We have the universal wake-up calls of sin, aging, disease, and death to keep our longings aimed at eternity, but the contrast between Mount Pleasant and heaven doesn’t always seem so stark. Seeking to build heaven on earth is a recipe for numbness. When we tie our life to those of the poor, the fatherless,... Continue Reading

We are to imitate God throughour callings as beloved children. For this to occur, we must develop a functional understanding of what it means to be a “beloved child.” This type of knowledge operates “under the hood” of our life; it is subconscious and reflexive, requiring a “re-wiring” of our inner life. And developing it... Continue Reading

Normal Christian growth is progressive for your whole life. Let me be clear, Christian growth is a work of God from the Spirit. You “owning your faith” in your own strength is to be on the hamster wheel.   Let me run a scenario by you. You are born into a Christian family. Mom and... Continue Reading

The apostle James summed up our situation best when he wrote, “You do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes” (James 4:14).   In the insurance and business worlds, you’ll hear people refer to “acts of God.” This... Continue Reading

The praise of our God is not a mood that we create. It’s not an environment that we set. It’s not a context or culture we can create. It’s not an atmosphere that we muster up with our music and our singing. It’s not a spot where we make it holy through our prayers, decorations, our actions. The praise of... Continue Reading

Have you heard, for example, that apocryphal story of Martin Luther? Apparently he was asked one evening what he’d be doing the next day and he replied, ‘Work, work from early till late. In fact I have so much to do that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer.’   One of my... Continue Reading

God can use secondary means to achieve his purposes, but they are his purposes nonetheless. Thus he might use Israel’s enemies to judge his people. While God is behind all this, those doing these things also remain fully responsible and morally accountable for their actions. And the prophets, when discussing the fate of Israel, make... Continue Reading

Do you mainly use Scripture for preparing studies or providing answers for other people? Is prayer a routine way to open or close meetings? Are memories of passionate pursuit of Christ in the distant past? Is the sin of others more disappointing than your own sin? Do you feel like a full-time pastor but a... Continue Reading

Packaged in an interesting and engaging format, The Screwtape Letters is an effective rebuttal of the division of sacred and secular. Wherever we may be in your walk with God, Lewis’ book helps believers to think deeply about their everyday lives, and to spot the spiritual temptations that present themselves in seemingly small decisions.    Everyday Warfare... Continue Reading

The work of gaining souls to Christ by the gospel is so great and profitable, and the reward of those who are instruments in saving sinners is so great, and the danger of those who slight this work is so great, that those who are employed in the work of the ministry should spare no... Continue Reading