“I will sing a new song to You, O God; upon a harp, an instrument of ten strings, will I sing praises to You. “ Psalm 144:9

In reading some of the events of Christianity through the years, Psalm 144 is referenced on numerous occasions by those who have found comfort, strength and courage in facing the battles and challenges of life. For example, many going off to war have claimed verses 1-2: Blessed be the LORD my Rock, Who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle — my loving-kindness and my fortress, my high tower and my deliverer, my shield and the One in Whom I take refuge, Who subdues my people under me. ”

[Read more…]

“Sufferings are but as little chips of the cross!” -Joseph Church

For years John Piper has held a conference at his church just for pastors. During that time he has regularly presented messages on the lives of great saints of the past. I have read several of them. I was quite interested in his treatment of Charles Simeon (1759-1836), Church of England minister who pastored the Church of the Holy Trinity in Cambridge, England for 54 years. This particular article grabbed my attention because at one time I owned the 21 volume set of Simeon’s Expository Sermons, but had not really read his biography. Upon discovering Piper’s article on Simeon I purchased his full biography by Handley Moule entitled, “Charles Simeon, Pastor of a Generation.” In the forward of this volume John Stott states, “We urgently need in the pulpits of the world a new generation of Simeons!” [Read more…]

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. I Peter 5:8-9

Today we have a hidden enemy in Isis. Previous to Isis it was al-Qaeda. The invisible enemy’s trail leads centuries before to the enemy of all times, a character first named Lucifer (Isaiah 14:12-14). Satan is a master at distractions. Always has been, always will be. Have we forgotten that as believers and the church that we live in a wilderness, not a garden; a battleground, not a playground; a spiritually darkened society, not a God-conscious environment? Someone has wisely said that the church’s first task is to keep being herself in an ever-changing world! [Read more…]

“An off day isn’t quite the same as a day off!” ‑‑W.W. Wiersbe

We all have had “off days” in ministry, kind of like, “off days” in golf!  The driver is just a little off, the pitching wedge just not working right, the sand wedge just not getting under, the putter, well, it just “ain’t puttin’!”  At the end of the game we fling our clubs in the trunk of the car and quip, “Sure a good thing I got a two-for-one discount today ‑ I sure wouldn’t have wanted to pay full price for that game!” [Read more…]

“My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? Why are You so far from helping Me, and from the words of My groaning? O My God, I cry in the daytime, but You do not hear me: and in the night season, and am not silent.” Psalm 22:1-2

God speaking to God! God crying out to God and God not answering! God asking God for help and God not helping! God groaning to God all the day long and into the night season, and God in heaven is silent! God feeling forsaken by God! God being forsaken by God!

This Old Testament text in Psalm 22 coincides with the New Testament text in Matthew 26 as we watch Christ, our blessed Savior, enter the Garden of Gethsemane and in thrice prayer intensely petition God the Father : “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death…O my Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will…O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done” (Matthew 26:38, 39, 42). This Psalm is also prophetic of Christ’s cry from the Cross, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me” (Matthew 27:46)? In both instances, in Gethsemane and at Golgotha, when it is all said and done, our Lord is resting in the will of God!

[Read more…]