Author: Brian

Follower of Jesus, Husband, Dad, Grandpa, and Pastor

Current

On By BrianIn Current Collection11 Comments

So many Christians are trying to figure out whether to vote for Trump or a third party in November. Here is a helpful collection of posts from various viewpoints that explore the issues involved:

Why I Don’t Think You Must Vote for the Lesser of Two Evils– Dan Doriani (TGC)

Evangelical Views of the 2016 Election: Ethics and Theology Professor on Why Trump is the Best Candidate for President – Norman Geisler (CT)

Evangelical Views of the 2016 Election: Evangelicals, We Need to Start Looking Beyond the Candidates – Ronnie Floyd

4 Evangelicals, 4 Different Ways to Consider Trump – Trevin Wax (RNS)

Trump’s Moral Character and the Election – Wayne Grudem

Cultivating Your Prayer Life

On By BrianIn Habit of Prayer

CultivatePrayerIn How Can I Cultivate Private Prayer, Joel Beeke’s third way to take hold of yourself is to speak with sincerity in prayer.  He notes Psalm 62:8 which calls for us to pour out our heart to God.  We cannot just mouth words; the heart, indeed our whole being, is to be involved.

Beeke expands on this thought by quoting Thomas Brooks:

God looks not at the elegancy of your prayers, to see how neat they are; nor yet at the geometry of your prayers to see how long they are; nor yet at the arithmetic of your prayers, to see how many they are; nor yet at the music of your prayers, nor yet at the sweetness of your voice, nor yet at the logic of your prayers; but at the sincerity of your prayers, how hearty they are.

So how hearty are my prayers?  Am I simply mouthing requests without feeling?  Going through the motions of praying through my prayer list?

Or am I crying out to God for help?  Am I groaning for his intervention?  Pleading for his grace and mercy?  Rejoicing in his blessings?

Where is my heart?  And where is yours?

Sermon Songs: Ephesians 5:25-30

On By BrianIn Ephesians Hymns

MusicNotes

Christ loves His church – His life he gave
He died upon the tree
To cleanse us from our sin – to save
And present us holy
The husband now should love his wife
Love sacrificially
And for her good now give his life
Her best seeking daily

His wife the husband nourishes
And for her needs provides
He cares for her and cherishes
His wife close by his side
With Christ his model to follow
And his sins washed away
He strives our Lord’s great love to show
With Christ’s power each day

In ev’ry marriage there is sin
Selfish and hideous
But Christ can take what is broken
And make it glorious
He calls us to humility
Each husband and each wife
Deny ourselves for His glory
And become more like Christ

(To the tune of “We Sing the Greatness of Our God”)

 

Reflections on Judges 3-5

On By BrianIn OT Reflections

Our passage tells of four judges today: Othniel, Ehud, Shamgar, and Deborah.  For all but Shamgar who is only mentioned briefly, we see the cycle that was mentioned in chapter 2.  The people sinned, God sent others to oppress them, the people cried out, God sent someone to deliver them, and they had rest.  Note:

  • God’s judgment – God warned the people of what would happen if they rebelled against him. But again and again, they chose to rebel anyway.  God judged them.  God is a holy God who takes sin very seriously.  Do you take sin in your life seriously?
  • God’s mercy – God heard Israel’s cries, and he raised up judges to deliver them from their oppressors. God is just – punishing sin, but he is also merciful – delivering those who call upon him.  Have you called upon him for the mercy that is available to you through Jesus Christ?
  • God’s faithfulness – Whether in judgment or mercy, God is acting faithfully to the covenant he made with Israel. He promised judgment for sin, and mercy if they returned (see Deuteronomy 28), and God kept his promise.  While Israel often acted faithlessly, God remained faithful.  How has God been faithful in spite of your faithlessness?