a blog by Keelan Cook
The basic American right to privacy. It is a thing, right? Most people do not realize a "right to privacy" is not explicitly stated anywhere in the constitution. However, despite the absence of those words from the document, our country (at least its citizens) clearly believes that all people have a basic right to privacy.…
Things change. We know this to be true. Live long enough, and you see the world around you adjust and evolve. It is a fact of life. Some things appear to always push forward, like technology. While other things seem to move in circles, like fashion. (Enter the teenage girl with her side ponytail and…
If you ever want to feel awkward, try preaching a wedding as a single guy. That will just about do it. A few months ago, I received a call from an old college student of mine. He and his fiancée (also a past student of mine) were getting married and wanted me to officiate the…
Has someone ever asked you the question above, or perhaps you asked it yourself? Fifty years ago, this question was practically taboo in America. However, a lot has changed culturally in that time. Secularism is the new religion, even when people claim Christianity, and as pluralism has won the day in the public square, this…
Have you ever wondered if Paul wanted to be a missionary? Perhaps he came to the conclusion that it would be a fun thing to do, an exciting life to live. If that is the case, the story soon tells us it was not much fun. Paul was jailed and regularly beaten for his “career…
Words matter. So does the way we choose to phrase things, even the little things. Words matter because when you string enough of them together, they are imbued with meaning. All of a sudden, this string of words conveys an idea. It speaks. That is the very purpose of words. Their purpose is the communication…
"It’s damning to drain the lifeblood of Christianity and replace it with Kool-Aid." That is a line from a recent post by Justin Taylor on his blog, Between Two Worlds. This post, called 8 Non-Negotiables for Mobilizing the Local Church for Accomplishing the Great Commission, is actually a recap of a talk given by David…
The Bible is not a book of rules, although many treat it as such. It is also not a book of heroes recounting the dashing deeds and heroic adventures of great men. No, truth be told, the prominent figures usually fail. Certainly, the Bible contains rules and it tells many great stories, yet its purpose…
Today I'm posting another one from the archives. I wrote this one back in 2012. I find it ironically fitting, considering the current state of the presidential race and a lot of the rhetoric floating around in the political arena right now. I hope it makes you think. Americans like their rights. As far…
Continue reading ➞ Guilty until Proven Innocent, but That is Not a Bad Thing
I used to wear a cape. It was when I was little, perhaps five or six (and then there was that one time in high school). Well, it would really be a stretch to call it a cape. In actuality, it was a beach towel fastened around my neck with a clothes pin. I would…
