Reading with the Pastor Mark 9 and Psalm 45 Today’s reading comes back to a continuing theme in Jesus’ discipleship of the twelve (and of us). This wasn’t the only time that the disciples were caught arguing over which of them had more honor and prestige in the eyes of Jesus. Even on the night before he … More Striving for Power and Prestige
Day 5 Reading with the Pastor . Matthew 5 and Psalm 8 Day 6 Matthew 6 and Psalm 9 The sermon on the mount stretches from chapter 5:1 to 7:29. It is the greatest sermon ever preached from the greatest preacher who ever lived. It is a masterpiece … More “The False and Confused Language of Our Hearts”
Tuesday is for Thinking We live in an interesting age. There is more information available to people than ever before but people seem more ignorant of history and even current events than ever before. Nevertheless, people will pontificate about what they “know” to be true without the slightest relation or reference to actual facts. At … More The Advantage of a One Answer Response for Everything
Purity of Heart is the The Will to One Thing: Purity of heart. It’s what the believer in Christ yearns for. It is what is always beyond our grasp. And it is what he must continue to yearn for seeking the Holy Spirit’s empowerment to obey the command of Christ, “You shall be perfect as your … More Purity of Heart is the Will to One Thing
Weekend Musings Christians are called to love and pray for our enemies and even those who persecute us (Matthew 5:4; Luke 6:35; Romans 12:14). But we are also warned throughout Scriptures like the one quoted below, to not emulate or follow their example. Christians have not always been faithful to “the love and pray for” … More Living Wisely with and Praying for Those Who Identify Themselves as Enemies
Tuesday is for Revival “The assumption is that revival is needed to remedy deficiencies that would not be present had real Christianity been practiced and readily observed by a watching world. Whenever such authenticity is scarce, it becomes necessary to plead, ‘O Lord, revive Your work in the midst of the years!’ (Hab. 3:2 NKJV). … More If Real Christianity Was Practiced
Tuesday is for Preaching I had the fortune to attend a church this week with a pastor who has a deep value of preaching the word of God in all of its authority and relevance for the lives of 21st century people. The text was Matthew 5:13-16, the “You are the salt and light of … More Four Things to Do in Your Message This Week
Tuesday is for Preaching With groups like Westboro Baptist (I refuse to call them a church) claiming to represent Christianity and God to the nation, and the tragedies unfolding in Japan, it is important to give some testimony of Jesus with regard to disaster and suffering. One day Jesus had some in his audience come … More Why the Earthquake/Tsunami/Nuclear Disaster in Japan Needs to be Processed through the Words of Jesus
Revised and Re-posted It’s time to begin to think about mid-term elections and this came up on my random post generator. It’s a post I did after the election and not inappropriate to remember the whole year. Now would also be a good time to buy and read or buy and give or recommend my … More That Christ and the Gospel, Not Elections, Would Be the Center of Our Joy
Wednesday is for Prayer Two things to notice and reflect upon when reading/thinking about the psalms. One, the presence of lament—-whole Psalms and portions of many others are given over to lament. Two, the almost complete absence of lament in the songs of 21st century Christians. Maybe one of the reasons we are so weak … More A Morning Prayer of Confession
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