The Veritas Network » Christian Living

Confession: For a Life of holiness and Victory over Sin

Ryan Rindels — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 19:34:42 +0000

“Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed.” –James 5:16 Confession among evangelicals is a biblical practice rarely emphasized and hardly understood. For most, including myself growing up, it was a “Catholic” practice involving a priest as mediator between man and God who granted absolution [...]

SERMON: Grace to You and Peace – Galatians 1:1-10

Tyler Smith — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 22:02:51 +0000

SERMON: Grace and Peace to You - Galatians 1:1-10

I preached this sermon at Ryker's Ridge Baptist Church on the morning of November, 13 2011. In this message, I speak of Paul's gracious calling as an apostle, his gracious welcome to the churches at Galatia, and his gracious warning to those who are believing and teaching a false gospel. Grace is something that characterizes Paul's ministry, and it should ours as well.

I sincerely hope you benefit from this message!

The Growth of Online Television & How Christians Can Maximize Their TV Budget & Time

Greg Gibson — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 15:29:08 +0000

As Christians, we are called to understand culture, engage culture, and create culture. We do a great job of the first two but we do a horrendous job at the final one. Creating culture seems to be what the culture at large does for the rest of us. The most popular of the arts (music, [...]

A Good Word, Compliments of Mr. Richard Baxter

Ryan Rindels — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 04:41:47 +0000

One month into my second semester at Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary, I’ve found my head continually in the books. This is of course, well-known and expected for any M.Div. student. An elective course I’m enrolled in is a class titled classics in Christian Devotion. It has quickly become my favorite. The class involves reading [...]

Marriage: A Minefield Worth Walking In

Tyler Smith — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 17:11:40 +0000

As a relatively new pastor, I have come to realize to a greater degree the pervasiveness of sin–the tight grip it has on the world and even its influence over Christians. Quickly, I am coming to recognize the essentiality of being skilled in biblical counseling. Sin, with all of its evil, continues to give rise [...]

The Toughest Kind of Calling

Whitney Clayton — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 11:03:37 +0000

How many times do you start a project, never looking ahead to discover your end goal, only to find you’ve made a crucial mistake along the way? For you, maybe that doesn’t happen. For me, it happens most times I start a project. I suffer from overeager disorganizationalism. It is a workable condition; it just [...]

Are the Gifts for today?

Whitney Clayton — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 15:15:44 +0000

I wanted to make our readers aware of a fantastic discussion going on between Sam Storms and Michael Patton about the continuation of the gifts. To give you some background — Sam and Michael are good friends; Sam, as I understand it, was actually something of a mentor to Michael as they began in ministry. Today, [...]

Dis-Appointed By Jesus

Josh Headrick — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 22:06:09 +0000

I am frequently haunted by a black dog of despair and anxiety, and it strikes during times of disappointment and trial. When life is going well: Good health, good job, great church, awesome marriage, and nothing is currently annoying me, this black dog of despair seems small and harmless. Like a toy poodle. But when [...]

Physical Health Management: ABC’s “Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition” Should Cause Us to Take Our Health Seriously

Benjamin J. Montoya — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 13:44:44 +0000

One evening while I was spending time with my fiance’s family in their living room, her father turned on the television to ABC. Usually I refrain from watching television but a show came on which instantly fixated my attention: “Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition.” I had seen before, and others had told me about, [...]

What if we actually believed Jesus?

Whitney Clayton — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 14:04:09 +0000

So, many of us believe in Jesus, right? We do not hesitate to use that exact phrasing whenever someone asks are you a Christian, why will you get to go to heaven, or how do you become a Christian. We always use that phrase: believe in Jesus. I want to encourage you to think about [...]

Shallow Small Groups: A Common and Unfortunate Attitude Toward Community

Tyler Smith — Sat, 28 May 2011 15:42:07 +0000

Does this video remind you of your church or small group? I hope not. Unfortunately, though, I think the attitudes described here are all too common in our churches.

