Some of the best summaries of Reformation teaching are Wesley hymns. My poem of the week this week is Charles Wesley’s “Arise, My Soul, Arise.” We sang this grand hymn this past Sunday in church and I was reminded of what a wonderful summary of gospel truth it is. Arise, My Soul, Arise Arise, my …
I’ve drawn my poem of the week this week from Edgar Guest, one of my favorite poets. Since this week marks my 25th wedding anniversary, I have chosen Guest’s marriage poem, “Chums.” Although I would not suggest changing the language of the “marriage rite” as he alludes, his sentiment is exactly right. (And, Guest says …
On this date 453 years ago (Feb 6, 1564), John Calvin preached his last sermon, after being carried to the church because he was too ill to get there any other way. Perhaps it is fitting then that today hard copies of the new edition of Calvin’s sermons on 1 Timothy (updated language and spelling) became …
I recently had the opportunity to talk about the Reformation and our festival celebrating it’s 500th anniversary on a local television show. Steve Bowers kindly invited me on his show Dialogue which airs on JEA’s EPlus TV 6 here in Jackson. The 30 minute segment will be shown several times over the next month or …
We have just updated the video at our REF500 homepage. Scott Lancaster has worked his magic once again to produce this video detailing the various aspects of our festival coming up in March. I am excited about the breadth and depth of the various events associated with our festival. Come and participate in the Scripture …
The REF500 event, celebrating the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation, is now only about 2 months away! This new video gave me an opportunity to describe the wide array of events and activities that will take place as a part of this celebration at Union University. You can get all the details at our …
Last night at church we sang this simple, old hymn, and it struck me that it too is a wonderful prayer for a new year. Indeed, may I in this year know more of Jesus, grow deeper in “communion with my Lord,” taking His word deep into my heart that I might obey Him more …
For this first week of a New Year, I have chosen this great hymn as the poem of the week. I don’t remember hearing this sung as I grew up, but I heard it beautifully sung while I was in college and it has been a favorite ever since. This is a fitting prayer for …
Each year I keep a list of the books I read all the way through, typically with brief notes, as a way of tracking my thoughts and a way to look back on each year and see some of what influenced me. So, in this post I have drawn from that list some of the …
My poem of the week this week is this 7th century Latin hymn which captures well the truth we celebrate at Christmas. CREATOR OF THE STARS OF NIGHT Creator of the stars of night, Thy people’s everlasting light, Jesu, Redeemer, save us all, And hear Thy servants when they call. Thou, grieving that the …