Nothing is ‘just’ a symbol. That’s a misunderstanding of what symbols are (they’re signs that participate in the reality that they signify). That tree was made by the Lord to communicate meaning to you that glorifies Jesus. That is its primary purpose. Wonder is the correct response.   We see this first in the structure... Continue Reading

Statements about God’s sovereignty litter the pages of the Bible, with some going down to the smallest of details. Just one example is Jesus saying: “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father” (Matt. 10:29). And if a... Continue Reading

Our rest and peace come from God, and God alone. No matter what is ahead (and only he knows) (Habakkuk 3:17-19), he is our hope, our rock, and our salvation (Psalm 62:5-7). We cling to his promises (2 Peter 1:4), looking each morning for his (new) mercies (Lamentations 3:21-23), and resting in his ‘everlasting love’... Continue Reading

Be warned.  The apostle Paul says, “by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.”  Expert manipulators will beguile those who are not wise to such things.  Christian leaders are not immune.  Headline cases of spiritual abuse in the church often involve the deception of numerous elders and pastors, deceived and ultimately... Continue Reading

To every generation: you don’t have to carry your pain alone. You don’t have to endlessly search for healing within yourself. Real freedom begins when we lay it all at the feet of Christ because He sees us, knows us, and makes us whole.   As a pastor’s wife and a Marriage and Family Therapist,... Continue Reading

We are not to let eschatological speculation or theories about the prophetic calendar push us to just go into useless inactivity. We are to keep on keeping on for Christ and the Kingdom.   Quite often when I or others seek to alert fellow Christians to some of the pressing issues of the day that... Continue Reading

Religious services now compete on TikTok. Youth ministries hire social media strategists. Spirituality is being optimized, edited and exported, one post at a time.  This isn’t progress.   Across America, a growing number of people of all ages are communing with the Holy Spirit via their smartphones and laptops. Once the stuff of pews and... Continue Reading

Understanding the difference between salvation and fellowship is essential for living a balanced and biblically grounded Christian life. Salvation is secure, but fellowship requires maintenance. By rightly dividing the Word of truth, we can avoid confusion, grow in grace, and walk more closely with the God who saved us.   Be careful not to confuse... Continue Reading

The leftist reaction to this story is predictable, painting pro-lifers as macabre and ghoulish for approving of the state’s decision to give Adriana’s baby a chance to live. We should stand with the state of Georgia and the doctors caring for Adriana and her child, and we should encourage all pro-lifers to support them with... Continue Reading

This year had an above average number of kerfuffles, which has seemingly set up the Assembly for more vigorous debate and discussion. Not a few have observed the extraordinary frequency of controversies from our General Assembly’s committees and coordinators.   This year’s Assembly has a large workload ahead of it to fix the ongoing issues... Continue Reading