The Danger of Predicting the End

Josh Headrick — Sat, 21 May 2011 12:00:04 +0000

Harold Camping has certainly caused a stir. What began as billboard campaign by a small and very peculiar religious group predicting Judgment Day on May 21st has now caught the attention of the nation with both national and local news stations carrying stories about the predicted Rapture as well as the often skeptical and sometimes [...]

Online Dating: Go or No Go?

Tyler Smith — Sat, 07 May 2011 19:46:56 +0000

When some people think of online dating, they think of people like Kip from Napoleon Dynamite (see here). But according to today’s statistics, one out of five relationships begins on the internet. Take a look at John Piper’s video. I would be interested to hear what you think. Is online/internet dating a legitimate option for [...]

Radical Together: A Video Demonstrating Why Reading David Platt’s New Book Is Worthwhile!

Benjamin J. Montoya — Sat, 30 Apr 2011 16:19:46 +0000

Truth Claim 101: YOU Are on the Verge of Wrecking Your Life

Benjamin J. Montoya — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 12:00:00 +0000

You are on the verge of wrecking your life. I know that with certainty. I’m not psychic, and I’m not reading your mind as you read this chapter. I doubt this book will be in print long enough to be read by artificially intelligent androids; so for now, I’m assuming if you can read, I [...]

Porn Again Christian

Greg Gibson — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 19:43:51 +0000

This is a great resource for men and women who struggle with the sin of pornography and lust. Driscoll, like always, is candid and frank about the effects of porn on our lives, and he grounds his discussion in Scripture. This is a must read for any Christian struggling with this issue. Read it HERE [...]

Keeping the Faith — Even in Politics

Michelle Cotton — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 11:51:05 +0000

As a political reporter, I found myself a few days ago in one of those smoky situations straight from a movie scene. To my left, an elected official danced close with a girl half his age, a girl not his wife. To my right, a lobbyist for a huge company stared drunkenly into the eyes [...]

Truth Claim 101: The Christian Life Is Victorious

Ryan Rindels — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 14:44:20 +0000

“Who then can comprehend the riches and the glory of the Christian life? It can do all things and has all things and lacks nothing. It is lord over sin, death and hell, and yet at the same time it serves, ministers to, and benefits all men. But alas in our day this life is unknown throughout the world; it [...]

The Myth of Personal, Private Religion

Whitney Clayton — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 13:49:40 +0000

“I don’t like organized religion; I think my faith is a private issue between me and God.” If you have spoken to more than five people about their faith, you have most likely heard some variation of this statement. If you have heard this statement, you may have been hoodwinked. According to research done by [...]

Thoughts on Ecumenism, or, Lessons from Herbal Essences Hair Products

Michelle Cotton — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 15:38:01 +0000

I remember in 7th grade, I bought a product meant to detangle your hair. It had strange instructions on the back: “To detangle hair, start brushing from ends to roots.” Now, like a normal human being, I always start at the root and brush down to the ends. But for a split second — because [...]

The Secrets Only a Bookcase Can Tell

Whitney Clayton — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 13:12:58 +0000

My wife and I recently moved to accept a position at her home church in Cincinnati. In the process, I just bought my first bookcase. It was so much fun. I am a booklover, and for the past five years of my transient college life, my books have been confined to little cardboard prisons. Now, [...]

A Cleaner, Teacher, Wife, and Mother: Finding My Identity in Christ.

VeritasGuest — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 14:33:08 +0000

By Grace Gibson, Read her other posts HERE. With so much at stake these days I see more and more commercials that have to deal with protection from identity theft. I have experienced identity theft more than once and much more was at stake than my social security number and bank account. And the major [...]

Veritas without a Purpose: Why Shawn Achor’s Happiness Advantage Will Leave People Unhappy

Benjamin J. Montoya — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 13:00:33 +0000

Probably many reading this blog have met college students who are unhappy with their lives. It can often times be seen in the blank stare in their eyes which reveals an emptiness and pointlessness with which they view their lives. They cover this unhappiness with a number of things: drinking, alcoholism, partying, drugs, premarital sex, [...]

