Disciplining the Middle April 08, 2025 Over the years, I have coached many basketball players at different levels. There are those little ones in the K-3rd grade league whom you teach the very basics, and I have helped skilled
A Great Storm, A Great God, A Great Calm! February 12, 2025 “[37] And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. [38] But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And
Looking To The Lord January 14, 2025 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.- Proverbs 3:5 Why is trusting in the Lord so hard? We can easily trust the
The Importance of Remembering November 12, 2024 “...when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night; for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing
Our One Solid Relationship October 08, 2024 Gospel ministry focuses on relationships. In ministry, we proclaim the truth of Christ’s gospel that restores our vertical relationship with God and transforms how we live with others in the church and
His Grace Is Enough September 10, 2024 Grace is often thought of in relation mainly to our justification. We are saved by grace. Our sin and sinful nature are justified by grace alone. As a result, the Christian is now
A Few Thoughts on Corporate Prayer July 09, 2024 In the late 1990s, Dr. Hughes Oliphant Old visited my seminary and lectured on worship and prayer. As a young minister, he had asked other ministers how to grow in his leading in
local church The Local Church Is Critical For Your Faith May 14, 2024 For our whole married life I was employed in a church until May 2023. Thus there was never a discussion about which church we would attend. Only the occasional decision about where to
A Cold Start April 09, 2024 A friend of mine's son works as an engineer on sea-going ships. One day when they were in port a sudden storm tore the shipaway from its mooring. This was a
love A Greater Love February 13, 2024 Love is one of the most ambiguous words in the English language. Consider the different ways we use the word love. I love ice cream. I love my wife. I love the Lord.
Chaplains January 09, 2024 Since taking my new job at Erskine Seminary, I have been able to represent the school at several chaplain events. Our seminary has a long history of training military chaplains. This week, I
Evaluation Time To Stop and Consider December 23, 2023 The world and Bible both see this truth. Now as we end the year, it is a time to stop look around, evaluate, and plan. For life is short and the days are fast.
North American Presbyterian and Reformed Council (NAPARC) November 14, 2023 Each year on the second week of November, The North American Presbyterian and Reformed Council holds its annual meeting. This organization consists of 13 Reformed Denominations and Federations from Scottish, Dutch, Korean, German,
Random Thoughts About Unity In The Church October 10, 2023 As a churchman, it breaks my heart to see brothers separated and divided over issues in many of our congregations, presbyteries, and denominations. I have friends from all over the Reformed World and
Information Overload September 12, 2023 Over the summer, I had to move my library from my former church office. It has been 18 years since I had moved my Library. It has grown significantly in that time. I
Getting Back To It August 08, 2023 As the summer draws to a close and school begins, many of us enter back into the hectic life of kids in school. There are clothes and supplies to buy. New challenges come,
Encouragement July 11, 2023 Pastoral Ministry can be discouraging. Often those whom we pour out our lives for in ministry will break our hearts. Some leave the faith and declare themselves apostates. Others just slowly disappear from
The Joy of June June 13, 2023 June can be a hard month for many of us. The world shoves abomination into our face. Many of us avoid certain stores and venues so as not to have to deal with
Polity Matters (Part 2) May 09, 2023 Being almost 7 foot tall and 350 pounds, I live as part of the 1%. I walk the earth as a giant. This gives me a unique perspective on how life is to
Polity Matters April 11, 2023 Are the rules of the church arbitrary? Do we follow the rules as a part of our commitment to Jesus or are they just something we get from the world? This is a
Leaving and Beginning March 14, 2023 One of the hardest decisions for a pastor is to leave a congregation. When there is a call to a new field there must also be a release from the present minister setting.
revival Everyday Blessings February 14, 2023 When I look back over 17 ½ years of ministry in Lancaster. There have been no “revivals” of note. We have had no special outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Yet, we can clearly see many days of small things that have added up to changed lives.
football Complete Victory January 10, 2023 The University of Georgia won its third Football National Championship last night, totally destroying TCU 65-7 in a game that was a blowout from the beginning. I didn’t watch the game, but
Dealing With Spiritual Warfare December 13, 2022 As a history major, I have alway been drawn especially to military history.There are many biographies, I have enjoyed reading, of men who have fought in desperate struggles against powerful enemies. For
prayer Stick To It November 08, 2022 Some Christians ask the same question when returning to regular devotional time: Why did I stop consistently reading and praying daily? It is essential to ask this question: what makes us quit doing something we know we need and that we see has significant benefits in our lives?
