Psalms Permission to Weep January 18, 2022 Having explained how laments allow us to frankly pour out our sorrow, anxiety, perplexity and quandaries to our Transcendent Cosmic God and Ever-Present Covenant LORD, Mark Futato, in "Interpreting the Psalms", 158, concludes:
Psalms Good Reason to Sing Psalms January 17, 2022 Having argued that the Psalter leads its international students to "happiness through holiness," in the Kingdom of Glory, by taking refuge in Messiah, the author concludes: ...from beginning to end, the Book of
Love Undeserved & Unsought December 25, 2021 Last night, after dinner, my wife received a call. It was my older half-cousin. I could hear, in the distance, that she was struggling to speak while holding back the tears - this
Hold On? Let Go! November 11, 2021 It is with bittersweet feelings I post this blog today. Just two days ago the US Consulate in Belfast, Ireland, kindly granted us the Entrance Visas we had sought for the past ten
MIssion - Psalm 19 Keep it to Yourself? October 15, 2021 How can you keep the truth of Scripture to yourself? This, I reckon, was in the forefront of his thoughts, as the Apostle quotes Psalm 19: initially it referred to General Revelation in
Ageing Age to Age October 14, 2021 It's my birthday today ..again!. Another year has passed. So imperceptibly and quickly, the days have come and gone. But I have to honestly say it has been one of the happiest personal
Evangelism Delicious First-fruits! October 01, 2021 By briefest way of giving encouragement to all hard-working pastors, elders and members, I just want to share my present delight at a harvest of first-fruits. Two summers ago I purchased a couple
Pathway through Pain September 30, 2021 How should believers respond to painful providences? 1 Peter 5:6-14 provides four clear instructions that help suffering saints keep their head and heart on track. 1. Care-Free SubmissionBecause God cares for us,
Model Church A Model Church August 25, 2021 If you could get rid of all the traditions and build a church from scratch what would it be like? Do you have one particular blueprint, template or model in mind? Would the
Creation. Origins. Genesis 1-3. The Miracle of Life August 12, 2021 The Miraculous ConceptusThe initial, quickening, zinc-ignited, spark occurs with the fusion of the male gamete and the ovum of the female. The zygote then produces, by a process of cell division, an unformed
Gospel Grace Saved by Grace? July 10, 2021 On a tombstone in the old graveyard behind the Meeting House at Knockbracken, nestling among the evergreens, rising from the grass, on a well-mown grassy mound, is a plain and modest headstone: etched
Evangelism Election & Evangelism June 28, 2021 IntroductionHow should the doctrine of God's Eternal Choice in Christ shape the way we seek stray sheep, build disciples up, or evangelize the lost? It is my prayer, while certainly not the last
Zechariah 10:1-11 Follow My Leader? June 12, 2021 Just getting ready to preach on Zechariah 10 tomorrow - I have to confess not one of the easier passages from which I have attempted to bring a message to God's Flock! After
Anger Be Angry but Sin Not! May 31, 2021 Many situations provoke us. We get hurt then get hot. These testing circumstances, when we are tempted to react, are spiritually precarious. We need to pause and reflect. We should let "red mist
Spiritual Dependence By My Spirit May 29, 2021 IntroductionIt is hard to over-stress our great need of God's Spirit. As I finish prep for a talk on Zechariah 4, I've been reminded once again of my dependence upon the LORD. ContextAt
Evangelism Back to Basics May 08, 2021 Sometimes I wonder if we have not complicated church life more than we ought - there is a flurry of activity, but focus is obscured and fruitfulness is absent. PrioritiesAnd when it was
Diaspora Jews Desperation of Diaspora? May 01, 2021 Introductory MusingsI've just been thinking a little about the dispersion and return of the Jews to and from Babylon. I couldn't help notice, too, that the Jews were not the only tribe to
pastoral ministry Brokenness & Usefulness April 17, 2021 A number of things of late have prompted me to write this piece - the latest was meeting a friend who I hadn't seen for some time, to whom I had to offer
The Blood of Christ The Glory of Blood March 20, 2021 In recent days I've been thinking lots on blood - the oxygen-carriage method in the stupendous, miraculous, circulatory system is a fearful wonder of the Creator. I could write for hours on platelets
typology Another of the Same? March 13, 2021 DiscussionsListening to the last episode of "Barry and the Boys," or 3GT as it is slightly less-informally called, was like putting a cup of golden nectar to my lips and sipping the draft
Perseverance of the saints Wayfarer Watcher - Psalm 121 February 21, 2021 Yahweh is the Guardian & Keeper of His People in many ways: He is our STRONG Keeper - Hill-Founder He is our STEP Keeper - Slip-Stopper He is our STRIKE Keeper - Sun-Shader
Soul-Winning-Welcome in Isaiah Mourning for Moabites on Lyres of Love? February 18, 2021 I've just read Isaiah's second oracle to the nations (15:1-16:14): what hit home like a thunderbolt is Yahweh's sorrow for sinners, who in 3 years will be slaughtered. The prophetic-vision drone
Personal Evangelism Andrew Attitude February 13, 2021 Andrew was the apostle known for bringing people to Christ - at several points in the Scriptures, he is a key link in the chain. The first time that this trait is noted
Gospel Preaching & Predestination in the Old Testament Heshbon's Hard Heart January 31, 2021 I was reading from Deuteronomy 2 in family worship on Lord's Day last - and was caused to reflect on the stiffening of stubborn Sihon, the royal Giant Gileadite. I was recounting to
Godly Womanhood - Proverbs 31 More on Ideal Wives: Proverbs 31 January 30, 2021 IntroductionI've just finished preparing a lecture for my students which goes by the rather riveting title "OT Exegesis X - The Hebrew Verb": I can tell you are fascinated!!! RecognitionJust before you nod
