Comments on: Peanut Brittle Day . . . and An Evangelical’s Lament http://preachermike.com/2006/12/20/peanut-brittle-day-and-an-evangelicals-lament Sniffing out the work of God in the world... Fri, 21 Nov 2008 18:39:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Used Pool Table Houston http://preachermike.com/2006/12/20/peanut-brittle-day-and-an-evangelicals-lament#comment-70921 Used Pool Table Houston Mon, 04 Feb 2008 01:46:47 +0000 http://www.preachermike.com/2006/12/20/peanut-brittle-day-and-an-evangelicals-lament#comment-70921 <strong>Pool Table Etiquette...</strong> Playing pool in a public pool hall is different from playing pool in the privacy of your home billiard room or playing online pool in front of your PC. When you are playing online pool, for example, you don't have to worry about any house rules or poo... Pool Table Etiquette…

Playing pool in a public pool hall is different from playing pool in the privacy of your home billiard room or playing online pool in front of your PC. When you are playing online pool, for example, you don’t have to worry about any house rules or poo…

]]> By: The Myth of a Christian Nation at PreacherMike http://preachermike.com/2006/12/20/peanut-brittle-day-and-an-evangelicals-lament#comment-65059 The Myth of a Christian Nation at PreacherMike Thu, 31 May 2007 12:48:46 +0000 http://www.preachermike.com/2006/12/20/peanut-brittle-day-and-an-evangelicals-lament#comment-65059 [...] I’d still like to also recommend Balmer’s book. [...] [...] I’d still like to also recommend Balmer’s book. [...]

]]> By: Kent Dickerson http://preachermike.com/2006/12/20/peanut-brittle-day-and-an-evangelicals-lament#comment-35999 Kent Dickerson Tue, 26 Dec 2006 08:10:32 +0000 http://www.preachermike.com/2006/12/20/peanut-brittle-day-and-an-evangelicals-lament#comment-35999 I suspect your dad's peanut brittle and my mom's were pretty much the same being from the same family. She used to make it every christmas as well. I alwalys liked the brittle more than the peanuts. Sometimes the peices around the edge would have less and I always went after those. I never heard of pecan brittle but know I would love it. Maybe I'll buy a candy thermometer and try to make some. I suspect your dad’s peanut brittle and my mom’s were pretty much the same being from the same family. She used to make it every christmas as well. I alwalys liked the brittle more than the peanuts. Sometimes the peices around the edge would have less and I always went after those. I never heard of pecan brittle but know I would love it. Maybe I’ll buy a candy thermometer and try to make some.

]]> By: Adam http://preachermike.com/2006/12/20/peanut-brittle-day-and-an-evangelicals-lament#comment-34654 Adam Thu, 21 Dec 2006 19:36:03 +0000 http://www.preachermike.com/2006/12/20/peanut-brittle-day-and-an-evangelicals-lament#comment-34654 The conservative paranoia politics of much of mainstream evangelicalism has disturbed me for years. As though coercion (force in the form of laws) would bring about a Christian society. This can only come about by individuals accepting the Gospel. But then, it's easier to lobby congress than love your neighbor. As for the Arminian/Calvinism thread in these comments, I'd like to suggest Gareth Reese's commentary on Romans, available through the Central Christian College of the Bible bookstore in Moberly, Missouri. Mrs. Reese will probably take your call and will be glad to help you. If I remember right, the price is a bit hefty, but your Calvinist inclinations will be detonated. As for universalism, See Thomas Talbott's work on the topic. The conservative paranoia politics of much of mainstream evangelicalism has disturbed me for years. As though coercion (force in the form of laws) would bring about a Christian society. This can only come about by individuals accepting the Gospel.

But then, it’s easier to lobby congress than love your neighbor.

As for the Arminian/Calvinism thread in these comments, I’d like to suggest Gareth Reese’s commentary on Romans, available through the Central Christian College of the Bible bookstore in Moberly, Missouri. Mrs. Reese will probably take your call and will be glad to help you. If I remember right, the price is a bit hefty, but your Calvinist inclinations will be detonated.

As for universalism, See Thomas Talbott’s work on the topic.

