Besides his sermons, he is known for his poetry. Today’s readers might be most familiar with his meditation to the smoker of tobacco, in consideration not of health issues (it was actually considered a medicinal herb) of the greater comforts of heaven (each line ending with “Thus think, and smoke tobacco”[2]).   Ralph Erskine (1685-1752)... Continue Reading

The Rule is a way to “begin with the end in mind”—to envision a sustainable, thriving walk with the Lord, in his Word, in prayer, in community, in our family, and in our work, then work backward to a set of commitments. It’s not about detailed to-do lists that must be maintained. A Rule of... Continue Reading

Some of these will apply to you; some of them won’t. For example, you may already have had a spiritual mentor or perhaps because of this season of life, you may not have the capacity or energy to disciple anyone. That’s fine. These questions are provided not to make you feel guilty, but to provide... Continue Reading

I suspect that many contemporary Christians do not think much about providence.  We either think that the Spirit speaks to us directly, through our feelings or only in the Word.  But the fact is that God uses our circumstances (his providence) to speak to us.  Of course Scripture is the only absolute authority and we... Continue Reading

“I have written not for those that are experienced but for the common people and those that have the Spirit, who are highly esteemed before God…I hope that I shall do enough if I uncover the purest and simplest sense of the Gospel as well as I can…in order that the Christian people may hear,... Continue Reading

“Born at Uechteritz, Germany, from a schoolmaster and organist, Neumeister studied theology and poetry at the University of Leipzig. One of the main subjects of discussion around that time was the recent visit of the popular lecturer August Hermann Francke and his subsequent expulsion from Saxony due to the disputes he generated.”   Erdmann Neumeister... Continue Reading

Irenaeus of Lyons (ca. 130–200) was a bishop who learned from Polycarp, a disciple of the apostle John. In ‘Against Heresies’ he emphasizes the unity and transcendence of God. Using a metaphor, he explains God’s relationship to the world through his “two hands,” the Son and the Spirit.   Have Christians always held the same... Continue Reading

Certain Soviet officials decided to increase the steel shipped to a certain area. When the planners issued orders for trains to carry double the steel to the designated destination, conscientious engineers informed them that it couldn’t be done. They pointed out that the existing train tracks could not support such great weights. The politicians had... Continue Reading

“Mr. V took a stand. He is right. If we as Americans don’t support him we will all lose our God given rights,” posted one signer from North Carolina. “This is a clear violation of free speech. Yet another example of the LGBT and the tyrannical left trying to impose their agenda,” stated another from... Continue Reading

Foreseeing this circumstance, Pastor Wang Yi wrote the declaration below to be published by his church should he be detained for more than 48 hours. He wrote his first draft on September 21, 2018 and revised it on October 4, 2018. In it he explains the meaning and necessity of faithful disobedience, how it is distinct... Continue Reading