May I ask a straight-forward question? Why do you do what you do for Christ? That is, what is the motive for your actions? What drives you and compels you? Specifically, when you think about how you serve God, can you also determine why you serve God? Some serve God from a sense of “holy […]
Read More Why do you serve Christ?This is the second of a series of reflections of gratitude on 20 years of ministry at GBC. As I think about ministry at GBC, I am thankful for family. Specifically, I am thankful for my family. Paul tells the Corinthians that it is better to remain single because the interests of a married man […]
Read More Reflections on Twenty Years of Ministry: FamilyA writer for Leadership Journal recounted the following story: Deep-sea divers recently recovered a leather case containing 40 small vials of perfume oil from the wreck of the Titanic. The little bottles, which probably would have been sold in New York as the ingredients for cologne, belonged to a businessman from Manchester, England. When they […]
Read More A sweet aromaPastor and blogger Joe Thorn recently wrote about five commonly held myths about Hell. These false beliefs are common (much too common), and his brief responses are helpful. Read them here: Hell is a place where Satan reigns. Hell is where sinners party. Hell is temporary. Hell is the absence of God. Hell is for […]
Read More Myths about hellThis is the first of a series of reflections of gratitude on 20 years of ministry at GBC. When I think about ministry and about 20 years of ministry at GBC, I am thankful for grace. The word “grace” comes quickly to the lips of most believers, but are we genuinely convinced of our need […]
Read More Reflections on Twenty Years of Ministry: GraceChuck Swindoll in The Grace Awakening, affirms the reality that God uses “nobodies” to accomplish His eternal purposes: Grace means God uses nobodies. Grace also means He makes nobodies into somebodies. The problem is this: Our shame screams so loudly and our guilt is so huge, we convince ourselves we’re not useful and we think […]
Read More God uses nobodies to accomplish muchWhile I came to GBC with no intention of leaving, I never thought 20 years would come so quickly and I would still be here! What happy and satisfying years these have been for me, Raye Jeanne, and our daughters, Elizabeth and Emily. The Lord has been gracious to mature us in our marriage and […]
Read More Sunday Leftovers (8/15/10)Many years ago, John Piper gave this brief exhortation to help in the battle against lust — look at something greater than the puny desires of sinful, sexual indulgence: “The sky is a great power against lust. Pure, lovely, wholesome, beautiful, powerful, large-hearted things cannot abide the soul of a sexual fantasy at the same […]
Read More Fighting against lustI’ve been thinking quite a bit about gratitude this week. Mostly I’ve considered things for which I am grateful as I consider the work of God in the ministry at GBC (more on that Sunday). But in my contemplation, I’ve also come across two thoughts that should stimulate gratitude in all of us. The first […]
Read More Stimulants to gratitudeGo into virtually any Christian bookstore and you will find them gracing the fronts of greeting cards, serving as ornamental fixtures for shelves, and maybe even offering help as holders of candles or potpourri. They are chunky cherubs — sweet and innocent and harmlessly-winged little helpers. Yet Scripture views them as anything but that. It […]
Read More Thinking about angels and sinThat 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, […]
Read More He will not changeA couple decades ago, Yogi Berra had opportunity to attend a White House dinner. After the event he was asked about the experience, and he replied: “It was hard to have a conversation, there were so many people talking.” Indeed. Yet he was right — for where there is an abundance of words, there is […]
Read More Sunday Leftovers (8/8/10)Galatians 5:19-21 tells us the kinds of sins that when practiced habitually without repentance will preclude one from entering into the kingdom of God and eternal fellowship with Him. These are not only in contrast to the fruit and work of the Spirit of God, but they also relate to virtually every aspect of life, […]
Read More Sins of the fleshDon’t confuse work with a place of employment. John Stott has provided a clear distinction between work and employment: According to God’s intention,…work might be defined as “the expenditure of manual or mental energy in service, which brings fulfillment to the worker, benefit to the community, and glory to God.”…Though all employment is work, not […]
Read More A simple definition of workThis morning in our daily Bible reading, we read again of a number of polygamists among the kings of Israel and Judah. It seems so incongruous — God’s leaders in clear violation of God’s Word. So what is the view of Scripture toward polygamy? How can men who were involved in polygamy seem to be […]
Read More What about polygamy in the OT?
Words of Grace 