

Regular readers of Oldlife likely don’t need any explanation about the nature of this site but those unfamiliar with the medium or genre of blogging may need some guidance on how to read the posts published here. Genre may sound like a high-faluttin’ word to affix to a blog, suggesting some kind of artifice or… Read More→

Posted in Wilderness Wanderings | Tagged , , , | 19 Comments

Still Here and Disappointed to Be

By D. G. Hart | Published: May 24, 2011

Back when many Americans were worried about the effects of changing from nineteen to twenty in the dates of computers’ operating systems I took some pleasure in observing how such care could turn into hysteria. I do not say this to my credit since it is unbecoming to take delight in the discomfort of others.… Read More→

Posted in Miscellany | Tagged , , , | 19 Comments

Taking Every Cat Captive

By D. G. Hart | Published: May 20, 2011

Partly to help out a friend, and also to acknowledge the pleasant companionship of our two felines, Isabelle and Cordelia, I reprint below a piece from the Spring 2009 issue of the Nicotine Theological Journal that followed the death of my first and my wife’s favorite pet, Skippie. Despite all their charms, our current cat… Read More→

Posted in Wilderness Wanderings | Tagged , , , | 12 Comments

Hate the Sin, Demonize the Sinner?

By D. G. Hart | Published: May 17, 2011

Shameless self-promotion alert: a post I wrote for First Things’ blog “On the Square” about the recent vote within the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. on the ordination of sexually active gays and lesbians prompted me to reflect on a point that I could not include because of space constraints. One of the responses from a joyous… Read More→

Posted in Lordship of Christ | Tagged , , , , , , , | 133 Comments

Putting the Super in Superficial

By D. G. Hart | Published: May 14, 2011

John Fea links to this amusing video. The mocking of small groups aside — and remember that we have pietists to thank for this odd form of Christian piety — I do wonder what would happen to the dynamics of a group like this if you introduced a Presbyterian elder (not to be confused the… Read More→

Posted in Piety with Excitement | Tagged , , | 102 Comments

Turning the Gospel Promise into a Law Threat

By D. G. Hart | Published: May 13, 2011

Speaking of matters missional. . . I am struck by the motivation that missions proponents sometimes use to justify their efforts. Having grown up in a faith mission environment, I have some familiarity with the ploys designed to generate gifts for missions and even cajole youth into full-time Christian service. As a kid even I… Read More→

Posted in Piety with Excitement | Tagged , , , , , , , | 30 Comments

First Marx, Now Keller?

By D. G. Hart | Published: May 11, 2011

The word “manifesto” strikes me as an odd one to attach to the idea of evangelism and missions, but the Missional Manifesto has now entered the parlance of our times, alphabetized several lines below the Communist Manifesto. I myself don’t have the energy to devote to the latest of Keller-sponsored cooperative endeavors – I have… Read More→

Posted in Neo-Protestantism | Tagged , , , , , , , | 31 Comments

Should Regeneration Make Christians Wiser?

By D. G. Hart | Published: May 9, 2011

One week after Mr. Laden’s death, different websites are taking the pulse of readers to see what they think. Two that came my way by way of email were polls conducted by Christianity Today and the History News Network. I have to say that judging the polls simply on the basis of their questions, the… Read More→

Posted in Miscellany | Tagged , , , , | 18 Comments

Pastor 2K to Tim Keller’s Rescue

By D. G. Hart | Published: May 9, 2011

The watchdogs of Redeemer Church in NYC have noted Tim Keller’s response to questions in a public forum about homosexuality and gay marriage. The exchange came at the end of the interview and according to the Bayly’s transcribing powers went like this: Lauren Green (interviewer): As a church, how should we as Christians and how… Read More→

Posted in spirituality of the church | Tagged , , , , , , | 95 Comments