Today is “National Sanctity of Human Life Day,” so designated in 1984 by President Ronald Reagan in response to the Supreme Court’s ruling in Roe v. Wade, which legalized abortion on January 22, 1973. Forty-seven years and over 60 million murders later, abortion still bloodies the hands of the United States. A society with laws […]
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Parenting with Authority, Affection, and Affirmation
God has given my wife Lori and me four amazing daughters. Raising them has been the most important thing I’ve done or will do. I love being a pastor. I look back fondly on my years as a church planter. And I’ll always be an aspiring writer. But there’s nothing like being a father—except, of […]
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Wise Men: Gentiles Who Sought the Savior
I love nativity scenes. My family has several, from a porcelain “Avon” series to a colorful “Cracker Barrel” collection, to an unbreakable “Little People” set made for little hands. None of it is fine art, but it wouldn’t feel quite like Christmas without it. At our house, we usually put the wise men across the […]
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Angels: God’s Faithful and Former Messengers
You could argue that everybody but Jesus is an “extra” in the Christmas story. The narrative of the incarnation has but one Hero. But that’s not to say that those with supporting roles were chosen at random. No, every detail of Christ’s coming was significant, from the lowly shepherds (“Nobody and Everybody,” as we considered […]
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The Shepherds: Nobody and Everybody
We give a lot of thought to “staging” in the modern world. Weddings are choreographed to look “just so.” Events like graduations are designed and rehearsed to be both beautiful and meaningful. Every “State of the Union” address features some individual with a symbolic story seated next to the President’s family. It’s expected, and nevertheless, […]
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Time Flies
We just introduced Gospel Meditations for Young Adults (available now to preorder). Here is a preview of Day 4 from Chris Anderson. Read Psalm 90. “So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” (Psalm 90:12) I have vivid memories of high school and college. Talks, events, and even […]
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Introducing “Gospel Meditations for Young Adults”
Every generation tends to think they have it harder than everyone else. We’ve all heard the joke about how our parents had to walk to school. In the snow. Uphill. Both ways. As the father of four daughters who are now in their teens and twenties, I think I can confidently say that no generation […]
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The Value of a Soul
Matthew 16:26 is sometimes obscured by the epic texts that surround it. Matthew 16 contains Peter’s proclamation that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the living God (v. 16). It contains Jesus’ promise to build His church and lay siege to hell (v. 18). It contains Jesus’ first prediction of His approaching passion (v. […]
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For the Sake of His Name
This week, Chris Anderson is traveling in Indonesia with two young families from the church he pastors who are praying, strategizing, and planning to move there. This excerpt from Gospel Mediations for Missions is a fitting thought for the occasion! “Why in the world do they do it?” I’ve often wondered what would motivate missionaries […]
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Jars of Clay: A Philosophy of Grace vs. Glory
During my theological training, I regularly heard challenges on the need to be exceptional for the glory of God. I was taught that excellence was a cardinal Christian virtue, which honestly did me a world of good. I heard that it is a sin to do less than your best. And so it is, though I […]
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