A lot of internet ink has been spilled recently on the issue of whether or not churches should have normal services on Christmas Day, since Christmas falls on a Sunday this year. I'm not going to spill any more of it, and not just because I think that internet ink is a valuable commodity. There is … More Church on Christmas Sunday?
It makes me very sad when mature Christians I know speak the name of the Lord lightly. I feel like I'm hearing it more and more. I know that there is scholarly debate over what it actually means to take the Lord's name in vain, but mentioning God flippantly and referring to Jesus jokingly really … More The Lord’s Name
“It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all.” — 1 Timothy 1:15 There is a difference between believing in the total depravity of man and believing in the total depravity of yourself. The former is always easier, for … More Foremost of All
"It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all." – 1 Timothy 1:15 Sometimes truth appears in a form that is so simple and beautiful that it takes your breath away. You're reading through a passage of Scripture and … More To Save Sinners
"The meaning of Christmas is not found in a rejection of rank commercialism, but is rather the meaning of the whole Bible—sin, promise, redemption, faith and glory." – Douglas Wilson It's that time of the year when every Christian who thinks more than an inch deep recognizes how the significance of Christmas has been raped and … More A Real Christmas
Dr. Will Varner, my teacher, mentor, and friend, spoke in TMC chapel today. For the first time, he spoke publicly about the death of his beloved daughter Lynda. It was an agonizing experience for all who cared. It is dangerous to assume that you understand someone else's grief. Shallow is the man who believes he … More Paint My Sorrows
This afternoon I returned from my Aunt Mitsu's funeral in south New Jersey. I've been gone since Friday. The funeral was held on Saturday, and the Sunday evening service at her church was dedicated to her, as well. I didn't know her well; mainly from the perspective of a distant nephew. So it was a blessing to … More My Aunt Mitsu: Lessons from Her Life & Death
For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. — The Apostle Paul, 1st century A.D. Who says this kind of thing? I mean, what would possess a human being to write such an off-the-wall statement (and to write it honestly)? And how in the world did it ever become normal, even cliche? Sometimes … More “To Die Is Gain”
"Dying is so hard." — Mitsu Nasuti, Friday, November 25, 2005 I talked to my mom on the phone today. She said that her older sister, my Aunt Mitsu, is as close to home as you can get without actually being there. Perhaps it's like that feeling you get when you return home after being gone … More “Dying Is So Hard…”
True repentance is hard to come by. At least it is in my life. There are lots of "I'm-sorry's," plenty of good intentions, loads of transformational plans, and a good number of "I-should's" and "I-need-to's." Short-lasting resolutions of all shapes and sizes are often the name of the game. Overzealous, unripe decisions (with precious little … More True Repentance: Hard to Come By
I don't have much time, but my mom called tonight and told me that her older sister (the oldest of five), my Aunt Mitsu, is in the final stage of succumbing to cancer. She doesn't want to eat or take her medication, which are sure signs that the battle is over. Her battle has not … More Aunt Mitsu: Not Much Time
I was having lunch with Bryan Kirby yesterday when Cindi called. She asked me a question, we talked for a minute, said “I love you,” and hung up. After I had closed my cell phone, Bryan told me that we were a “cute couple.” (I don’t mind being called that. Coming from a friend like … More Lessons from My “Cindi Voice”
Today is "Day of Prayer" at The Master's College. There were four hour-long sessions of corporate prayer, a worship night at 9:00pm, and wings of students signed up to pray in hour blocks around the clock. Apart from this there will also be unknown private prayers being offered and unprogrammed groups getting together to pray. About an hour ago … More Thoughts on Corporate Prayer
I love John Piper. Not in the way that people “love” ice cream or fast cars or long walks on the beach, but in the way that Christians love each other, in the way that a student loves his most influential teacher, and in the way that a sheep loves its shepherd. Over the past … More Encourage Your Leaders: An Email to John Piper
I'm a bit surprised that no one has yet responded to my previous post, because (1) the issue is very relevant, (2) the subject is highly controversial, and (3) I overstated my point in the last sentence. This was the last sentence: "It is time for us to re-examine the relationship between God and His … More Parental Involvement in Marriage (Part 2): The Divine Model
This past Sunday afternoon I was playing my guitar and singing the song "God of Love." Ryan Boys (a former RD) wrote it as a doxology following D.A. Carson's remarkable sermon on the intratrinitarian love of God at the 2003 Truth & Life Conference. I love the song, because it expresses an otherworldly reality and an eternal … More Parental Involvement in Marriage (Part 1): The Father Loves the Son
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