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 »
The best way to mark Independence Day
July 4, 2013 § Leave a comment
Before the burgers, brats, beer and beans; before the ice cream, pie and cobbler; before the fireworks—take some time and do something, for our day and age, that is truly radical: Read the Declaration of Independence.
It requires at least a basic knowledge of the events leading up to July 4, 1776 (which you can find here) and it will test your vocabulary (which only more curiosity and teachability can help). It is also long; you, like me, may have to read it out loud at first to stick with it. And even if you are only slightly aware of what is going on in our country today, as you read the Declaration you will be shocked at the parallels. Anyone who sees these parallels and lets them settle into his or her conscience will be bound to do some profoundly serious soul-searching—and then have to ask, “What am I obligated to do?”
Click here to read the Declaration of Independence.
May God bless America.
Faith Forward
June 1, 2013 § 4 Comments
Last night I again had the privilege of addressing the graduating class at Trinitas Christian School. I had been asked to speak about, simply, faith. Here is the text of what I shared.
Tonight I am talking to you about faith. Not faith in general—but the faith that is the foundation of our living, moving and being. It is the faith that Paul speaks about in two passages. The first is Hebrews 11:1-3:
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. (Hebrews 11:1-3) « 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 »
2012 Commencement Homily for Trinitas Christian School
June 11, 2012 § 1 Comment
On May 25, for the second year in a row, I was privileged to share the rostrum with Rev. Uri Brito, each of us delivering a “tag” commencement homily for the graduating class. Our text this year was Hebrews 12; my portion covered the first 17 verses but I primarily focused on the first two. My title was “Run!”
Graduates, tonight we rightly congratulate and honor you for your successful achievement. Twelve-plus years of cultivating hard and diligent work have borne fruit—and because the hardworking farmer has the right to enjoy the fruit of his labor, I earnestly hope that tonight and in the coming days and weeks you will feast with satisfaction and gratitude upon this harvest.
But it’s not over. Not by a long shot. In fact, in some ways it is really just beginning. By “it” I don’t mean college, per se—and you are going to probably think this sounds sentimental and clichéic—but what I mean to say is really just beginning for you is the race of life.
Now, I hate sentimentality more than anyone—but I hate it most in sermons and things like commencement homilies. « Read the rest of this entry »
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