Sunday, July 14, 2013

Running The Race Of Your Life

Today, I preached the Gospel of Grace from Hebrews 12:1-3 with a focus on the phrase, “let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”  The obvious metaphor is that of an endurance race.  In my preparation, I gathered the stories of two families I am close to who each faced a race of faith that was at one point similar, but became very different.  They both involved Down syndrome.

This past Thursday morning, I came across a post on TheGospelCoalition.Org site that pointed me to the ESPN story on the White family.  Though I did not use the entire video in the sermon, it is so moving and connects so well with what I hoped to say, that I want to make it easily available for you.  I’ve included some other resources as well.

Thursday, July 11, 2013

Reading With Gospel Eyes: Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Lately, I’ve been reading Eric Metaxas’ biography of Dietrich Bonhoeffer.  I was struck to see how deeply his way of reading the Bible and listening for God shaped his life and actions.  Though a well-schooled and brilliant theologian in his own right, Bonhoeffer essentially rejected the critical methods of Bible study taught in his university and seminary classes.  The listening heart had been cultivated in him as child, by his mother and governesses, all of whom were trained and influenced by the life that flowed from the Herrnhutt revivals of the 1720’s that formed the Moravian church.  It sounds much like what I refer to as “reading with Gospel eyes.”

Reading With Gospel Eyes: The Spirit Speaking Through The Word

The Holy Spirit speaking in the Bible is the supreme judge of all religious controversies. - Westminster Confession of Faith – 1:10

Written in 1646, The Westminster Confession of Faith has been the recognized doctrinal standard for orthodox Presbyterians ever since.  As a pastor in the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, I have affirmed that I “sincerely receive and adopt it as containing the system of doctrine taught in the Holy Scriptures.”  So what does it meant to listen for the Holy Spirit speaking in the Bible?

Monday, July 8, 2013

Texas Republicans Propose Abortion Restrictions That Are Too Liberal For France, Germany, Sweden, Russia and Japan

Don’t ever expect to see that headline in the United States.  Not because it isn’t true though, because believe it or not, it is true!  Texas Republicans more liberal than France?!?!?  Indeed.

Texas Senator Wendy Davis recently became a national “abortion rights” icon when she filibustered a bill that would restrict, among other things, abortions in Texas performed after 20 weeks.  She did this even while the case against Dr. Douglas Karpen – “The Kermit Gosnell of Texas” – was developing in Houston.

Curiosity got the best of me as I followed the news though, and I was floored to discover – with the help of Google, of course – that nations all across the world place restrictions on abortion that are far more restrictive that those proposed in Texas and opposed by Senator Davis and her supporters.  Look at the list below to see what I found astonishing.  

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