To 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 registrationNancy Guthrie recently conducted a live interview on Desiring God. She speaks of the death of her two children from a genetic disease and how that stimulate a deep trust in God in both her and her husband. [Aside: read anything you can that she has written or edited on the topic of suffering or […]
Read More Nancy Guthrie talks about sufferingStill thinking about the comfort of God, I came across these statements in my files: “Why does God bring thunderclouds and disasters when we want green pastures and still waters? Bit by bit we find, behind the clouds, the Father’s feet; behind the lightning, an abiding day that has no night; behind the thunder, ‘a […]
Read More They said it better than me: comfortIt was an incredible offer. Thousands and thousands of dollars were at my disposal. Power, I was told, would be mine. Prestige. Privilege. All because I had been pre-approved for a Platinum Visa. Or if I preferred, I could opt for the offer of a Gold MasterCard that came from another bank that same day. […]
Read More Approved by GodIn contrast to the fabled “freshman five,” here is a “freshman 15” that is really good for all first-year college students (and high school students, and grad students, and well, anyone). Pastor Jeff Brewer suggests 15 ways to glorify God as an incoming freshman. If the first principle is practiced well, then the others will […]
Read More For college students: this one thing I do
