I Resolve That... December 31, 2019 In my Bible reading: Pick a Bible reading plan and personal goals for Bible reading for the new year. Choose the time of day that you will do your reading. Choose a verse
Trumpeters of Mercy December 21, 2019 The pastor of our local mega church was interviewed by various news sources this weekend explaining why his congregation wanted to do good in the community this December. Just in time for the
Deer Camp Meditations November 30, 2019 Growing up in Western Pennsylvania, the first Monday after Thanksgiving was an important holiday--maybe even the most important one! Schools were closed. Diners opened really early. Orange was the color of the liturgy.
Gentle Spirit, Gentle Conviction November 01, 2019 Robert Murray M'Cheyne, arguably one of the 19th century's best preachers preached on John 16:8, "And when He [the Comforter] is come, He will convince the world
Knowing or Knowing October 03, 2019 Walking the cobblestone streets of Wittenburg, I approached the (remodeled) doors on which Martin Luther nailed the 95 Theses. Climbing the stairs of Wartburg Castle, I entered a room that I had seen
Wine Juxtaposed with Wine September 06, 2019 The use of wine is seen both positively and negatively in the Scriptures and two paintings by Jan Steen at the Norton Simon Museum in Pasadena, California illustrate these two sides. The faces
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