Always Reforming

I am a man of few and simple pleasures: my wife's company, a glass of wine, a thought-provoking film, etc.  Among the highest of these pleasures is reading a good book, and, while merely reading a book is enjoyable, finishing it is even better.  There are few things in this life that compare to finishing a good book!  Here are the top four reasons why I love to finish a good book: 1) The sense of fulfillment.   When you close a book for the last time, you feel this strange sense of accomplishment.  I am not the most well-read person I know, but I have read quite a few books in my lifetime, and I still get that feeling every single time I finish a book.  The longer the book, of course, the greater the sense of satisfaction you receive from finishing it.  Short-term goals in life are incredibly powerful, and finishing a book is an easy way to feel like you accomplished something.  Even if the book was mediocre, finishing it can bring a strong sens...

Last week I received (among the litany of junk mail that I normally get) a colorful advertisement inviting me to place the weight of my vote behind Mike DeWine and Jon Husted , Republican candidates for Governor and Lt. Governor, respectively, here in my home state of Ohio.  Now, while I'm a right-leaning independent, this post will not be discussing the merits of any particular candidate or party.  I'd like to explore why we vote the way we do. As I perused the tri-fold flyer, three thoughts went through my head.  Firstly, I thought, "Is it really that time of year again?"  I'm beginning to think it's always that time of year!  Secondly, I couldn't help but to notice that the ad was printed on some incredibly-thick cardstock.  It was a really impressive piece of third-class mail!  The campaign donations must've been flowing in for Mr. DeWine this year. Finally, I was struck by the audacity of the claim on the front of the ad.  The tagline, ca...

John Calvin. That's just one of those names.  If you haven't heard of him, you might be theologically and historically illiterate.  If you have heard of him, you probably love him or hate him.  In my experience there are few people who are dispassionate about him and his teachings.  Those who reject his ideas often label him as a heretic and a murderer, while those who adhere to his teachings recognize him as one of the foremost theologians in the history of the Church, rivaling such minds as Augustine and Aquinas.   I am decidedly in the latter camp, but such reverence does not imply any type of man worship or total adherence to his views.  Honoring men of God does not require implicit faith in their teachings.  As Calvin often feels free to critique the illogical or unbiblical views espoused by Augustine, who was obviously one of his favorite authors and biggest influences, so Calvin's adherents should feel free to critique his teachings...