In the 14th century Henry Suso wrote: “Where is virtue preserved except in adversity?”* That’s intense. Let’s take a closer look. First, what is virtue? It’s not a word we use very much anymore. But it’s a good one. It comes up in 2 Peter 1. It means ‘moral excellence.’ Second, where is it used … Continue reading Virtue and adversity
Waiting is made possible by hope
Hope often requires waiting, but waiting is made possible by hope. Let me explain. Hope often requires waiting. Makes sense. There is a future dimension to hope. If I hope that my best friend comes to visit, it requires some waiting. But waiting is made possible by hope. In other words, when we are confident … Continue reading Waiting is made possible by hope
Studying the insights of others
“The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, for the ears of the wise seek it out” (Proverbs 18:15). John Chrysostom was an early church father who had a considerable influence on the faith of others. He said that there were four things Christians can’t help doing: praying, praising, being generous, and reading Scripture and studying … Continue reading Studying the insights of others
Discomfort, pain and youth
Chris Colquitt is a campus minister for the Reformed University Fellowship at Northwestern University. In a recent talk he was speaking about faith and Gen Z. That’s the generation born roughly between 1996 and 2010. One of the things he talked about was how kids were (and are) raised, and the influence this has on … Continue reading Discomfort, pain and youth
God’s unparalleled renovation of the world
Wallace Alston wrote: “To be a member of a church… is to be an active participant in God’s unparalleled renovation of the world.”* That’s a big statement. Perhaps you don’t think about your church in that way. Perhaps you only think about your church as a place to sing songs or chat with nice people. … Continue reading God’s unparalleled renovation of the world
Perseverance is possible
Some of you will notice that your calendars say “All Saints Day” on November 1st. But what is it? It’s also called All Hallows Day, which is why Halloween is called Halloween; it is the eve of All Hallows Day. But yes, we’re all still confused! Something or someone who is “hallowed” is something or … Continue reading Perseverance is possible
The Five Solas
“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand” (Romans 5:1-2). When most people look at October 31st on their calendar, they think of Halloween. However, it is also Reformation … Continue reading The Five Solas
We pick stuff up, almost by osmosis
“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen” (Ephesians 4:29). Have you ever been talking to a young child when they use a word that you know they didn’t come up with … Continue reading We pick stuff up, almost by osmosis
Roots stabilize you
Our yard has a beautiful hydrangea tree. Actually, our yard used to have a beautiful hydrangea tree. It got knocked down by the wind. I took a close look. The blooms were gorgeous, especially in autumn. But the root structure was basically non-existent. I’m not sure why. For some reason, the roots weren’t spread out, … Continue reading Roots stabilize you
Sovereign, holy, wise, loving, good—always
To some people, the Ten Commandments seem like a list of rules. In fact, when you read through the Bible, you start to notice that there are a whole bunch of rules and instructions about how to live. If you just think they are arbitrary rules then you are going to start resenting them. That’s … Continue reading Sovereign, holy, wise, loving, good—always
