It’s hard to the think of the Bible as junk food. But that’s what it can be, in a way. Despite the fact that the Bible is the Word of God Himself, breathed out by Him, written down through human agents as vehicles for revelation of the Holy Spirit. Holy, inspired, inerrant, infallible in […]
Continue Reading... Comments Off on The Bible as Junk FoodKnock, knock. Who’s there? Noah. Noah who? Noah good place for seafood? Knock, knock, Who’s there? Olive. Olive who? Olive you! Knock, knock. Who’s there? Two knee. Two knee who? Two-knee fish! Knock, knock jokes can be funny—and pretty silly. But the silliness is what makes the humor. In the Bible, however, […]
Continue Reading... Comments Off on Knock, KnockI just returned from a preaching conference at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia. Dr. R. Kent Hughes, pastor of many years and author of 30 books, was the featured speaker. I’m not sure that I learned anything new but I did find the time stimulating and refreshing. It was nice to be back at […]
Continue Reading... Comments Off on Asher’s AnalogyThis article could be addressed to Christ’s disciples throughout the church. Every person engaged in ministry knows well the discouragement and fatigue that go along with it. How many of us have not taken the towel of ministry in hand, poised to throw it in, walk away, and move on to less frustrating endeavors? […]
Continue Reading... Comments Off on God’s Remedy for Pastoral WearinessIf you were to pick one telltale sign that someone is not of Christ, what would it be? How about love? John in his first epistle points to love as a mark of the believer. Would an unbeliever exhibit its opposite? That makes sense but what is the opposite of love? Besides, many unbelievers […]
Continue Reading... Comments Off on Mark of the UnbelieverI have been tremendously encouraged by the reviews of my new book, A Vine-Ripened Life: Spiritual Fruitfulness through Abiding in Christ. It’s one thing for a Christian author to be satisfied with something he or she has written, thinking that it makes a contribution to the kingdom of Christ. But to hear that contribution […]
Continue Reading... Comments Off on A Vine-Ripened Life book launchOne of the major sports headlines recently has to do with Ray Rice, former Rutgers standout and all-star running back for the Baltimore Ravens – at least he was. He has been dismissed from the team and banned by the NFL from playing anywhere. Rice had already been penalized two games for knocking out […]
Continue Reading... Comments Off on The Mirror of Ray RiceMy new book, A Vine-Ripened Life: Spiritual Fruitfulness through Abiding in Christ (Reformation Heritage Books, 170 pages), is now available. It is a study of the fruit of the Spirit, distinguishing the biblical fruit from the world’s versions. The wrinkle is that it approaches cultivation of the fruit from the ground of abiding in Christ. […]
Continue Reading... Comments Off on A Vine-Ripened LifeI posted a blog on Monday entitled, “Praying on Paper.” It commends the idea of writing out prayers, much as did the psalmists. It also gives an example of written prayer. One reader asked for a recommendation of written prayers, saying he needed a “jump start.” Before I give my response to him, let […]
Continue Reading... Comments Off on Three Prayer ResourcesIt’s something David and the other psalmists must have experienced. It’s one thing to pray prayers in the mind or with the mouth. It’s another to pray them on paper, finding just the right words and phrases that capture our heart’s communion with God. Anytime we commit something to writing it requires greater precision […]
Continue Reading... Comments Off on Praying on Paper