Posts on General

As Alexander the Great lay dying age 33, he was asked to whom he would leave his kingdom. “To the strongest”, he replied. Those words unleashed two centuries of brutal warfare across the world. When another young man prepared to die on a Greek-imported instrument of execution called ‘the cross’ he answered such questions, “My Kingdom is not of this world. If it were…my servants would fight.” While the Christian life is a fight on many levels, it is not a fight to bring the kingdom through human power, a challenge that would summon the strong. No, the crucified King... Read this post

The PCA General Assembly has just wrapped up, having dealt with several consequential overtures. I was a member of the Overtures Committee and together with many others I respect, worked long hours to debate the matters before us for presentation to the GA. There were missed opportunities. The overture sent by our Korean Presbyteries was nearly ignored altogether and their style of prayer derisively dismissed before a few members offered a substitute that at least offered an acknowledgment of pain & promised solidarity. But so much more was called for and needed in response to the violence & fear they’ve... Read this post

When I consider how my light is spent, Ere half my days, in this dark world and wide, And that one Talent which is death to hide Lodged with me useless, though my Soul more bentTo serve therewith my Maker, and present My true account, lest he returning chide; “Doth God exact day-labour, light denied?” I fondly ask. But patience, to preventThat murmur, soon replies, “God doth not need Either man’s work or his own gifts; who best Bear his mild yoke, they serve him best. His stateIs Kingly. Thousands at his bidding speed And post o’er Land and Ocean... Read this post

Two years ago in a sermon at the PCA General Assembly, I noted that Pastors need to wake up in America as ‘Missionary Pastors’. This is not simply because the prevailing culture is supposedly more hostile to the Gospel, or because growing communities of Islamic, Hindu, and Buddhist immigrants are becoming our neighbors, or even because so many people who once counted themselves among the Faithful have now opted out. All of those reasons are valid for cultivating a ‘mission posture’ as a Pastor, but my burden for the phrase extends to the Church itself. Why? Simply put, the Church... Read this post

In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul humbly wrote “…pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak” (Ephesians 6) Every weekend Pastors across the world open their mouths to speak, and when they do so congregations will be equal parts shocked, comforted, edified, horrified, gladdened, angered, awakened, and tucked into bed for a brief nap depending on what happens when... Read this post

Beloved Christ Community Members and Friends, Grace and Peace. During last Sunday’s service, I announced that I have accepted a call to be the Senior Pastor at Spanish River Church (PCA) in Boca Raton, Florida. My work at Christ Community will conclude with a final message on March 28th and I will take up my new responsibilities on June 1, after attending to the details necessary to transfer my credentials to the Gulf Stream Presbytery of the PCA. I will be commuting between Franklin and Boca each week for the first year of this new call so that Anna will... Read this post

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the... Read this post

What is Christian Nationalism? It is the identification of a nation-state, race, or political party and its candidates with the Christian Faith or Church in such a way that the two identifies are equated. When this occurs the proper bounds of both are crossed, their unique role is distorted, and their distinctive missions under God are abandoned. In making patriotism, party platform, and candidate support & defense the litmus test of fidelity to Christ, Christian Nationalism not only denies the Faith but also endangers the American Republic. Christian Nationalism does its deceptive work subtly by supplanting Christ as Lord, Savior,... Read this post

Mary’s Song A Poem by Luci Shaw Blue homespun and the bend of my breastkeep warm this small hot naked starfallen to my arms. (Rest …you who have had so farto come.) Now nearness satisfiesthe body of God sweetly. Quiet he lieswhose vigor hurleda universe. He sleepswhose eyelids have not closed before.His breath (so slight it seemsno breath at all) once ruffled the dark deepsto sprout a world.Charmed by doves’ voices, the whisper of straw,he dreams,hearing no music from his other spheres.Breath, mouth, ears, eyeshe is curtailedwho overflowed all skies,all years.Older than eternity, now heis new. Now native to earth... Read this post