By Caleb Keith –
Now that my spring semester has ended and summer break has officially begun, I can’t help but feel like a free man. Eighteen hours of my week have just been miraculously loosed, and it feels great. Now the question is, what do I do with all this free time? I’d love to say that I will spend my newly acquired time reading, writing, or even studying my Greek and Latin, but I know myself too well. More than likely, my free time will be filled up by the digital world.
By Caleb Keith –
Most of the people reading this probably haven’t heard of the Lutheran Center for Religious Liberty (LCRL). I hadn’t heard of the LCRL until this past summer, and it wasn’t until this last semester that I really understood what the LCRL is and what they do. As part of a research paper for my Christians and Ethics course this semester, I examined the LCRL and reviewed its functions in light of the classical view of Lutheran two-kingdom theory.
by Caleb Keith –
Today, I turned in my final paper of the semester: a 12-page exegesis on Galatians 3:23-29 and 4:1-7. I love the challenge of a good term paper, but thanks be to God, the semester is coming to an end. The joys of summer are sitting on the horizon. I am look forward to spending quality time with my wife and daughter, which is another great opportunity that comes during the summer time. As all of my required reading falls away, I have new time that I can commit to the books sitting on my shelves.
By Caleb Keith –
Just three months ago, I started producing the Thinking Fellows podcast. The main idea behind the show came from the good Dr. Scott Keith, who wanted to start a podcast that put a voice to 1517’s thinking fellowship. The Thinking Fellowship is a group of academic and pastoral theologians who were trained by Dr. Rod Rosenbladt. Dr. Keith’s idea was fantastic, but he had no idea how to produce or publish a podcast. That’s where I came in.
By Caleb Keith –
Last Thursday, my beautiful daughter Esther Lily Joy Keith was born. My wife and I were blessed with a quick and easy labor and a very healthy daughter. However, what followed the relatively easy birth was an uncomfortable 48 hours in the hospital watching my wife and daughter get poked and prodded by nurses and doctors. Every test came back absolutely perfect, and after 24hours, my wife’s OBGYN was prepared to discharge her so we could go home to rest and be a family. Unfortunately, she was not authorized to discharge my daughter, and the hospital pediatrician wouldn’t let us go despite Esther’s lack of complications or health issues. When my wife Erika and I finally got home, we could breathe, and my baby girl was finally able to rest without being tested every two hours.
By Caleb Keith –
As many of the good readers may know, my wife Erika and I are about to have our first child. This incredible moment, which I have been not-so patiently waiting for, will be a sure reality come the end of this week. So instead of something technological or theological, I have prepared a laughable list of 5 luxuries in my life that the good Dr. Keith (soon to be Grand Pappy Keith) has assured me I will not care about once my daughter is born.
By Caleb Keith –
Growing up in the Sierra Desert exposed me to annual wildfires. Some fires would last mere days, while others could blaze on for months. Despite the duration for which they burn, wildfires have common causes and consequences. First off, fires typically don’t start out wild. The majority are man-made, caused by accident, carelessness, or arson. After a wildfire has begun, it wreaks havoc. Devastated landscapes, collapsing houses, and charred earth scar the land. Not only do fires devastate the ground, but also the air. When a Sierra fire is burning the sky is thick with smoke.
By Caleb Keith –
Two days ago, Apple hosted one of its regular press conferences. The highlight of these exclusive events is the unleashing of the latest and greatest products Apple has to offer. iPhones, Macs, Apple watches, and iPads once again become extraordinary. Each edition of these devices exceeds the last in power and beauty. However, Monday’s conference, in my opinion, fell flat. The general tone of the meeting was relatively dull, and the revealed products, while still incredible, spoke more of laziness than innovation. What I left with was the revelation that Apple is just like me: lazy.
By Caleb Keith –
It seems like nobody can stop talking about the three uses of the Law, which is often a blurry distinction. The systematic distinctions of the Law help the Christian work through the various ways the law functions in Scripture. Melanchthon introduces the third use of the Law for the first time in the 1535 Loci Communes under the title De usu legit divine. Our own Dr. Keith has translated that section of the Loci and has made it available to read at 1517 Legacy project. Interestingly, Lutherans tend to omit the word “divine” when talking about the uses of the Law. While this removal is most likely for the practicality of speaking, I believe this can lead to preachers who preach the Law in a manner that serves one particular use over another. This method of thought allows pastors to assume the role of a user of the Law, rather than God being the one who uses the Law through their preaching.
By Caleb Keith –
I vividly remember the comments, advice, and criticism of pretty much everybody I encountered when I was preparing to get married. The most common response to this information was, “How old are you?” or “I hope you know what your getting into.” Many others asserted I was throwing my life and my freedom away while only a few responded joyously or with legitimate loving concern. Questions and comments like the examples above were shallow and general concerns about age and autonomy. Two years later I find myself under the same type of scrutiny as I eagerly await the birth of my daughter.