]]> By: justin http://preachermike.com/2006/12/20/peanut-brittle-day-and-an-evangelicals-lament#comment-34635 justin Thu, 21 Dec 2006 19:00:09 +0000 http://www.preachermike.com/2006/12/20/peanut-brittle-day-and-an-evangelicals-lament#comment-34635 Someone mentioned the verse "not all will enter the kingdom of heaven" in the context of universalism, saying that they don't agree. If you think that Kingdom of Heaven is only a post mortem experience, then I guess you would be correct, but many here (and across the world) realize that the Kingdom of Heaven is almost and not yet. Its among us right now. We are the inbreaking. Some people choose not to be a part of it. And many of them call themselves Christians. They are sitting around waiting for God to smite all the "sinners" when they themselves ignore the message of Jesus. They didn't have sex til marriage and they don't steal kill or do drugs, but they make a habit of neglecting the poor and becoming slaves to consumerism. Hmmm. Someone mentioned the verse “not all will enter the kingdom of heaven” in the context of universalism, saying that they don’t agree.

If you think that Kingdom of Heaven is only a post mortem experience, then I guess you would be correct, but many here (and across the world) realize that the Kingdom of Heaven is almost and not yet. Its among us right now. We are the inbreaking. Some people choose not to be a part of it. And many of them call themselves Christians. They are sitting around waiting for God to smite all the “sinners” when they themselves ignore the message of Jesus. They didn’t have sex til marriage and they don’t steal kill or do drugs, but they make a habit of neglecting the poor and becoming slaves to consumerism. Hmmm.

]]> By: Amy http://preachermike.com/2006/12/20/peanut-brittle-day-and-an-evangelicals-lament#comment-34618 Amy Thu, 21 Dec 2006 16:11:44 +0000 http://www.preachermike.com/2006/12/20/peanut-brittle-day-and-an-evangelicals-lament#comment-34618 Back to the peanut brittle...your mom's (or shall I say dad's) kitchen sounds about as sticky and messy as mine today! Hey, I'll trade them my homemade pecan turtle recipe for the peanut brittle one. I've never made that before! Back to the peanut brittle…your mom’s (or shall I say dad’s) kitchen sounds about as sticky and messy as mine today! Hey, I’ll trade them my homemade pecan turtle recipe for the peanut brittle one. I’ve never made that before!

]]> By: Richard http://preachermike.com/2006/12/20/peanut-brittle-day-and-an-evangelicals-lament#comment-34599 Richard Thu, 21 Dec 2006 13:59:17 +0000 http://www.preachermike.com/2006/12/20/peanut-brittle-day-and-an-evangelicals-lament#comment-34599 Lisa and rojay, Although I appreciate the sentiment, your comments are somewhat ironic given the content of Mike's post on Balmer's book. Lisa and rojay,
Although I appreciate the sentiment, your comments are somewhat ironic given the content of Mike’s post on Balmer’s book.

]]> By: rojay http://preachermike.com/2006/12/20/peanut-brittle-day-and-an-evangelicals-lament#comment-34597 rojay Thu, 21 Dec 2006 13:34:52 +0000 http://www.preachermike.com/2006/12/20/peanut-brittle-day-and-an-evangelicals-lament#comment-34597 Lisa- Amen! Unfortunately the addictive pleasures of mental masturbation are powerfull and seductive. Lisa- Amen! Unfortunately the addictive pleasures of mental masturbation are powerfull and seductive.

]]> By: Lisa http://preachermike.com/2006/12/20/peanut-brittle-day-and-an-evangelicals-lament#comment-34529 Lisa Thu, 21 Dec 2006 03:36:38 +0000 http://www.preachermike.com/2006/12/20/peanut-brittle-day-and-an-evangelicals-lament#comment-34529 Y'all can have all your "isms" and your "ologys" and stick 'em where the sun don't shine. None of them will reach the faith of the greatest theologian I've ever read: the blind man in John 9. "Whether he is a sinner or not, I don't know. One thing I do know. I was blind, but now I see." Y’all can have all your “isms” and your “ologys” and stick ‘em where the sun don’t shine. None of them will reach the faith of the greatest theologian I’ve ever read: the blind man in John 9.

“Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind, but now I see.”

]]> By: Donald http://preachermike.com/2006/12/20/peanut-brittle-day-and-an-evangelicals-lament#comment-34527 Donald Thu, 21 Dec 2006 03:26:55 +0000 http://www.preachermike.com/2006/12/20/peanut-brittle-day-and-an-evangelicals-lament#comment-34527 Ouch, my brain is hurting reading today's posts. Except for the Mike's mom's column--that's got my stomach growling for my brother's peanut brittle. Hurry up January 6th family Christmas! Ouch, my brain is hurting reading today’s posts. Except for the Mike’s mom’s column–that’s got my stomach growling for my brother’s peanut brittle. Hurry up January 6th family Christmas!

