“A little context around the verse is instructive. The people of Israel are living in exile in Babylon and are disheartened. The Lord has just informed them that they will remain there for seventy years. As encouragement He reminds them of two things in verse 11, their exile is part of His plan and those... Continue Reading

“Love discriminates. A husband’s exclusive love for his wife makes her feel positively special among other women. The same holds true for individual Christians and the church as a whole: we are the most treasured people on earth. Christ’s love for us was not an afterthought, but a forethought—we are the reason He came down... Continue Reading

“In early October, Church of Stanley’s congregation voted to affiliate with the Evangelical Covenant Order of Presbyterians, a conservative denomination founded in response to the increasingly pro-LGBT policies of the PCUSA. Taken among voting members present, 79 percent of Church of Stanley’s congregation voted in favor of ending affiliation with PC(USA) and joining ECO, while... Continue Reading

“I used to think homeschooling was the way to do school. You know, the divinely designed method of schooling. And although I wouldn’t quite come out and say it, I kinda looked down on parents who didn’t homeschool. Why? Because I was a self-righteous idiot who drank a lot of his own awesome sauce.”   I... Continue Reading

“Jesus cared about people—to the point of death. There is a sort of dying to ourselves we must do in order to try to relate to the pain of others, even if we think that pain is ridiculous. Today, I am so thankful for Jesus. I believe wholeheartedly that all this division and tension will... Continue Reading

“To expect my spouse to meet all my relational needs is to expect her to be more than who she really is. She cannot share all my interests and hobbies. She can pretend to be interested in that sociological study I read, and I appreciate her efforts. But we all know the difference between genuine... Continue Reading

“Although I love to read, I’ve always found the ordinary book clubs unattractive, mainly because I didn’t want to read their books (I know this sounds horribly postmodern, but bear with me). It’s not that their books were bad (albeit a bit predictable), but as a busy mom of three I wanted my precious reading... Continue Reading

“The only aspect of New Calvinism that is different is the attempt at urban hipness that sometimes surfaces among its proponents (think Greg Thornbury and image of TKNY). Henry and Ockenga had their urban moments, whether Los Angeles (okay, Pasadena), Boston, or Washington DC. But they were more earnest about the truth than being relevant.... Continue Reading

“Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). In that statement, Jesus claims to have a monopoly on the truth. He is the truth. There is no truth outside of the Lord Jesus Christ. And there is no way to be on the way except to believe the truth, and... Continue Reading

“The people we meet, even the most intelligent, are shepherd-less sheep. So, when we meet them in the field we should not let the fact that they are nuclear engineers or doctors or lawyers trouble us. When it comes to their souls they are harried and harassed. They need rest and living water and the... Continue Reading