I see rare rays of hope. This morning I joined some friends as they opened the doors to a brand new church I see rare rays of hope. This morning I joined some friends as they opened the doors to a brand new church. www.ncpchurch.com/ This was a project six years in the making and... Continue Reading

This Letter to the Editor was a response to a newspaper article, “Some Presbyterians see salvation by other faiths” There can be little doubt that this article inflamed emotions and deepened the pool of misunderstanding within and outside of the church. While this is certainly regrettable, it must also be acknowledged that the article raised... Continue Reading

“…for people trying to change their behavior or addictions, spirituality can provide something psychology can’t: a sense of meaning and forgiveness.” What do Tiger Woods, Michael Vick, Mark Sanford and Thomas W. Noe have in common? No, it’s not the opening line of the worst joke ever about a penchant for making headlines and trouble.... Continue Reading

“The church, if it is to be anything, it is to be absolutely distinct from the culture, absolutely distinct from the world, absolutely distinct from unbelievers,” said prominent author and evangelical pastor John MacArthur. Speaking from the pulpit to thousands of fellow pastors at the Shepherds’ Conference, MacArthur underscored the biblical command not to be... Continue Reading

Living life where Europe and the Middle East meet has been an interesting experience to say the least. Although life has become fairly ordinary now, things still occur here that were not part of our middle-class, university-town life back in Charlottesville. Lent Folks on this island take Lent seriously – all 49 days of it.... Continue Reading

Church members have expectations of their church leaders and church leaders have expectations of local church members. Church membership covenants might be a way to balance the expectations that members and church leaders have of of each other. Years ago, when my family and I wanted to join a church in Southern California we participated... Continue Reading

Every transgression of that which is right has consequences, but the costs sexual compromises are endless. Individuals, children, communities and nations pay a high price when personal sexual gratification trumps God’s law. Let Jacob answer that question. When Shechem saw Dinah, the daughter of Jacob, he seized her and lay with her and humiliated her.... Continue Reading

It all seems a bit juvenile, except that we’re talking religion here, which is serious. And the only thing more heated than religion is politics. Mix the two, and you have an explosion that isn’t easy to clean up. In that environment looms Romney’s political future. It seems pretty clear that Mitt Romney will run... Continue Reading

John Piper answers a question that some athiests, like Christopher Hitchens, have raised in their arguments against Christianity. Following is an edited transcript of a video interview. It’s right for God to slaughter women and children anytime he pleases. God gives life and he takes life. Everybody who dies, dies because God wills that they... Continue Reading

“Love and marriage/Love and marriage/Go together like a horse and carriage.” Today, folks are not as sure of this as they used to be. Now the value of marriage, and even the gender of the partners involved in it, are being seriously questioned. It might be well to take a brief look at what the... Continue Reading