Sermon: The Father I Wish I Had

Recently I read a book called Little Britches, by Ralph Moody. It is an autobiographical tale from his early childhood as his family moved from New Hampshire to Colorado. It is a fabulous book, but as I read it I could not help but be drawn to Ralph's father. The way Ralph described his dad prompted me to think of the kind of father I wish I could have had growing up.

I wish I had a father who...

Eulogy for Marty Pickup

Some of us here today knew Marty Pickup because he was our teacher. Others, because he was our preacher. Many, because he was our colleague. Those are the ways that I knew him, and as best as I can, I hope to represent all of you who learned from him, worshiped with him, and worked with him.

Random Thoughts about Gay Marriage and the Supreme Court

1. As a Christian, I believe that Christ is Lord, and what He says is authoritative. So when Christ says that marriage is for one man and one woman for life, that's what I believe (relevant passage is Matthew 19:3-9). Not everyone is a Christian, and not everyone believes that the Bible is the inspired word of God. But I am, and I do, and that faith guides me on crucial matters like this.
2. As a traditionalist, I believe that thousands of years of human experience and tradition are valuable guides, and that the reality that enduring societies have seen marriage as between a man and a woman as what is best for civil society (even when those cultures openly embraced same-sex relationships of other kinds) provides a much more compelling case than any argument I have heard from same sex marriage proponents.
3. As a citizen, I am terrified that the Supreme Court may suddenly discover a Constitutional right to gay marriage, knowing that if the Court can discover rights that are clearly not in the Constitution, it can just as easily deny rights that clearly are in the Constitution.
4. As a human being, I appreciate the fact that there are those who disagree with me, and who see this issue not in terms of faith, or tradition, but equality, justice, and love. 
5. As a citizen, I also understand that democracy means citizens can change laws at the ballot box, and that the demographics clearly show that my views are not going to be the majority for much longer, if they even are now.
6. As a traditionalist, this concerns me, because I think most changes from the long established traditions of civil society are bad, such as other changes like no-fault divorce, cohabitation outside of marriage, and the rise of single parent homes (I say this as one raised by an unwed mother).
7. As a Christian, I ultimately think that whatever the civil state may say about a matter, the real power to change lives is not through the coercive powers of the state but through the love and grace of the gospel, both in its teaching and through its practice. So I will try even harder to be loving and gracious to those with whom I disagree, keenly aware of my own failings.

Notes on Jeremiah 27-29

These chapters focus on the message of judgment, and especially in contrast to the reassuring messages the false prophets were giving the people. Jeremiah already had a tough job – such false prophets only made it more difficult!

Sermon: God (Mature in the Faith Series)

Isaiah 6:3

I.  God is holyBasic idea: separate, apart“Holy, holy, holy” – the MOST holyIn what sense? Isaiah 40:27-28-Eternal vs temporal (“The LORD is the everlasting God”)
-Creator vs creation (“the Creator of the ends of the earth”)
-Infinite vs finite (“He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable”)
Read Isaiah 40:12-26

Sermon: Learning from the Suffering of Paul

Some brief notes from Sunday morning's sermon on Paul's suffering in Second Corinthians:

Notes on Jeremiah 21-24

Prophecies Against the Kings of Judah (Jer. 21:1-23:8)

This section contains a series of prophecies against the latter kings of Judah. For the historical background of this section, see 2 Kings 23:31-25:21.