“One should remember that only the people living in the Land that was promised to Abraham are placed under the threat of death (called the “ban”) by the Lord, and even then the conquest is only appropriate when their sin has reached its full (Gen 15:16). As in the new covenant, if the enemies of God repent, then the... Continue Reading

“It is a real pleasure as a pastor to recommend Ken Golden’s new book from Christian Focus, Presbytopia: What it means to be Presbyterian.  In this short volume, Ken provides the reader with the basics of the membership classes at his own church, an Orthodox Presbyterian congregation in Iowa.”   Church membership – that formal,... Continue Reading

“Pregnancy rates among teenagers have been consistently dropping for the last two decades, and recent years have all seen historic declines in national teen pregnancy rates. What’s driving the decrease isn’t known for sure, but improved access and better sex education are likely playing a role.”   The rate of American teenagers giving birth has... Continue Reading

“The liberal arts school was named after 19th Presbyterian missionaries named Whitman who were killed by Cayuse Indians enraged by measles inadvertently spread by newly arrived settlers. There are no plans evidently to rename Whitman, which was originally founded as a Congregationalist seminary but long since has shed any church affiliation.”   Whitman College in... Continue Reading

“We believe in the 39 books of the Old Testament, because the Lord Jesus Christ affirmed the Old Testament. And we believe in the 27 books of the New Testament, because the Lord Jesus Christ authorized His apostles to write the New Testament.”   Have you ever looked at your Bible and wondered, “How do we... Continue Reading

“The temptation to treat worship as something casual is great. As part of our weekly activity, it lends itself to being treated as common and routine. We easily go through the motions, sing the songs mindlessly, and get our worship attendance card punched. May it never be. We are on holy ground. As we attend... Continue Reading

“Christians, this is how much Jesus loved you. On that horrible day, the Lord could have come down from the cross and poured out holy wrath upon his enemies. He could have given them that which they deserved. However, because Jesus loved you — his enemy — and wished to atone for all your sins, he stayed... Continue Reading

Restoration teams—equipped with manuals to instruct the church on how to reinstate its fallen pastor—wait like tow truck drivers on the side of the highway, anticipating the next leadership “accident.” Grace Community Church, where I pastor, has received inquiries wondering if it has written guidelines or a workbook to help in restoring fallen pastors to... Continue Reading

“Most of life’s important matters require not only the act itself, but also the preparation for the act. This is true of worship, relationship, and romance, so why should it be any different with prayer?”   Not too long ago I was speaking to a friend who was lamenting the way he had spent his... Continue Reading

“Through reading the Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave by Frederick Douglass I learned several lessons. The most significant lessons were on conviction and resolve. Douglass’ life along with the life of other African-Americans can contribute to our understanding of the Christian life and theology.”   Black history is part of the... Continue Reading