Caring for the Caregiver
Don Odens We stood before family members and friends on the evening of July 24, 1965. My father asked, “Do you take this woman to… Read More »Caring for the Caregiver
In the Nick of Time
Facing Our Mortality
Don Odens My father found it necessary to address end of life issues from time to time but could not bring himself to discuss his… Read More »Facing Our Mortality
A Philosophy of Police Chaplaincy
Roy Beacham Having described in the previous essay how God directed me into police chaplaincy, I would like to follow with a personal philosophy of… Read More »A Philosophy of Police Chaplaincy
Police Chaplaincy: A Testimony of Ministry Opportunity
Roy Beacham One of the doors of ministry that opened for me, in God’s providence, was that of police chaplaincy. Somewhere around the year 2000… Read More »Police Chaplaincy: A Testimony of Ministry Opportunity
Treasures of the Trial
Jon Pratt God brings trials of various kinds into all our lives, and we are not to be surprised by this (1 Pet 4:12). But I admit… Read More »Treasures of the Trial
Race and the Church
Jon Pratt Central Seminary has hosted the MacDonald Lecture Series annually since 1991. The lectures are named in honor of Dr. Charles MacDonald, who served… Read More »Race and the Church
A Good Man, a Good Christian, a Good Fundamentalist
When I was in Bible college, seminary training was considered a luxury—perhaps useful, but not at all necessary for pastoral ministry. Consequently, the idea of… Read More »A Good Man, a Good Christian, a Good Fundamentalist
Why I Spend Time with “Old Men” in Ministry
Jeff Straub Throughout my 35+ years of ministry, I have been privileged to meet a few grand old men—Calebs, if you will—whose strength remained undiminished… Read More »Why I Spend Time with “Old Men” in Ministry
The MacDonald Lectures on Race and the Church
Jeff Straub On Tuesday, February 7, area pastors, students, and other Christians will gather for Central Seminary’s annual Charles R. MacDonald Lectures. The lecture series… Read More »The MacDonald Lectures on Race and the Church
De Trinitate
Over the past year or so I have been asked repeatedly to express an opinion about the current Trinitarian debates. I have hesitated to speak… Read More »De Trinitate
I’m Changing the Way I Teach Eschatology
Good teachers will revise their notes every time they teach the same class. They’re always reading new books, attending seminars, hearing lectures, listening to papers,… Read More »I’m Changing the Way I Teach Eschatology
Dialogue?
[This essay was originally published on August 8, 2008.] Fundamentalists are notorious for their refusal to dialogue with other points of view. To some observers—and… Read More »Dialogue?
Ending the Year, Beginning the Year
As of last Monday, I’ve spent nineteen years as a professor at Central Baptist Theological Seminary. That’s more years than I spent in pastoral ministry… Read More »Ending the Year, Beginning the Year
The Incarnation and Angelic Salvation
The apostle Paul clearly taught that Christ’s incarnation is essential to our salvation. He wrote to the Corinthians, “Since by man came death, by man… Read More »The Incarnation and Angelic Salvation
Hearing the Message
Preaching is hard work. On the one hand, it is a technical exercise, almost a science. A preacher has to handle the Scriptures well. His… Read More »Hearing the Message
A Visit to Winners Chapel
Jeff Straub I recently read an essay in which the author described the scene at a San Salvador Pentecostal church: “Within two minutes it is… Read More »A Visit to Winners Chapel
Justification and the Gospel
First Things, founded in 1990 by the late Richard John Neuhaus, has become the flagship neo-conservative journal of opinion. Its mission has been to argue… Read More »Justification and the Gospel
This Was Jack’s Life
I encountered my first Chick comic at Pine Hill Hunting Camp near Alpena, Michigan. I was a boy, evenings were slow, and somebody had left… Read More »This Was Jack’s Life
Limited Atonement: Evaluating the Argument
I want to discuss Limited Atonement (Definite Atonement, Particular Redemption—I choose to use the traditional terminology). At the moment, I am not concerned with the… Read More »Limited Atonement: Evaluating the Argument
Convictions and Preferences
The evangelical world has come to make much of the distinction between convictions and preferences. For example, evangelical preacher Andy Stanley recently preached a sermon… Read More »Convictions and Preferences