On August 22, 1651, the authorities beheaded Christopher Love for his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ at Tower Hill, London, England. His biography entitled “A Spectacle Unto God” chronicles his life and especially the love that his and his wife Mary shared. This couple had three children...she was pregnant with another child. They had … Continue reading Living and Dying Well – Encouragement from Christopher and Mary Love
“Serve the Lord with gladness.” — Psalm 100:2
I was recently examining the minutes of our elders' meetings during this past year and came across this devotional thought I had shared with our leaders a year ago from the esteemed preacher, Charles Haddon Spurgeon, on Psalm 100:2. It challenged me anew to pray that cheerfulness and joy would mark my service and ministry … Continue reading “Serve the Lord with gladness.” — Psalm 100:2
Hope for Aging Saints When the Storms of Life Come
I am starting to read a book that was authored by a friend, Dr. Michael Parker. It is entitled A Vision for An Aging Church: Renewing Ministry by and for Seniors. Here's an encouraging nugget in the prologue. The majority of older Christians, by virtue of living so long, have experienced the hopelessness of soul … Continue reading Hope for Aging Saints When the Storms of Life Come
Threats to a Growing Church – Part 2 (Acts 6)
Our Wednesday Vespers provides us a time at mid-week to worship, pray, study, and celebrate communion. If you can't make Wednesday evenings, here's a guide through Acts 6 for you to use in praying for our church. We would covet your prayers! Threats to a Growing Church - Part Two
Happy Are Those Who Are Poor in Spirit – A Few Reflections and A Prayer
The Sermon on the Mount describes what human life and human community looks like when they come under the gracious rule of King Jesus… Still today the indispensable condition of receiving the kingdom of God is to acknowledge our spiritual poverty… Thus, to be ‘poor in spirit’ is to acknowledge our spiritual poverty, indeed our … Continue reading Happy Are Those Who Are Poor in Spirit – A Few Reflections and A Prayer
Unremoved Thorns and Unanswered Prayers
What is it that we are to learn from the Apostle Paul’s thorn that is not removed in spite of his focused prayers for its removal? Many would claim that Paul did not have sufficient faith or else it would have been removed. However, this is completely contrary to God's Word. Here are a few … Continue reading Unremoved Thorns and Unanswered Prayers
When You Walk through Times of Spiritual Darkness
In today's contemporary church, we speak little about the subject of spiritual darkness, but in the older tradition it was very different. It was recognized that at times God can sovereignly bring upon us episodes of spiritual darkness, in which what is sensed is his absence rather than his presence, his displeasure rather than an … Continue reading When You Walk through Times of Spiritual Darkness
When You Doubt the Father’s Love
Recently, I stood at the foot of the grave of the Apostle John and thought about these wonderful truths that he wrote about the love of God. "How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!" (1 John 3:1) … Continue reading When You Doubt the Father’s Love
The Purpose of God-Sent Afflictions
To be thankful only for our comforts is to make an idol of this life. “God-sent afflictions,” says Maurice Roberts, “have a health-giving effect upon the soul” because they are the medicine used to purge the soul of self-centeredness and this world’s vanities. Pain, in other words, sharpens us, matures us, and gives us clear … Continue reading The Purpose of God-Sent Afflictions
What is life about? Reflecting on the Death of an Icon of American Industry
I am indebted to Steve Jobs, the founder and CEO of Apple Computers, for making my day to day work as a pastor more productive and more enjoyable, but it is important that we reflect upon our own lives and mortality at times like these. Moses prays in Psalm 90:12 - "Teach us to number our days, … Continue reading What is life about? Reflecting on the Death of an Icon of American Industry
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