For me, there are times in ministry when I feel completely overwhelmed. The size, depth and number of the needs plus my own weakness and failures combine for a crushing despair. Many gospel tools are needed for these situations, and one of these tools is the example of our forebears. It is helpful for me …
Continue reading ‘Historical Examples as Spurs to Perseverance’ »
You may have noticed the ad recently inserted on the right hand side of this blog. It is for the tour led by my friend Douglas Bond covering great hymn writers in England & Wales. I can’t think of a better person to lead such a tour! My family has loved his Mr. Pipes books …
Continue reading ‘Bond-voyage! A Hymns Tour of England & Wales’ »
Each Fall I write an article for Preaching Magazine surveying the study Bibles and reference works that have come out in the past year. The 2011 version of the article has recently come out. Perhaps it will be useful as you make plans for sermon series in the coming year, and even as you request …
Continue reading ‘2011 Bibles and Bible Reference Annual Survey’ »
The Apostle Peter tells us that in Paul’s letters “there are some things … that are hard to understand” (2 Peter 3:16). We are not surprised then to find passages which require work to understand. In these cases it becomes particularly clear whether one approaches the Scripture expecting it to conform to one’s own understanding …
Continue reading ‘C. H. Dodd on Paul’s Poor Writing & Defective Imagination’ »
Mark Galli’s recent article in Christianity Today by this title is well done and resonates with the concerns of this blog. He begins by noting a typical website which suggested “chaplain” type pastors led to church decline and instead encouraged us to look for pastors with innovative ideas which would lead to “growth.” In fact …
As part of our thinking about Thanksgiving this year, following a suggestion from Doug Phillips, I read to our older boys chapter 4 from William Bradford’s Of Plymouth Plantation: Bradford’s History of the Plymouth Settlement, 1608-1650. They had read through the book this year, but this gave me an opportunity to emphasize a certain aspect …
Continue reading ‘Thanksgiving Thoughts, William Bradford & The Pilgrims’ »
My poem of the week this week is this wonderful hymn on perseverance rooted in knowledge of God’s sovereign love and care. May it be as encouraging to you as it is to me. Give to the Winds Thy Fears by Paul Gerhardt (translated from German to English by John Wesley in his Collection, 1737) …
This Fall InterVarsity Press has launched their new Reformation Commentary Series, edited by Timothy George. This series collects key comments from the Reformers for each biblical book in order to help us read the Bible along with the church through the ages. In this respect this series is a companion to the Ancient Christian Commentary …
“Time was when the Psalms were not only rehearsed in all the churches from day to day, but they were so universally sung that the common people knew them, even if they did not know the letters in which they were written. Time was when bishops would ordain no man to the ministry unless he …
“Come, let us sing a Psalm, and drive away the devil.” (Luther) I have been duly urged on for a Reformation Day post for this year, so let me get this in before the day concludes! My family does make a big deal each year about Reformation Day, and I always take time at the …