Revivals, like all things that emphasize and rely on experiences, are not sustainable. Experiences are about feelings, godly or otherwise. Feelings by nature and necessity fade and fluctuate. When one relies on experiences he is setting himself up for disappointment and disillusionment. Experiences are like romantic love. You can’t build a lifetime marriage relationship on... Continue Reading

The executive committee of RTS has announced the retirement of Dr. Michael A. Milton from his office of chancellor and CEO of Reformed Theological Seminary. Dr. Milton explained that he has suffered from a debilitating illness that the physicians confirmed could not be remedied without sustained rest. They also confirmed that upon sustained rest, and... Continue Reading

For other couples, sadly, differences become the font of conflict. Each spouse’s strengths become weapons. Each weakness is an opportunity for blame. The very tension that should ignite love instead ignites a civil war. But romance can be fueled by an honest acknowledgement of that potential to fail. My marriage of nine years, one mortgage,... Continue Reading

Another minister new to the area, Rev. Leon Brown, will preach at New City Fellowship in downtown Fredericksburg. Sexton said one of the missions of that congregation has been to advance multicultural outreach, which Brown will work on. Brown also will serve as an adjunct instructor of Old Testament and Hebrew at the New Geneva... Continue Reading

If you’re curious about what the next five years holds for the Presbyterian Church (USA), look no further than Daniel Saperstein’s recent address “Marriage Equality in the PCUSA” delivered to the Covenant Network’s Regional Conference in Denver earlier this year. While we won’t know for sure that the strategy outlined in Saperstein’s address will be... Continue Reading

I’m not surprised by bitter, socially uncomfortable pastors with messy or dysfunctional relationships at home, tense relationships with staff members and lay leaders, and secret, unconfessed sin. We have become comfortable with defining ourselves in a less than biblical way. We approach God as less than needy, so we’re less open to the ministry of... Continue Reading

You regularly find yourself plotting our your future instead of trusting in the Lord with all your heart. You run different scenarios through your mind, working out all the “if-then’s”, planning for every contingency, creating plan ‘A’, plan ‘B’, and plan ‘C’. Your assurance and peace comes from your ability to “figure things out” rather... Continue Reading

This ritual was an acted parable, a copy of what Christ was to do on the great day when He made atonement. The blood of animals is both inappropriate and inadequate to provide the cleansing necessary to approach God. Animal sacrifice could not atone for human sin. Neither could any finite individual atone for sin... Continue Reading

In a blog post, Mahaney cited an imminent SGM transition to a “new polity” as the reason for the change and said plans for his resignation began in October 2012. Mahaney said he is “eager to once again devote my attention to pastoral ministry. Returning to the pulpit of a local church last September has... Continue Reading

I was moved by Loritt’s pastoral critique of Wilson. He assessed that the coldness or lack of concern for “the other” probably lies in the fact that real relationships with Blacks don’t exist for Wilson. I’m tempted to agree with Loritts. I know a few people (who happen to love Wilson) who lack deep relationships... Continue Reading