“Over-promisers tend to think everything is going to go smoothly. No interruptions, no unexpected bills, etc.  This despite almost every indicator to the contrary! To some degree, you can plan for the unplanned and expect the unexpected. Optimists need some pessimism to help them maintain their optimism!”   Many of us have a tendency to... Continue Reading

“As a counselor, I have the privilege of witnessing people apologize to one another. It is a sweet mercy when the Holy Spirit burdens a person’s heart with the awareness of personal sin, and the person is moved to ask for forgiveness. The problem is that sometimes the apology comes out sounding like a monologue.... Continue Reading

Reformed Churchmen Publications announced that The Aquila Report passed several milestones in May, with over 283,000 pageviews for May 2014 and over five million (5,000,000) pageviews since May of 2012. A recent Google Analytics report shows that over one million unique visitors have read The Aquila Report since it’s launch in May of 2008, with visitors reading... Continue Reading

George Cottenden, who has served for four years as stated clerk, is retiring from this position at this assembly. Rev. Ross Graham, former associate general secretary of Home Missions and Church Extension, has been appointed to succeed Mr. Cottenden. Mr. Graham assumed this position immediately after Mr. Cottenden gave his stated clerk’s report. The assembly... Continue Reading

To some, this may not appear to be so great a threat. What is the problem with having information—knowledge—as the goal towards which we strive? Surely, the details of life are worth studying, even from an empirical perspective: more data certainly can and often does lead to greater knowledge, and, as long as we’re being... Continue Reading

The delegates gave consideration to a nomination for the position of a mission coordinator.  After careful discussion concerning the role of and nomination for this position, Synod moved to an interview of one nomination for the position, Rev. Richard Bout. After the interview and deliberation, Synod, by significant majority, elected Rev. Richard Bout to be the first missions coordinator... Continue Reading

We must understand this not as a matter of mere semantics or theoretical theology (no real theology is simply a theory). If you are a pastor, salvation and the assurance of it hang upon these things. The men and women to whom we preach need to know the right answers to the questions of how... Continue Reading

Like Machen, Francis Schaeffer, who early in his ministry was part of the Bible Presbyterian Church, taught that the church should practice two things simultaneously: orthodoxy of doctrine and orthodoxy of visible community. As we strive for both, God calls us to contend earnestly on our knees in prayer and to stand up and speak... Continue Reading

Whether we’re weathering a tempest or plodding through a desert we need hope, and nothing gives us hope like God’s Word. He pledges to be with us when we pass through floods and flames. He guarantees he’ll give us a future and a hope. He promises to comfort and strengthen, to be faithful, and watch... Continue Reading

“The Humanist Society and the Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers have provided years of outreach and a great chaplain candidate to the military,” said Jason Torpy, president of the Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers. “We hope nonchaplain military leaders swiftly overturn this discriminatory decision.”   (RNS) After the Army recently permitted “humanist” as... Continue Reading