ministry, theology and philosophy.

In an attempt to convey an attitude of complete assurance in Christ many pastors fail to grieve properly when tragedy comes.  I was seven years old when my parents sat my brothers and me down, told us to be strong and let us know my 15-year-old sister Holly had gone to be with the Lord. My family grieved, we all cried.  The last thing I needed from my father, who had been serving on the mission field for the last 8 years, was for him to pretend he was not hurting.   The truth is we were all hurting and seeing my father grieve helped me grieve.

So many of the psalms are mans cries out to God is pain, sorrow and heartache. Those cries let us know God sympathizes with us and His chest is big enough for us to beat on and bury our weeping face into. Being a youth pastor for the last 4 years I can say many do a disservice they pretend to be so heavenly minded they are not moved by the death of a child or the loss of a family member.  Jesus knew better than any one that dead would soon have no sting nevertheless Jesus wept when he heard the news about his good friend was death.

My brother Jesse has seen time and time again people not properly grieving when they lose someone close to them.  “Raise Your Dead”  provides a theologically charged, philosophically rich, and psychologically insightful look into grieving proses of many Christians.   Jesse knows in Christ we have victory over death but it still hurts.

Tony Doland

Here is a preview for Raise Your Dead

Please consider a monetary donation to this film.  You can help by visiting this site.  http://www.indiegogo.com/ryd

I really enjoyed writing this paper last spring for an apologetics class.  It is a little on the academic side but I think you will enjoy reading it.  Please let me know what you think and feel free to ask any questions.

The Failed Epistemology of Naturalism

Alvin Plantinga, professor of philosophy at the University of Notre Dame, has developed an argument against metaphysical naturalism that as gained a lot of attention from his colleagues and critics alike.  Even though naturalism has dominated western intellectual thought and seems to be gaining momentum in the ever-increasing secularization of our society it should not be given clout and should be disregarded as a flawed belief system.  Naturalism should not be taken seriously because it’s epistemology provides a defeater for itself. Read more

Over the last 6 years of my life I have been preparing and growing.  I have earned a bachelors degree in Biblical Studies, married the love of my life, had a son and recently learned my wife is pregnant with our second child.  The average 25 year old would see these accomplishments and think it is time to coast.  I want more.

I have been reading like crazy these days and I really want to become a better writer. I know writing is not my A-game but I want to improve.  The primary reason I want to improve my writing skills is because I want to one day write a book, maybe several books.

So this blog will be me perfecting my writing skills, developing my creativity and expanding my worldview.  I plan on having fun with this but also making writing a discipline and forcing myself to post something new at least once a week.  For better or for worse I am going to be blogging.