The American founders wanted their independence, so that they would be free to create a nation and a society of true greatness, whose greatness would be found not in its power or wealth but rather in its principles and ideals of justice and equality, of ideals and liberty.
Pastor Note #69: Death and the Victory of Christ
DEATH AND THE VICTORY OF CHRIST: Living and Dying Well You are going to die. So am I. This is a fundamental and unavoidable truth for all human beings, and how we deal with that great truth can have a profound impact on how well we live and on how well we die. Sadly, many … Continue reading Pastor Note #69: Death and the Victory of Christ
Pastor Note #68 — Franklin Graham Has Abandoned Biblical Authority
The wholehearted embrace of the candidacy of Donald Trump by evangelical Christian leaders has troubled me deeply. And in many respects, their embrace of Mr. Trump mystifies me. He is precisely the sort of man whose character these evangelical leaders should have been expected to denounce out of hand. In light of how the genuine … Continue reading Pastor Note #68 — Franklin Graham Has Abandoned Biblical Authority
Pastor’s Note #67 — An Evangelical Pastor’s Concerns about Donald Trump’s Effect on the Spiritual Life of Christians
In my judgment, this is an almost impossibly difficult presidential election for American Christian voters. I do not believe there is any clearly acceptable candidate for Christian voters to support in 2016. Christian voters can in good faith make different decisions about which candidate to vote for. But as I have observed this election season … Continue reading Pastor’s Note #67 — An Evangelical Pastor’s Concerns about Donald Trump’s Effect on the Spiritual Life of Christians
Pastor Note #66 — Election Thoughts 2016 –the Supreme Court
A Trump presidency will not result in a strongly conservative Supreme Court as some prominent evangelicals been arguing. Franklin Graham and others insist that the key issue that evangelical Christian voters should keep in mind in this presidential election is the matter of filling the current opening on the Supreme Court and probably more in the … Continue reading Pastor Note #66 — Election Thoughts 2016 –the Supreme Court
Prayer Note #56 — A Prayer for First Responders
A Prayer for First Responders “You must not go about as a slanderer among your people. You must not stand idly by when your neighbor’s life is at stake. I am the Lord. You must not hate your brother in your heart. You must surely reprove your fellow citizen so that you do not incur … Continue reading Prayer Note #56 — A Prayer for First Responders
Quotes of Note #7 — Reason
"Oh, how greatly has the man advanced who has learned not to be his own, not to be governed by his own reason, but to surrender his mind to God." John Calvin, Golden Booklet of the True Christian Life. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1952/2004, page 26.
Prayer Note #55 — Prayers for Memorial Day
Invocation for a Memorial Day Ceremony God of heaven and earth, in life and in death we belong to you. Our lives and the life of our nation are in your hands. You are the foundation of all that is right and good and just. Today especially we gather to remember with gratitude those who have … Continue reading Prayer Note #55 — Prayers for Memorial Day
Bible Note #19 — Palm Sunday, Mark 11:1-11
I am always torn by this story—by the inherent social tension in the story. This passage and the accounts in the other Synoptic Gospels (Matthew/Mark/Luke) see this event as taking place on the first day of the same week in which Jesus would be crucified. And I see no good reason to argue with that … Continue reading Bible Note #19 — Palm Sunday, Mark 11:1-11
Quotes of Note #6 — Humility, Self-Examination, and the Grace of God
"It is only our exaggerated sense of self-righteousness that prevents us from looking honestly at ourselves. As Christians we know that the Holy Spirit dwells within us, but we must also become aware of where we are tolerating sin if we will be successful in our war against the devil. Therefore, be specific when you … Continue reading Quotes of Note #6 — Humility, Self-Examination, and the Grace of God
Gary Chorpenning's Notebooks 