happiness Anna Karenina, David, & Happiness June 08, 2023 I have nearly finished reading Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy and I think that it should be read by every seminarian. Why? Because Tolstoy, like many older authors, made human nature a lifelong
The Confession & Hard Providences May 03, 2023 I can imagine the widow of Nain walking beside the casket of her son, her only son. Her support now gone, she trembles from the aching loss and the fear of insecurity. Or
Shepherding The Heart of Christ April 05, 2023 The book of Hebrews is an incredibly valuable book. It is a superb theological text. Of course, it’s not a complete theology, but the theology in the book is impeccable. For example,
A Pastoral Lesson from the Past March 16, 2023 In 2024 I will have been in the pastoral ministry for thirty years. However, almost twenty years ago I started reading some books that have become a yearly literary staple. They are the
Forgiveness Letham & Turretin Debate Forgiveness March 01, 2023 I love a good systematic theology. Benjamin B. Warfield reminds the preacher that systematic theology is indispensable to the preacher. So, being a preacher, not long ago I took Robert Letham’s Systematic
Rich man and Lazarus One Difference February 14, 2023 The story of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16:19-31 is well-known. So well known is it that we read over the details without giving them much thought. So, let’s
Shepherding The Ministry of the Lord's Servant January 05, 2023 Young men often romanticize the ministry. I know I did. I was in another denomination when the Lord called me to the ministry. A committee met with me and one of the men
Bible "Just the facts, Ma'am" December 21, 2022 How is it possible for humans to interpret the world around us? I mean, interpret it properly. Let me put it differently. What is the pre-condition for the ability to interpret the world
Stay Awake! December 07, 2022 When the Lord says in Luke 12:35, “Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning…” we immediately begin nosing around the text looking for what it means to “stay dressed” and
Living in Meshech & Kedar October 19, 2022 The Psalms are an invitation to experience the Psalmist’s experience. That must be clarified. The Psalmist often provides us with just enough information so that we cannot locate the Psalm in any
persuasion The Art of Persuasion September 21, 2022 Perhaps the most difficult aspect of pastoral work is the work of persuasion. In other words, how do we persuade others? How do we persuade unbelievers to see the beauty of Christ (II
King James only Edward Hills & a Strange Providence September 08, 2022 Anyone familiar with debates over Bible translations knows that they can become intense. However, those who advocate that the King James Version of the Bible is the only faithful version can treat the
The Federal Vision August 17, 2022 What is Federal Vision (FV)? Can it be defined or described? It is true that there is diversity in the movement, which makes definition difficult. However, there is a good deal of unity
"When I'm at White Lake!" August 07, 2022 My wife and I were in white Lake, NY this past week. It is a beautiful area situated in the midst of the picturesque Catskill Mountains near Bethel, NY. Some of you may
Bible Benjamin B Warfield and the Preservation of Scripture July 19, 2022 The careful reader of the Westminster Confession will notice that the preservation of Scripture is not described as “immediate” as was inspiration. Instead the Confession speaks of God’s “singular care and providence”
abortion Roe, Dobbs & King Jesus July 06, 2022 Several years ago I read Russell Kirk’s The Roots of American Order. Kirk argued, “The the law is revealed to save man from self destruction.”[1]However, by “save” he meant “restrain.
Voting Church, Polls & a Few Lessons June 14, 2022 This story begins in November of last year. While voting I noticed that there was a need for a Majority Inspector of Elections in my county. The ballot was blank and so I
Good Works To Be Useful May 18, 2022 He surely saw him from the boat. The Lord watched the erratic and unstable demoniac who was as unruly as the storm he had recently silenced. The man’s appearance alone made him
A Lord's Day Morning Meditation April 24, 2022 It’s the Lord’s Day morning and I have a window that looks out over the Oswego River. This morning I am going to attend church at the Oswego Reformed Presbyterian Church.
literature The Reader, the Bible & His Presence April 20, 2022 Recently, I have been reading Terry Eagleton’s book, How to Read Literature. Eagleton is as entertaining as he is insightful. He reminds us readers, for example, that Heathcliff does not exist outside
gender issues Senses, Faith & Gender April 14, 2022 When I was a teen, I struggled with obsessive compulsive behavior (or what some might tag as OCD). I simply couldn’t get it into my head that the oven was off or
