Defensive Driving
As I was on the way to the office this morning, after having dropped the kids off at school, I was navigating the usual obstacle course of traffic and the idea for this post occurred to me. For as long as I can remember being taught anything about driving an automobile, I remember being taught to be a defensive driver. I’ve been involved in several auto accidents over the years. A few of them have been significant ones. Once, I fell asleep at the wheel on the interstate and rear-ended another car. A speeding car slammed into the side of our Mustang as my wife and I were returning home after a check up at the doctor when she was very pregnant. Several years ago, I ran off the road, hit a culvert, and filpped our van, totalling it. I am deeply grateful to God for protecting my family and me through all of that, and hope never to be involved in an auto accident again as long as I live. Read more
Creative Correction
The responsibility of parents is to raise godly offspring (Malachi 2:15). In order to accomplish that goal, parents must instruct children in truth and righteousness and discipline them so that they do what they have been taught to do (Ephesians 6:4). When a child purposely does something wrong (i.e. tells a lie, is disrespectful, steals something, acts violently or lewdly, breaks something due to negligence, etc.) good parents must correct the child. There are occasions when verbal correction (backed up by the threat of a spanking or paddling when necessary) is sufficient—only remember that if you threaten to spank, and your child tests your resolve, pass the test, do it. Do not argue with your child. Do not plead with your child. Speak firmly. Be consistent always. Be a parent: tell your child what you expect and see to it that it is done. If you have to raise your voice to get your child’s attention, do so, but avoid yelling. Read more
Self-Control
Though every individual has his or her own strengths and weaknesses, one’s lifestyle and culture plays an important role in determining what types of temptations are most common, or even available. That said, life in
The Restoration of the Church
The apostles foretold that many Christians would fall away from the faith. While there have been rebels and backsliders in every generation since Christ walked the earth in the flesh, the apostles spoke specifically of what we call “the Great Apostasy,” a sweeping and devastating fall of many from the truth that would coincide with the revealing of one called, “the man of sin/lawlessness” (2 Thessalonians 2:1-12). The passage teaches us that this “man” was being restrained while Paul wrote, and would be revealed when the restrainer was removed. I believe the restrainer was the Roman Empire and that the man of lawlessness was/is Catholicism specifically, and pseudo-Christian religion in general. Perhaps I’ll explain why I believe that in detail in a later post. The apostasy happened, and its results abide, and any time the Lord’s people drift away from the truth, restoration is needed, either individually or congregationally. Read more
Are You Childish?
Two little boys are playing in the living room floor. A mess of matchbox cars, action figures, and little accessories that will soon be lost forever to the vacuum cleaner surrounds them. Behind them, Saturday morning cartoons dance across the screen. The world is beautiful! What could be better than brothers peacefully playing together? Well, it’s good while it lasts. Soon boy one notices that boy two’s action figure is better, or maybe it’s that boy one doesn’t want to play the way that boy two wants to play. Now what was a refreshing scene is an ugly, noisy, screaming, crying—snotty mess.
Who is Your Family?
I love my family. My wife and children are among the greatest blessings God has given me. My siblings, parents, grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles and so on are all very important to me. The memories of those who have passed on before me are very sweet. Family gives one a sense of identity, belonging, and history–and a strong reason to care about the future. On the other hand, chief among the wounded souls among us are those who have been violated by their families, or whose families have been violated or broken. That fact alone proves the extreme importance of family. Read more
The Movies…
The Oscars were handed out last night. I watched part of the show, and enjoyed some of it. I love movies. I love music, television and books too. I love the arts. However, there are many “works of art” that express a worldview that I simply cannot support. As a result, there is much in music, books, and movies that once I would have enjoyed when I didn’t truly seek the Lord’s will, that now grieves me. Read more
A Feast is Spread Before Us!
Though most of us in America eat well, a literal feast of food is not what I mean. I mean that, like never before, information is available to all. Never in history has so great a percent of the population of the world been literate. Never before have books been so affordable. When we think of the inconceivably vast amount of information available through computers on the internet… I don’t quite know what to say. It is wonderful! I am thankful to be blessed to live now. I feel the spiritual yearning for knowledge; to understand the truth. Do you? Read more
In the Cool of the Day
One of the saddest moments in history is when God came into the garden to walk with Adam and Eve and they hid from him (Gen 3:8). They hid from him! I groan thinking of how that felt for God. I know it wasn’t good for our oldest ancestors either–they felt fear and shame for the first time and they ran from God. Take a moment to close your eyes and put yourself in their shoes and I imagine you will recognize feelings you have felt before. For the first time sin separated God and man (Isa 59:2). However, though respect for himself forced God to drive Adam and Eve from the garden and barr the way to the Tree of Life with the cherub and his flaming sword, God did not fully cut man off from him. Even while punishing man and woman (and serpent), Yahweh set forth terms of redemption (Gen 3:15). From then until now God has ever remained close to every man, woman and child, and is not far away from any one of us now (Acts 17:27). Read more
How often do you read the Bible?
Do you have the guts to answer? Today’s question is real simple, but challenging in that many of us may not want to answer it publicly. How often (and for how long) do you read your Bible? Don’t feel like you have to put on a show for anyone, that is hypocrisy. I hope you’ll answer the question honestly. The way to correct problems is first to admit that there’s a problem. On the other hand, those who do faithfully read and study the Scriptures, don’t be too modest to be a good example for everyone else. So, have the guts to answer the question honestly, and feel free to share your tips, things you’ve learned, or your point of view about reading the Bible. Some of you who have never personally read from the Bible, perhaps you have questions about why one would want to read it to begin with? If so, let’s hear them.
—JLP
