verse4today: As the Lord said to Moses may he speak to us: "I have seen..., I have heard..., and I have come to rescue you.... (Exodus 3:7-8).
Posted on 2012-02-01 via Twitter
I would like to think that I am a Reformed Charismatic but I wonder what that means. So, here’s one attempt to clarify the convictions of a Christ-follower who believes that the Holy Spirit is alive and well and that John Calvin had a pretty good understanding of the apostle Paul. What is a Reformed Charismatic? First and foremost, a Reformed Charismatic is that person who seeks to harmonize the dominant convictions of the Reformed faith, as … Read More …
As noted in my last blog post, while on my most recent vacation I read the new, 500 plus page biography of Dietrich Bonhoeffer by Eric Metaxas. It is a masterpiece. I have still not yet compiled a list of takeaways from the book for it would take some time and be quite long, but I remain most impressed with Bonhoeffer's view of the Bible. For him the Bible was and remains the living Word of God to his people. Hence, he read the … Read More …
As disciples we may be compared to sheep of a flock following a shepherd. But how do we live as sheep in the flock? What does our life together look like? Those familiar with the life and work of Dietrich Bonhoeffer may seek an answer to those questions in his excellent book titled Life Together. It is a must read for the contemporary Christian.But we can also look at the apostle Paul’s teaching in this area … Read More …
The Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, is wonderful, powerful, delightful, and astonishing, as well as a source of life and hope for each Christian. As believers we can try, but never really live without the aid, assistance, encouragement, presence, and prayers of the Spirit. Yet, when it comes to understanding the Holy Spirit, I am a novice. Perhaps that's why I resonated with the following description of the work of the Holy Spirit. It is by the late Luis M. … Read More …
"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." (Ephesians 3:20-21) I love those words but still can't wrap my mind around them. Paul seems to be saying that if we can imagine it, we have limited God for He … Read More …
“What do you do for yourself?” he asked. While it was the kind of question I expect from a friend, I wasn’t sure how to answer it. I love to work and I love to serve. In fact, most every waking moment of every day I am serving someone or something, hence, the reason for my friend’s question. As I stumbled about for an answer, he rephrased the question, “How do you take care of yourself?” I … Read More …
Lipscomb University (Nashville, TN) lost a great leader and friend on Tuesday, March 1, with the passing of former dean and vice president Dr. Mack Wayne Craig (pictured). A well-known preacher, educator, storyteller and historian, Craig, 85, played a vital role in the life and history of Lipscomb University, first as a student and then as an administrator. In 1957, Dr. Craig was appointed academic dean at Lipscomb where he earned the nickname of the “lean … Read More …
I never wanted to be one of those guys, one of the guys people look at it and say “There’s a Christian!” You know what I am talking about. I am willing to bet that once in your life you looked at a person walking down the street and you said, “There’s a Mormon!” So it felt good to come face to face with Jesus’ teaching about public displays of piety. In his “Sermon on the … Read More …
Last month I attended the midnight Christmas service at the Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church in Palos Hills, Illinois. I had always wanted to attend such a service, but had never been able to until this past holiday season when my schedule allowed. Last week, at the invitation of my son, I attended the Saturday afternoon service of Parkview Christian Church in Orland Park, Illinois; we were drawn there by the presence of Josh and Kate … Read More …
A few Easters ago, following the example of many preachers, I offered a sermon in which I asked “Are you a Good Friday Christian or an Easter Christian?.” The premise of the message was that, from time to time, we live as if Christ were still in the grave, instead of living as followers of him who walked out of the tomb and ascended to heaven from which he reigns as King of Kings and Lord … Read More …
Each Advent Debbie and I not only put up our Christmas tree and the decorations that have been amassed over the years, but we also pull out our growing collection of Christmas books, movies and music. Included in that special collection is Preparing for Jesus a collection of meditations on the “coming of Christ, Advent, Christmas, and the Kingdom” written by Walter Wangerin Jr. It's a lovely little book with devotions for each day of Advent, … Read More …
In today's reading from the One Year Bible, Joshua discovers that Achan violated the covenant of the Lord. He offers Achan the opportunity to confess his sins with these words: "Give glory to the Lord, the God of Israel, and give him praise. Tell me what you have done; do not hide it from me" (Joshua 7:19). Then Achan confesses his sin and endures his punishment. My reading of that verse follows a conversation I shared … Read More …
From time to time, I come across writings that prompt fear about preaching, like Jeremiah's words to the prophets kicking around Jerusalem: "I did not send these prophets, yet they have run with their message; I did not speak to them, yet they have prophesied" (Jeremiah 23:21). Then, in words which suggest things haven't changed much over the last 2,500 years, the Lord says through Jeremiah, "I have heard what the preachers say who speak in my name. They say … Read More …
Can't seem to get past what seems to be a contradiction between the desire of many pastors to count the number of worshipers each Sunday (coupled with the requirement by many denominational agencies to report attendance) and the story of King David counting his army. In I Chronicles 20:1 we read, "Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel. So David said to Joab. the commander of the tropps, 'Go and count … Read More …
Interestingly, I did not read those words in a book on contemporary Christian worship. "Don't Mess With The Organ" formed the header of an article in the November 10 issue of the Chicago Tribune, an article about the Chicago Black Hawks, one of the “original six” teams in the National Hockey League. The heart of the article dealt with the sites and sounds of a National Hockey League game at the United Center. One of the sub-titles … Read More …
In Engaging with God: A Biblical Theology of Worship, author David Peterson summarizes one message of the Old Testament prophetic books: "These deal with the introduction of pagan ideas and practices into Israelite worship, or the attempt to worship other gods whilst still claiming to serve the Lord...." (pg 45). Reading those words I could not help but think about an experience this past Independence Day week-end while worshiping as a guest in an American Evangelical … Read More …
Can't think of another time when I preached with a child in my arms, but it happened this past week when Olivia made her way to me during the weekly gathering of Living Hope Church. What else could I do? Send her away? And what message would that haven given? So, I picked her up, held her, and continued to speak. Now as I look back, with the benefit of a photo, something about that experience … Read More …