I 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 launchMy 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 LifeNote: The Reformation of the sixteenth century dealt with reforming what had been deformed by the church of the day, bringing it into conformity with the revealed Word of God. That reforming recaptured the essence of the gospel taught in holy Scripture. Today, the integrity of the gospel is threatened by the forces of legalism […]
Continue Reading... Comments Off on Marks of the True ChristianYou can’t read Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians without detecting a bit of an edge. Understandably so. His opponents back in Thessalonica were questioning his character, his motives, and his conduct. They were trying to turn the hearts of the new believers in the church he planted there against him. It is true […]
Continue Reading... Comments Off on Satan SightingsYou know how wives want to hear that their husbands love them? They want to know their efforts to make a house a home are recognized. They want to be appreciated. That’s the case for guys as well. Sure, they have chores and those things they are expected to do. But still, they appreciate […]
Continue Reading... Comments Off on Pastor Appreciation MonthIntroduction to Community Houses of Prayer Ministry Manual Our Lord Jesus Christ has called us to Himself to belong to Him and to follow Him. He has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness that imprisoned us in sin’s mastery, misery and condemnation. He has brought us into His kingdom of light and life, […]
Continue Reading... Comments Off on Mobilizing Ambassadors of HopeLeading is not an easy task. One, leaders need to know where they are going. The GPS has to be set with at least a general destination. Two, leaders need to understand the fine art of leading versus pushing. By definition, leaders have followers. As to whether followers will follow, refer back to number […]
Continue Reading... Comments Off on Getting the Lead out of LeadingIn the Old Testament book of Isaiah, God said that His house would be a house of prayer for the nations (Is. 56:7-8). Jesus reaffirms this purpose of God for the temple by quoting Isaiah in each of the Synoptic Gospels. The New Testament Scriptures make clear that the ultimate and actual temple is […]
Continue Reading... Comments Off on A House of Prayer is Built with Living StonesWe might call Psalm 126 “The Sisyphus Psalm.” Sisyphus was a figure in Greek mythology who was eternally destined to push a heavy rock up a hill, only to have it roll back down before he could get it over the crest. He’d have to start all over—for eternity. Life can seem like that, […]
Continue Reading... Comments Off on The Sisyphus PsalmMy church just finished a week-long Vacation Bible School (the hottest week of the year, I might add). Kids ages three through nine roamed the grounds of the church for two hours each day. At the start of each session I had the privilege of opening in prayer and telling a story. I’m not very […]
Continue Reading... Comments Off on The Gospel in Kid-Speak