Longing for order is one of the things that has been so difficult during this latest season of life. Because we have received so many—and so many different—definitions of reality, life has felt unordered and chaotic.   There is a longing in all of us for order. Now, in fairness, that longing varies by degrees.... Continue Reading

What is the difference between the Jesus of the Bible and you, me, and the prophets of old? Is there a difference? The histories of the widow of Zarephath and the Shunammite woman are very beneficial for teaching us about the person and work of Jesus Christ.   When Elisha came into the house there... Continue Reading

Born just a few years before the conclusion of the disastrous Thirty-Years War, Bethlen witnessed its lasting effects and was left with a distaste for belligerent divisions among those who had the same basic beliefs. Two examples, in his view, were the aggressive arguments about predestination and the Lord’s Supper.   Sitting in prison, “as... Continue Reading

We all are so prone to believing the person telling us what we want to hear. The internet tempts us to believe that we can all be experts on any topic we decide to study. The problem is that the information on the internet is only as good as its source.   Last week I... Continue Reading

Avoiding dishonesty and the spread of falsehoods has to be a priority in our lives if we are to faithfully follow Jesus Christ. Lying, slander, gossip, deceit, etc. should not and must not exist among us. We are to be people who love the truth and speak the truth.   There are a number of... Continue Reading

One of the obstacles to understanding the question of taste is common view that art is to be a matter of spontaneous pleasure and immediate delight. The idea that one’s ability to discern beauty is a discipline that can be practiced is unfamiliar to many Christians.   How can beauty be a real property if... Continue Reading

How in the world do we know if what we are discerning is a true call? Is it only an invitation by a second party, or is it the individual’s initiative? The missionary call seems to be both an individual/subjective conviction and a corporate/objective confirmation.   We often overlook and/or misunderstand the New Testament model.... Continue Reading

A heart apart from God’s grace is desperately wicked but doesn’t know it. A heart touched by God’s grace might still slip into wickedness, yes, but it will knowingly turn in repentance and faith in God and find cleansing in His grace.   Malcom Muggeridge famously observed that “the depravity of man is at once... Continue Reading

God is intimately involved in all aspects of the universe.  Even with something as trivial as flipping a coin, or casting lots, the outcome is determined and controlled by God (Proverbs 16:33).  The normal operation of the universe is not by its own power, but is by God’s power.  Therefore, in the Christian worldview, “natural”... Continue Reading

Now more than ever, as our society suddenly dispenses with arguments they have used to defend the killing of pre-born children for half a century, we should challenge our culture to live up to the principles they are currently appealing to.   Abortion supporters have many arguments they utilize to defend feticide, ranging from difficult... Continue Reading