Godly and Hot: An Anti-Gnostic Approach to Dating and Marriage

Tyler Smith — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 02:54:50 +0000

Physical attractiveness is one of the most common criteria a single person looks for in the individual he or she is considering marrying. For some, this criterion is just assumed and almost goes without saying. For them, physical attractiveness is the most important criterion, and one’s character and spirituality is not a significant variable in [...]

Just the Right Amount of Religious

Whitney Clayton — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 15:45:05 +0000

Not too long ago I saw a CNN Poll which assessed the public perception of the President. In it, persons were asked about the religious involvement of the President. They had good news for him: the majority thought the President was just the right amount of religious. Not too hot, not too cold, he is [...]

One Man’s Concern, Another Man’s Conviction. By Ali Clayton

VeritasGuest — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 02:21:17 +0000

Ali is the Upper Elementary Director at The Bridge Community Church near Cincinnati, OH. This is her first article at The Veritas Network. ————————————————————– I don’t like hymns. I know what you’re thinking, how can she say that? Hymns are saturated with doctrinal truths, they proclaim the Word of God, and have spoken to the [...]

The Blessedness of Hospitality

Ryan Rindels — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 04:42:07 +0000

Upon receiving a call from a known and respected foreigner–a man fluent in his language, familiar with his people’s culture, and a Christian as well–he had a decision to make: would he take the risk and offer his house to a young man with whom he had no previous contact and whose character remained unknown [...]

Getting Dumped with Grace

Whitney Clayton — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 14:30:31 +0000

I recently had the opportunity to sit next to a high school student as she was trying to gently let her boyfriend know that he was getting the hatchet. It was quite interesting and I would love to share with you a skill that I realized I had forgotten from my years of high school [...]

A New Year and A Brief Warning

Whitney Clayton — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 02:42:59 +0000

As we enter into a new year, I want to discuss a mounting challenge for Christians in the increasingly multicultural, postmodern melting pot of American society. I want to address the problem of a creeping increase of theological liberalism. You see, The Veritas Network endeavors to support and inform young adult Christians, and young adults [...]

Resolved to Read: Your Christian Responsibility to be a Reader

Tyler Smith — Sat, 01 Jan 2011 15:13:09 +0000

There was a time in my life when I absolutely hated reading! I couldn’t stand it, and I was really bad at it. It’s not that I couldn’t read or pronounce the words—because I could—but it was more that I couldn’t (or wouldn’t) force myself to sit down and read a book from cover to [...]

Joy and Sorrow on New Year’s Eve

Tyler Smith — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 19:59:34 +0000

Another year has come and gone. As we look back on the year 2010, surely each of us, if asked, would have things to share concerning our year—things both exciting and dreadfully sad. Perhaps some of you have received your driver’s license, and for the first time you have experienced what it feels like to [...]

A Look at Christian Music & the Messages Behind It

Benjamin J. Montoya — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 13:14:13 +0000

In this article Ben Montoya discusses the concepts of belief and love, and the priorities of both in believing truth. Ben discusses Jason Gray’s song “More Like Falling in Love” and shows why this song (and much Christian music) is void of good theology. Music affects us more than we know. As Christians who love [...]

All I Want for Christmas is Entertainment

Tyler Smith — Thu, 23 Dec 2010 13:45:10 +0000

It’s that time of year again when gobs and gobs of money are spent appeasing and pacifying the wants and wishes of small children (and 40-something-year-old kids) across the globe. On December the 25th millions of men, women, boys, and girls throughout the world will receive their yearly injection of that oh-so intoxicating drug called [...]

So Long, Church: The Growing Attrition Rate Among the Youth Within America’s Church

Tyler Smith — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 14:34:55 +0000

The reality that this video brings to our attention is an alarming one. Shouldn’t it shake us up a bit to hear that two-thirds of the young people who attend church throughout high school are leaving once they move into college? I’d say so. This video maintains that the church has failed the next generation, [...]

