I’m Ron – or R N Frost as I write – and this site is an overflow of my life in Christ. I’m a student of the history of Christian spirituality. My studies first came by way of Multnomah Bible College and the University of Portland, for undergraduate degrees in Bible and in History. After some time away with the Army and in ministry I attended Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, earning MDiv and MA (Church History) degrees. I then taught at Multnomah in the undergrad program for 8 years before taking 3 years away for a PhD at King’s College London. I returned to Multnomah, now teaching at the seminary, from 1995-2007.
My doctoral research featured Richard Sibbes (1577-1635), a teacher and pastor in both London and Cambridge. Sibbes’ love for God offers the biblical and spiritual context for this site. I introduced Sibbes and his best known sermon series as “The Bruised Reed by Richard Sibbes” in The Devoted Life, eds. Kapic & Gleason (InterVarsity Press, 2004): 79-91. I’ve also published a slightly revised (and hopefully more readable) version of my doctoral work as, Richard Sibbes: A Spreading Goodness that is available on Amazon.
Sibbes was captivated by God’s love. He viewed this love as the outflow of God’s the eternal triune communion. Thus God’s “spreading goodness” extends to the cosmos as the basis for its creation and the proper context for all of life: we were made by God and for God, as those beloved by the source of love himself. Jesus, who is the “Word” that expresses God to humanity in terms we can grasp, offers God’s love and life through the Spirit.
With this as spiritual DNA for our own “Spreading Goodness” readers are invited to enjoy a conversation about the God Sibbes knew, loved, and with whom he now resides.
After teaching for a couple of decades at Multnomah, then serving with Barnabas International (of Wisconsin), and later with Elementum, a ministry with college-age and young adult ministries, I retired. Though now I’m finishing up a part-time Doctorate of Ministry track – with an MA option – in Affective Spirituality at Multnomah Seminary in Portland, Oregon. It’s a great way to wrap up a career.
Thank you for tracking with me! And let’s enjoy more of God’s eternal spreading goodness!
Ron
Ron, I hope you’re doing well. I wanted to ask you a quick question. What would be your top 3-4 recommended resources on Christian Anthropology, particularly introductory pieces for someone just getting their feet wet in understanding this important issue? I really appreciate your input.
You might want to look at Hans Schwartz, The Human Being: A Theological Anthropology. And Marc Cortez, Resourcing Theological Anthropology. They offer many more leads. Enjoy!
Doctor frost. I recently came accross your article ” Aristotle’s ethics and Luther.
You hit on, as you quoted Luther, the hinge of the matter. Luther’s redefining terms from Aquinas definitions back to St Paul. Words like natural. Sin. Will. You provide context. Your title seems to realize what you present is foreign even to most Lutherans like me.
You mention briefly some why’s for Luther’s position , eg predestination, and hinted at others. Man would I like to ask you some questions .
My name is Francisco. I subscribed to your email list
God bless you and keep you if I don’t hear back from you. I know you must be a very busy man . You will be in my prayers in any case.
Thanks for engaging, Frank. The article (in the 1997 Trinity Journal) was an effort to stir some reflections. Glad it has some staying power!
Hi Dr. Frost,
I came across an article at Union School of Theology on Sibbes and was wondering about your thoughts on Puritan History. Were they pretty diverse with some being more gracious than others? What of the Antinomian controversy? Were some wrongly accused?
Thanks!
Hi Trent,
I’ve just sent you an email response with a snapshot of my engagement here.
Hi Dr. Frost. Sometime around 2006 or maybe 7 you were the guest speaker at a church retreat for a campus ministry based on Chico. Mike N. Was a close friend and mentor at the time. Your topic on Bible read throughs was very impactful for me. Since having children I’ve spent much more time in the Word the last 5 years. Recently I remembered how you inspired me, I knew I had to read the Bible front to back. I just completed my first ever read-through this morning. 3 months. Everything you said in your book was true for me, the benefit of reading through quickly and spending much time each day was such a blessing. Anyhow, thought I’d share with you!
Btw, based on yours and Mike N.’s passion for Multnomah, 15 years after meeting you I graduated from Multnomah last year with my Masters in Management and Leadership. Such an amazing school and program.
Thanks for this, Jeremy! I remember, with real pleasure, that Chico event. Mike was one of a cluster of men from there … Cal State Chico, as I recall, who attended Multnomah together. It’s great to hear a follow-up. Congrats on finishing the Bible with a bold reading pace. And keep going!
Ron, you came to mind recently and I thought I’d look you up. This is the best contact I’ve found–and a nice blog site it is! I’m in Bend, OR, now. And we recently moved my uncle David Needham into a senior independent living facility here in Bend. I’m wondering how many Multnomah folks he’s still in contact with. But if you’re not one of them, I’d love to put you in touch. He’s not long for this world (and eagerly anticipating heaven’s joys). I think he would love to hear from you.
Dan Reid
Dan, what a treat to hear from you! I’m delighted.
Let me say something for any readers about David Needham, your uncle and my beloved mentor. Dave was teaching at Multnomah when I came to campus on an “open house” visit in 1965. His one-hour class in a course on OT Prophets captivated me. On arriving I only meant to visit some Montana friends who attended Multnomah at the time. So Dave’s course rocked my world as I soon decided to attend Multnomah; and to defer attending Washington State U for a course in architecture. It was a life-defining decision! Architecture soon faded from view and in time I graduated from Multnomah. And years later became a colleague with Dave on Multnomah’s faculty.
Thanks so much for reaching out, Dan. I’m blessed by your friendship.
Hello Dr. Frost,
You did a few sermons at a church I used to go to (very much enjoyed them thank you), and your name sounded familiar. Did you happen to go to high school in the Portland area?
No, Don, I attended high school in Glasgow, MT, for two years. Then finished at Shadle Park in Spokane. I arrived in Portland to attend Bible college after that.