Presbyterians love to pray. Arms outstretched from the roof of the world, great wizardly sleeves of those Genevan robes. Eyes wrenched closed, the rhetoric as high as the pulpits; stuffed with well-worn clauses: Lord of lords, and true and living God, and Thy Kingdom come. One of my issues with our grand old waspy church […]
Let’s think about the motion picture Nacho Libre. The film is loosely based on the story of Fray Tormenta (“Friar Storm”, a.k.a. Rev. Sergio Gutiérrez Benítez), a real-life Mexican Catholic priest who had a 23-year career as a masked luchador and competed in order to support the orphanage he directed. There are a few things […]
Have you ever been stressed out? Some of you have stressful jobs. Many moments where you’re barely hitting your deadlines; and it feels like you’re always on the brink of burning out. Some folks are swimming in stress because they all-of-a-sudden find themselves navigating increased financial obligations. Some of you are stressed because you recently […]
And Hannah prayed and said, “My heart exults in the Lord; my horn is exalted in the Lord.My mouth derides my enemies, because I rejoice in your salvation. [*What does your heart exult in? What do you deride BECAUSE of the joy of your salvation?] “There is none holy like the Lord: for there is none besides you; there […]
On the Ides of March Brandon Hawkes was deployed by the Almighty to serve us a portion of God’s Word emphasizing God’s desire for us to ASK Him for provisions and the promise of The Holy Spirit. *If you haven’t already savored the meal God served us through His servant Brandon, then I exhort you […]
Once a month ECPC is contacted by her grandma (Christ Covenant Church) simply to ask, “How can we be praying for you?” In case you weren’t aware, ECPC’s mom is Uptown Church (Uptown CLT, NC), and our mom’s mom is Christ Covenant Church (Matthews, NC). I always enjoy receiving this inquiry from grandma because it […]
Once a month ECPC is contacted by her grandma (Christ Covenant Church) simply to ask, “How can we be praying for you?” In case you weren’t aware, ECPC’s mom is Uptown Church (Uptown CLT, NC), and our mom’s mom is Christ Covenant Church (Matthews, NC). I always enjoy receiving this inquiry from grandma because it […]
“Those understand not themselves that value not the prayers of the poor and despised.” – Matthew Henry
Today I received a text message from an ordained PCA officer (a deacon to be specific). Though we have certainly had our differences, I must say that I found his message edifying. Here’s the message: “I want to hate my sins more than I hate the sins of others who sin differently than I do.” […]
Something of a disconsolate mood has befallen me recently. Jeremiah’s experience with despondency has been a refuge for me. Jeremiah (amidst much dismay) says, “Your Words were found, and I ate them, and Your Words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by Your name, O LORD, […]