We must always remember the importance of eating. Food is not a consequence of the Fall, and the nourishment of creatures was no afterthought on the part of God. God created us as eating creatures. As we eat, and grow, and mature, and multiply, we find that God is in the process of turning inorganic …
Alternative City Walls/State of the Church #2
Introduction: The need of the hour is for the church to help establish a defined counterculture. This requires much more than defined denominational boundaries, or sectarian carve outs. There needs to be a defined center (worship) and a defined mission field (the world). In order to accomplish this, we need brick and mortar to build …
Not Just the Other Guy
When we are in the grip of the really dangerous sins, we want to think that the other person is the one with the problem. When you lie, or lust, or steal, these things are of course bad, but you usually know that they are. But when you are bitter, or envious, or competitive, or …
Two Questions
There are two great questions that should be answered in your minds as you come to the Lord’s Table. These questions should not just be answered at one point in your life, but rather should be part of your conscious heart and mind each time you approach the Table. The two questions are these: what …
Where Did Demetrius Go?
Part of our church’s long term strategy over the next few decades is to plant a number of churches here on the Palouse. We already have two Reformed churches here in Moscow, one in Lewiston about thirty miles south of us. Pullman is eight miles to the west, and is in need of a Reformed …
All the Condemnation in the World
On my top menu bar, over on the far right — and some would charge that if I were in full control of my layout, everything would be on the far right — you can see the discrete little word shop. In that little shop, an experiment in publishing is going on, and I invite …
Our Culture, What Remains of It/State of the Church #1
Introduction: Instead of a stand-alone “state of the church” message this year, as has been our custom, I want to spend a number of weeks on the topic. Lord willing, I intend to drill down into the subject, and I trust that the reasons for doing so will become increasingly apparent as we work through …
The Envy Prod
As we consider the meaning of the death of Jesus—intended by God as the death of all envy—and the power of His resurrection, intended as the basis for the proclamation of the gospel of life, what should we do? In the light of this, how should we live in community with one another? Here is …
Life Devouring Death
The psalmist praises God because God prepared a table for him in the presence of his enemies. Surely this would include the presence of the great enemy, death. Now rightly understood, this table is the central example of that gracious provision, and rightly understood, this table is one of the great weapons in the arsenal …
A Meditation: Christmas Eve 2017
As Christians we confess the reality of the true and living and triune God on two levels. The ultimate level is God-as-He-is-in-Himself, independent of any creation. The infinite God is revealed to us as Father, Son and Holy Spirit—God the Speaker, God the Spoken, and God the Interpretation. This is simply and solely the way …