“Dear Oliver” 2 Timothy 1: 1-7 Mother’s Day Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church May 13, 2012 ©Scott Black Johnston A few years ago, Richard Dawkins, prominent zoologist and atheist, wrote a letter to his ten-year-old daughter, Juliet. In the letter, Dawkins uses age-appropriate language and illustrations to steer his daughter toward the truth as he sees [...]
Entries Tagged as 'faith'
Dear Oliver
May 17th, 2012 · 4 Comments · Sermon Bin
Tags:christianity·dawkins·faith·mothers day·reason·science·sermon·tradition
To Tebow or Not to Tebow?
February 2nd, 2012 · 3 Comments · Faith and the City
I don’t have to remind (m)any of my fellow New Yorkers that Super Bowl Sunday is nearly upon us. Even the buses are frosted with Giants’ blue! We are all eager to see if Victor Cuz will get a chance to salsa in the endzone. At church, our youth group is using the day as [...]
Tags:christianity·faith·media·public piety·religion·Souper Bowl·spirituality·sports·Super Bowl·tebow
Raise Up a Child
June 1st, 2011 · 1 Comment · Faith and the City
“How can I give my children a spiritual foundation?” “Where should I take my daughter so that she can learn about her faith tradition?” “What should I do so that my son will develop a solid moral foundation?” I get a lot of questions like these. My first response is usually to say that there [...]
Tags:bedtime·belief·bradley wigger·children·faith·faith in the home·prayer·prayers·robert coles
“I’ve Always Coveted Your Sidewalks…”
September 4th, 2010 · 1 Comment · Faith and the City
That’s what Hani said to us. Who is Hani? Well, Hani Shihada is a chalk artist. If his website is accurate, he may be one of the only remaining chalk artists in the city of New York. About a year ago, I saw Hani’s work on the Upper East Side. People were pausing, looking, snapping [...]
Tags:art·chalk art·evangelism·faith·God·hope·lift up thine eyes·loneliness·norman rockwell·urban church
Reaching Out
June 6th, 2010 · 1 Comment · Faith and the City
I recently stumbled on an interesting conversation surrounding the fresco, “The Creation of Adam.” The standard interpretation of Michelangelo’s masterpiece goes like this: As God reaches out to Adam (instilling him with life); Adam reaches back toward God in faith. Not all art historians agree. When studying the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, some claim [...]
Tags:adam and eve·creation of adam·faith·michelangelo·reaching out·sistine chapel
Creeds
March 19th, 2010 · 1 Comment · Faith and the City
Sometimes powerful acts of faith are going on right under my nose, and I almost miss seeing them in their simple beauty. Last night, Amy and I hosted a class of new members at the manse. They were in our home for a get-to-know-you evening—wine and cheese and good conversation. This crop of new members is [...]