He will not change

That we live in different times than the generation(s) that preceded us seems self-evident. But the case of a certain John Fisher and Lizzie Clark, two strangers on a train near Atlantic City near the beginning of the 20th century reveals just how much change has taken place. This, according to the New York Times, […]

Dry and thirsty?

Many years ago, my brother and I went on a hiking expedition in the Cleveland National Forest in Southern California. Unfortunately, we were ill-equipped for the day. What began as a cool, refreshing, spring-like morning quickly developed into a hot, parching, dead-of-summer day. Soon I was overcome with the most overwhelming drive to quench my […]

Fools and the omnipresence of God

“The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God,’” David tells his readers. The fool denies the existence of God and his empty speculations lead him to acting contrary to God. He will do anything opposed to the will of God. He will not uphold justice. He will follow any evil inclination of […]

Talk to yourself

My children somewhat regularly catch me talking to myself — “what did you say, Dad?” “Huh? Oh, nothing. I’m just talking to myself…” And even if it is not audible, everyone engages in much self-talk each day. In fact, the theologian you consult on the most regular basis is almost certainly yourself. For you listen […]

Pondering David and Paul, pride and hope

Pride is sneaky and subtle. When a man is humbled and broken, pride raises a small voice that whispers, “you are doing well to be so humbled. How good you are…” When a heart is weak, pride suggests, “You are strong and able…” When an obvious grace from God has been received, pride ponders, “how […]

Transgression speaks

While there is a new brand of atheism that seems to be gaining a measure of cultural acceptance, there is another kind of atheism that has always existed — a practical atheism that affirms the existence of God with words and denies His existence with actions. Thomas Watson noted the existence of these unbelievers this […]

Reading Psalms

Today we resumed our reading of the book of Psalms. This is the longest book in the Scripture (at least by chapters — 150) and one of the most popular books in Scripture. But the Psalms are written by a variety of authors over hundreds of years, so how are they to be interpreted and […]

Why are you afraid?

The list of things that stimulate fear is long. Do a google search of phobias and you will find lists of dozens and even into the hundreds of fears (I found one list with 536 phobias) — including such things as aulophobia (fear of flutes), linonophobia (fear of strings), sinistrophobia (fear of things on the […]

Another view of God’s creation

This morning Al Mohler overviewed new photographs that have been provided by the Hubble telescope. These photographs are astounding representations of the vastness of the created world. Every time I see something like this, I am reminded of the words of the psalmist: When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon […]

What grace have you received?

This morning I read a couple Psalms and an extended section in Hosea. Much of what I read carried the theme of “watch out, judgment is coming” for the nation of Israel. Reading of the coming judgment made parts of Psalm 95 stand out like bold-faced type: Come, let us worship and bow down, Let […]

Count your many blessings

Today’s reading in the Psalms is a precursor to the hymn, “Count Your Many Blessings.” Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders which You have done, And Your thoughts toward us; There is none to compare with You. If I would declare and speak of them, They would be too numerous to count. Take […]

God knows

He knows. I know he knows. At least I thought he knew. My friend Ned has eyes that not only see you, but pierce you. They don’t blink. They don’t wander. They cut through you and seem to examine your heart. And so it was that when I met him my first thought was, “He […]

Why we like the Psalms

In his most recent sermon, “Songs that Shape the Heart and Mind,” John Piper notes the variety of emotions that are contained in Psalms — one of the reasons that we are all drawn to them, whether glad or sad: One of the reasons the Psalms are deeply loved by so many Christians is that […]