The Comfort of God in a Hard Time
August 25, 2018 § 3 Comments
On August 19, 2018, Sam Leuellen, my 13 year-old nephew, took his own life. Sam had a deep and kind empathy for people that surpassed that of many of adults I have known. Perhaps he internalized the burdens of others too much; but his heartfelt kindness and sweetness are a benchmark I aspire to reach myself. « Read the rest of this entry »
Ah, the refreshment of Spurgeon!
May 21, 2014 § 4 Comments
In studying for this week’s sermon on John 1:15-18 I discovered this sermon by C.H. Spurgeon. Entitled, “The True Tabernacle, and Its Glory of Grace and Peace,” it was preached on the Lord’s Day morning of September 27th, 1885 at the Metropolitan Tabernacle in London, England. What refreshment the Prince of Preachers still offers!
…if God has come to dwell among men by the Word made flesh let us pitch our tent around this central tabernacle; do not let us live as if God were a long way off. « Read the rest of this entry »
I was wrong!
July 1, 2013 § 1 Comment
Last Friday marked the last working day of our church secretary and my Administrative Assistant, Janie Myrick, who has retired.
She didn’t have church experience.
Everything else, though, was stellar. A group of smart, experienced and godly men had served as our screening committee and, after singling our three candidates out of 60 for me to interview, all of them felt she was the best.
But she didn’t have church experience. « Read the rest of this entry »
A crest on a stone
May 22, 2013 § 1 Comment
Yesterday, I had the privilege of presiding over a time of remembrance and prayer with family and friends at the dedication of a memorial marker for Michael Schroeder, who left this world for the face-to-face presence of God on March 12, 2012. Michael’s wife Lisa commissioned a beautiful marker (below) to provide their sons, Kyle, Blake and Derek, a means of teaching, as God wills, their children of their grandfather’s faith in the promise of God. Here is what I shared.
The practice of setting up memorials has strong biblical precedent. At several important junctures in Israel’s history God directed his people to commemorate an event by the setting up of stones—stones that call the people to remember God’s faithfulness.
One such occasion is recorded in Joshua 4, when the Israelites at last cross the Jordan River into the land promised to Abraham. The crossing was by God’s power, because the river, which was at flood stage, was halted in its course so that Israel could cross on dry land. After the crossing one man from each of the 12 tribes was to take a stone from the dry bed of the Jordan for setting up of memorial at Gilgal, east of the Jordan. « Read the rest of this entry »
Gospel defeat? Never.
April 24, 2013 § 2 Comments
On April 8 Margaret Thatcher, the first woman Prime Minister of England and one of the most influential and polarizing figures not merely of British history but of the 20th century, died. She was called the Iron Lady by her detractors for what they viewed as her steely style and hard, uncompromising views. Many credit her with saving England, bringing it from the brink of an economic ruin nurtured by years of liberal and socialist-leaning governing.
There were those who hated her so much that, on the day of her funeral, some lined the street with their backs turned as her funeral procession came by; others held wild, public celebrations; a childish rendition of “Ding, Dong the Witch is Dead” topped the English pop charts. « Read the rest of this entry »
“…and his name shall be called…Prince of Peace.”
December 19, 2012 § 1 Comment
Of all the names in Isaiah 9:6 of the Son given to God people, perhaps none resonates within us so deeply as “Prince of Peace”—particularly in times such as ours.
We are surrounded—no, immersed—in conflict. « Read the rest of this entry »
“… and his name shall be called…Everlasting Father…”
December 17, 2012 § 4 Comments
“And they lived happily ever after.”
It’s amazing. No matter how cynical we become as a culture, no matter how jaded, we still flock to movies with happy endings. Some would call it wishful thinking, a simple and childish form of escapism that the more realistic among us (known by the rest as “pessimists”) know better than to embrace.
The Bible has another answer: “[God]…has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end” (Ecclesiastes 3:11). « Read the rest of this entry »
“…and his name shall be called…Mighty God…”
December 15, 2012 § 1 Comment
Perhaps the most transfixing images of the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina are those of the rescues. It is difficult to forget the hundreds of people huddling on rooftop islands, some having spelled out pleas for help with their own clothes, waiting for deliverance. Over the days that followed we saw the Coast Guard do what it does best; as their helicopters hovered, trained rescuers were lowered on cables with baskets and harnesses to deliver the trapped to safety. Their courage, bravery and strength were all necessary in the right combination for the rescue. « Read the rest of this entry »
“…and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor…”
December 13, 2012 § 5 Comments
We all want advice—but we are often afraid of seeking it. Studies show that, though more Americans than ever are seeking professional counseling of one kind or another, most seek help only as a last resort; ironically, most of the very same people do not want anyone else to know they are seeking counsel! Whenever I ask why those who come to me for counseling haven’t come sooner, the answer ultimately comes down to “I didn’t want to ask for help.” « Read the rest of this entry »
Silent no more–fool or not
November 7, 2012 § 8 Comments
Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent. —Proverbs 17:28
There have been all too many times when I ought to have heeded these words. For the better part of the last 16 hours I have tried to abide by them, refraining from posting anything either on Facebook or my blog and resisting the urge to tweet—which is actually not that difficult since I almost never do that. « Read the rest of this entry »
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