Book Review: Searching for God Knows What by Donald Miller

Posted by Caleb Coy on

“I am not attacking right theology. I am simply making theology a window rather than a wall.”

I had not read anything by Donald Miller since reading both Blue Like Jazz and it’s companion book, “A Million Miles in a Thousand Years.” Then my brother recommended Searching for God Knows What. I was searching for a good book. Donald Miller was searching for God. Again. In a way, I was reminded of how I seek after God, even when I think I’m not.
Sometimes Donald Miller, founder of Storyline Blog, feels like being a Christian is like trying to be in the circus, and everyone is watching him to make sure he does everything right and doesn’t mess up. In fourteen chapters of deeply personal writing (with titles like “Santa Takes a Leak,” “Why Nudity is the Point,” and “How to Kill your Neighbor”) Miller dares us to see Christianity as something not defined by formula, but by relationship.

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A Poem of Mine is Published in The Inaugural Issue of ‘Brain of Forgetting’

Posted by Caleb Coy on

An Irish legend tells of Cenn Faelad, who lost his ‘brain of forgetting’ when his skull was split open in battle by a blow to the head from a sword. He developed a perfect memory, and wrote everything down.

The new literary journal, Brain of Forgetting, has published their inaugural issue, titled “Stones,” to celebrate the legend.

My poem, “Sapphire Stone,” appears in the inaugural issue.

This may or may not qualify me as an Irish poet.

Either way, I’m excited to share the news.

Steps of Salvation – Concerns

Posted by Caleb Coy on

Peter’s Patter blogs an evaluation of the “Five Steps of Salvation” outline that emerged in Christian Churches during the 1800s. While each of the “steps” are crucial, he writes, such a presentation of the Good News can become spiritually damaging.

Peter Horne's avatarPeter's Patter

The current final version of the Plan of Salvation taught in most Churches of Christ and Christian Churches looks like this:

  1. HEAR – Romans 10:17,
  2. BELIEVE – John 1:11-12, Acts 8:36-37, Romans 10:9
  3. REPENT – Luke 13:3, 5, Acts 2:38, 17:30, 2 Peter 3:9
  4. CONFESS – Matt 10:32-33, Romans 10:9-10; Acts 8:37
  5. Be BAPTIZED – 1 Peter 3:21, Acts 22:16, Romans 6:3-5
  6. (GROW – 2 Peter3:18 and/or ENDURE to theEnd – Mark 13:13)

For more explanation of these steps see this post.

Although these Steps have been taught as Gospel for many years, I have a few concerns with them.  I also have some issues with this approach to Bible study.  However, I DO BELIEVE that each of these “Steps” is crucial to our relationship with God. We cannot have meaningful relationship with God while rejecting any of these commands.  The Bible clearly connects each of these…

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Putting the Elf Shelf Away: A Reflection

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https://www.flickr.com/photos/thegirlsny/8208193899/lightbox/

Despite a number of protests, my wife and I opted to do the Elf on the Shelf this year for our two-and-a-half-year-old. No, the protests weren’t from our child. I meant he protests in various blogs online, blogs that make very good points.
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Part the only of my review of ‘Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies’

Posted by Caleb Coy on

Is this Battle of the 5 Armies or World of Warcraft?

I‘m trying to count the armies. How do they add up to 5? No bother. When a team of elves arrives with a salad bar on wheels, it’s a trap. As always, I’ll tell you when the spoilers come. Continue reading →

“Somebody Up There Likes Me”

Posted by Caleb Coy on

“Somebody up there likes me.” You’ve had a good day. Something happened in your favor. You felt lucky, maybe even blessed gracefully beyond what you deserve. You feel the compulsion to tilt your head to the sky, or even just point, and declare half-heartedly that some divinity in the sky just might be looking down at you with pleasure, and this explains your circumstances. Is that not profane?

If you are a deist, agnostic, or otherwise seeking or non-seeking individual, muttering such a thing is understandable: You’re venturing to make a comment about your possible relationship to whatever divine being created or otherwise is in some control of the universe. To you, it’s just a little joke. But if you are a Christian, you should know better: Continue reading →