Ashes on Ash Wednesday

Friends, today is Ash Wednesday on the church's calendar. It starts the season of Lent that is a forty-day preparation period for Easter Sunday. Count back forty days from Easter (excluding Sundays) and you will arrive at this Wednesday… exactly seven weeks before Easter. This forty-day period corresponds to Jesus’ forty-day fast in the wilderness … Continue reading Ashes on Ash Wednesday

What the death of Christ accomplished – J.C. Ryle

That death discharged in full the mighty debt which sinners owe to God and threw open the door of life to every believer. That death satisfied the righteous claims of God's holy law, and enabled God to be just, and yet the justifier of the ungodly. That death was no mere example of self-sacrifice, but … Continue reading What the death of Christ accomplished – J.C. Ryle

Overcoming the Violent Tyranny of Death – John 11:17-44

In John's narrative of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead, a gnawing statement surfaces not once, twice, but three times. "Jesus, if you’d been here, this would not have happened!" Couldn’t Jesus have prevented the death of his friend, Lazarus? The neighbors mumble: “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have … Continue reading Overcoming the Violent Tyranny of Death – John 11:17-44

The Blessed Hope of Eternal Life in Christ

Put in story form that a child can understand: Then Aslan turned to them and said: “You do not yet look as happy as I mean you to be.” Lucy said, “we’re so afraid of being sent away, Aslan.” "No fear of that,” said Aslan. “Have you not guessed?” Their hearts leaped and a wild … Continue reading The Blessed Hope of Eternal Life in Christ

Facing Our Long Battle with Terrorism

This morning I was reading again a journal article by James I. Packer entitled "Wisdom in a Time of War: What Oswald Chambers and C.S. Lewis Teach Us about Living Through The Long Battle with Terrorism." He wrote this for the January 2, 2002 edition of  the periodical Christianity Today. One of the first points he makes … Continue reading Facing Our Long Battle with Terrorism

Walking a Difficult Road with Jesus

You have a difficult road before you: O traveller to heaven, see that you go not without your guide. You have to pass through the fiery furnace; enter it not unless, like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, you have the Son of God to be your companion. You have to storm the Jericho of your own … Continue reading Walking a Difficult Road with Jesus