Have you trusted in the resurrected and living Christ?[1] Then God has revealed to you that according to His Word, the Holy Scriptures,[2] your faith is a gift of God,[3] not earned or deserved, and freely bestowed upon you by the Lord of life.[4] Your Continue Reading
March 22, 2013 2 Comments
Thoughts on Faith from a Garden in March and Pastoral Ministry
For a gardener, like myself, March is an in-between month. The dried, gray-brown stalks on the oak leaf hydrangea, left over from last autumn, stand at attention, like a proud, old war veteran in his outdated, ill-fitting military uniform. And like a Continue Reading
December 4, 2012
Christ: His Life Our Supreme Goal
I took our daily devotions tonight from the reflections of F.B. Meyer and his preaching of the centrality of our Savior in a true religion: "Christ is the all and all in–all of our holy religion...not ceremonials, nor the life of active philanthropy, Continue Reading
April 9, 2012 1 Comment
I Will Not Let Go of Easter
I will not let go of Easter. More properly, I affirm that the Resurrection of Jesus Christ is not something that I will celebrate and remember on one day of the year. In the Reformed faith, that is in the Protestant faith of Martin Luther and John Calvin Continue Reading
November 7, 2010 Leave a Comment
A Delayed Salvation
“who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time" (1 Peter 1:5). A friend came by the other day to talk about salvation. Those who characterize themselves as unbelievers may find this strange, but Continue Reading
August 24, 2010
The Blessings of Being in Seminary
The following message was delivered at New Student Orientation, on August 23, at Reformed Theological Seminary, Charlotte, NC Seminary: A Ministry of Preparation Recently I participated in the ordination of a young man to the Gospel ministry, to pastor a Continue Reading
May 27, 2010 Leave a Comment
Why I am a Pentecost(al) Presbyterian
I read the following story this week: “Erasmus, the famous Renaissance scholar, once told a classic story which was designed to emphasize how important it is that we take up the torch of Christ’s ministry with great commitment. In the story, Jesus Continue Reading
October 4, 2008
Wall Street, Von Balthasar and Homecoming Dinner: Three Streams Converge”
Three streams of thought are converging in my mind this morning. There is one stream that is swallowing up the others and forming a grand river of hope. In these days we need hope. One stream is the current financial crisis in this country. I am Continue Reading
February 6, 2008
The Secret Life of a Seminary President: Reflections on Ash Wednesday
Introduction to the ReadingYou have heard the old adage, "I must catch up with the others for I am their leader. Well that is the way that I feel. I sat at my desk yesterday and thought, "Well I am the president...so, now what do I do..." I doubt that is Continue Reading
Old Spice, Hai Karaté and the Aroma of God
Then burn the entire ram on the altar. It is a burnt offering to the LORD, a pleasing aroma, an offering made to the LORD by fire. Exodus 29.18 For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. Continue Reading