“We need to travel back in time to the day when Isaiah confronted King Ahaz on the highway to Fuller’s Field. On that day, King Ahaz was in trouble. He had not only refused to join forces with Damascus and Israel against the rising power of Assyria, it was worse, he had sought an alliance... Continue Reading

“The following recommendations are motivated by the twin concerns to use email efficiently and courteously; some are motivated more by the one than the other.  They do not have the weight of the Decalogue that Moses brought down from Mount Sinai; they are not moral absolutes, but rather guidelines/suggestions from a person who has studied... Continue Reading

The end of “Out of the Woods” makes sense to people today. If the highest purpose of life is to discover yourself, then everything – including our relationships – must be reoriented to that view of self-discovery and self-exploration. The dissolution of the relationship is now a good thing if it prompts that crucial moment of... Continue Reading

“Best books” lists are unavoidably idiosyncratic—hence an effort at recommending “significant” books for pastors. This may well mean a pastor should read them, but it certainly means a pastor should, at least, be aware of them. My criteria remain the same: (a) I try to include a range of genres, since different books contribute different... Continue Reading

“If a missionary isn’t willing to slow things down just because he wants some quick, shoddy results and cool Facebook pictures, the dude needs to reevaluate why he’s even going overseas. Truthfully, between you and me, it would’ve been better if he hadn’t gone at all.”   I’ve rubbed my boney shoulders with lots of... Continue Reading

According to one progressive pastor,  “…there’s a far deeper, more organic challenge for our denomination. Many of its leaders at both the local and national level are no longer in synch with any semblance of orthodox Christian creeds and doctrine.”    I recently came across a remarkable piece of revisionist church history: In 1930, when PC... Continue Reading

“The background to the churches’ determination to make their worship boredom-free zones is a era of rampant materialism which the western world has never experienced before. For example, at parties today each child who comes expects to go home with a party bag full of goodies.”   An elder preceded the minister into the pulpit... Continue Reading

“Our basic human need as sinners trumps all other needs that are unique to age and stage of life. That means that the gospel is more important than any targeted ministry. It also means that, though we should work hard to communicate the gospel in understandable, age-appropriate ways, there is only one message that people... Continue Reading

“There is no religious father, ecclesiastical institution, spiritual discipline, inspirational book, or magic pill that will fix what ails you. Every man, every day, in every place, breaks God’s Law and sins before his face.”   How fantastic would it be to love God with every ounce of your being? Can you imagine how incredible it would... Continue Reading

“Some of the holiest men I know are men who have experienced same-sex attraction as an ongoing inner reality in their lives. They have made a decision not to act on their same-sex desires. Their holiness stems precisely from the challenge this decision presents. They know they need God. And like Mary Magdalene, they love... Continue Reading