When Jesus taught that He was the bread of life, come down from heaven, His listeners grumbled at Him. How was this possible, they asked? This was Jesus, after all, and they knew Joseph and Mary. How was it possible that He came down from heaven? Jesus answered them as said that they should not …
A Psalming People
As we continue to pray and labor for reformation in the church, remember that this is not accomplished in some invisible place. Reformation is manifest in the church; it is manifest to the world. Reformation is not change for the sake of change, but it will sometimes look like this to outsiders. Reformation is not …
Magazined
“We adults look around, for example, and observe that while brain surgeons and Nobel laureates probably have their good points, surely glossy-magazine editors are the most impressive people in America. Every month, in the front of their magazines, many of them have to write those six-hundred word columns with titles like ‘From the Editor’s Desk’ …
All of Them Face Down
“To what may we liken God? The answer, friends, is nothing. And we show that we may compare Him to nothing by comparing Him to everything that is worthy of Him, and, of course, nothing completely is. In Him we live, and move, and have our being. This is not zen Christianity; it is the …
The Proud Have Dug Their Pits
Minister: Lift up your hearts! Congregation: We lift them up to the Lord! Keep me from fainting now, oh Lord, Through hope in Your pure word. My eyes are failing for Your law. When will You come and comfort me, When will You answer all my cries? A dried out wineskin in the smoke Is …
So Fight the Dragon
Once there were two young brothers playing together on the living room floor. Well, they were not really playing together, but they were playing at the same time, and without very much conflict. Their parents were both there, sitting and reading. There were toys all over the floor, but one in particular was under the …
Koinonia or Conflict
The Lord Jesus is seated at the head of this Table, in His resurrected triumph, and yet this is also a meal where His body and blood are on the Table. Not only this, but He teaches us that we are His body, we are of His flesh and of His bone. We are one …
The Mystery of Scandal
The word scandal is unfortunately common in Christian circles, but much of the modern use is not in line with the scriptural use. Our use refers to something important, but we sometimes think that we have handled the biblical doctrine of scandal (and it is a central doctrine) simply because we have dealt with our …
A New Member of Our Family
About an hour or so after I posted the picture below, Evangeline’s mother gave birth to her sister, Daphne Ann Ruby. We give thanks to God; His mercies are innumerable.
Take That
As the drumbeats of polemical warfare continue, and my adversaries grow ever more desperate, I have decided to pull the old “anybody with grandkids this cute can’t be all bad” ploy.