About
I think that we evangelicals do not spend a lot of time actually thinking reflectively, let alone examining our own hearts. This is not taught in our schools, nor is it encouraged by our culture. So consider the following quote from Lesslie Newbigin’s The Gospel in a Pluralist Society :
It is a striking fact that almost all the proclamations of the gospel which are described in Acts are in response to questions asked by those outside the Church. […] In every case there is something present, a new reality, which calls for explanation and so prompts the question to which the preaching of the gospel is the answer. This is clearly so in the first cases I have cited, the sermon of Peter on the day of Pentecost. Something is happening which prompts the crowd to come together and ask, ‘What is going on?’ The answer of Peter is in effect a statement that what is going on is that the last day has arrived and the powers of the new age are already at work, and that this is so because of the life, ministry, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus.
The question, then, relative to living as Christians in the 21st century (especially those of us who are actively engaged in the blogosphere) is: what sorts of questions are being prompted among the world by our own lives and ministries? The follow-up question is: when the questions do come, what are our instinctive replies? That is, what do we believe is really happening among us? Is it Jesus or is it just Memorex?
The name Transformatum is inspired by Romans 12:1, 2, which I consider to be my life verse. This is not to diminish the rest of the Bible, but is instead a simple way of highlighting a passage of Scripture that speaks to me and helps keep me grounded.
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
It is my prayer that I would be transformed by the renewal of my mind and not by the passing fashion of this age–that my life would be determined and reshaped by knowledge of the gospel and the power of the Spirit.
Scott Kennedy lives with his wife, four kids, dog (Australian Shepherd) and several pet snakes in a semi-rural NW Georgia bedroom community. From his front porch you can see Covenant College atop Lookout Mt., where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in History and a minor in Art. Scott worships and serves (RE) at Chattanooga Valley Presbyterian Church (PCA). Scott also works as an underwriting manager for a health care insurer in downtown Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Some of Scott’s interests (in no particular order) are theology, philosophy, high arts, popular arts, the art of war, culture, cooking, sci-fi & fantasy, the web, Linux, politics, economics, constructing, sports, bicycling, photography, flyfishing, hunting, guns, gadgets, reptiles and reading.
A few of his favorite things (hardly a complete list) are books by J.R.R. Tolkien, F.A. Hayek and Douglas Preston/Lincoln Child; music from U2, Andrew Bird and Sufjan Stevens; movies such as Collateral, Babette’s Feast and Up; current television shows like 24, LOST and anything on HGTV; old TV shows like Magnum, P.I., Homicide and Seinfeld; food & drink from Taco Bell, Pasha Coffee & Tea and The Terminal; and all sports Penn State.