Hymns We Should Sing More Often: Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah
Unfortunately, for a growing number of churches, there are no hymnals in the pews (or on the chairs), and consequently there is little opportunity to draw from the deep well of Christian hymnody.
“Guide Me, O My Great Jehovah” is Williams’ most famous hymn. It compares the life of the believer with that of the Israelites during their 40 year wilderness wanderings in the “barren land”, and makes illusions to manna (“bread of heaven”), the crystal fountain, the fire and cloudy pillar, the Jordan River, and crossing over... Continue Reading
Book Review – The Christian Life
"The Christian Life," by Sinclair Ferguson, deals with the “nuts and bolts” of basic doctrine for living
“Anyone who is familiar with Ferguson knows that he is able to take complex topics and make them accessible without compromising. In particular, he is able to take the concept from the “classroom” to the “pavement” by teaching how it applies. I really appreciate this about the author.” As Christians we know that our... Continue Reading
Marie Durand
A review of the most recent addition to Simonetta Carr’s Christian Biographies for Young Readers
One thing that I appreciate about Carr’s writing is that she doesn’t debone it. What I mean is, she doesn’t take out all of the inconvenient truths and stumbling blocks that most children’s authors would remove for easy digestion. Carr tells is like was and leaves the reader faced with some of the same perplexities... Continue Reading
Thoughts on Study Bibles
Do I recommend study Bibles? Yes, for study.
But study Bibles also have shortcomings. In order to keep the size of the Bible within a reasonable scope (the ESV Study Bible really pushes the envelope here, at almost 2,800 pages) something has to give. Generally what is lost is commentary on the text itself. Comments on difficult passages are often the first to... Continue Reading
Since It Is God’s Law…
Antinomianism downplays the law; legalism downplays the gospel.
Watson goes on to say that in a legal sense no one can obey the law because of the fall and our sinful nature. However, he notes, in a gospel sense we can obey the law. “Gospel obedience consists in a real endeavor to observe the whole moral law (Ps. 119:166):” Our triune God... Continue Reading
How to Read More Books
With summer here, here are some personal discoveries that were helpful to me
“This past year I have attempted to become more intentional with my reading. In previous years I have read a lot but I would not say that I read well. My reading lacked a detailed attack plan. As a result, sometimes reading happened and other times it did not.” “How can I read more books?”... Continue Reading
A Review: “Compassion without Compromise” by Adam Barr and Ron Citlau
How to be compassionate with those struggling with sexual sins without compromising biblical principles
This brings the authors to not only encourage Christians to return to God’s design, but to approach other sexual-sinners with humility, which may be what “our standing for truth needs” because none of us “lives up to the standards our faith demands.” If we do so, then, maybe “this posture of humility will gain the... Continue Reading
Summer Reading Suggestions
Here are a few books that I have enjoyed over the past couple of months
“It is for good reason that David McCullough has twice won the Pulitzer Prize. Few historians have his ability to recount history with such skill and verve. His latest, and perhaps final work, is a biography of the Wright brothers.” I am a voracious and omnivorous reader. While necessity dictates that I focus much... Continue Reading
Christian Duty
“Duty” is a word used in the best sense of the term by many Christians in the past.
There is more to this discussion about duty (e.g. God’s enabling grace, motives, ends, etc.), but we shouldn’t shy away from having a sense of duty as Christians. I have a Christian duty to love/care for my wife and children, to faithfully serve as a pastor to God’s people here, to regularly attend worship services,... Continue Reading
The Glory of Historic Hymns
Omitting older hymns in our gatherings silences the rich voices of church history
“When I mention historic hymns, maybe you cringe as you recall a “worship war” in your local church. Maybe you’re eager to only sing the old hymns. Or maybe you wonder why it is important at all. My aim is not to renew local church disputes or bolster mere sentimentality, but to commend something else... Continue Reading
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