INTRODUCTION
As I write this letter, many of you have already cast votes in the 2024 election. I know this because many of you have sent pictures of you and your kids standing in line at the polls. Praise God. This week, I want to exhort you to prayer and preparation for the future. First, prayer.
PRAYER IN TROUBLOUS TIMES
Essentially, the Old Testament book of Habakkuk is the record of one man’s prayers and …
INTRODUCTION
Less than 500 hours remain until the election of the next President of the United States. While the national attention is aimed at that election not nearly enough of us have considered the importance of down-ballot elections. Yet, these down-ballot elections will have as much (if not more) personal consequence in our own states, cities, and towns than the next occupant of the Oval Office. Christians blessed with the freedom to vote in elections …
INTRODUCTION
We don’t have time for a deep dive into Christian positions on every political and public policy issue. However, for this week’s letter from the pastor, I’m outlining 5 broad headings that ought to be in your mind as you consider your vote in the upcoming election. But before we dive in, a few reminders:
The Church is inherently political, but we aren’t partisan, up to a point. When I say the church is …
INTRODUCTION
“How’s that working for you?” For decades, this has been a catchphrase for the popular TV counselor known as Dr. Phil which he employs to help people realize their dysfunctional behavior. “How’s that working for you,” forces the individual to self-evaluate; to recognize that their status quo isn’t working at all.
For decades, America has experimented with secularism; the idea that our public life can be governed apart from or uninformed by religion. In …
ALL THE GOOD PROMISES
The Lord Fights
Joshua 6-12
GRAB THEIR ATTENTION
“The God of the Old Testament is arguably the most unpleasant character of all fiction: jealous and proud of it; a petty, unjust, unforgiving control-freak; a vindictive, bloodthirsty ethnic cleanser; a misogynistic, homophobic, racist, infanticidal, genocidal, filicidal, pestilential, megalomaniacal, sadomasochistic, capriciously malevolent bully.” So says Richard Dawkins in his 2006 NYT Bestseller, The God Delusion. In the same book Dawkins argued that the …
Lord God,
We recount all of your faithfulness to us; your mighty power that you have displayed over and over in our lives. You have made us in your image and likeness (Genesis 1:27) and we are fearfully and wonderfully made. (Psalm 139:14)
And you have been faithful to preserve us all the days of our life. We lay down and sleep each night for you, Lord, make us to dwell in safety. (Psalm 4:8)…
Our God and Father,
Unto you, O Lord, do we lift up our souls. (Psalm 25:1) Your name endures forever, and your renown goes through all ages. (Psalm 135:13)
You are the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. (1 Timothy 6:15-16)
Yet your eyes are in every place keeping watch on …