"Speaking the Truth in Love: The Church and the Challenge of the New Morality"  Jan 18-20 This is from my notes- my apologies to the speakers for my faulty hearing and understanding, but nonetheless, this is what I heard and jotted down: Session 1    Dr. D. A. Carson    Scripture as Prescription for Human Flourishing Isa 3- Their sin; they do not hide it. Col 3, Col 6:12 [Sorry- could not quite follow] Session 2    Dr. Carl R. Trueman     Age of Faulty Anthropology (I will be buying his book in that I think there is greater depth to his ..read more

  This Camellia blossomed in the midst of some of the coldest weather of the years, and it did it well.  We can learn something from the Camellia.   ..read more

 It is the Lord’s expectation (and of course mine as God’s priest in this place) that we are all making the age-old Christian pilgrimage from self-absorption to self-giving.  By the power of the Holy Spirit working in us, we are learning to sacrificially give ourselves for the sake of others.  Sacrificially giving of our time, talent and spiritual gifts for the sake of others is at the heart of what it means to be Kingdom People.  This means that we are all challenged to grow in our discipleship, understand our callings, and pick ..read more

  I attended a conference at Trinity Seminary, Ambridge PA this past week.  It is always good to spend time at Trinity, albeit short, immersed in learning something more about the Kingdom of God.  The fellowship and rhythm of seminary worship is also very spiritually refreshing.   The topic this year was Christian Anthropology. Anthropology is the study of humankind, just as theology is the study of God.  Christian Anthropology is combining the two by studying the relationship of humankind to our Creator. One of my favorite psalms, Psalm 139, was in my mind as we explo ..read more

Rod Dreher, the author of Live Not by Lies, draws on the wisdom of Christian survivors of Soviet persecution to warn American Christians of an approaching danger. For years, immigrants from the former Soviet bloc have been telling Rod Dreher that they see telltale signs of "soft" totalitarianism cropping up in America, something not unlike Aldous Huxley's Brave New World.  Identity politics is beginning to encroach on every aspect of life. Civil liberties are increasingly seen as a threat to "safety". Progressives marginalize conservative, traditional Christians, and other ..read more

A relationship with our Lord that is growing, transformative, and makes a difference in our lives and the lives of people around us, does not happen without an intentional, holistic, and balanced spiritual life; therefore, each of us needs to commit to at least these three things in our pilgrimage with Christ: We need to commit to being in the Body each Lord’s Day, seeking the face of God and being present to help others do the same. Commit to growing in our knowledge and love of the Lord by being a part of at least one of the several spiritual growth gatherings we have weekly ..read more

In North American Progressive (Liberal) Protestantism, salient questions are being asked about (1) Holy Scripture and (2) the person (divine nature) and work of Christ Jesus.  These two questions are central to Apostolic Christianity and to the historic Faith.  Progressive Protestantism has come up with new answers: 1)       Is Holy Scripture God’s divine revelation about Himself, about us and about His good and perfect will for all creation?  If it is, then Scripture, like God Himself, is timeless, immutable and authoritative.  If not, then Sc ..read more

 marks of the ideal Church - love, suffering, holiness, sound doctrine, genuineness, evangelism and humility." -- John Stott ..read more

  The 1960's were a watershed time for me, not to mention for this country.  It gave us a vision and a path forward for healing our systemic and personal racism that had afflicted us, and indeed all humankind.  Dr. King said, and I humbly quote this great man: "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. I have a dream today!"   We proceeded to live into this dream over this last half-century.  The 1960's led to the outlawin ..read more

Perhaps we all struggle with our self-identity, but some more so than others for sure. I am speaking of that identity internally held that forms the basis for understanding who we are, whose we are, and where we fit in.  How we understand ourselves has a bearing on how we relate to the people around us and to the God who created us.   Our identity, therefore, needs to be based on something more concrete, factual, and trustworthy than our internal emotions.  Even though we are in the midst of a culture that tells us, "If it feels go do it," we need more than feeli ..read more