One of the common mistakes in creating hypothetical scenarios to test where someone “comes down” in the federal vision controversy is the mistake of saying, “How do you preach to the baptized? Do you preach as though they are unconverted, needing constantly to question? Or that they are converted, in need of encouragement?” The question …
The First Sabbath Keeper
Gracious Father, You are the first Sabbath keeper, and we rejoice that You set the pattern in this for us. We know that many of us in our sinfulness have twisted the day of celebration and rest into some kind of dour observance, or, at the opposite extreme, into just another day off. Father, we …
Whose Truth?
Dear visionaries, Jennifer asked: “And whose truth are you speaking of? Yours, Ted’s, Charles Manson’s, Martha Stuart’s, Joe Blow’s, Jane Doe’s? Are you the sole arbiter of what’s true?” I don’t object at all to this question — because it is the same question I have been posing since I began posting to this list. …
Universal Acid
Dear visionaries, Stan responded, “But consider the case of a murder colony . . . the law in the USA would NOT allow such conduct.” Unless, to take one obvious example, the murder colony is called the bombing of Dresden. Stan also said:” “He would have to fight against and oppose almost all wars the …
The Lord is our Light/Psalm 27
INTRODUCTION If God is for us, then who can be against us? This is the fundamental faith of all who have suffered persecution for the cause of Christ. We see it throughout history, and we discover it in both testaments. One man and God outnumber everybody. THE TEXT The LORD is my light and my …
Gratitude and Childbirth
“At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore” (Ps. 16: 11) Growing Dominion, Part 19 In our last installment, we noted that the last one hundred years has brought to us some astonishing blessings in the realm of health. We live much longer on average-an average of about thirty years longer. In response, it …
The Pulpit and Politics/Psalm 20
As we have noted before, the psalms provide us with direction and encouragement in every conceivable human situation. Just as in the next psalm (21), we have thanksgiving in the aftermath of victory in battle, so in this psalm we have a cry of faith prior to the battle. And of course, battle and danger …
Mountainous Grace
Your might and majesty, O Lord are mountainous grace. We bless Your beauty, the beauty of holiness. The glory of Your goodness is the glory of the only begotten, The Son of our salvation, our Savior who purchased us. We come now, confessing, we cannot be restrained. The sanctuary stones cry out—can living stones be …
Pots and Vats
Once there were two boys playing the back yard. They were both good friends, and they got along well for the most part. But one of them had a quick temper, and occasionally he would lose it, and I have to say he had hurt his good friend more than once. But the curious thing …
Bitterness and Baptism
You are not here at the Table by yourself. Seated here with you are all the saints of God, throughout the world, and throughout history. We are called upon to discern the body, and not just the body here in this room. But this does not exclude those who are here in this room. And …