]]> By: Alan http://preachermike.com/2006/12/20/peanut-brittle-day-and-an-evangelicals-lament#comment-34514 Alan Thu, 21 Dec 2006 02:20:31 +0000 http://www.preachermike.com/2006/12/20/peanut-brittle-day-and-an-evangelicals-lament#comment-34514 On the election / free will discussion... The age old paradox comes to mind: Can God make a stone so large that He cannot move it? More generally, can God prevent Himself from being able to do something? And why would He want to do that, if he could? There actually might be a reason. I think Richard put it nicely. We tend to look at truths in isolation, sequentially. When we get to the last one in the sequence (whatever sequence we chose), it doesn't fit into our understanding based on how we understood the previous truths. So we take liberties with the last one. Thus we become either Arminians or Calvinists (or Universalists). Note we could add a fourth point to the three Richard listed: Not everyone will enter the Kingdom of Heaven (Matt 7:21-23 suffices for a simple summary.) So the Universalists are in the same boat. All the "truths" are completey, 100% true. Our understanding of them is fallible, and is inherently limited by our human vantage point. We just cannot see the big picture, no matter how hard we try. It is hopeless for us to understand completely. And we would be better off to admit that, and not to spend all our time quarrelling about whose incomplete understanding is better. At least that is my opinion. On the election / free will discussion… The age old paradox comes to mind: Can God make a stone so large that He cannot move it? More generally, can God prevent Himself from being able to do something? And why would He want to do that, if he could? There actually might be a reason.

I think Richard put it nicely. We tend to look at truths in isolation, sequentially. When we get to the last one in the sequence (whatever sequence we chose), it doesn’t fit into our understanding based on how we understood the previous truths. So we take liberties with the last one. Thus we become either Arminians or Calvinists (or Universalists).

Note we could add a fourth point to the three Richard listed: Not everyone will enter the Kingdom of Heaven (Matt 7:21-23 suffices for a simple summary.) So the Universalists are in the same boat.

All the “truths” are completey, 100% true. Our understanding of them is fallible, and is inherently limited by our human vantage point. We just cannot see the big picture, no matter how hard we try. It is hopeless for us to understand completely. And we would be better off to admit that, and not to spend all our time quarrelling about whose incomplete understanding is better. At least that is my opinion.

]]> By: beverly http://preachermike.com/2006/12/20/peanut-brittle-day-and-an-evangelicals-lament#comment-34508 beverly Thu, 21 Dec 2006 02:01:58 +0000 http://www.preachermike.com/2006/12/20/peanut-brittle-day-and-an-evangelicals-lament#comment-34508 Some of my warmest memories were in Montgomery, Alabama "pulling candy" (peanut brittle) with my Grandma! Some of my warmest memories were in Montgomery, Alabama “pulling candy” (peanut brittle) with my Grandma!

]]> By: juditko http://preachermike.com/2006/12/20/peanut-brittle-day-and-an-evangelicals-lament#comment-34505 juditko Thu, 21 Dec 2006 01:24:29 +0000 http://www.preachermike.com/2006/12/20/peanut-brittle-day-and-an-evangelicals-lament#comment-34505 Campolo says: “Randall Balmer knows Evangelicalism inside and out. He writes with the ambivalence of a jilted lover who still cares very much about the movement but who is broken-hearted . . . .” Only Tony Campolo can say that like that! :) Campolo says: “Randall Balmer knows Evangelicalism inside and out. He writes with the ambivalence of a jilted lover who still cares very much about the movement but who is broken-hearted . . . .”

Only Tony Campolo can say that like that! :)

]]> By: Larry James http://preachermike.com/2006/12/20/peanut-brittle-day-and-an-evangelicals-lament#comment-34474 Larry James Wed, 20 Dec 2006 23:18:59 +0000 http://www.preachermike.com/2006/12/20/peanut-brittle-day-and-an-evangelicals-lament#comment-34474 I love your mom! Where do I get some candy???? As to Evangelicals and the rest of us, we'd all be better disciples and kingdom subjects if we could just get over our religion and our focus on being religious. I love your mom! Where do I get some candy????

As to Evangelicals and the rest of us, we’d all be better disciples and kingdom subjects if we could just get over our religion and our focus on being religious.

]]> By: paul http://preachermike.com/2006/12/20/peanut-brittle-day-and-an-evangelicals-lament#comment-34460 paul Wed, 20 Dec 2006 22:43:08 +0000 http://www.preachermike.com/2006/12/20/peanut-brittle-day-and-an-evangelicals-lament#comment-34460 You gotta love family traditions like that! Merry Christmas to all the Copes!!! You gotta love family traditions like that! Merry Christmas to all the Copes!!!

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