It’s become quite the news story. Abdul Rahman, an Afghan and former Muslim, has been ratted out as Christian. According to Afghanistan’s Islamic law, such an offense is punishable by death. This has captured the ire of the international community (i.e., the West), who is pressuring President Hamid Karzai toward a friendly compromise. However, this capital punishment is not the impulsive will of a deranged despot, but is the widely-expected […]
Slumping on the hidden stairs last weekend I asked God to prepare my heart for our public worship. Little did I realize the sludge from which that request came. Exposed before me was the disparity between my private and public life. This affliction is not exclusive to pastors; although, pastors do engage in a unique public ministry that exacerbates the tension. It was obvious to me that I was asking […]
You cannot afford to miss Sinclair Ferguson’s sermon on “The Church and the Preaching of the Word” from 1 Timothy 3.10-4.5 (3/12/06). It is a soothing balm to my soul this morning. Among his many heart-piercing statements one in particular echoes loudly: “Do not dare hide God’s word from them.” Another pounds heavily: “The pulpit is a deconstructing place.” The congregation has as much responsibility to the pulpit as the […]
In October 2004, I wrote the following during a soul-searching season. At that time I was recently fired from my first church, but was having to stay around to finalize an adoption. So, I was a pastor without a people and a preacher without pulpit. Never had I appreciated the office more. But, God was clear: the act (art?) of preaching can become an idol and He would be worshiped, […]
The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it (Matthew 13.44-46). On […]
“. . . because of the grace given me from God, to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, ministering as a priest the gospel of God, so that the offering of the Gentiles may become acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit (Rom 15.15b-16).” Paul helps me see that yesterday was sacramental. There were offerings being made to the God of the universe. There was confession, repentance, worship […]
Dean P. Johnson has written a great column on masculinity. We may have come out of Eden as metrosexuals, but we went in as G.I. Joes. And despite how cute Ken dresses up, women want to go home with “the man.” Is that the Eldredge corner I hear?
“Now, it is indeed a holy and profitable exercise in nourishing our soul to read God’s Word at home, meditating on it and instructing the family in it. God commands this. Those who are sluggish and indifferent in this exercise show that they have little concern for the life of their souls. However, this is not enough. We must also assemble to confess God’s name, to call upon him, to […]
In The Marks of God’s Children Jean Taffin (1529-1602) provides the following great quote regarding the gospel: “When [God] causes the gospel to be preached, it is certainly the case that he is not saying, ‘I have come to save Simon Peter or Cornelius the centurion or Mary Magdalene.’ He calls no one by the name given them by men at the time of their circumcision or baptism. Were that […]
I usually read the daily obituaries for several reasons. One, it’s like reading a collection of biographies. Two, it helps to “number our days aright” in that our name will be listed someday soon. Three, it gives insight into what most folks hold dear. How will we sum our lives up in a sliver of a newspaper column? The Austin American-Statesman publishes exceptionally good (i.e., full & informative) obituaries. However, […]