The shepherding model finds its perfect example, its ongoing strength, and its eternal security in the Chief Shepherd, the Lord Jesus Christ, “who lays down his life for the sheep” (John 10:11).   When my son was in kindergarten, he brought home a biographical sketch he had completed at school. It included a self-portrait and... Continue Reading

To be strengthened in God does not mean to receive food or money or weapons from above, but words of God’s promise.…David remembers and meditates on the words of God till his soul finds fresh courage in them.   David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because all the people were bitter... Continue Reading

There are times when giving everything you’ve got is exactly what is needed. So go for it. Give, and rest, and then give some more. There’s a joy in spending your strength for others that you can’t get anywhere else. There is a time to save your strength—so that you can spend it more effectively... Continue Reading

Letting go doesn’t mean that everything the other person did was right. Sometimes, however, there’s a greater right than being right. The offender might not deserve our forgiveness, but, of course, neither did we deserve forgiveness.   This post addresses a problem that is common to all of us. It seems to be part of... Continue Reading

The past decade is a needed reminder of Solomon’s wise words in Psalm 127:1, “Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.” The people who gave their blessing to the judicial demolition crew that took a sledgehammer to marriage are learning that hard lesson now.   This summer marks the... Continue Reading

Some Christians may be injudiciously cheering the fact that people are being revived from apathy or atheism into a religion that leads them to hell all the same. For that reason, I encourage Christians to exercise wisdom when it comes to identifying evidence of God’s work and wisdom when it comes to celebrating it.  ... Continue Reading

It is difficult when you are only trying to serve God, if someone comes up and begins to attack your character. But it will happen. Count on it. Jesus did not want his disciples to expect a rose-colored world. Remember this week: When falsely reviled, you become like Jesus in some measure. This is one... Continue Reading

The ordinary means given by God—the Word, sacraments, and prayer—were provided so that men and women could learn from the Bible about the saving plan of God in Christ, and, having believed, could be confident in their right standing with God their Creator. These means, so profoundly articulated in our Confession, are of enduring importance... Continue Reading

We need to see the “new sexuality” as an integral expression of age-old religious paganism. In our response, we cannot follow Lot, who would have sacrificed his daughters to placate the aggressors. Nor can we claim personal moral superiority. We must always hear, in the clamor for acceptance and recognition, the cry of divine image-bearers,... Continue Reading

We’re drawn to the machine for the same reason we’re drawn to the fake plant—we want production without the hard and slow work it takes to get it. We want quick results minus the God-connected process. But machines can’t produce genuine fruit.   I’ve never liked fake plants. Mostly, I’ve just never found them convincing,... Continue Reading