Psalm 45 Publications

Throughout the first epistle of Peter, the apostle is addressing a group of believers who are manifestly different from the citizens of the lands in which they find themselves compelled to live, and who are therefore misunderstood, maligned, and persecuted. Although at one time these believers were at home in their places of earthly residence, they have now been vastly transformed by the great power of the gospel. They were formerly not a people of God, but have now become a people (2:10). They had been full of malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander, but were now constrained as newborn infants to desire something altogether different, that is, the true milk of the Word of God (2:1). In times past they had carried out the will of the Gentiles, giving themselves over to debauchery, sensuality, drunkenness, idolatry, etc., but that time has all passed, and now their former compatriots consider them strange and alien, and mock and slander them, because they no longer do those wicked things (4:-3-4; 1:14). Because of this great change, they who had once been citizens of this world, and loved by their own, and partners with them in this world’s lusts, are now exiles and sojourners, whether in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, or any other place they may live (1:1-3). Hence, Peter exhorts them to live in accordance with their new character as temporary pilgrims in this world, and not according to their former futile ways (1:17-18). Continue Reading

Difficult Questions

Why is there such violence and suffering in the world? Why is life so unfair? Whether I’m watching the news or observing the people in my own workplace and community, I see a world filled with brokenness, misery, chaos, self-centeredness, oppression, and injustice. It seems obvious that the world is not right – but what exactly needs to change? It’s easy to blame all the corruption in the world on difficult circumstances, but can that really be the root cause? Wouldn’t a truly good person do good no matter what the circumstances were? And what of myself? I can see everyone else’s faults – but if I’m really being honest, could my own selfishness be contributing to the problems in my life and relationships, and in the world around me? But if so, how can I change? Why do I find it so hard to improve myself? What a mess it all is! Isn’t there more to life than this? And what about after this life? What comes then? Continue Reading

Before I saw Christ, oh, how I feared to come to God! He was holy and I was sinful. He was righteous and I was guilty. He was wrathful and I was a child of wrath, deserving of every eternal torment. But then God’s merciful Spirit opened my eyes to the King of Glory, and my heart was changed forever. Before, I had seen every reason to flee from God, and was overcome with despair at the realization that I could not escape his presence. Afterwards, I saw every reason to come to God, and found no other delight than that I could never be out of his sight. Jesus changed my perspective entirely, so that what had been my misery and despair became my only joy and unshakeable hope. I found in him every reason to come to God, and no reason to forbear. Continue Reading

So Jesus cries out even today, overflowing with compassion and ready to help the most downcast soul. Here, we see an Almighty Savior, who by all accounts has the power and authority to do what he so tenderly offers, but for all his might, he is meek and lowly, and shows forth no terror to the most bruised and fragile reed among mankind, so that the timorous and trembling might be emboldened, and stir themselves up to approach him. O, weak, hurting, and despairing soul, come to him! I too was once burdened beyond measure, at a loss even to live out the remainder of the hour, not knowing from what mental reserves I might bring forth the resolve to take my next step, or draw in my next breath. But when I was weak, I have proved him strong, and I counsel you to prove him too, and see if he will not deliver you from the deepest anguish of soul. I was always ready to weep out my whole soul in tears to the ground, and find my comfort in the bitter embrace of death; but in my despair, my God has delivered me with a mighty hand, and now I rest in his unfailing grace. Continue Reading

Some time ago, I was stopped on the street by a Jehovah’s Witness, passing out literature. Since we did not speak the same language, she promised to have an English-speaker call me, and a few days after that he did. Our conversation was cut short by a bad phone connection, but before we hung up, I gave him my e-mail address, and later he sent me an e-mail, asking me if I was interested in studying the scriptures to see what God has promised about changing this world so that it would be peaceful and good. He included several scripture passages that described this perfect world in some detail. I appreciated this man’s desire to share with others the possibility of finding eternal joy, and I also knew of some scripture passages that spoke of God’s eternal rewards, and the way in which to receive them, so I wrote this letter in response. I would encourage any Jehovah’s Witnesses who might see this to read it and feel free to contact me for further dialogue. Continue Reading

It has been, as of today, eighteen months since I first began posting articles on this web page. This significant lapse of time, combined with the frequently tiresome labor by which it has been characterized, has caused me to spend some considerable time, over the past few days, reflecting on my original motivation and goals in launching the enterprise, as well as the extent to which those goals have been carried out, and the degree to which that motivation has remained unchanged. Following is a summative restatement of my original motivating desire, a recollection of the various means, whether successful or not, that I have employed in attempting to realize that desire, and a brief, encapsulating meditation on that foundational truth which I hope has under-girded and directed all of my efforts throughout this past year and a half. Continue Reading

O God, my Father, how often I dishonor you by supposing that I may find joy and contentment in the world, apart from you!

Show me again the field where lies hidden the treasure of immense worth. Counsel me to trade all my worthless baubles for the matchless pearl of great price. Bring to my mind the rust and moths and subtle thieves who steal away all earthly delights. Lead me to Christ, my eternal treasure! Continue Reading

Anyone who has ever felt rolling into his soul the black clouds of depression, who has gone in an instant from the passionless peace and contentment of the mundane to the paralysis, the hopelessness, the feeling of drowning in meaningless and despair that constitutes the essence of the black beast Depression, will know well the subject about which I hope to say a few words. It may appear superfluous even to consider a topic which appears so inexplicable and insoluble; and the feeling of pointlessness, far from being ameliorated, may well be strengthened in those who, having once known the sweet joy of fellowship with Christ, and being still convinced intellectually that a Christian above all ought to be joyful – who can bring to their minds ten thousand reasons why depression is not reasonable or sensible for themselves, but all to no practical avail – to these brothers and sisters in Christ, the reality of depression may seem a thousand times more inexplicable, and hope for a lasting solution in this life may seem a thousand times more impossible than it is for those whose depression comes amid a Christless existence. The baffling unreasonableness of their malady, combined with the overwhelming guilt which comes from knowing that their lack of joy does despite to the great sacrifice of Christ, by which he purchased every reason to rejoice, tends to a downward motion, by which, in every passing moment, the sea of crass despair is plumbed to new depths of horror and blackness of soul. To you I write these words, not as one expostulating from the outside, but as one who has tasted the bitterness and who has found that the power of Christ is able to give a fresh taste of something sweet and all-but-forgotten on the other side of the valley. By God’s grace I have known the comfort which our Father is able to give in the midst of depression; and I am now able to say with the apostle Paul, “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). Everyone to whom I am speaking (you know who you are), take heart! It may be that God has left a tiny spark in an area of your heart that you had long considered cold and dead. In his time, he will blow upon it, and cause to flame up anew the passionate joy of knowing Jesus. This will be as dear and wonderful to you as new life from the dead; which indeed, in a figure, it is. Continue Reading