The Sabbath isn’t just a break from our work; it’s meant to reorient our relationship with our work. Ultimately, it teaches us that the fruit of our labor is in the hands of God— which are far more trustworthy than our own. It’s an invitation to surrender our pride, which tells us that our provision... Continue Reading

In his understandable zeal to honor his wife, Mr. Young’s speech in opposition to the overture was the final impetus for my decision to vote in favor. The reason is because, in his speech, Mr. Young extolled what he believed are the virtues of ‘Jesus Calling’, repeatedly calling attention to the worldwide impact of the... Continue Reading

Just as the mother crimson worm goes to the oak tree voluntarily to give her life for her children, so Jesus offered himself on the tree of the cross for your sins, according to the will of God (Gal. 1:4). Just as the crimson worm bleeds out a scarlet dye in the death she endures... Continue Reading

Did you know there is a connection between the names of Jesus and his work of creation? Psalm 8 celebrates his names as they relate to creation. “O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!” (v. 1). In other words, Oh Jehovah (our covenantal God of creation), our Adonai (Jesus,... Continue Reading

“I fear you will never arrive at an understanding of God so long as you cannot bring yourself to see the good that often comes as a result of pain. For there is nothing, from the lowest, weakest tone of suffering to the loftiest acme of pain, to which God does not respond. There is... Continue Reading

While Neil Postman’s critique of image-based and entertainment- focused culture dates to the middle of the 1980s, his warning about the dominance of the electronically-mediated image (which we watch) over the word (which we read) should still challenge us today, especially since the dangers he exposed are more potent today given the explosion of internet... Continue Reading

In the twentieth century, Lehman was given the third verse of “The Love of God” first as an act of grace, communicated globally and over centuries, not last as an instant and focused deus ex machina to his initial efforts. He held onto that third verse like a diamond in the rough. Then, when it was time,... Continue Reading

Essentially, the Psalms are evidence that the songbook of the people of God was one that originally contained a rich diversity of musical styles. We can know this because of the nature of music and because of the history and context of the Psalms themselves. Apparently, God ordained that his people, for centuries, sing diverse... Continue Reading

“A church ought to be friendly to genuine seekers, but the church ought to recognize that there is only one Seeker. His name is God! If you want to be friendly to someone, if you want to accommodate someone, accommodate Him and His glory, even if it is rejected by everyone else. We are not... Continue Reading

Simply put, a person has to pass three tests to be a triple none. Behavior. They never attend church.  Belief. They have no beliefs about God other than they doubt or deny his existence. In other words, they are agnostics or atheists. Belonging. They claim no religious affiliation or preference. The most notable data Burge produced in this aspect... Continue Reading