Jacob had waited seven years to marry Rachel. Now, decades later, she is gone. The pillar he erected over her tomb in her memory (Gen. 35:20) was a witness to the sadness and hope that surrounded his life. Sadness in the loss; hope in the covenant promises that now assured him of a love that will... Continue Reading

If judgment begins with the house of God, and we know the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God (1 Pet. 4:17), then the greatest need of the moment is for us to display before the world a broken and contrite heart in true humility and repentance.   One of the... Continue Reading

While there are real reasons to be cautious and critical of key dimensions of Peterson’s broader message, churches have much to learn from reflection upon the reasons why he resonates with so many young men.    The Canadian psychologist Jordan Peterson, author of the bestselling books 12 Rules for Life and Beyond Order, has exploded into mainstream evangelical... Continue Reading

The best of us take great strides in perhaps one or two areas—in humility or sympathy, in patience or gentleness. But the best of us still have such great flaws, such tragic imperfections, and will take them with us to the grave. The best of us are like these few acres of natural beauty in... Continue Reading

We can weep, we can be angry over wrongs, we can be upset about situations. But we can’t be bitter. And of course, if we are bitter, we end up hurting people. How can we not be bitter? Because God, Jesus is walking with us through the pain. And we have comfort and strength.  ... Continue Reading

Chao is mostly remembered for his role in RFT, which, in the words of Bruce P. Baugus, editor of China’s Reforming Churches: Mission, Polity, and Ministry in the Next Christendom,  “helped form a new generation of Reformed leadership within China and throughout the global Chinese church.”   From the earliest days of Protestant missions, foreign... Continue Reading

May we never forget that God is building us together as we are joined in Christ to become a beacon of hope to a world that feels abandoned and mistreated. It is our service to the Lord to love the unloving and be reconciled to each other. May we minister to the cuts in our... Continue Reading

Christians can strain the relationship with God through our sin. But if we are repentant, we don’t need to fear that we will be removed from God’s family.    Christians all love the idea of being forgiven. We love to sing of our sins being paid for and know how kind our God has been... Continue Reading

We must remember that architecture communicates much truth. It speaks loudly to what is important. Where the pulpit is in the house of the Lord says something to those who are listening.   We’ve all heard the jokes about Presbyterian’s being anti-fun, the so-called frozen chosen. The seen, but not heard denomination. The post you... Continue Reading

Too many Christians behave and speak obnoxiously at times, and then when the world responds with hatred, we automatically attribute that hatred to our faithfulness to Christ.   There seems to be a common misconception among many Christians that if the world hates them, it’s incontrovertible proof that they must be doing something right. They... Continue Reading