Some reflections on this letter are in order. The first thing that struck me was the very strong emphasis on confessional Presbyterianism. Indeed, it was because the PCUS was NOT being confessional that the PCA (then the National Presbyterian Church – NPC) emphasized it so much. This contrasts sharply with some recent attempts to downplay... Continue Reading

In the Scriptures, we also are given the names by which we are to refer to God. God reveals to us the names which we are to use for Him – we are not free to just make up and use any names that we like. Throughout the Old Testament, God reveals several different names... Continue Reading

One of the hardest lessons of parenthood is learning that you can’t protect your child from suffering;an even harder lesson is learning that your own parenting failures will cause some of that suffering. Just as the world around you is broken, so too, are you. You are sinful and limited. If your parenting philosophy relies... Continue Reading

When he sees and hears such communication, he is very pleased. So let us carefully watch the tongue; it is a restless evil. And let us guard not only our mouth, but our eyes, our feet, our hands, and our thoughts. As we are under constant surveillance today, let us see how many times we... Continue Reading

My contact with Bonhoeffer centered primarily on his most evangelical works until I had to choose a thesis topic for the Master of Sacred Theology degree. I finally decided on the Christological substructures of Bonhoeffer’s Life Together. It was a topic that forced me to read wider in Bonheoffer’s corpus. And while working on that... Continue Reading

For decades research has shown that the likelihood of teen pregnancy, drug abuse, dropping out of school and many other social problems grew dramatically when fathers were absent. One of the most comprehensive studies ever done on juvenile delinquency—by William Comanor and Llad Phillips of the University of California, Santa Barbara, in 2002—concluded that “the... Continue Reading

What “rule of law” answers these fundamental questions? Judge Granade has now set herself up to be the chief probate officer in the state of Alabama. She has not defined marriage, and her failure to do so leaves state actors, especially probate judges, without a definition of the institution for which they are issuing state... Continue Reading

“Egalitarianism is the flattening out of differences. It tries to destroy hierarchy in the name of “all men being equal.” In reality it is a fight against gravity, against the way God made the world.  One would assume in world devoted to the “advancement of women” that the Swimsuit Issue would slowly fade away and... Continue Reading

“As a new elder you will likely feel the pressure to “prove yourself.” Don’t fall into this trap. Jesus has called you to serve, and the church has recognized this calling. Listen to the other elders, especially those who have served for a long time. During meetings, listen to how the conversations progress and keep... Continue Reading

“A wife may have a stronger sex drive than the husband — or the other way around. And it may switch from one spouse to the other over time. Dozens of factors add to the mismatch, including daily demands, work pressures, body image perceptions, health, age, and changing seasons of life.”   “Sex can be... Continue Reading