T he winds of change can really have an impact when you’re not grounded. I believe my lack of deep roots has caused me to be blown and battered about over this past year. Rather than looking at my own contributions to the faulty foundation I concentrated on the winds caused by those around me. This is not good. So as I began today with my personal devotional time, I pulled out a book I have not read in quite some time, The Imitation of Christ, by Thomas à Kempis. I turned to Book ... Read Full Story

I haven’t commented on my header photos lately, but thought I ought to at least identify today’s subject. This photo is of Stratford Hall, the birthplace of Robert E. Lee and of his great-grandfather, “Lighthorse” Henry Lee, signer of the Declaration of Independence. Stratford Hall is in Virginia’s Northern Neck, so it is not easily accessible by roads, although it was a thriving port 200 years ago due to its easy accessibility from the water. This house was fea... Read Full Story

W hen Mary and I were going to college together (about a quarter-century ago) I was a trumpet player. In fact, I was a music major and my proficiency was the trumpet. And Maynard Ferguson was my favorite trumpet player. Unfortunately, a health issue caused me to lose my ability to play the trumpet—not that I was ever able to do what Maynard can do, or even come close. The loss of control of my lip muscles brought some fear with regard to Mary’s recent surgery and we’re... Read Full Story

I n A Tale of Two Shootings, columnist Scott Wheeler made some interesting observations: Obama’s response to the shooting death of abortion doctor, George Tiller: I am shocked and outraged! Obama’s response to the Fort Hood shooting of 12 American soldiers by a self-proclaimed Muslim jihadist: I would caution against jumping to conclusions. Wheeler also pointed out another apparent inconsistency in the Obama admistration’s response to domestic terrorism: Janet Napolitano&... Read Full Story

D on Carson is one of my favorite authors. I had the honor of teaching a class using one of his books as the textbook and foundation for the curriculum. He’s a deep thinker and a solid biblical theologian. Some of our recent conversations here have brought up the question of why, if he does exist, would God allow evil to happen in the world. This is a difficult question and one that comes up regularly in a world filled with so much evil and suffering. Don Carson attempts to answer this... Read Full Story

A s we mature in Christ, we take on more and more of His likeness. We now obey because of a clean heart, and righteousness becomes a habit. Yes, we participate in our sanctification by submitting and by practicing spiritual disciplines. But the internal work of sanctification is a result our new life and the work of the Holy Spirit. There’s a problem that plagues us occasionally. Like the Israelites who began to think they were responsible for their wealth and for the favor of God on ... Read Full Story

Our friend Tim has been asking some very good questions about faith and prayer. I really enjoy my interactions with Tim, because his questions are honest and he appreciates my honest answers, even if he does not accept them as truth. When I sat through the sermon Sunday morning, I thought immediately of Tim and of the questions he's been asking, and determined then to post a link to the sermon when it was available on our website.   Our senior pastor has been "sidelined" with a broken k... Read Full Story

A lthough Virginia is a southern state, we don’t always have warm weather. It doesn’t often get cold enough to snow, but November days tend to be brisk and clear. It’s a wonderful time to put on a coat, go for a walk around the neighborhood, and kick up the recently fallen leaves as you pass through the piles. But that’s not how we spent this past weekend. After a couple of days with very cold temperatures—nighttime lows below 30°—the temp... Read Full Story

N o matter how you may have come down on the issue of universal health care, I’m glad someone is carefully reading Nancy Pelosi’s almost 2,000-page health care bill. House Republical Leader John Boehner’s staff has discovered a provision in the bill mandating premiums be paid by anyone opting for the Government-run healthcare. These premiums are to be used to pay for elective abortions. For shame. [Read about it here.] It’s a slippery slope, as many others have said.... Read Full Story

O n the other side of my “hurricane” I can tell you—it wasn’t enough to silence my love. As a matter of fact, it strengthened it! Years ago I counted the cost. My doors and windows were boarded up with faith and hope. I am tumor free, cancer free, and healthy enough to keep mopping up the floors of other hurricane victims for awhile yet. John 1:1-5 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All thi... Read Full Story