Prayer

I hasten toward an hour when earthly pursuits and possessions will appear vain,
    when it will be indifferent whether I have been rich or poor,
    successful or disappointed,
    admired or despised.
But it will be of eternal moment that I have mourned for sin,
    hungered and thirsted after righteousness,
    loved the Lord Jesus in sincerity,
    gloried in his cross.
May these objects engross my chief solicitude!

Sobering Words from Psalm 49

Psalm 49:16-20:
Be not afraid when a man becomes rich,
     when the glory of his house increases.
For when he dies he will carry nothing away;
     his glory will not go down after him.
For though, while he lives, he counts himself blessed
     —and though you get praise when you do well for yourself—
his soul will go to the generation of his fathers,
     who will never again see light.
Man in his pomp yet without understanding is like the beasts that perish.

Cultural Divide on Parenting

There is a recent Pew survey taken on parenting, specifically what parents desire most to impart to their children. Here is a report on the BBC's web site that summarizes it.  It is something to prayerfully consider as we think about how the gospel works in our society and culture.  It also helps us to think about this: What does the gospel lead us most to desire to pass along to our children?

Gospel Song--with a Twist

Emotional Intelligence, Relational Wisdom, and the Gospel

Are you familiar with the concept of "emotional intelligence?" Emotional intelligence (as opposed to "intellectual quotient, " IQ) has to do with emotional awareness--the ability to identify and deal with your own emotions, and EI overflows in empathy and understanding in working with the emotions of others.
It turns out that Ken Sande, author of The Peacemaker, has turned his attention to combining emotional intelligence with the gospel, to create "Relational Wisdom."  And it is a very helpful combination.  You can learn more about it at this web site: www.rw360.org.

Is it worth the fight? Worth clinging to?

As far as governments--federal and state--are concerned, it looks like "gay marriage" is here to stay.  Like it or not.  For my part, even when the state sanctions it--and even though there are some good reasons the state should do so, which might be a surprise--I insist the church should not.  Ever.
What reminded me of that is this excellent article titled, "Why so many Christians won't back down on gay marriage."  You can read it here.

How Shall We Live in Light of John 15:18ff?

John 15:18ff. (which was the sermon text at Covenant Church on Sunday) is a challenge: Jesus promises that just as the world hated him, the world will hate his disciples.  How do we live in light of that--especially in the public sphere?  What analogy or picture describes the life of a Christian in the world--in the world that rejected Christ?  And at the same time the world into which Christ came--not to condemn the world, but to save the world (John 3:17)?  How do we love the world, even as we love God more?
Here is an article from the journal First Things, written by Carl Trueman, who is a church history professor at Westminster Seminary, and a pastor of Cornerstone OPC in Ambler, PA.  And an all-around brilliant overachiever, if I may say so.  The analogy from Scripture that Trueman uses to describe our present situation is the Babylonian exile--where Jeremiah (ch. 29) urged those in exile to plant gardens and eat the produce, to seek the welfare of the cities they were in, even as they believed in God's promises for redemption (fulfilled in Christ--a redemption that was not geo-political, but spiritual).  Happy reading!

Think Your Educational Options Are Limited?

Try living as a Christian in China, trying to bring your children up in the 'nurture and admonition of the Lord," while your only educational option is a public school system that runs six days a week, twelve hours a day, and is openly committed to atheism!  Interestingly, and not surprisingly, churches and parents are searching for alternatives.  World magazine recently ran an article about that, and you can read it here. Read it prayerfully!