The Church's Universal Language August 11, 2019 P. has been visiting my congregation in Los Angeles while he is here on business from China. He attends another RP church in China and his English is not very good; it'
California: The Christian's Desire? August 04, 2019 This past week I have been at presbytery camp in Washington state up by the Canadian border. Now that I am back in the California Republic, I am reminded of all of the
I Need Hope: A Guest Post July 23, 2019 In John Bunyan’s classic Pilgrim’s Progress the protagonist has one companion who sticks with him to the end of the journey. This friend stays close through times of despair and helps
Fighting the Patriarchy? July 16, 2019 The famous Parc des Bastions' Mur de la Reformation was vandalized on July 15, 2019 in rainbow colors. Earlier in the year, the phrase "Where are the Women?" was scrawled
Enjoy Your Freedom? Thank a Presbyterian. July 02, 2019 As those of us in the United States this week celebrate freedom from British governance, consider the many ways that Presbyterianism influenced the decision to enter a war for independence and take up
Messy Church History: Keepin' Us Honest June 27, 2019 King David brought Bathsheba into a home where there were other wives and concubines. Not only was she another woman—a competing woman—but she was with child, and unbeknown to David’s
Christ is Your Heaven June 07, 2019 When you think of heaven does your mind primarily meditate on family and friends that have gone before you? It is normal to think of loved ones who have died in the Lord
Four Reasons to Love the Psalms May 09, 2019 A guest post by my friend, Rev. Bill Boekestein. Some Psalms are easy to love. It is no mystery why Psalm 23 is a perennial favorite. But it is also no mystery why
God Was Manifest in the Flesh? April 15, 2019 Have you ever read your Bible and noticed that one version claims that "God" was manifest in the flesh and another version claims that "he" was manifest in the
Water Heater Maintenance February 12, 2019 Last week our water heater broke down. I thought the pilot light went out because we have had some heavy rains and flooding lately. As it turns out, it was not the pilot
Uncle Fred's Dangerous Bible February 09, 2019 What is the value of God’s Word to you? What if you lived in a time in which it was illegal to be taught the Word of God? Or illegal to teach
The Overgrown Tree of False Theology January 04, 2019 Imagine a tree “run riot into three very large and overgrown branches.” The tree is ancient and gnarly with a large trunk and a canopy that fills the sky. It is impressive to
Keep the Church Honest December 01, 2018 Two-hundred years after the writing of the Westminster Standards, pastors from various reformed denominations gathered in Edinburgh, Scotland to celebrate the anniversary. The year was 1843. In typical reformed-celebratory style, the anniversary was
Then Luther Arose October 28, 2018 At the time when divine truth lay buried under this vast and dense cloud of darkness; when religion was sullied by so many impious superstitions; when by horrid blasphemies the worship of God
Disciples are Under Discipleship: Or The Importance of Church Membership October 05, 2018 Membership in clubs, institutions, and leagues is on the decline in America. The idea of joining oneself to an institution is becoming something of the past. Whether it is the Elks Club, the
Five Reasons to Dust Off a Theology Book September 07, 2018 “What are your working on?” “My latest Gentle Reformation article.” “What’s it about?” “Why to read systematic theology.” “Ugh.” True story. Really. Recently I started reading a set of books that have
System of Doctrine? August 18, 2018 Many reformed and presbyterian bodies use the phrase "system of doctrine" in their ordination vows. The particular branch of Christ's Church of which I am a minister has as
Missons The Pursuit of Safety August 03, 2018 A guest post by Heather H. I love having grown up in a Psalm-singing denomination where my head and my heart were filled from my youth with the often-comforting Word of God. One
Church Court Bedfellows June 09, 2018 Church court discipline cases can have strange bedfellows: In the Clark-Van Til controversy (1944-1946) in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, Rev. Robert Strong of Willow Grove, PA, OPC was "among Clark's
A Word to New Seminary Graduates May 10, 2018 I have noticed via my social media that several seminaries that I love and respect have had commencement recently. Others are still preparing for their commencement ceremonies. Congratulations. The pursuit of theological education
Of Colored Eggs and Consciences March 29, 2018 Today my Christian neighbor brought my kids several colored eggs and some candy. Being keenly aware of Presbyterian history and the debates over holy days, she called me first and let me know
Christian living The Stings of Death: An Article Not Just for Old People March 01, 2018 The Lord Jesus has taken away the sting of death through his resurrection. Believers know that for all who are in union with Jesus, their bodies will be united to Christ after death
Gospel Thoughts on a Dark Anniversary January 20, 2018 Below is a bulletin insert that I wrote for Lord's Day, January 21, 2018, in remembrance of the 45th anniversary of the Roe vs. Wade decision which legalized human abortion in
Defiant Prayer and the Image of God January 17, 2018 Several people from my congregation spent the part of the day cooking and preparing a meal for fifty people experiencing homelessness here in Los Angeles. This is the second year that we have
Very Able Servants in the Church? January 05, 2018 There are hundreds of names in the Books of Chronicles, hundreds of those who served the Lord and were a part of the godly heritage making up what we call the church. In