Gentle Reformation

[//www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=71411848365]Debates are a fickle thing.  In order for them to be helpful, which, unfortunately, many are not, there needs to be a few crucial ingredients.  (1)

I hesitate to write about a fresh tragedy.  I prefer to be a silent, weeping observer.  Yet Scriptures come forth along with the prayers and tears. Indeed, does it not seem the Bible

Yesterday I preached a message from Isaiah 54 with the above title.  Saying "when Presbyterians shout" sounds akin to responding to improbable news with "when pigs fly" or that

[http://reformedforum.org/ctc185/]If there’s one thing I appreciate about the podcast Christ the Center it would be their willingness to keep the cookies on the top shelf.  In other words,

Behind the scenes here at Gentle Reformation we have a running joke about the "Doppelganger virus."  For those who do not know what a doppelganger is, the German literally means "

I have been reading a lot on biblical counseling lately as I prepare for a class at the beginning of August. What has impressed me over and over as I drudge through the

Last Friday evening, July 7th, we watched fireworks with friends from our front lawn.  As we commented on how they had been delayed by a storm the prior weekend, our friend, with relatives

Warning: Though I have sought to word carefully this post so as not to be explicit, the nature of the subject means certain references are unavoidable. To my knowledge it was the only

Gentle Reformation is happy that three new contributors are coming on board!  In the days ahead you should see their information loading up and contributions coming from them. Here is the briefest of

Apologetics 315 Interview with David Wood Excellent interview exploring the subject of Islam.  Instead of looking at the historical evidence, which is rarely what Muslims care to explore, David Wood very helpfully shows

Friend and fellow Gentle Reformation blogger Dr. Michael LeFebvre recently had a new book he coauthored published.  Below is a short interview I conducted to find out more about the book and Michael&

Watching a lively thunderstorm roll in Saturday night with my family on the back porch (God's fireworks cancelling the puny ones by comparison planned that evening); drinking Miriam's homemade

Recent circumstances have reminded me again of the importance of the biblical warnings.  Here I have in mind those passages of Scripture that warn saints that they must continue in the faith or

[http://www.desertspringschurch.org/messages/By_Series/Clarus_2010/]How might you answer these questions? Is God pleased with our owning things? Is God pleased when we take materials from the earth and

I know commandments restricting any behavior are out these days.  I know what's in is counseling removing any shame.  I know youth think anything is allowable except someone telling you certain

In answer to prayer and at the urgings of a young man in our congregation, last night our church began door-to-door visitation.  We plan to do this throughout the summer.   With two of

[http://www.veritas.org/Media.aspx#!/v/1051] The latest issue of_ Scientific America_ headlines: The Physics of Intelligence Evolution has packed 100-billion neurons into our three-pound brain Can we get any smarter?

Like many of my minister friends, my Sabbath Day was full as I taught a class and preached morning and evening yesterday.  And certainly having a good number of visitors who appear to

In high school my basketball coach, commenting on how skinny I was, said at our senior banquet that "York has to jump around in the shower just to get wet."  Well,

The workshops at this year’s Gospel Coalition National Conference have been good.  And a few have been outstanding.  Of the some 35 or so sessions, I’ve listened to about a third.

[http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/john-piper-interviews-rick-warren-on-doctrine] I am not a Rick Warren aficionado.  I don’t have the foggiest idea what he does on Thursday afternoon, nor do I listen to his

Our call to worship yesterday was the fourth commandment.  You are to remember the Sabbath Day so you can use the Sabbath Day to remember you were once slaves (see Deuteronomy 5:13-15)

Last night Sycamore Covenant Academy had a graduation ceremony with just one graduate. Below follows the charge called "Flying Straight & True" that I gave to Moriah Fisher based on our

[http://www.thegospelcoalition.org/resources/a/the_spirit-filled_missional_ministry_of_jesus] Are you Reformed?  I mean like black coffee Presbyterian, John Calvin fan club member, "yes, I own Francis Turretin’s