November, 2006
Un-Locke the Church!
Reflecting on the blessings God has given us in the United States, freedom of religion is certainly chief among them. And for them, we owe God thanks for one certain letter, which began: "Honored Sir, Since you are pleased to inquire what are my thoughts about the mutual toleration of Christians in their different professions [...]
An Old Time FPC Thanksgiving Story
Thanks Mark and C.J. Happy Thanksgiving! I don’t have much to add by way of customs and habits for spiritually benefitting from this great holiday, but a number of years ago, Otho Johnson (one of our elders) pointed me to this interesting historical note, relating to The Rev. L.J. Halsey, who was the minister of [...]
Making Thanksgiving Memories
Mark, thanks for asking about Thanksgiving customs. Initially, I was concerned about the title of your post and didn’t find the idea of "Thanksgiving Exercises" too appealing. But I really appreciate the content of your post and the care and leadership you are providing for your family and friends. Although I’m an “every day alike” [...]
Thanksgiving Exercises
What do we do differently on Thanksgiving? A few quick notes. Personally, I try to have a longer quiet time in which I thank God for much that I’ve been praying about that year. As a family, we have friends over, generally Christian and non-Christian, American and international. We will, before we eat, sing a [...]
Glory must begin in Grace
"Now heaven is begun here, or else never begun. Grace is therefore called heaven, because heaven is begun here. Glory must begin in grace." Richard Sibbes, “The Power of Christ’s Resurrection” (Works V.199)
Haven't Had a Conversation with a Non-Christian Lately?
Al, in your next blog entry please list some of your human limitations! Our dear brother Al Mohler is at it again, only this time on the website of the Washington Post! They have begun a new project (along with Newsweek magazine [owned by them]) in which they want to encourage public conversation about religion. [...]
Unbaptized Church Members?
Here are some more of my musings on this topic. Perhaps they will be of use to you. I give them to you in compact form. IF you think the congregation IS the final judicatory AND you think that believer baptism is both certainly TRUE and CLEARLY IMPORTANT, then [...]
Preaching Christ In Miami
Pastor Rickey Armstrong (of Glendale Baptist Church, Miami) has assembled a great group of speakers for the Miami Pastor’s Conference this year. I got in tonight, and found myself sitting behind Tom Ascol. We were treated to great messages by Ken Jones and Thabiti Anyabwile. More on that in a moment. Tomorrow and Saturday (Lord [...]
On Dividing Your Life and Doctrine
CJ, thank you for letting Justin Taylor and Tim Challies post your address from the T4G conference (and your chapter in the forthcoming book). You can find it over at www.challies.com. This address is a wonderful reminder of the care we should give to our congregations and our own souls, and of the wonderful care [...]
Extinct Emotions
. Preaching through II Peter, seeing the warnings against immorality, and at the same time reading of current movies, I’m reminded that the immorality of Peter’s day is alive and well in our own time. Our secular friends view our Christian morality as a losing proposition–we lose out on experience and pleasure, all for rigid, [...]
