The Rights of Homosexual Christians
We do not have the “right” to chose who we love; God tells us
Homosexual Christians do not deserve the “right” to romantically love whoever they want, just as heterosexual Christians do not deserve the “right” to romantically love whoever they want. All our rights are taken away in exchange for one right that far surpasses any worldly sins we cling to: The right to be called children of... Continue Reading
US Supreme Court Lets The Episcopal Church Keep Falls Church Property
The Supreme Court let stand a Virginia court ruling that allows the Episcopal Church to keep the property
In 2013, the Virginia Supreme Court ruled that the 3,000-member Falls Church, which voted in 2006 to leave the Episcopal Church and join an Anglican diocese, did not have the right to keep the property. It also ruled that some of the church’s nearly $3 million in assets belong to the Falls Church Anglican congregation. ... Continue Reading
Review: “Sabbath as Resistance”
The subject of Sabbath has fallen to the wayside in all the rush for prominence, peace and prosperity
The final chapter connects the tenth commandment with the Sabbath….Here the author draws the connection that genuine Sabbath keeping and contentment go hand-in-glove. And, inversely, not recognizing Sabbath breeds avarice, “( . . . ) Sabbath is a school for our desires, an expose and critique of the false desires that focus on idolatry and... Continue Reading
First Presbyterian, Jackson. Miss., Search Committee Unanimously Recommends David Strain as Pastor
David Strain is presently an Assistant Pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Jackson
The Pulpit Search Committee requests the Session to call a congregational meeting for Sunday, March 30, 2014, immediately following the 8:30 and 11:00 a.m. worship services for the purpose of hearing a report from the Pulpit Search Committee and, if the way be clear, to vote by ballot, to extend a call to fill the... Continue Reading
12 Things To Thank God For In The Midst Of Affliction
One of the most important things we must do when we suffer is to give thanks.
Ephesians 5:20 tells us we should give thanks “always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” and 1 Thess 5:18 says to “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” Giving thanks helps us focus on God in... Continue Reading
Should We Expect More from Our Teenagers?
We should all want our work to promote the glory of God.
Some adults are just as caught up in the game of like. It’s bad enough to see it played out in social media, reality television, and whatever other means we may use to be liked. But the recent revelation of the debacle in which we have pastors using church money to hire a service to manipulate the... Continue Reading
Why We Need the Book of James in the New Testament Canon
It provides a wonderful balance to our understanding of law, grace, justification, sanctification and more.
Do Paul and James contradict each other? Not at all. Paul is looking at the law from the perspective of justification–can I be saved by law-keeping? If you try this, says Paul, the law is only a curse. James is looking at the law through the lens of sanctification. From this perspective the law is... Continue Reading
A Vent About Lent
And Lent? My heart would quickly whisper: look at what you've done. You gave it up.
“In the case of Lent & Ashes, it would surely be an idol for me. Oh….look at me. I’ve got some super holy marking on my head. Yes…that’s right. I understand some things about this stuff. Come hear me wax eloquently about it.” My heart is deceptive & wicked. I need a redeemer. I... Continue Reading
God Leads Us Through Scripture
Beware making decisions based on "signs," while ignoring God's Word
“Great errors have been committed under the mantra of “God led me,” uninformed by Scripture. Yes, God leads by providence- but one’s guesswork at what God may be doing is no substitute for immersion in His Word.” “God showed me,” my friend said. “He showed me His plan, I just had to recognize the... Continue Reading
Rediscovering Jesus’ Hymnbook
We know what songs Jesus sang: He sang the Psalms.
“You don’t have to be a seminary student or a missionary to Peru to step into the world of psalm singing. You only need to do two things. First, consider the benefits that God attaches to worship in psalm. Second, decide practically how you will begin singing the psalms.” How interested would you be... Continue Reading