What Is Reformation Day?
A single event on a single day changed the world
“Martin Luther, a scholar, took quill in hand, dipped it in his inkwell and penned his 95 Theses on October 31, 1517. These were intended to spark a debate, to stir some soul-searching among his fellow brothers in the church.” A single event on a single day changed the world. It was October 31,... Continue Reading
Affectionate Action
Christ looks at his disciples and says, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments."
“In the Bible, one reads of the love of the Heavenly Father. One then sees him prove his affection for the world by sending his own son that whoever believes in him might not perish but find eternal life. Likewise, the affection of the Son for both the Father and the Elect is legendary.” Christ looks at his... Continue Reading
Am I a Pastor or Am I a Scholar?
Has God called me to be a pastor, a professor, or both?
“Some insisted it boils down to personality. I’m a pretty serious extrovert. I’m comfortable in a lively conversation. Does this mean I should pastor? Not necessarily. Many of my pastoral heroes are serious introverts. Besides, my most skilled professors took a relational approach to students and were also devoted churchmen.” John Calvin was certain God had called and... Continue Reading
Don’t Coddle Your Fears
In what deep end are you afraid of drowning?
“Are you standing petrified on the end of some diving board in a faith crisis while your heavenly Instructor is exhorting you to jump? Is he making precious and very great promises (2 Peter 1:4) to you that if you jump, you will discover new dimensions of swimming joy?” When I was six or... Continue Reading
The Information Enigma
You know Darwinism has problems, but how do you explain them?
“As intelligent design theorists have pointed out, unguided, natural processes always degrade information — they never increase it. If life at its most fundamental level is a digital code, then mutations are glitches that, if they accumulate, will eventually kill the organism.” What’s the greatest discovery in the history of biology? If you said... Continue Reading
Praying the Unrevealed
Should Christians pray for things that are hidden in the secret will of God?
“We are not setting out in prayer to change the mind or will of God, but simply to make known to Him our “wants and our desires.” We do so while simultaneously settling in our hearts that it is God’s will –and not our own– that we ultimately long to see fulfilled.” Should Christians... Continue Reading
Eight Life-Changing Things Someone Taught Me
Eight lessons I have learned that have altered my thinking in profound ways
“This are just a few of the small things that have changed me throughout life. If you’ve known me for any length of time, you’ve probably heard me talk about one or all of them. I hope even more, though, that you’ve seen me live them.” There have been seven or eight lessons I have... Continue Reading
Let’s Be Clear About What Real Christian Persecution Looks Like
What it really means to have your faith "under attack."
“When we start to take on the language of violence—“culture war,” “attacks on values,” “faith under siege”—to describe ideological differences that are actually relatively peaceful in practice, we not only overstate reality. We risk losing perspective on what real persecution looks like.” It’s been an eventful few months in America’s so-called culture wars. In... Continue Reading
40 Things I’ve Learned in 40 Years
If you looked back on the decades of your life, what lessons have you learned?
So much time is wasted on things that just don’t matter: Life is short and too often is spent pursuing after and worrying about things that don’t matter in the end. I don’t want to live with regrets. I’ve wasted too much time already. You too? Let’s seek to glorify God in what we do... Continue Reading
Reformation Reminders: Rome & Her Desecration of Christ
This Saturday, October 31, commemorates nearly 500 years since one of the greatest movements of God in church history; the Protestant Reformation.
Scripture could not be more clear on the adequacy and finality of Christ’s atoning work. Yet, in every mass, Rome asserts that Christ, cannot really be seated anywhere in heaven, but is ready, waiting, and being summoned back down for additional sacrifice to atone for sin. On this teaching alone Rome renders herself a desecration... Continue Reading