Douglas Wilson to Sam Harris

"Now I know that if you have read this far, it is probably because you are just 'indulging the preacher.' But I do want you to know that I know that this sounds like gibberish to you. As an argument, I know that it seems beyond strange. 'A Jewish carpenter was executed by the authorities of Jerusalem two thousand years ago, and this happened so that our sins could be forgiven?' So why do I repeat it then, knowing how strange it sounds to you? Well, the answer is that God has promised to transform the entire world - a multitude beyond all counting was promised to Abraham - as people listen to this particular story being told. And for two thousand years He has been doing exactly that. And so Christians will continue to tell it until He stops fulfilling His word, which means that this is the story that will be told to the end of the world. May the Lord call you to Himself, on the basis of this kind gospel. But whether He does this or not, if we ever meet, I would love to buy you a beer."

--Letter From a Christian Citizen, 108-09

Shave Like a Man

"Proper shaving has become a lost art. Today’s average male has no clue about the fine art of the traditional wet shave that their grandfathers and some of their fathers used to take part in. Instead, they’re only accustomed to the cheap and disposable shaving products that companies market. I’m not sure when or why it happened, but the tradition of passing down the secrets of a clean shave abruptly stopped. Thankfully, this glorious male ritual is making a comeback."

My set up

So begins a post called "Shave Like Your Grandpa over at The Art of Manliness (go read their whole post!). I have been using a double edge safety razor (the "classic wet shave") for about a year and a half, and will never return to the overpriced cartridges. Here are four reasons why you should convert as well (Wives, this would be an awesome gift!):

First, cost. A pack of 4 or 5 cartridges will cost you $16-20! I used to use the Gillette Fusion, and this was the case. For those who don't want to spend a ton on shaving, this typically causes one to use the blade for much longer than you should, which means a sub-par shave. Double edge safety razors, on the other hand, are extremely cheap. I bought a variety pack of 50 that will last me a very long time. A quick search on Amazon turned up a variety pack of 100 for $23.77! I typically shave using one side about 6 or 7 times, then use the other for another 6 or 7. That means I only use around 24 blades a year. That would average out to around $6 a year on blades. With the Fusion, using a cartridge every two weeks, I used to spend around $120 a year on blades. That is significant.

Second, a closer shave. Companies today are just adding blade after blade, which is actually worse for your skin. One blade should do the trick, and it can with a double edge safety razor. I usually make two passes each shave and the shave is much, much closer than with the popular multi-blade cartridges. Once I got the hang of it, I was really shocked at how close a single blade cuts. With the double edge safety razor, you also have much more control since you can see the blade against your skin. Trust me, your lady friend will appreciate it.


Third, manliness. I realize that some readers will object that manliness consists of no shaving. I hear you. Charles Spurgeon said growing a beard was a manly, beneficial, natural and scriptural thing to do. Who can argue with Chuck? In fact, as I type this post, I haven't shaved in about three months. But for those of us who shave, this is a much manlier ritual than the old can of goop and the plastic cartridge. The whole routine of making your own lather, using a badger brush to apply it, and holding a piece of steel in your hand just feels manlier. I used to hate shaving everyday, but once I started going with the classic wet shave I actually enjoy it.

Train him up in the way he should go.

Fourth, it's greener. You'll no longer be chunking plastic cartridges twice a month. A nice razor should last a lifetime. In fact, if you are ready to graduate to a man shave, you might ask around to see if your grandparents or somebody still has theirs. Then your old razor will bless your grand-kids later!

