“The Rest of the Word”Hebrews 4:12-13December 28, 2025 I’ve finished six pillows in Needlepoint,And I’m reading Jane Austen and Kant,And I’m up to the pork with black beans in Advanced Chinese Cooking. I don’t have to struggle to find myselfFor I already know what I want.I want to be healthy and wise and extremely […]
Read More The Rest of the WordWhen George H. W. Bush was President of the United States, he made a visit to a Virginia elementary school. And although he was introduced as the President and was surrounded by his Secret Service detail, one skeptical third grader refused to believe that Bush really was who he said he was. How do you […]
Read More “Who Do People Say That I AM?”“Reader, here is amazing condescension. The Lord of all becomes a servant, the Lord of glory becomes of no reputation, the bread of life is hungry, and the only rest is weary, and the prince of life is put to death. This is that which angels pry into with such astonishing pleasure, that God should […]
Read More Amazing Condescension“Who could have imagined that God should become man, infinite become finite, the Creator a creature; the Father of spirits become flesh, and the Lord of life be put to death? Who could conceive, that he who made all things of nothing, should be made himself of a woman, made by him? That he whom […]
Read More Who Could Have Imagined…“The Training of the Twelve” Pt. 2Luke 9:12-17December 21, 2025 Christmas brings anticipation of many good and encouraging things. We anticipate worship (Christmas Eve), and music (the Messiah!), and fellowship, and reconnection with friends who have moved away, and time with family. And yet there is also the conundrum of the gifts. What do we […]
Read More The Training of the Twelve, Pt. 2Even as believers in Christ, we are weak, broken, and inadequate for our responsibilities. We agree with Paul when he writes, “And who is adequate for these things” (2 Cor. 2:16)? Yet we do also affirm that Christ is adequate and He is sufficient for us. He will provide all we need in every circumstance. […]
Read More Christ, Our Provider“The Training of the Twelve” Pt. 1Luke 9:1-11December 14, 2025 It’s Christmas season. And there is a common question being asked these days: “Do we have enough?” E.g., Do we have enough food? Do we have enough cookies? Do we have enough gifts? Do we have enough decorations (lights on the house, tinsel on […]
Read More The Training of the Twelve, Pt. 1“There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an unhealthy interest in them. They themselves are equally pleased by both errors and hail a materialist and magician with the same delight.” [C. S. […]
Read More The Believer, Sin, Satan, Demons, and the Mind“The Tale of Two ‘Daughters’”Luke 8:40-56November 30, 2025 Pain is universal. Suffering is common. Illness, though frequent and normal, often surprises us. Death is one out of one. We recoil against all of these. And God uses pain, illness, and death to sanctify us. Samuel Rutherford wrote that believers should “praise God for the […]
Read More The Tale of Two “Daughters”“The Son of Man, Demons, and Rejection”Luke 8:26-39November 23, 2025 We have an enemy. He is intelligent — “You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder” (Js. 2:18). He is strong — “Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm […]
Read More The Son of Man, Demons, and Rejection“Jesus, in the Storms of Life”Luke 8:22-25November 2, 2025 Call it what you want — affliction, calamity, difficulty, disaster, disease, hardship, horror, illness/sickness, pain, persecution, suffering, tragedy, trial, trouble — life is filled with events and circumstances that seem contrary to us. It has always been that way, the Bible is filled with it: Murder […]
Read More Jesus, in the Storms of LifeYour Bible reading isn’t finished when you complete the reading you have chosen for the day. Bible reading is not just about reading the words in the section for that day. Bible reading is designed to change and transform us — we don’t just read the Bible, but we do what we read. We act on […]
Read More Don’t Just Read Your Bible“How is Your Hearing?” Pt. 2Luke 8:16-21October 26, 2025 I have some tools in my workshop and some more in our kitchen that need some attention: My air compressor hose has a leak at the joint where the tool connects. The tools still work, but while I’m working there is a constant sound of […]
Read More How is Your Hearing? Pt. 2Many people say they want to follow Jesus. They want to know the work of His kindness in their lives (like healings and feedings, Jn. 6:1ff). They want to know the wisdom from His teaching. They want unconditional love, acceptance, and affirmation. But do they want to follow Him everywhere He goes and do everything […]
Read More If anyone wants to follow Jesus…How many times as a parent of young children did I say, “Listen to me…Are you listening?…What did I say?” How many times as a student and an employee did my teacher or boss say, “Pay attention to this…you will need this in the future…Listen to me…watch what I’m doing…Do you understand?…What did I say/mean?…” […]
Read More “Listen Up”
Words of Grace 