If we could distill God’s will for his people into a simple prayer, we may do no better than an often-repeated plea from Robert Murray M’Cheyne: “Lord, make me as holy as a pardoned sinner can be made” (Memoir and Remains of Robert Murray M’Cheyne, 159). How often does such a prayer find its place…
Category: Health
To crucify rather than to elevate.
To crucify rather than to elevate. Posted by appolus on July 2, 2024 We are warned in the Scriptures that the times would come when men and women will not put up with sound doctrine, instead, in order to suit their own desires, they will gather around themselves a great number of teachers to say what…
God’s Beloved Sun: Enjoying His Pleasure in Creation
Two red finches dance around a bird feeder in my front window, their crimson wings painting the morning air. Beyond them, the rising sun sends golden light dripping through the leaves of my crabapple tree to pool in patches on the front lawn. A few towering cedars stand sentinel above. They nod their hoary heads…
Forget Your First Name: How to Live for Legacy
I keep hearing stories about young couples who do not want children. Many are refusing kids for no better reason than preference (a euphemism for selfishness). Articles are written of lonely grandparent-age adults who “empowered” their kids to chase their career ambitions (and to neglect having children), and now are no grandparents at all. They…
Bamboo Resilience: Christianity’s Explosive Growth in China
On October 1, 1949, Mao Zedong, the chairman of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) stood atop the Gate of Heavenly Peace in Beijing. There, at the entrance to the Imperial Palace, home of the emperors of China since the 1300s, Chairman Mao declared the founding of the People’s Republic of China. “The Chinese people have…
Counting the cost
Counting the cost Posted by appolus on July 15, 2024 He who casts his lot in with the people of God must prepare for loss as well as gain. He must count the cost beforehand and be ready to pay it when the day comes for payment. There is the taking up of our cross,…
All is well!
All is well! Posted by appolus on July 21, 2024 Nothing more is neededNothing less will doThe love of God it frees the soulHe died for me and youThe sun, it is no good to meIf I cannot see it’s lightSo without the knowledge of His loveThen my day is simply nightIt’s when I’m drawn…
When Love Wanes, the Marriage Covenant Remains
Audio Transcript From dating (last time) to marriage (today). Marriage is a beautiful institution, designed by God to point the world to Christ and to his bride. One wedding at a time, marriage exists for us because God decreed that Christ would purchase his bride, the church. And because of sin, that church, that fallen…
Preach Christ, Embody Christ: How to Set an Example in Love
Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in . . . love. (1 Timothy 4:12) Setting an example is a powerful and essential part of pastoral leadership. A strong line of reasoning in preaching, even a soundly biblical argument, might fail to persuade. But a personal example of…
Why Does God Choose the Foolish?
Audio Transcript Good Monday. Today’s question on the table asks why God chose the foolish things of the world and not the wise and powerful. Why not use the wealthiest innovators, the smartest geniuses, the most articulate orators, the world’s greatest athletes and most recognizable movie stars to spread his gospel around the world? Why…