Fear and Trembling

A post over at The Transformed Wife entitled “Men Prefer Debt Free Virgins without Tattoos” has inspired quite the reaction on the internet.  It has inspired discussion at Doctrine and Devotion , and thoughtful posts at The White Horse Inn and Christ Hold Fast .  I want to add some thoughts. The original post traces to a particular source: “Most of this debt comes from college.”  I think that is true in our society much of the time.  Just google “useless college degrees,” and you will find articles outlining some of the more ridiculously outlandish degrees on can get.  There is also a line of thought that one would be better off going to trade school that getting one of those degrees.  The Medium argues this, and I find the argument difficult to contradict.  We simply need more tradesmen and women than we do college graduates with degrees.   So maybe choosing to be debt free because you did not pursue a college degree that will not benefi...

Sermon Text: Bless the Lord, O My Soul Of David. Psalm 103  Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. The LORD works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed. He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the people of Israel. The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. As a fa...

The entire territory of Puerto Rico is without power, and the power may be down for months.  Houston, Texas, has only begun the cleanup efforts after their hurricane.  Not to mention other islands in The Caribbean and our own Florida Keys.  Hurricane season is far from over. An earthquake in Mexico has killed over 200 people, with the body count still rising.  This while Operation Christmas Child did not collect enough shoeboxes world-wide last year to give all the eligible children in Mexico City alone a gift-filled shoebox. The Reformed African American Network thoroughly documents past and current racial injustice in this country.  My own amateur research into officer involved fatalities shows they disproportionally effect the African-American and especially the Mexican-American communities. Operation Heal our Patriots estimates that over 48,000 service members have been wounded or injured since the 9/11/2001 attacks.  The Department of Vete...

The Nashville Statement , a statement of Christian belief on LGBT matters published by The Center for Biblical Manhood and Womanhood (CBMW) , has caused many electrons to be arranged across internet pathways recently.  The Major of Nashville condemned the statement , tweeting: “The @CBMWorg's so-called "Nashville Statement" is poorly named and does not represent the inclusive values of the city & people of Nashville.”  Other condemnation has followed, including statements from Jesuit Rev. James Martin , “a well-known Catholic priest, author and adviser to the Vatican on communications.” One video clip even seems to link the statement to the recent, white-supremacist-inspired violence in Charlotesville. I respect many of the initial signatories on moral issues, including Rosaria Butterfield, author of The Secret thoughts of an Unlikely Convert ; R. C. Sproul; Kevin DeYoung, author of What Does the Bible Really Teach About Homosexuality ; J. I. Packer; and Jo...

What follows is a sermon that I had the privilege of preaching at my home church a few weeks ago.  Some associated parts of the liturgy are included. New Testament Reading: John 10:1-18 Epistle Reading: Revelation 7:8-17 Sermon Text: Psalm 23 The Lord Is My Shepherd A Psalm of David. 1  The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2     He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. 3     He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness     for his name's sake. 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,     I will fear no evil, for you are with me;     your rod and your staff,     they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me     in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil;     my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and mercy sh...