Category Archives: Faith and Practice

From the Pastor’s Desk

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Here are some of the things that have come across my desk this week.

The Dangers of Social Media: From Crossway Publishers, Tony Reinke points out 10 Things You Should Know about the Danger of Media. I found #7 particularly powerful: Media endangers our prayer life… “The worst of our compulsive social media habits are filling our days and corroding our prayer lives.”

How to Listen to Preaching: This is a great article on based on The Westminster Larger Catechism, questions 154-160.  As a pastor, my endeavor is to always be growing in my ability to write and preach sermons that are Biblical, Christ-Centered, God-Honoring, and effective in calling sinners to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ and encouraging believers in their walk with Him. In this article, Joel Smit encourages the listeners in how they are to prepare themselves to hear the Word.

Today in Church History: On this day in 418 AD, a relatively minor Synod meeting of the North African Church assembled, but it made a major declaration.  The council met to take action concerning the errors of Caelestius, a disciple of Pelagius, denounced the Pelagian doctrines of human nature, original sin, grace, and perfectibility; and it fully approved the teaching of Augustine.

Allergy Season is Upon Us: As the Zyrtek bottle is nearly empty at my house, I recalled this article from a while ago. Here’s the take away illustration:

And Finally:

A random video about the massive city of an Ant Hill.

More Readings From the Pastor’s Desk

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Following last weeks blog, I thought I’d share more of what I’ve been reading, what I’ve stumbled upon while studying, or what’s randomly arrived in my inbox.  Enjoy!

  • Update on Notre Dame
    It was shocking to see the massive fire in the attic and roof of the beautiful Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris. To think that such a structure which has stood for 850 years could be lost so quickly was astonishing.  But as this article from the Gospel Coalition points out, while tragic, we shouldn’t be quick to say that this fire is not a moral lesson.
    This is another excellent articlefrom PCA Ruling Elder and writer for National Review, David French on how the Notre Dame fire affects all Christians, and the hope we can find in the midst of the ashes.
  • The Love of God
    I’ve been doing research on 1 John 4:19, “God is Love,” and found two interesting articles I wanted to share.  The first is from A.W. Pink’s book, The Attributes of God. If you click here, it will take you to the chapter on the Love of God, but the entire book is available on the website for free. It is a great read and I highly recommend it.
    Second, I love the hymn by Frederick Lehman, “The Love of God,” particularly the final verse

Could we with ink the ocean fill
And were the skies of parchment made,
Were every stalk on earth a quill
And every man a scribe by trade,
To write the love of God above
Would drain the ocean dry;
Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
Tho’ stretched from sky to sky.

In researching the hymn at Hymnary.org, I came across this note:

The first two stanzas are Lehman’s own work. The third, by his own account, he added based on lines “found written by a demented man on the wall of his narrow room in the asylum where he died”; those words are a translation of an Aramaic poem, “Haddamut”, written ca. 1050 by Rabbi Meir of Worms, Germany. They hearken back to the 31st Sura of the Qur’an, where one reads
If all the trees on earth were pens, and the ocean were ink, replenished by seven more oceans, the writing of God’s wonderful signs and creations would not be exhausted; surely God is All-Mighty, All-Wise.

If you read the hymn in its entirety, it is undoubtedly Christ-centered and God-honoring, but it is interesting to note the source of the material.

  • Sunday’s Coming
    If you’re not familiar with S.M. Lockridge’s Good Friday message, make sure to take a moment and listen. I listen to this each year as I prepare for the celebration of Good Friday and the Resurrection. I find the video distracting, so turn up the volume, and just listen.
  • Daily Dose of Greek
    In case your thinking to yourself, “I wish I had a way to learn to read and understand Biblical Greek” (and let’s be honest, who isn’t thinking that), here’s a great, free, website to help you out. They even have apps for your smart phones and tablets. If you’re serious about learning, I’d even be willing to start a Greek New Testament reading group.
    I anxiously await your calls.
  • Pastors are Special
    At the risk of seeming self-serving, I share this article that I read today. I don’t share this to garner your pity, but because I would agree with everything he has said here, and seek your prayers for the effectiveness of my ministry, and my diligence for the work before me.
  • I Miss B.C.
    Finally, I came across this old comic strip and it reminded me how much I miss reading Johnny Hart’s B.C. comic with my dad on Sunday mornings.easter comic