Graduation From Seminary: Reflections on God’s Faithfulness

Tyler Smith — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 04:23:24 +0000

Today marks one of the most important milestones in my life. For the past three and a half years I have been working towards earning my Master of Divinity at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and today I graduate! The reality of this seems quite surreal, almost dreamlike to me. Just three and a half [...]

A Christ-Centered Perspective for the Advent Season

Ben Ward — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 18:04:05 +0000

Christmas Season Means: 1. The Egg Trinity – Egg Nog, Egg Nog Latte, and Deviled Eggs 2. Resisting to watch “It’s a Wonderful Life” 82 times with my family. 3. Secretly loving Mariah Carey and N’Sync Christmas albums. 4. Family TIME! 5. And of course, buying Christmas gifts for my loved ones. One major thing [...]

A Cardboard Cry For Help

Tyler Smith — Sat, 04 Dec 2010 05:07:05 +0000

Do you ever cringe at the sight of a homeless man standing alongside the road holding his usual cardboard sign? Do you swap lanes as you approach a traffic light, so that your vehicle won’t have to come to a stop next to him? Do you intentionally and casually glance the other way, hoping not [...]

Questions for College (2): Should I Date Her?

Greg Gibson — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 16:09:14 +0000

This question is more of an enigma then anything. Nonetheless, here are some good questions for young men that love both Jesus and women. 1. Are you attracted to her? This is a no brainer. 2. Does she love Jesus? This should be the first thing that makes or breaks a relationship. The apostle Paul [...]

To Be a Christian is to Be a Giver

Ryan Rindels — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 14:30:49 +0000

To be a Christian is to be a giver. One who loves Jesus should not only live a life characterized by continual and selfless generosity but they will invariably be challenged by the Holy Spirit to give what they have to the Church, their families and those in need. The life of a believer is [...]

The Reason for the Season (An Introduction on Suffering by Roger Duke)

VeritasNet — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 19:18:12 +0000

The following article is the introduction to Roger Duke’s newest book, The Reason for the Season. In this introductory article, Roger discusses the theological implications for suffering and gives some examples from his own life. When this volume of essays was first conceived, it was like most of God’s work done in the lives and [...]

Questions for College: What is Biblical Manhood? (1)

Greg Gibson — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 17:41:34 +0000

In this article Greg Gibson begins his series, Questions for College, by asking the first question, “What is Biblical Manhood?” Greg swings for the shins of most young college guys in this thought-provoking and challenging article. What is biblical manhood and why is it my number one question in the series, Questions for College? I [...]

The Cost of Living: A Reassessment of What it Means to Live

Tyler Smith — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 14:09:16 +0000

How much money do you make each year? How much does your entire family gross per year? Now, ask yourself this question: How much money do you NEED to make each year in order to provide for yours and your family’s necessities? I realize that some may consider the answer to this last question to [...]

A Biblical Hand Grenade – Divorce

Whitney Clayton — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 23:39:21 +0000

In this article Whitney tackles a cultural norm with the truth of the Bible. Divorce has become as mainstream in the church as it is in any other American demographic, but the church is just as confused as those outside the faith about what the Bible really says. I love staying up with current events. I have [...]

“Don’t Answer, Answer”: A Simple Yet Sound Method for the Necessary Apologetic Task of Christians

Benjamin J. Montoya — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 13:58:05 +0000

In this article Ben Montoya encourages Christians begin to develop understanding of contending for the faith once delivered to the saints. Ben explains an apologetic method that he has found particularly useful for engaging skeptics with the truth of the gospel. Introduction ESV Jude 3-4: Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you [...]

Put on Your Big Boy Pants (You Are to Blame): It’s Time to Really Follow Christ

Tyler Smith — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 15:51:34 +0000

This past Tuesday night I had the privilege to sit under the preaching of Darrin Patrick, who came to my church Highview Baptist to speak to our men regarding the subject of masculinity. He began his talk by regretfully reminiscing upon the relationship that he had with his father, especially as it pertained to spiritual [...]

Contending for the Faith: What Does this Look Like for the Church Today?

