Blessed are those who mourn ..for they shall be comforted May 23, 2022 Psalm 90 is a most moving, deeply resonating, prayer of past anguish and present anticipation. Psalm 90 in Psalter Sequence Canonically positioned by Ezra at the beginning of Book IV of the Psalter,
The Greatest Story Ever Told May 20, 2022 What we have here in Exodus 18 is the beginnings of a worldwide movement that will transcend generations, culture, race, language, politics and nationhood.
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
Review of Gordon Keddie's Prayers of the Bible May 16, 2022 The following is a guest post by Russell Pulliam, an Indianapolis Star columnist and ruling elder at the Second Reformed Presbyterian Church of Indianapolis. Gordon Keddie has a way with words. Maybe it
worship Activating our Spiritual Muscles for Worship May 14, 2022 I’ve been reading Stephen Charnock’s masterpiece, “The Existence and Attributes of God”. It is simply magnificent. Ancient Puritan prose, but glorious. Utterly thorough and profound, yet delightfully heart-warming and deeply pastoral
True Heavenly-Mindedness May 12, 2022 What does it mean to be heavenly minded? Does it mean to stick your super-spiritual head so high up into the clouds that you cannot properly or responsibly do your God-given work? Does
Reforming Church Discipline May 11, 2022 From his "exile" in Cambridge, England, Martin Bucer (1491-1551) wrote a letter to the Reformed pastors of Strasbourg. In that letter he commended the traditional three marks of the church, with
Calling a pastor A Plea To Pulpit Committees May 10, 2022 Often, pulpit committees will talk with several candidates at one time, even interviewing multiple candidates at one time. There is no hard rule against this practice, but there is some wisdom for not doing it this way.
Spoiler Alert May 09, 2022 Some of God's people are called to public ministry. In His providence, that's my calling. As we approach the end of another academic year at the seminary and my
The Heart and Mind of Godly Ministry: Learning from the Letters of Calvin and Rutherford May 06, 2022 Since High School, when I became a believer, God has richly blessed my life with multiple mentors and heroes in the faith. Their friendship, support, challenge, and rebuke have seasoned my walk with
My Slave, My Choice. May 05, 2022 In chapter one of The Great Gatsby, the character Tom, spoke at a party and discussed the early twentieth-century science of racial theory. He said, “Civilization’s going to pieces...if we don’
worship Reverence and Emotion in Reformed Worship Part 1 May 04, 2022 This is the first in a three-part series on the role of emotion in Reformed worship (part two is here [https://gentlereformation.com/2022/06/01/reverence-and-emotion-in-reformed-worship-part-2/] ). In these articles, I argue for
Shepherding’s Singular Focus May 02, 2022 This article appears in the April edition of Tabletalk [https://tabletalkmagazine.com/] magazine. The primary aim in shepherding the people of God is clear in Scripture. The risen Lord of the church thrice
Family Healthy Households, Healthy Hearts April 30, 2022 Research now shows doing the mundane tasks to keep our houses and families running has long-lasting effects, physically as well as spiritually, on our children's hearts.
baby Are You Being a Baby? April 29, 2022 When you feel like reading your Bible, read it. When you don’t feel like reading it, read it. When you are drowning in sorrow, read it. When you are impatient in waiting, read it. When you are rejoicing in blessing, read it.
Got the Lot? April 28, 2022 When fidelity, honesty, society, morality and true biblical spirituality are turned on their head, and life turns upside down, most stresses and voices yield a counsel of despair. Yet in David's
Problem Gambling April 28, 2022 The following post is a guest article by Kit Swartz, a retired minister in the RPCNA who served for several decades in the Oswego Reformed Presbyterian Church in New York. This article originally
Dispelling Unbelief April 27, 2022 It will never cease to amaze me why those so close to text refuse to accept Truth. Is it not a puzzling wonder why countrymen of Christ should deny their own Messiah? The
boldness The Lost Art of Courage April 26, 2022 Aesop told a story about a Lion. In hearing a hollow and startling voice, the lion grew terribly afraid. After some moments of great dread, the lion finally saw what was making the noise...
That One Thing Young Men Need April 25, 2022 In the middle of his very practical pastoral letter to Titus, Paul encourages him to instruct the different age and gender groups in the church. He will get to the young men. Yet
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
Hope for the Prodigals April 17, 2022 "Let us learn never to despair of the salvation of anyone, as long as he lives. Fathers ought never to despair of prodigal sons. Mothers ought never to despair of self-willed, headstrong
prayer An Ordination Prayer April 16, 2022 Almighty God, creator of Heaven and Earth You who spoke this universe into being by your powerful word, You who have given us a message of life for this broken world a world
manna ‘See! The Lord has given you the...’ April 15, 2022 This title is the beginning of a verse from the Bible. How do you think it continues? What word would you guess comes next?