Here is what you'll need and what I have gone with:

• Razor - you may can find one from a family member, or perhaps at an antique store. I grabbed the Merkur 180 Long Handle for $33 and am pleased with it. Double edge razors come with a short handle so I thought I'd want a long one, but I don't use the last half of the handle anyway so a short one would be fine.
• Badger brush - I first bought a shave kit for like $6 at CVS (similar to this one), but that brush didn't last very long so I bought a Tweezerman from Amazon for $12. Warning: may stink at first!
• Cup - you can just use a coffee mug or something similar for this. I use the one that came with the cheap CVS shave kit (similar to this one).
• Shave soap - So much better than the green goop! I am only on my second bar. I used the first one that came with the kit, but now am using Col. Conk.
• After shave - I first grabbed Clubman Pinaud from Walgreens, and continue to use it but now I buy from Amazon. Smell like a dude.

So man up. You may want to watch some tutorials on YouTube to help you get the hang of it. It took me several days before it felt comfortable - and there was blood.

You won't regret it.

Any suggestions from those who are old-timers at this?

F.F. Bruce and New Covenant Theology

"So far as Paul is concerned, guidance for the church is provided by the law of love, not by the 'law of commandments and ordinances' (Ephesians 2:15). In his letters he himself lays down guidelines for his converts and others, often couched in the imperative mood, but these guidelines mostly concern personal relations. . . . Here if anywhere Luther entered into the mind of Paul: 'A Christian man is a most free lord of all, subject to none. A Christian man is a most dutiful servant of all, subject to all.' 'Subject to none' in respect of his liberty; 'subject to all' in respect of his charity. This, for Paul, is the law of Christ because this was the way of Christ. And in this way, for Paul, the divine purpose underlying Moses' law is vindicated and accomplished."

--F.F. Bruce, Paul: Apostle of the Heart Set Free, 201-02

My New Book: Union With Christ

My new book, Union with Christ: Last Adam and Seed of Abraham is now available from Amazon and from New Covenant Media.

Here is an endorsement from Dr. Gary Long:


"Union with Christ is vitally important. Why? Because union with Christ, being “in Christ,” is both an individual and a corporate spiritual union divinely designed and experienced, based upon the holy and just principle of imputation—the imputation of Christ’s righteousness to God’s elect; the same principle involved in the imputation of their sin to Christ. Thus, without union with Christ, there would be no substitutionary atonement, no substitutionary Savior—indeed, no salvation! In twelve short chapters, with clarity and ease of expression, Blake White has articulated for the reader this importance succinctly in 'Union with Christ'."


Here is the Table of Contents:


Chapter 1 - Introduction

Chapter 2 – The Centrality of Union with Christ

Chapter 3 – The Instrument of Union with Christ

Chapter 4 – Union with the Last Adam: Image

Chapter 5 – Union with the Last Adam: Head

Chapter 6 - Union with the Last Adam: King

Chapter 7 - Union with the Last Adam: Priest

Chapter 8 – Union with the Seed of Abraham

Chapter 9 - Union with the Seed of Abraham: Land

Chapter 10 - Union with the Seed of Abraham: Offspring

Chapter 11 - Union with the Seed of Abraham: Blessing Chapter 

Chapter 12 – Conclusion

Praying & Sinning

"Praying and sinning will never live together in the same heart. Prayer will consume sin, or sin will choke prayer. . . . Diligence in prayer is the secret of eminent holiness. Without controversy there is a vast difference among true Christians. . . . I believe the difference in nineteen cases out of twenty arises from different habits about private prayer. I believe that those who are not eminently holy pray little, and those who are eminently holy pray much."

-J.C. Ryle (Practical Religion)

2012 John Bunyan Conference

The 2012 John Bunyan Conference is quickly approaching (4/23-25). Here are the specifics of the conference:

• Chad Bresson - Preaching the Psalms in New Covenant Theology - 2 Messages

• John G. Reisinger - Role of Conscience in Old and New Covenants

• Dr. Tom Schreiner - The New View of Justification - 3 Messages

• A. Blake White - Cruciform Love - 2 Messages

• Steve West - Revisiting Free Will - 2 Messages

• Dr. Fred Zaspel - (1) The Law Fulfilled (2) The Doctrine of Forgiveness

Here is the registration form and here is the schedule.