Greg Gibson — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 03:13:36 +0000

I had the privilege to preach at Grace Church of the Foothills yesterday morning. Preaching the gospel is absolutely the greatest joy that I have found in this life outside of my wife. My sermon was called, “Contending for the Faith: What does this Look Like for the Church Today?” Below is my outline and [...]

The Christian RULES of Engagement

Greg Gibson — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 06:04:14 +0000

In the sequel to The Christian RULES of Dating Greg Gibson tackles some pretty fun issues concerning the engagement process for Christians. Check it out, have fun, and be prepared to laugh, disagree, and get mad and blog about it. The greatest thing about being a contributor for TVN is that I get to write [...]

Full Hearts and Minds: A Call for Passionate and Prepared Ministers of the Gospel

Tyler Smith — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 10:32:40 +0000

Every Christian is called to be a minister of the Gospel, and so every Christian is called to prepare himself to know the Word and be able to communicate it. This call to preparation is especially true for the one who aspires to the office of pastor (1 Tim 3:1, 2; 4:6; 5:17; 2 Tim [...]

Jesus & the Political Scene: Will His Example Lead to Victory?

Ryan Rindels — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 13:57:03 +0000

How far would Jesus get you in your political ambitions? Would heeding his advice help you reach your goal? Would living as he did get you votes these days? Ryan Rindels gives us some great advice and wisdom for thinking through the upcoming midterm elections. We at TVN do not hold to a specific political [...]

Why Para- Must Never Become Anti- : Why Involvement in Parachurch Ministries Can Never Replace Involvement and Membership in a Local, Biblical Church

Benjamin J. Montoya — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 15:00:57 +0000

In this article Ben Montoya discusses an important issue for young college students to understand: Your college ministry on your local campus is NOT the local church. Introduction Before I transferred to Boyce College I attended a non-denominational college on whose campus were several parachurch ministries. When I first started attending such ministries I asked [...]

The Christian RULES of Dating

Greg Gibson — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 15:57:10 +0000

The motives behind this article are 4 sided: 1) Guys have no idea how to be in a ‘dating’ relationship. 2) Girls have no idea how to be in a ‘dating’ relationship. 3) The Christian dating culture can sometimes seem so ridiculous that it’s fun to pick on. 4) It’s just fun. Greg has compiled [...]

An Introduction to Rob Bell, Velvet Elvis, and a Noticeable and Problematic Omission

Benjamin J. Montoya — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 13:30:47 +0000

In his first article with TVN, Ben Montoya begins a series on revealing who Rob Bell is, what he believes, and what he writes about concerning his views on Jesus, the Trinity, and Scripture in his popular book “Velvet Elvis.” Rob Bell’s Velvet Elvis has been widely read, accepted, and taught on college campuses, in [...]

Sex, Love, & Veritas: The Emergence of an Orange Highlighter Lifestyle

Greg Gibson — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 02:33:37 +0000

I want to present you with 3 subjects: Sex, Love, and Truth. Tell me. Can you competently explain to me how you would consistently defend each of these subjects according to what Scripture teaches about them? The common young person today cannot articulate why he believes what he believes. This is not the case for [...]

What Would Jesus Say About Gay Marriage?

Whitney Clayton — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 12:26:25 +0000

I don’t want you to think that I am about to tell you what I think Jesus would think. That would be rather pointless. And stupid. If someone tries to base their opinion on their opinion of someone else’s opinion, leave them to it. What I want to do is examine a situation in which [...]

Abortion’s 3rd and Most Forgotten Victim

Ben Ward — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 11:40:07 +0000

Since 1973 when Roe v. Wade changed the landscape of the country there have been more than 50,000,000 aborted children. Even when the number of murders has decreased recently, there are still 1.3 million per year in the United States. When protests break out and you see people picketing to support life in this country [...]

Self-Love: Don’t Buy Into It

Ryan Rindels — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 01:21:28 +0000

“Believe in yourself,” “When there is doubt, trust the voice that is within,” “You can do anything you put your mind to.” “Do what YOU want to do,” “Don’t let others bring you down, do what YOU feel is right.” “You are the one that determines your own destiny.” Looking back on my years in [...]

