“There are two basic directions a boy can take in departing from biblical masculinity. One is the option of effeminacy, and the other is a macho-like counterfeit masculinity. With the former, he takes as a model a set of virtues which are not supposed to be his virtues. With the latter, he adopts a set …
Your Father, Who Sees In Secret
True religion is always found in the presence of God. False religion is always practiced with at least one eye on man — and Jesus teaches us that whether the man is someone else is immaterial. “Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you …
Small Beginnings
Minister: Lift up your hearts! Congregation: We lift them up to the Lord! Great God, heavenly Father, Lord of all that is, King of heaven and earth, we pray to You now in the name of Jesus Christ, Your Son and our Lord. You delight in manifesting Your glory in things that are small. You …
Life For The Dead
As we approach the wonderful celebrations of Easter, let us remember that all our songs in approaching that day are songs of ascent. We are climbing a mountain, not as recreational hikers, looking for a panoramic view, but as worshipers, seeking to declare God’s praises in the high place that He has assigned for His …
Reciprocity
The Bible teaches us that we as Christians partake of Christ. When we come to this table, we partake of His body, and of His blood. But we do not partake of Christ in some isolated fashion, as though it were possible to partake of one narrow portion of Him. We partake of totus Christus, …
Thou Shalt Not Steal, IMO
Definitions frequently plague us. One problem occurs when we think of the definition as having a reality apart from the thing it is describing. Thus it is that a man can fight for “the covenant” while in all his day-to-day covenantal dealings he assaults and insults the reality in various ways. But another problem with …
Discovery Channel Picks Up the Shroud
Sorry to post two notices about all this Shroud of Turin business in one day, but that’s the way the linen fades, you know? Some of our local critics have a profound need for this to have been anything but a huge breakthrough in Shroud studies, and have rather desperately wished it to turn out …
Dragons and Pruning Hooks
“And this is why it is absolutely essential for boys to play with wooden swords and plastic guns. Boys have a deep need to have something to defend, something to represent in battle. And to beat the spears into pruning hooks prematurely, before the war is over, will leave you fighting the dragon with a …
America: Empire in Denial?
In the most recent edition of World that I have (Feb. 26), Andree Seu summarizes the views of Niall Ferguson, author of a book named Colossus: The Price of America’s Empire. It is difficult to know how much of Ferguson’s view Seu actually endorses, but the impression left is that of clear support and go-team-go-ism. …
Surpassing Comprehension
Our Father and God, Your kindness to us surpasses comprehension. We are so grateful as we approach yet another Lord’s Day. We thank You for our salvation rest, we thank You for Jesus Christ, we thank You that our children and grandchildren can grow up loving You by the grace You have given. The food …