“We may be true Christians, really born-again Christians, and yet fail in our love toward other Christians” (Francis Schaeffer, The Mark of the Christian, Kindle, loc. 111). The heart of the third letter of John is found in an exhortation to love (vv. 5-8) and a stern warning concerning a glaring lack of the same (vv. 9-10)! John sends the missive to Gaius, confronts Diotrephes, and commends Demet...  Read More

“Believing, then, is directing the hearts’ attention to Jesus. It is lifting the mind to ‘behold the Lamb of God,’ and never ceasing that beholding for the rest of our lives,” says A.W. Tozer. The great preacher nails the truth on the head. This claim is precisely what John wished to communicate in the crucifixion account. In my estimation, our focal verse today provides the heart of John’s theolo...  Read More

Between the years 1000 and 1250 several new Christian groups arose in Europe. Men and women, young and old, streamed to settle with others in new communities of faith. Here they lived calmly, prayed intentionally, found joy in simple work, and spent time with God. They had known too much greed, selfishness, injustice, politics, and lifeless worship. They now longed instead to think purely, to expe...  Read More

Ever increasing numbers of older Americans begin a slow walk down “the long gray hallway” years before their symptoms are diagnosed as Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). Alzheimer’s, a significant cause of dementia among older people, “is an irreversible, progressive brain disease that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills and, eventually, the ability to carry out the simplest tasks of daily living.” ...  Read More

“As the cross is the sign of submission, so the towel is the sign of service” (Richard Foster). The author of the Celebration of Discipline confronts us with our own human frailty when he challenges the viral attitude of superiority that so often infects our hearts in subtle ways. He states that most of us are comfortable with not being the greatest, but we recoil at the thought that we must be t...  Read More

“It takes some of us a lifetime to learn that Christ, our Good Shepherd, knows exactly what He is doing with us. He understands us perfectly” (Phillip Keller). Do we, however, understand him? Thankfully, John provides us with another clear image of Christ’s ministry and purpose in the 10th chapter of his gospel. This section contains the fourth, “I am” statement. Our savior makes the point that he...  Read More

“What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul/what wondrous love is this, O my soul!/ What wondrous love is this that caused the Lord of bliss/to bear the dreadful curse for my soul...” These are words to a hymn based upon Isaiah 53:6 (What Wondrous Love is This). Perhaps you have never considered the depth of meaning in that tune, so we will today! Isaiah 53 contains a large portion of what h...  Read More

Recall the words of our Lord, “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first” (John 15:18). Peter echoes Christ’s claim and states that rejection by the world should not deter us from remaining steadfastly committed to the Lord. Why? God has named Christ the “chief cornerstone” (2:6). While we may not fully comprehend the value of this principle, we will learn its importance for our ...  Read More

“What kind of people will you be allowing in the buildings?” This question was raised by a business owner with whom I had a discussion about an outside meeting, and his underlying message was quite clear. I also encountered similar questions, on occasion, when I served as a pastor. I sought to be diplomatic with my response to the businessperson, but James did not hold back in his condemnation of ...  Read More

Hills church (later Hillsong Worship) recorded the song, “Shout to the Lord” in February 1994. Some of the most powerful words are: “My Jesus, my Savior/Lord there is none like You/All of my days, I want to praise/The wonders of Your mighty love.” Are you like me? I have already begun to sing the chorus, “Shout to the Lord all the earth let us sing.” It is estimated that the song is sung by 30 mil...  Read More

“The strength of a man’s virtue should not be measured by his special exertions, but by his habitual acts” (Blaise Pascal). I believe that these words hold true for an individual and a nation. Governing is extraordinarily difficult in times of calm, but it must be overwhelming in times of great stress. It should not surprise us today to be reminded that the ruin of a great people and nation rarely...  Read More

On 17 June, 1812, some 208 years ago, the brig Caravan sailed into the harbor at Calcutta, four months after embarking from Salem, Massachusetts. Its safe arrival was remarkable, for war seemed to be everywhere, threatening its passage. Napoleon and his French army, menace to all of Europe, was suffering defeat at the hands of the Russians. South Americans were rising in force to follow Simon Boli...  Read More