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Do we ever consider that affliction might be a gift from God? Psalm 119 has a number of verses that speak of affliction in ways that might surprise us. . . Psa. 119:67     Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word. In this case affliction was a means to bringing the Psalmist back to the Lord. This individual went from waywardness to obedience as a…

The following communication went out to the parents of San Gabriel Christian School. I thought it would be good for the church family to see the response sent to her school. You may also be interested in these two articles: Al Mohler, Shepherd Press. *** Dear Parents, The recent events at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut are horrifying and tragic. We are all…

Most of us spend a lot of time at work, and like anything, especially those things that we do frequently, it’s easy for us to get put things on autopilot.  This is a helpful video to remind us all of why God has us where we’re at, even if some days we’d rather not be there. Make sure you go full screen on this video, it helps.  Click here to link to the…

Have you ever been tongue tied when trying to share the gospel? Have you ever tried to share your faith, get off topic, and end up down some rabbit trail where you are as confused as your listener? Why is it that the very message that we have embraced, the message that has transformed our lives, the message that we would confess is the most important news we have ever…

* This is a “guest post” by Dr. Doug Bookman.  Dr. Bookman is the professor of New Testament Exposition at Shepherd’s Theological Seminary in North Carolina.  He is also my teacher and dear friend.  Dr. Bookman has given me permission to post some of his articles on the person of Christ and I thought it appropriate to start with this reflection on…

“The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me; to one who orders his way rightly I will show the salvation of God!” Psalm 50:23Thanksgiving is coming. There are so many things I love about Thanksgiving: the kids being home from school, time with family, preparing a big meal and then slowing down long enough to enjoy it. All of these things are good. There…

…further reflections on Romans 1:16 – 17(ESV) “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”“ “I greatly longed…

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.Romans 1:16 “Outside of heaven, the power of God in its highest density is found inside the gospel. This must be so, for the Bible twice describes the gospel as “the power of God.” Nothing else in all of Scripture is…

I read the news of Steve Jobs’ death last night on the monitor of my Apple computer.  It was surreal.  I imagined a man driving home from his factory job, in his Model A Ford, to hear about the death of Henry Ford on the radio.  These men are so distant from us, and yet have had a tremendous impact on our daily lives. By all accounts, Steve Jobs did not know Jesus. …

I have written in this setting previously about the impact D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones has had on my life.  He has written two books in particular that have been life changing for me, Preaching and Preachers and Spiritual Depression.  It is the second book I want…

This is part 2 in a series of posts intended to highlight resources to better understand how to “preach the gospel to yourself everyday”.  More importantly, to better understand the gospel itself. The gospel is commonly seen as the message we hear and respond to and then we move on…

With a firm grip on 45 years, I would not be considered “old” by most, except perhaps by my kids and their peers.  But I’m certainly not young anymore, and my body continually finds ways to remind me of the fact.  Over the last few years, I’ve grown more reflective than when I was younger and I think that it is more than just middle-aged melancholy.  I have realized a few…

Perhaps you have a birthday tradition at your home.  Ours is Swedish pancakes for breakfast!  My wonderful wife gets up before everyone else, and as she pours the batter into the griddle, the sweet aroma fills the house in a way that draws us like zombies to the breakfast table.  We fill them with fruit, or sprinkle them with powdered sugar, or just smother them in some…

The best book I have read…lately?  That is a difficult question.  Here are a few that stand out… The Hidden Smile of God,  by John Piper.  This book is the second book in a series of brief biographies written by Piper.  This volume covers John Bunyan, William Cowper and David Brainerd.  They are accessible biographies that challenge your faith and remind you…

Why do we see in color?  Is it simply a more precise way to distinguish between things of similar shape or size?  Granted, it would be more difficult to discern from three birds of varying shades of grey than a red one, a blue one, and a green one.  Why are there so many varieties of flowers?  Could not bees pollinate from the same kind of flower? Is…