God Hi-Jacked My Honeymoon

Ben Ward — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 02:06:29 +0000

I once heard David Platt say that sometimes it is necessary to study truth, meaning to dig in with ferocious teeth to discover what God means in Scripture. At other times our souls need to walk through the garden of God’s fellowship, meaning we need to stimulate our love and affections for the truth we [...]

The Messy Life of the Church

Whitney Clayton — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 15:27:56 +0000

The local church is messy. This is one truth which is nearly undeniable. Just ask the millions of disillusioned young adults who leave the church as soon as they find their freedom on a college campus away from mom and dad. We are a generation of people who grew up in churches which were short [...]

Success, Relationships, and the Local Church: Why We Must Re-Prioritize Our Priorities

Greg Gibson — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 16:58:33 +0000

According to the Christian Post, very few American adults state that faith is a top priority. The article cites both the CIA Factbook and George Barna’s research ministry, the Barna Group, saying that nearly 90 percent of Americans identify themselves with a religion. But only 12 percent of American adults say faith is a top [...]

The Headless Wife – A solution to the problem of weak men and non-submissive women.

Whitney Clayton — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 12:40:21 +0000

This is one of the most popular of the unpopular arguments to enter into. Especially for a man who is writing to other men, as I am now. To the women reading this, you are welcome to read and encouraged to share your thoughts with all of these stupid boys who need the insight of a God honoring woman. [...]

We’re Moving in Together!: A Christian Response to Unmarried Cohabitation

Tyler Smith — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 12:46:19 +0000

According to a poll taken by the U.S. Census Bureau in 2007, “Over 12 million unmarried partners live together in 6,008,007 households.” The same poll indicated that the number of cohabiting unmarried partners increased by 88% between 1990 and 2007.[1] Other sources show that the majority of couples marrying today lived together before tying the knot.[2] Unless one has lived in a hole for the past hundred years, it is not difficult to observe the moral decline that seems to permeate the cultural horizon of America and the world. One thing is for sure: Cohabitating has become the norm for unmarried couples.

Social Media, Narcissism, and the Christian Response

Whitney Clayton — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 13:19:14 +0000

Have you ever heard the story of Dorian Gray? If you have, feel free to skip to the next paragraph; if not, allow me to summarize. Dorian Gray was the only novel written by Oscar Wilde. His story followed the life of a young aristocrat, Dorian, who desired nothing more in life than to retain his youth and beauty. To do so, he met a painter and traded his soul for his beauty. The painter painted a picture that would age and change with the ravages of time, while Dorian himself never changed. Dorian then embarked on a life of debauchery in which he entertained his every whim and desire, and his painting was the only evidence of the destruction of his soul. After twenty years Dorian saw his painting which he normally kept hidden, and he was mortified to see the true state of his soul. He was so distraught that he took a knife and stabbed the painting, but when he stabbed the painting which displayed his corrupted soul, he actually killed himself. The story of Dorian Gray is a remarkable parallel to the use of modern social medias. Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, Online Dating sites, and many other networks like them enable us to create an identity altered in the way we prefer. We have all learned to display that which is most beautiful and desirable about ourselves, while carefully shutting the door on our flaws. Like young Dorian, we can hide and distort those little things that we don't want others to know about. In short, the modern man is capable of reshaping his own image in the way that he desires irrespective of the total truth. I am not trying to make the argument that social networking is wrong. Like all other things, the medium itself is not sinful, it is the way we put them to our use that brings forth the use of the terms right versus wrong. The application of the medium is the topic of my concern.

Kingdom Living: Reflections on Colossians 1:13-14

Greg Gibson — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 23:50:22 +0000

13 He d has delivered us frome the domain of darkness and transferred us to f the kingdom of g his beloved Son, 14 h in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (ESV Online) If you are a believer, I wonder how often the thought crosses your mind that you are actually a Kingdom citizen. The analogy above is clear; we were once alienated [...]

