As a pastor, I love it when people “get it.” When the gospel finally clicks and people get saved, when parents figure out their responsibility to spiritually shepherd their children, when men begin to share the gospel regularly, all of these are examples of people “getting it” that thrill my soul. Recently a young woman in …
Much ink has been spilt in the last twenty years or so over an issue known in theological circles as “the Lordship controversy” (See John MacArthur’s take here). In a nutshell, the issue comes down to the question of whether or not you can have Jesus as your Savior but not your Lord. Since so …
You are busy. Life is busy. Everyone is busy. In fact, you are too busy to not be disciplined. Think about the necessity of discipline in your everyday life. You are disciplined to go to bed at a certain time, to get up at a certain time, to shower, go to work, tend to your …
Some politicians have gotten themselves into trouble in the past for using a crisis for political gain. Obviously we should not seek personal gain from the pain and hurt of others, but we should hope to grow from our own sufferings. Unfortunately, the crises and sufferings in our life get wasted often. Rather than being shaped by …
I have a bad habit of developing huge Clark Griswold-like expectations about family functions. You know, the kind of expectations that can never be fulfilled, and then on the back end of those unmet expectations I struggle with disappointment. Usually, it is all my fault. For instance, I may plan a movie night for my …
We just walked through a difficult death in our church family that affected our entire community. The woman who died unexpectedly was a devoted wife and mother who loved Jesus, her church, and the middle school students she taught. She embodied much of what Proverbs 31 describes as an excellent wife. It was my privilege …
Theology. Yes, it matters, and yes you are a theologian. Everyone is a theologian, the only real question is whether or not you are a good theologian. Theology is a compound word made of two Greek words theos (God) and the suffix ology (which means knowledge or study of), so theology is the study of …
I recently proofread a paper for a friend (some of you will get the joke there) where he talked about a certain theological position being less of a positive position and more of a negative reaction against a different theological bent. This struck me as a concerning commentary on our current cultural situation. Inside and …
Twice this week I have received free coffee at two different restaurants. On Tuesday a markerter for a new apartment complex was buying coffee for everyone who came into Starbucks. Today, I indulged in Chick-Fil-A’s free coffee for February deal. I like coffee and I like to work and study in coffee shops and restaurants. …