On Sabbatical

In September of 1990 at my installation service at the beginning of my ministry at Grace, my father (a seminary professor and pastor) spoke, and in giving a charge, described the man that some have called “the perfect pastor:” The perfect pastor preaches exactly fifteen minutes. He condemns sin, but never embarrasses anyone. He works […]

God cares

There are a variety of reasons we don’t speak the truth of God (sometimes we don’t speak the gospel truth to unbelievers, sometimes we don’t speak Biblical truth to believers — maybe even failing to pray with someone who obviously needs the comfort and encouragement of prayer). But one fundamental reason we don’t speak is […]

Discernment needed

On my upcoming sabbatical, I want to read a number of books. One of those is one just published by blogger Tim Challies, called The Discipline of Spiritual Discernment. It is an important book on an important topic. Al Mohler explains why.

Sunday Leftovers (1/20/08)

Christ and the Father are unified in all their purposes — including their purpose in hardening unbelievers. Yet there is a mystery remaining — the sovereign will of God negates neither God’s compassion for the unbelief of unbelievers, nor their responsibility as they will one day stand under His judgment. So, here are one more […]

Missing joy?

In today’s devotional, Oswald Chambers said this: “There is no joy in the soul that has forgotten what God prizes.” Another way to say that might be, you will not be happy (joyful, content, satisfied, peaceful) if you attempt to find happiness in things that God deems unworthy of His happiness — or avoid the […]

A new blog of interest

Bible.org has a wealth of exceedingly helpful Bible study tools. They have also begun posting a number of blogs, and this week initiated another one that looks to be helpful — Primetime Jesus . The intent of the blog is to “,” and to that end, they are employing the services of a number of […]

The cross and preaching

God did not ordain the cross of Christ or create the lake of fire in order to communicate the insignificance of belittling his glory. The death of the Son of God and the damnation of unrepentant human beings are the loudest shouts under heaven that God is infinitely holy, and sin is infinitely offensive, and […]

Sunday Leftovers (1/13/08)

When the request “We’d like to see Jesus” came, His response was that the hour had finally come for the Son of Man to be glorified. He would be revealed and seen like no time previously. For 33 years, Mary had contemplated and treasured the activities concerning Christ and done by Christ. For three years, […]

When life is bitter….

…trust promises, not providences. This week I’ve had multiple conversations with people who have family or friends who are walking through the valley of the shadow of death. And the shadow is dark and foreboding, filled with more questions and uncertainties than just the matter of death. One writer says that when the bitter experiences […]

Brainerd on spiritual desires

This short treasure from David Brainerd’s journal remained in my in-box from a couple weeks ago: Oh, how precious is time, and how it pains me to see it slide away, while I do so little to any good purpose. Oh, that God would make me more fruitful and spiritual. (HT: CQOD)

Book Review: Battling Unbelief

“I do believe; help my unbelief.” This cry from the father of the mute, demon-possessed boy is in some way the genuine condition of the hearts of all who believe in and follow Christ. There are areas in our lives in which we know the truth of God and believe that truth is sufficient and […]

The Reading List

I’m always on the lookout for good new books. Sometimes it can be a daunting task to walk into a bookstore and try to determine which book is worth reading and which is not. Al Mohler has begun a new feature called “The Reading List” on his web/blog site. I have always found him to […]

Sunday Leftovers (1/6/08)

The triumphal entry of Christ prior to His crucifixion testifies to His Messiahship and Kingship, and prefigures His victory at the cross. What is not understood by the massive crowds and even the disciples that day was the significance of the triumphant Christ. He came as Messiah. He came as the One appointed by God […]

The transforming power of Scripture

R. C. Trench — Lord, what a change within us one short hourSpent in Thy presence will prevail to make!What heavy burdens from our bosoms take, What parched ground refresh as with a shower!We kneel, and all around us seems to lower;We rise, and all, the distant and the near,Stands forth in sunny outline brave […]

Questions to ask when reading your Bible

Practical Tips for Reading Your Bible and Submitting to the Spirit — Read with the intent of knowing God and His mind, not “solving problems.” Establish a time and place that you will meet God every day — e.g., in the blue chair at 6:30 a.m. Keep a Bible, pad & pen (and maybe a […]