“Pastors enter congregations vocationally in order to embrace the totality of human life in Jesus’ name. We are convinced there is no detail, however unpromising, in people’s lives in which Christ may not work his will. Pastors agree to stay with the people in their communities week in and week out, year in and year out, to proclaim and guide, encourage and instruct as God works his purposes (gloriously, it […]
I write beside my wife who is recovering from a “successful” surgery. The operation went smoothly with no biological complications. Her pain is great now, but we pray it’s worth it in the long run. I will confess, however, this has proven much more difficult for me than expected. There is a tidal wave of feelings, questions, speculations and doubts that leave me awash in creatureliness. Frankly, I feel like […]
Amy and I report at 12pm to Scott and White Hospital (Temple, TX) for her afternoon surgery. The plan is for a full, abdominal hysterectomy. She will be in the hospital 2-4 days, Lord willing. The Puritans broke evil down into three expressions: the world, flesh and devil (Eph 2.1-3). All of them conspire to disrupt faith and trip the saints. This morning we experience such a conspiracy. Despite God’s […]
A great Friday quote to set the pace for Sunday: It is not the duty of the clergy to blunt the sharpness, to soften the hammer, to quench the fire. Woe to the preacher who protects the people from the Word that kills, because he protects them also from being made alive–truly and forever alive. Woe to the preacher who acts as a buffer, deflecting the force of the Scriptures […]
In God’s kind providence, He has brought a sermon to meet our need. If children are a blessing of the Lord and if we want God’s blessings then how can a hysterectomy be of faith? John Piper helps answer this question in a recent sermon. Thank you, Father, for sending preachers by whom You meet our need for help, counsel and comfort.
When Jesus heard that [Lazarus] was sick, He then stayed two days longer in the place where He was. Jesus then said to [his disciples] plainly, “Lazarus is dead, and I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, so that you may believe.” (Jn 11.6, 14-15). By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac . . . He considered that God is able to raise […]
A recent article in Tennessee’s Baptist and Reflector bemoaned the apparent failure of Southern Baptist churches to meet the 2006 institutional goal of one million baptisms. In the article, Mr.Wilkey asked, “With all the effort and with all the passion Bobby Whelch [the previous SBC president and spearhead of the baptism campaign] put into ‘Everyone Can,’ why is it that apparently “everyone didn’t?” “Apparently ‘everyone didn’t?’” How can we possibly […]
…so that it will give grace to those who hear. (Eph 4.29c, NASB)…that it may give grace to those who hear. (ESV)…that it may minister grace unto the hearers. (KJV)…that it may benefit those who listen. (NIV)…in order that it might give grace to those listening. (Maxwell) Paul told us what not to do with our mouths: don’t let language unfit for the Kingdom come out our our mouths (v29a). […]
…but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment… (Eph 4.29b, NASB)…but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion… (ESV)…but that which is good to the use of edifying… (KJV)…but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs… (NIV)…but whatever is good toward edification’s need… (Maxwell) The remedy for sarcasm is not silence. […]
Especially on Monday morning, nothing goes better with my Hawaiian Macadamia brew like a shot of Edwards. Stir in this quote from “The Christian Pilgrim” into your pastoral ponderings (or in my case, pastoral poutings!): God is the highest good of the reasonable creature; and the enjoyment of him is the only happiness with which our souls can be satisfied. To go to heaven, fully to enjoy God, is infinitely […]