Worthy of imitation

Several years ago, basketball player Charles Barkley created no small amount of controversy when he said, “I am not paid to be a role model. I am paid to wreak havoc on a basketball court. Parents should be role models. Just because I can dunk a basketball, that doesn’t mean I should raise your kids…” […]

Gratitude when robbed

Last week our church building was broken into again. It’s happened several times over the years, and every time it happens, my mind immediately thinks of the words of Matthew Henry after he was robbed: Let me be thankful. First, because I was never robbed before.Second, because although they took my wallet, they did not […]

On the reading of many books

Having books and resources at our disposal is a good and blessed gift from God. But at times it is overwhelming to consider what to read and what to give our attention to the most. In previous generations, the question was not “do I have enough time to read?’ but, “do I have enough to […]

Sunday Leftovers (7/1/07)

It was supposed to be just a simple, brief, quiet lunch at home with Raye Jeanne and the girls. A respite in the midst of a busy schedule. The taste of some sweet fellowship to nourish our hearts with each other until we came together again at the end of the day. At the time […]

Spurgeon on the cross

Charles Spurgeon, in “Mourning at the Sight of the Crucified:” Is there not one among you who can play the man, and insult the Man of Nazareth to his face? No, not one! Like cowardly dogs, they slink away! The infidel’s bragging tongue is silent! The proud spirit of the atheist is broken; his blusterings […]

Sunday Leftovers (6/24/07)

The cross is God’s “foolish” work to extricate pride from our lives. Now don’t misunderstand; by that it is not meant that men should not boast. Not only do all men boast, but all men should boast. The question is not whether or not we should boast. The question is whether we are boasting in […]

How a Boy Becomes a Man

In a two-part commentary two years ago, Al Mohler noted 13 marks of manhood — 13 qualities that not only signify that transition has taken place from boyhood to manhood, but also 13 targets for fathers to take aim at in the process of discipling their children. While he provides comment with each one, simply […]

A Father’s Encouragement

This morning I read a quotation from Thomas Fuller (1608-1661). It is a succinct reminder both of the weight of our influence on and the extent of God’s grace on our children as we seek to father them to the glory of God. Lord, I find the genealogy of my Savior strangely checkered with four […]

Sunday Leftovers (6/17/07)

One writer has noted that “there is a ‘father hunger’ in every one of us — an insatiable desire to know our fathers.” I believe he is right and I believe that produces at least two clear implications. One, it behooves a father to do all he can to fulfill that hunger by being intentional […]

Father’s Day Meditation

Today is Father’s Day. For some that is a glad and easy celebration and remembrance. For others it is a day mixed with sorrow and regret for a relationship that once was and now is gone or for a desired relationship that was never possessed. That makes worship easy for some and difficult for others. […]

Seven Facts About Fatherhood

A couple of years ago, Alistair Begg noted seven facts about fatherhood that are good reminders that will help every father shepherd his family with more wisdom and grace: Fact 1: I am a Dad – even on the mornings when I don’t feel like it; even when I know I blew it, even when […]

Permanence and Marriage

For all that was said in three sermons on marriage from 1 Peter 3:1-7, little was said about a commitment to the permanence of marriage. These three statements are an encouragement and exhortation to keep on practicing godly disciplines within the context of marriage. We only regard those unions as real examples of love and […]

Sunday Leftovers (6/10/07)

Call this, “How to listen to a sermon about marriage (or any sermon).” There is a temptation when a pastor announces his sermon topic as being “the roles of husbands and wives in marriage,” for a husband or a wife to inwardly cheer, thinking, “Wonderful! I am so glad we came this morning for my […]

Trouble Arising Early to Pray?

Do you have trouble arising early in the morning to pray? This word of encouragement and exhortation from John Calvin is a good encouragement to continuance in the discipline of prayer: “Although we ought always to raise our minds upwards towards God, and pray without ceasing, yet such is our weakness, which requires to be […]

Sunday Leftovers (6/3/07)

A fundamental means of surviving — no, thriving — in marriage is by cultivating love in that marriage. Husbands are called to love their wives (Eph. 5:25-30). Wives are called to love their husbands (Titus 2:4). In the classic passage on love, all believers (including both husbands and wives) are called to a life of […]