“…So that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.” Acts 3:19

There is an important word here that has escaped most commentators, and that elusive word is “from.” What Peter wants is not just a refreshing of Christ’s presence in his life. He desires that the person of Christ be the center from which all refreshment radiates. It is a radiance that refreshes even those things that are unrefreshing. What Peter prays for is the giving of a glory to things which are not naturally or normally glorious. Continue Reading…

This Christmas morning I want to share a beautiful song written by Rev. George Matheson, “the Blind Bishop of Edinburgh,” in the late 1800′s.  The words are simply powerful and the theology is tight. He was blessed with a way with words that puts your mind on things above.  I pray it blesses your heart and feeds your soul as much as it did mine.

The Nativity

“For unto us a Child is born. . .” Isaiah 9:6

The heaven and earth are meeting,

The day and dark are greeting,

For God Himself in splendour has filled the sunless sky;

And all the plains are ringing

With angel voices singing,

“Peace to the lowly hearted; glory to God most high!” Continue Reading…

“saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.” Matthew 2:2

“His star” was a thing that the natural world had no use for. To such a secular world it served no practical purpose. It was unnecessary as far as natural need was concerned and thus there was no place for it in nature’s night sky. That why the wise men knew it had to be supernatural. “Since His star gives no obvious help to this world,” they reasoned that “it must have a function in another world.” Continue Reading…

“In everything give thanks. . .” 1st Thessalonians 5:18

It’s hard to imagine many things which would be more difficult than the simple command that Paul gives in this first letter to the Thessalonians.  Is he saying that I am to thank God for everything?  Am I to thank God when I am diagnosed with cancer? Am I supposed to thank Him when a loved one dies?  Am I supposed to be thankful when I am hurt, facing financial ruin or just dealing with the daily drudgery of life?  I do believe that there will come a day when I will thank Him – that is an act of faith.  But am I to turn that faith into fruition?  Am I commanded to celebrate the victory before the battle?  Must I raise my hands at the funeral of my friend and say, “Thank you Lord for taking the life of my friend?”  Is that even possible?  Is it human?  Is that even something that we would or should desire? Continue Reading…

“It is good to give thanks to the LORD…” Psalm 92:1

The Psalmist says that gratitude, giving thanks, is a “good thing.” It is a blessing and benefit to the mind of man which helps to prevent some dreadful diseases.  For example, thanksgiving helps with the pain of a remorseful memory.  Don’t confuse this with a remorseful conscience because that comes from having done something wrong.  A remorseful memory isn’t the pain that comes from a failure to do right, but rather it is pain that comes from the failure of enjoying the blessings of life. Continue Reading…

It’s that time of year again. Time for those long, family road trips, “over the river and through the woods, to grandmother’s house…”  Or, to the house of another family member or friend.

I don’t think that I ever really thought much about long trips before we had our first child. “B.C.”, (Before Children) Kim and I would just throw a small duffel bag in the back of the car, jump in and go.  We wouldn’t stop except when we needed to gas up the car. The “end” justified any of the “means” that we had to endure to make it through a long-distance trip as fast as possible. Continue Reading…

“Whoever abides in Him does not sin.” 1 John 3:6

As a pastor I’m often asked the same question, just with different words.  The heart of the concern being raised is this, “Is is possible for a Christian to live in victory over sin?”

Now, surely if we were to read and heed the songs that we’ve sung since childhood, the answer would be a hearty “yes!” We love to bellow out the words to that great hymn (no matter what arrangement your style of worship dictates), “Oh for a thousand tongues to sing my great Redeemer’s praise!” And we even sing with greater gusto when we come to that victorious verse, “He breaks the power of cancelled sin, He sets the prisoner free!” Continue Reading…

“So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?’ He said to Him, ‘Yes, Lord; You know that I love You’  He said to him, “Feed My lambs.”  John 22:15

“Do you love Me more than these?” Jesus was appealing to Peter’s primary personality characteristic – his desire to be first. That was the root of his entire being. He was a very ambitious man. In fact, even in the way that he approached his Lord there had been a longing to be first, a hunger for superiority, a desire that he should be singled and pointed out – recognized above all of the other men.  He’d said it. “Command me to come to You on the water.” It was his life’s motto. Continue Reading…

“…to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles…” Galatians 1:16

Paul is describing for us the processs of his personal salvation – the light of His Lord that he saw from heaven on the road to Damascus. In doing so he gives us a very unique insight regarding the location of that revelation. He tells us that it pleased God “to reveal His son in me.” Continue Reading…