Shepherds’ Conference notes

Last week, along with five other men from our church, I attended the Shepherds’ Conference. While the conference is designed for pastors, any man would find encouragement in his spiritual life and exhortation for his leadership responsibilities. And that was certainly true of the conference this year, which was a great time of instruction from […]

Sermon: God’s Day of Wrath

“God’s Day of Wrath” Romans 2:5 March 6, 2016 We like to celebrate special days and holidays. So each week we remember the work of Christ for us on Sunday. And of course in a few weeks there is Easter and we just finished Christmas. And we also like a few lesser known holidays, like […]

The church – God’s compelling community

One of the best books I read last year was The Compelling Community, co-authored by Mark Dever and Jamie Dunlop. Last week I found an interview that Dever and Dunlop did for Nine Marks, discussing the book. Often books will make statements that suggest immovable principles. This interview “softens” some of the hard statements of […]

We know all things work together for good…

Wednesdays with Watson is a weekly reading taken from my favorite Puritan writer, Thomas Watson. This week’s selection is taken from All Things for Good. If the whole Scripture be the feast of the soul, as Ambrose said, then Romans 8 may be a dish at that feast, and with its sweet variety may very […]

Why manners matter

Apart from all the typical rhetoric and bluster of a typical political campaign, during this election cycle I have been particularly frustrated with the tone of the arguments. Many — too many — of the candidates have degenerated into ad hominem attacks, verbal bullying, condescending comments, and generally rude behavior. A number of years ago, […]

A hymn for today – voting day

Today the people of my state of Texas (and 12 other states) cast their votes in the primary election. There have been strong words and the divisions between the parties and there appear to be greater divisions and disharmony among the candidates within the same parties as well. Complaints and concerns about the candidates are […]

Sermon: The Reality of God’s Judgment

“The Reality of God’s Judgment” Romans 2:1-4 February 28, 2016 Just about the only time people enjoy hearing about the judgment of God is when it is spoken against. The world mocks and hates the judgment of God because it cannot bear the thought of it being real. And many believers don’t like to talk […]

Grab bag

“A Stunning Scale of Our Solar System, Drawn in the Dessert.” Then read Genesis 1 and Psalm 8. I’ve not seen the movie, “The Risen,” but here is a review that appears to be quite helpful. Samuel James posted “Some Thoughts on Christians, Movies, and Nudity.” And then some more thoughts. These are helpful and […]

A remarkable help to believers

This Sunday we will partake of the ordinance of communion. As the word “communion” suggests, it is a time of fellowship. But the fellowship anticipated by the word is not communion with one another, but communion with Christ. It is an intimate reflection on and remembrance of the death and resurrection of Christ. And as […]

Sermon: The Judgment of God and Self-Righteousness

“The Judgment of God and Self-Righteousness” Romans 2:1-4 February 21, 2016 Sir Robert Watson Watt was instrumental in the creation of radio detection and ranging (what is commonly called “radar”). As early as 1915, Watson Watt was using radio technology to provide warnings to British pilots in the First World War. But it was 20 […]

The fight against sin

The battle against sin is a battle that is fought and won or lost in the mind. Long before any of us sins in any way we have lost the battle against that sin in our minds. And before we ever decisively act against any sin with our bodies, we have won the battle against […]

A godly man esteems Christ precious

Wednesdays with Watson is a weekly reading taken from my favorite Puritan writer, Thomas Watson. This week’s selection is taken from The Godly Man’s Picture. ‘Unto you therefore which believe, he is precious’ (1 Pet. 2:7). In the Greek it is ‘an honour’. Believers have an honourable esteem of Christ. The psalmist speaks like one […]

How meditation differs from memory and study

Wednesdays with Watson is a weekly reading taken from my favorite Puritan writer, Thomas Watson. This week’s selection is taken from Heaven Taken by Storm. The memory, a glorious faculty that Aristotle calls the soul’s scribe, sits and pens all things that are done. Whatever we read or hear, the memory registers. Therefore, God does […]

Made to serve

In the last few years I have observed an increasing number of businesses training their employees to respond to requests for help from patrons with the phrase, “It’s my pleasure.” These businesses want their customers to feel like they are not an imposition but a joy. That kind of attitude is implied in the care […]

Sermon: Cultivating Ministry

“Cultivating Ministry” Ephesians 4:11-12 January 17, 2016 We live in an entertainment culture. We go to the gym to exercise, step on a treadmill and have a TV screen facing us to watch. But most don’t watch – they have their own private entertainment in their own headphones. Or perhaps you prefer an aerobics class […]