No guilt here.

I am able to blog, and post thoughts, both here at home, and at my office. I own my business, and I set a side some time for reading, mostly in the morning, a couple blogs, and get some good spiritual food for the day. And may even comment, and so forth.

Each day I work is different. i go out and work in the field so to say at times, and other times am in my office. I’m basically a construction worker and a pencil-pusher.

Thanks for your good thoughts CR, as they always are.

: )

Seems “moderation in all things” is the key.

Thanks for your thoughts. I’m assuming you previously commented under “no name” since that’s who I replied to originally. If not, please correct me.

When you say that a sermon doesn’t have “staying power,” it seems that you’re looking at the sermon from the standpoint of spoken words that are spoken into the air and are then lost, or words that pass through someone’s mind and then are (potentially) forgotten.

But I don’t think that the physical presence of the words themselves (as in a book), or the audience’s memory of them, are what Packer means by “staying power.” I think he means things that are substantial, meaningful, well-reasoned, and given careful consideration. Certainly the internet is bursting with helpful, well-reasoned content (JT links to a lot of it!), but we can all acknowledge that much more on the internet is shallow at best.

I would suggest that the sermon as a method of communicating truth does have “staying power,” because it’s a theologically-based, truth-driven, reasoned-out, (hopefully) colored and illustrated, extended presentation of truth.

But your definiton of “staying power” and mine might be different here. Either way, thanks for the gracious dialogue.

Gunner

The point that someone else and I discussed on another blog was that the sermon – the primary mode of theological discourse – does not have “staying power.” And yet it must be the most privileged of modes! Therefore, staying power in and of itself doesn’t really serve as a good criterion. It’s just a thought, but I agree with Dr. Packer wholeheartedly considering my qualification mentioned above!

Moderation is always the important principle as you say. But frankly, I don’t see how most people do it unless it’s a full time job for them and not neglect other important things.

Seems like he desires to be sagacious, without being thoughtful.

CR: I don’t frequent blogs that have comments turned off if only because I think (well spoken & polite) dissenting voices are important. Where would Christianity be today if we didn’t have them??

I watch too much TV. There’s something about a remote that is from the devil. Just kiddin’.

Thanks for the post.

CR, I think some people don’t comment enough, and others comment too much. There’s always a moderation with all we do. I trust the Lord will help me be moderate, because I’m not much good at it.

no name: It’s not difficult to point out the irony of Packer’s quote appearing on several blogs, as you have. But leaving it at that is just an easy way out of dealing with his point, as is the extreme inference that Packer would recommend staying away from sermons.

Even a cursory reading of his quote reveals that he’s not condemning technology (which in context includes the internet and blogs). He’s warning us against the temptation to give inordinate amounts of time to “the latest thought” and “the latest blogger” while failing to invest deeply in writings and activities whose significance and value has been proven over time. And he’s warning us against getting into the habit of “moving on quickly” from blog to link to soundbyte without giving any careful consideration to what we’re taking in.

For instance, your Voltaire quote obviously has “staying power” — it has stood the test of time. It is wise, insightful, substantial, and has relevance centuries later. Much of the internet (though not all) doesn’t ring with the same qualities.

Blessings,

Gunner

This blog is one of the few best blogs out there with great information and tools that I use today. But you hear of people with internet addiction or blog addiction and I think the best thing bloggers can do is not allow comments.

Yes, yes, I know the irony, I’m commenting in a blog that bloggers should not allow commenting.

I think what he’s talking about certainly applies to some blogs and some ways of disseminating information, but it seems too broad to be of much substance.

Reminds me in many ways of the quote often attributed to Voltaire, “a witty saying proves nothing.”

(just kidding)

Seriously now, thanks for a great post.