Faith, not Feelings
Too often we worship at the throne of our feelings. We are far more prone to say, “This is how I feel, therefore, I will do . . .,” rather than, “this is what I think, because the Bible says .
Continue reading“Your testimonies also are my delight; they are my counselors.” – Psalm 119:24
Set Your Mind
The goal of the Christian life is to become what we already are. What do I mean? Repeatedly in the New Testament believers are referred to as those who are “in Christ.” Since believers have died to sin and have
Continue readingDo Not Think On These Things
Since hanging this visual of Philippians 4:8 on my office wall, opposite the door, I have been forced to look at it every time I enter the room. As a result, I’ve been thinking about how important our thought patterns
Continue readingDADs 2:5 – Where Are the Men?
The following quotation is from Ray Ortlund’s chapter “The Pastor as Worshipper” in For the Fame of God’s Name. Though the context is that of calling younger men to seriously consider the high and holy calling of gospel preaching, it
Continue readingCompare Yourself to Jesus…and Be Content
Comparison is the enemy of contentment. That’s been pretty clear in my own life and the lives of others whom I know. It’s also been that which I’ve conveyed to others while counseling them. Imagine then how startled I was
Continue readingMen’s Conference in Philadelphia
“Battling the Addictive Power of Sin” will be the theme of the men’s conference that I am speaking at in Philadelphia next month. Lifeway Baptist Church is hosting the event, which will take place April 27-28, 2012. For more information
Continue readingConsider It All Joy
“Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance” (James 1:2-3). Trials test how we stand in our faith before God and how we conduct ourselves before others while
Continue readingGems from “Wordsmithy”
Last night our six-year old daughter repeatedly asked me what I was laughing at. I replied, “This man says the funniest things.” After a few times, she stopped asking. I was reading Wordsmithy: Hot Tips for the Writing Life by
Continue readingFaith Needs Exercise
Faith is like a muscle; it gets stronger the more it is exercised and pushed to the limit. Though the nature of faith includes the element of submission (as we saw yesterday), this submission is not flawless, complete, or without
Continue readingThe Submission of Faith
Faith—by its very nature—is submissive. Perhaps I’m simple-minded, too childlike, or unable to see the deeper issues that others see in theological discussions, but I confess to having always been puzzled by the debate over whether or not saving faith must
Continue readingThe Sharper Sword
The Bible is a piercing book. That’s what the author of the book of Hebrews means when he calls the Word, “sharper than any two-edged sword” (Heb 4:12). The adjective “sharper” originates from the primitive root temno, meaning, “to cut.”
Continue readingGod-Dependency
A life of prayer is irrefutable proof of God-dependency… Prayer is the only form of communication with God available to the believer. It is crucial, therefore, that we understand how God wills for us to speak with Him. R. L.
Continue readingThe Art of Divine Contentment
It’s Monday morning and, honestly, I don’t have a whole lot to say. So, I was sifting through a pile of books that I read in the past couple years and was drawn again to another book by my old,
Continue readingDADs 2:4 – Raising Cain
When the first man and woman, Adam and Eve, rebelled against their Creator’s clear and good command, “sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned” (Romans 5:12). Thus, Adam
Continue readingFor or Against Psychology?
The word “psychology” brings many different thoughts and images to people’s minds. What exactly does it mean, or does it perhaps have many different meanings depending on its use and context? This 10-minute video, posted by the Biblical Counseling Coalition,
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Up Is Down: 7 Marks of Humility
God’s leadership principles are the complete opposite of man’s. Consider just one. If a man wants to go up then he goes up. If he wants to climb the corporate ladder then he climbs (often stepping on a good number
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Assuming the Posture of a Servant
It was sometime between 1986 and 1988. The setting was the daily chapel service at Calvary Bible College in Kansas City. The preacher was an area pastor with a speech impediment. From his very first words my eyes were fixed,
Continue readingDon’t Let Repetitive Sin Keep You from Prayer
There are times in our walk with God when we are tempted to think we have sinned one too many times for God to hear us again in prayer. But as humble as this sounds, and seems to us at
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