I am a Christian who happens to be an American. I am not an American who happens to be a Christian. For me the distinction drawn in those two statements is very important. My commitment and submission to the Lord Jesus Christ is sovereign over all other commitments and relationships in my life. My identity … Continue reading Pastor Note #76: Citizenship in the Only Christian Nation on Earth
Tag: Religion and Spirituality
Prayer Note #58–Burnishing my Clay
Father of my hope: in life and in death I belong to you; in righteousness and sin, in the light and in the darkness, in all times and in all places, I am yours. I want the fullness of your Spirit. I want to be filled to overflowing. I want to know you, not as … Continue reading Prayer Note #58–Burnishing my Clay
Quotes of Note #15 — Forgiveness and Freedom
"Regardless of all the reasons why we might not want to forgive, the bottom line is that forgiveness is the best way to bring you into freedom. . . ." "The devil blinds us with the lie: I'm punishing my offender by not forgiving them. It is as if we think by our refusal to … Continue reading Quotes of Note #15 — Forgiveness and Freedom
Prayer Note #57 — Relying on God vs. Presuming upon God: A Prayer
I am utterly and in every way dependent on your mercy and grace. My life my salvation, my well-being all of it hangs by the thread of your merciful, kind, gracious disposition toward me. Your love and desire for my well-being is the only bulwark for me against catastrophe of every sort in my life. … Continue reading Prayer Note #57 — Relying on God vs. Presuming upon God: A Prayer
Quote of Note #14–Holiness
"It takes time to be holy, one cannot be holy in a hurry; and much of the time that it takes to be holy must go into secret prayer." R. A. Torrey, The Power of Prayer and the Prayer of Power. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1955, p. 22
Pastor Note #75: Abortion: Not Just a Legal Issue
What is the goal for the Pro-Life movement in America? Is the goal that we should strive to make abortion illegal? Or is the goal that we should strive to end abortion? It’s very important that we should recognize that those two are not the same goal. I will assert that those who believe that … Continue reading Pastor Note #75: Abortion: Not Just a Legal Issue
Quote #13 — God as He Is
"But how far removed from the idea of the New Testament are the insipid words of the hymn which says, 'He came sweet influence to impart, a gracious willing guest,' and goes on to say, 'and his that gentle voice we hear, soft as the breath of even, that checks each fault, that calms each … Continue reading Quote #13 — God as He Is
Pastor Note #74 — Trust and Unity in American Civil Society and Politics
Trust and Unity in American Society and Politics The great debate over these intelligence memos is a painful demonstration of a sickness that is afflicting our society. We are experiencing a crisis of trust. A civil society in which people have ceased to trust each other and our foundational institutions is a deep and dangerous … Continue reading Pastor Note #74 — Trust and Unity in American Civil Society and Politics
Quotes of Note #12 — To Be Filled With the Holy Spirit
"I believe firmly that the moment our hearts are emptied of pride and selfishness and ambition and self-seeking, and everything that is contrary to God's law, the Holy Spirit will come and fill every corner of our hearts. But if we are full of pride and conceit, ambition and self-seeking, pleasure and the world, there … Continue reading Quotes of Note #12 — To Be Filled With the Holy Spirit
Pastor Note #72 — Dealing With the Dangers of Money
“You know, you can make a lot of money as a hospital administrator,” the man had said to me. It was during one of my summer breaks from college, and I was working as a nursing assistant at a local hospital. He had been chatting me up and had asked … Continue reading Pastor Note #72 — Dealing With the Dangers of Money
