Fighting against lust

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 […]

Stimulants to gratitude

I’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 […]

Thinking about angels and sin

Go 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 […]

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, […]

Sunday Leftovers (8/8/10)

A 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 […]

Sins of the flesh

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, […]

A simple definition of work

Don’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 […]

What about polygamy in the OT?

This 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 […]

OT prophecies of Christ

The OT provides many prophecies of Christ. Here are some of the key passages:

Be on the alert

“Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.” (1 Cor. 16:13; NASB) It was a simple task. Two bushes. One set of hedge clippers. One hour. No problem. I dove into the job with vigor. I really do enjoy trimming bushes and trees — I enjoy seeing the speedy […]

Do you contemplate your dependance on Christ?

Do you contemplate daily your dependence on Christ? Do the words of Paul resonate in your heart? Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God (2 Cor. 3:5) Are John the Baptist’s words sensible to you? “He must increase, but I must decrease.” […]

The power of God and His care of you

It is possible to consider the attributes of God (possible, but not wise) and to think that while God is great and supreme, that He is also disconnected from us. “So what if He is all-powerful,” we might irrationally reason, “of what use is that to me?” In his sermon, “God’s Uniqueness, Our Assurance,” Ray […]

Two new books of particular interest

In the coming months, two books of particular interest to me will be released. They are new books written by my father. The first is entitled Living the New Testament. It is a daily devotional (365 one-page readings) that will take the reader through the key passages in the New Testament providing not only explanation […]

Sunday Leftovers (8/1/10)

A letter to Dear Abby a number of years ago reveals the heart of what many believe about giving: Is it considered proper to make change from the offering plate when it’s passed at church? A member of our family says it’s not OK. I say, it’s better than not putting anything in. Your opinion […]

Memories

Memories. The first day of school. The first date with your wife. The night your child was born. The funeral of your best friend. The aching regret of a mistake, a sin, that cannot be undone. Water skiing on the lake with friends. The smell of hot-dogs and popcorn that takes you in your mind’s […]