Last fall, for the first time in my life, I decided to grow a beard. Following in the footsteps of great men like my father and Charles Spurgeon, and with the blessing of my wife, I stopped shaving for a while, made it past the “itchy phase,” and grew a beard I could be proud [...]

Few songs have been misunderstood as much as Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the USA.” If you only listen to the chorus, you will hear a driving rock anthem that sounds like it’s full of unabashed patriotism. As a result, politicians and corporations have attempted to use it as such; both Ronald Reagan and Lee Iacocca [...]

 If you’ve been in a church around Easter time, you’ve probably heard this familiar refrain. On Palm Sunday the crowds shouted to Jesus, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” (Matt. 21:9) And then on Friday, only five short days later, the [...]

Preachers are always told that what makes it into the sermon should be only a portion of what comes up in their study. The more experience and skill I gain in studying the Scriptures, the more I find this to be true. I remember when I was younger just trying to extract enough from the text to [...]

Yesterday I preached in the morning services at my church,1 and for the first time used my Kindle e-reader for my sermon notes. I wasn’t sure how it would go, so I set a copy of my paper notes beneath the Kindle on the pulpit. I never had to look at them–the Kindle notes were just [...]

Right now you can get my book “But God…” in the Kindle edition for only 99 cents.  This will only last for a limited time, so make sure to act soon. Just click on this obnoxiously large, all-caps link: CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE “BUT GOD…” FOR 99 CENTS

I received an Amazon Kindle e-reader for my 30th birthday in September 2010, and it has become one of my favorite possessions. If you like to read books, a Kindle is a very good investment. Many people think that they won’t be able to get used to reading on an electronic device instead of a [...]

Sometimes one little word makes a big difference. I believe that Scripture clearly teaches that a believer is not to knowingly marry an unbeliever. To do so would be in clear violation of texts such as 2 Corinthians 6:14-18. To disobey a clear command from God is a sin. Therefore, for a believer to get [...]

So it turns out I did not find the time this week to post more thoughts about Psalm 137. Of course, if you had just come to my Sunday School class last weekend, you would have no need of them. But I did find some more songs with references to Psalm 137 in them. (Thanks, [...]

I taught a lesson on Psalm 137 today for an adult Sunday School class at my church. It is a strikingly beautiful poem, and yet it can also be a disturbingly haunting passage of Scripture. I encourage you to read it and think about it. I opened the class by sharing with them three musical [...]