The Joy Beyond the Pain

The following is a post by Pastor Rob Golding of First Artesia Christian Reformed Church. He also writes for the Westminster Theological Seminary Magazine. In The Edge of Eternity, Randy Alcorn imagines what it will be like to experience true joy in heaven, as compared to the joys we now experience. The man who enters into the … Continue reading The Joy Beyond the Pain

Weakness: Our Unlikely Ally

If you want to turn the world's wisdom on its head completely, this is it. The Apostle Paul says he will boast about his weaknesses (2 Cor. 12:9). We do not boast of weaknesses; we hide them because they hold us back from being who we should be. They threaten our competence. They are faults … Continue reading Weakness: Our Unlikely Ally

How Do We Apply the Psalms About Killing Enemies?

When the Psalmist speaks of the enemies he so desperately wants God to kill, we should imagine that pet sin Satan intends to use to drag us to hell. When we read of the incessant desire of the Psalmist's adversaries, we should think of our own constant temptation to Sin. We should read these poems of war as our poems of war. We should be encouraged not just to sit through hard times but to... CLICK TO READ MORE.

Revival and Bad Theology

When revival hits, should we expect the participants to have all their theological ducks in a row and align with our particular shibboleth? There is a lot of discussion surrounding the multi-day worship service, which is still going on at Asbury University. Some are glowing about it with unmitigated acceptance, and some seem to believe … Continue reading Revival and Bad Theology

The Preeminence of the Local Church

Of all organizations, does the local church have preeminence in our lives? In the clip below, Pastor Jeff Saltzmann of Bethel Grace Baptist Church unpacks a quote from the church covenant. What he says is counter-cultural to non-believers and even ruffles the feathers of many professing Christians. Many others would agree with this idea of … Continue reading The Preeminence of the Local Church

Why We Resist Jesus’s Command to Rest

We work like dogs and stay glued to email while we are supposed to be eating with family. We collapse with exhaustion on the couch and think incessantly of that little “thing” that was not done. We bring our pocket computers into bed with us—like work adulterers—and allow our tasks to be the last thing we see before sleep and the first thing we see upon waking. CLICK TO READ MORE

A Crown of Glory Will Rest on Your Brow

Christian soldier, for encouragement in every conflict, look up to your Captain for supplies, and look forward to the glory that awaits you! The war will soon be over. Your discharge will soon be signed and sent to you. Home is even now in view! The promised land will be far above our greatest expectations! … Continue reading A Crown of Glory Will Rest on Your Brow

What Things?

There are moments in scripture that are easy to miss, but they are deeply profound if we take the time to consider them. One of those moments happens on the road to Emmaus. Jesus speaks two words in light of the context that reveals a world of encouragement. It is resurrection Sunday. A handful of … Continue reading What Things?

Why We Don’t Experience God

Insisting that the nose is the faculty for experiencing gravity will produce nothing more than pointless sniffing. So, we cannot doubt God because we cannot perceive Him with the eye any more than we can doubt gravity because it doesn’t have a certain odor... CLICK TO READ MORE