The Garden of Eden, Death by Firing Squad, & Video Games

Greg Gibson — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 20:14:14 +0000

You might be unaware of this but as of right now there are two states out 50 that still allow death row inmates to be executed by firing squad – Utah and Oklahoma. Death by firing squad was actually banned in Utah in 2004, but it is still allowed to be a chosen form of [...]

My Summer Reading List

Greg Gibson — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 18:18:36 +0000

One of my favorite commodities about the summer is the amazing fact that I get to read whatever I want to read. This past semester I read 23 books totaling over 4,800 pages. Of course, most of them were in the genre of biblical and theological studies, excluding a few books on the social aspects [...]

Being Critical About the Movies You Watch

Greg Gibson — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 15:38:55 +0000

Summer is upon us. Well, it is finally upon me and that means I get to read what I want to read, go to the mountains with with my chacos on my feet, do some massive multi-person-multi-tube tubing, and apprehend my time for movie viewing experiences. Most blockbuster hits intentionally come out during the summer, and most [...]

Join the Network

VeritasNet — Mon, 17 May 2010 16:23:45 +0000

One of our main preoccupations at TVN, as stated so obviously in our tag-line, is to challenge our generation to contend for truth, love the church, embrace the family, and love the nations! Yes, we desire to engage postmoderns through reason, logic, and morality but we also want to challenge Christians to hold these 4 [...]

The Future of Preaching (2): David Platt is 1 Example

Greg Gibson — Sun, 09 May 2010 16:18:43 +0000

This post should simply be considered an ‘appendix’ within my last post on ‘The Future of Preaching.’ Here are 2 videos from David Platt that must be watched. May the future of preaching, our preaching, be paralleled to this kind of preaching instead of fading away into the shadows of a hostile postmodern culture.

The Future of Preaching in a Postmodern Culture: Could it Soon be Illegal to Preach the Gospel?

Greg Gibson — Sat, 08 May 2010 05:57:57 +0000

Postmodern is hard to define, and it seems to be characterized within many frameworks. Postmodernism is characterized by relativism and irrationalism. Its counterpart and predecessor, modernism, was engaged in the pursuit of knowing truth, and it could possibly be characterized by the term rationalism. Postmodernism, modernism’s successor, could be characterized by the epistemological question, “How [...]

A Case for Early Marriage (2): Why Young Women Are Desiring to Be Wives & Moms Over Having Careers

Greg Gibson — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 06:34:04 +0000

When I wrote “A Case for Early Marriage: Why Young Men with Solid Chests are Changing the World,” I had no idea that it would receive over 500 hits in 3 days and multiple people would disagree, albeit some-what respectfully, with my conclusion(s): Young men should prepare for and desire marriage at an early age [...]

Christian Liberty in the Church

Ben Ward — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 12:46:06 +0000

During your college years, there are some things that you will be forced to form an opinion on. Alcohol, tobacco, and Christian Liberty are some of these topics. Let’s face it; it’s a big part of college and this world. Depending on where you are at in the U.S., tobacco can be looked on as [...]

Faithful to Jesus & Fruitful in Culture: Can Christians be Both?

Greg Gibson — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 00:20:34 +0000

Faithful to Jesus and fruitful in culture. Can you be both? There has been much discussion lately on the issue of cultural engagement and strict faithfulness to God’s Word. It seems that many people lean either towards an overemphasis on being so ‘like’ the culture in engaging the culture that they mirror the world in [...]

Relationships: Love, Like, and Libido

Whitney Clayton — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 14:10:17 +0000

I love you. I am afraid those three words pulled together may have lost their magic in the ears of the hearer. Primarily, I blame Hollywood, the English language and laziness. Hollywood has cheapened love. What used to be a wonderful feeling, expressed from one person to another through a dating relationship which led to marriage, has now been turned into [...]

Repentance

Ben Ward — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 18:16:35 +0000

While I am in between series, I wanted to post something very practical and very open. I wanted to testify to a problem and battle we all have on a daily basis because of the disease of sin in our hearts: how to repent. I play in a couple of YMCA basketball leagues to remain [...]