The times they are certainly a-changing, at least for thoughtful Protestants. Thomas Aquinas, for centuries the object of fear and dread among the followers of Luther and Calvin, is finally receiving his due among the “separated brethren” as a key Christian thinker. And I say this as one of those separated brethren.    The times... Continue Reading

This past Sunday, I preached a sermon from Matthew 18:21-35, where Jesus teaches his followers that God’s forgiveness of us shows us why and how to forgive others. In conclusion, I attempted to answer some of the most common pastoral questions I receive. I share them here hoping they provide some help or at least provoke... Continue Reading

The numbers are chilling. It may be that these events actually took place to show the Ambassador how willing these groups are to fulfill the nefarious agenda they have in the works for Nigeria. It has also shown how fragile Nigeria really is as well.   There is no other way to put it but... Continue Reading

If pastors recover their calling as ministers of the Word, then keeping up with the biblical languages should be a more natural part of their weekly activity. If they work in a “study” instead of an “office” then studying might just come more easily.   It’s that time of year again. A few weeks ago,... Continue Reading

Maybe you think, “It’s too late; not even God could save me.” Or maybe you are a Christian, but you look at your life and wonder if you will make it to the end. Here’s what the Bible says about Jesus Christ, “He is able to save completely those who come to God through him.” (Hebrews... Continue Reading

The Bible has a number of things to say about widows. God instructed Israel not to mistreat widows (Exod. 22:22). The book of Ruth showcases the undying love of a woman for her widowed mother-in-law and God’s greater love through his providential care for both widows, Ruth and Naomi.   Within any decent-sized congregation there... Continue Reading

He could have fought back. In fact, he instinctively reached for his gun, but let go when he realized these were government authorities. One of the tenets of the newly reformed church – in contrast with the Camisards’ tactics – was respect for the civil powers. The guards took him for questioning, then led him to... Continue Reading

Have you ever heard something that was intended as a critique, but you took it as a compliment? This is the way I felt after reading Lewis’s dismissal of Christians who talk about Jesus “all the bloody time” and are not “NORMAL” like the Christians he knows in Europe.   A few weeks ago, someone... Continue Reading

How many of us have comforted our neighbor (or one another) with a reminder that the sinner in the church is little different than the sinner outside? “We are all broken,” it is assured. “We are all miserable failures,” is the refrain. To hear it from some, a mere profession of faith is the only... Continue Reading

We’re told we must make it our goal to enjoy the simplest of things, like strawberries and coffee and teaching multiplication tables to second-graders. In other words, the routine and the mundane that we rarely think much about. But they are gifts given to all people—the bread, the water, the work of our hands—and Solomon,... Continue Reading