When a believer dies, it is not unusual to hear a response something like, “Our loss is heaven’s gain.” I have always taken such a sentiment to subtly suggest that in some manner, heaven has been deficient until this person has arrived, and that now because of their inherent abilities and worth, heaven has “gotten […]
Read More Heaven’s gainHere is one value of sin — redemption from it stimulates our heart to love Christ more deeply than those who are not redeemed: We are now capable of a joy which unfallen spirits could not have known: the bliss of pardoned sin, the heaven of deep conscious obligation to eternal mercy. The bonds which […]
Read More What your sin does for youThere are many ideas about how to do ministry (I receive new ideas on postcards and flyers virtually everyday in my mailbox and inbox). There have always been many diverse and divergent ideas about the priorities of ministry. The temptation is often to take a pragmatic approach to “make the church grow.” Now having dancing […]
Read More Church is not that complicatedHow will you perceive God when suffering? What will you think of God when life doesn’t work as well for you as you think it should? By what standard will you measure God when life is harsh? Joe Thorn offers some godly counsel: Do not attempt to base your interpretation of God on your circumstances, […]
Read More Interpreting GodTo follow Christ is to go down the narrow way. There is no broad pathway to Christ. Follow Christ and you will be constricted from many choices and desires. And there is liberty in that narrow way: So I will keep Your law continually, Forever and ever. And I will walk at liberty, […]
Read More The liberty of walking the narrow wayHere is an amazing story of God’s grace and sovereignty from 9/11/01, told by an American Airlines first office, who should have been on Flight 11 that day — the first flight that flew into one of the Twin Towers. (HT: Challies)
Read More In My SeatA few quotes that were left on the cutting room floor from Sunday’s sermon about Scripture: “There is no substitute for submission to Scripture. Your spiritual health depends on placing the utmost value on the Word of God and obeying it with an eager heart.…Don’t relinquish the sweet, satisfying riches of God’s Word for the […]
Read More They said it better than me – the value of ScriptureIt won’t substitute for a trip to the doctor’s office. And it usually isn’t adequate for an employee review. And a building inspector certainly won’t allow it. But for the believer, self-examination is not only allowed, but it is commanded. A believer is called to examine his salvation — is he genuinely saved (2 Cor. […]
Read More Sunday Leftovers (9/4/11)Many years ago, another pastor challenged me to find a mentor: “You need someone ten or fifteen years older — someone who has been through the next phase of life — to build into you.” Sometimes it’s hard to find a man like that. That’s when “old guys” can step in. Those are men who […]
Read More The Old GuysLooking back her tennis career and all the fame that came with her 146 victories, Chris Evert Lloyd said one day, “We get into a rut. We play tennis, we go to a movie, we watch TV, but I keep saying [to my husband], ‘John, there has to be more…’” The good news is, there […]
Read More Sunday Leftovers (8/28/11)Pastor Keith has been teaching through the book of Job on Sunday mornings. This Sunday, he mentioned again the story of Brian Birdwell as an example of those who suffer. If you don’t have time to read his book, Refined by Fire, here is a brief summary of his story in his words: Brian currently […]
Read More An example of sufferingThe Psalms repeatedly affirm the goodness and lovingkindness of God. He is merciful. He is trustworthy. Reading Psalm 118 this morning, I wondered, “Do I believe this?” So I turned the statements of the psalmist into a series of questions to test the condition of my heart — Do I believe that God is lovingly […]
Read More Do I believe this?“Like apples of gold in settings of silver Is a word spoken in right circumstances” (Prov. 25:11; NASB) It was supposed to be a simple fencing project. Buy a few panels, take the old ones down, put the new ones up. Real easy. And real unrealistic. It evolved into one of my typical projects, one […]
Read More A gold appleEvery preacher has them: sermons that they realized after-the-fact that they did the worst thing that can be done in a sermon. They missed the point of the passage. I’ve had at least my fair share of them. But one stands towering over all the others in my mind. I remember studying that week, wondering […]
Read More A sermon do-overRegistration for the 2012 Shepherds’ Conference (March 7-12) is now open. And even better news is that the cost for the conference for early registration is $250 instead of the normal $300. But this reduced price is only for a short time, so register now to take advantage of the cost savings. Register here.
Read More Shepherds’ Conference registration
