O seek the Lord, while He is near; He’s bending low and lending ear. He’ll pity you, if you return– Turn from your thoughts; your bridges, burn. The highest heav’n with endless girth Stands high above our lowly earth; And so God’s ways with endless span Stand high above the plans of man. The springtime … More Snow in Spring
There once was a man with many hats–too many, in the opinion of others, but not in own eyes. True, he would sometimes feel a twinge of guilt in owning many hats that he never wore. Day after day, as he entered his closet, the hats would wave, as it were, “Here I am. Wear … More The Man with Too Many Hats
Do you believe in Christ? To answer that question well, you must not only know who He is, but also what He is. Interestingly, the word “Christ” is technically not a name. Granted, to our ears, “Jesus Christ” sounds like a first and last name. It is not. The word “Christ” is not a name, … More What Is the Meaning of "Christ"?
Recently I was talking with a woman who was truly troubled over the state of her soul, wondering whether she had strayed so far from the Lord that He was now afflicting her physically, even wondering whether she was truly saved or not. Not everyone reveals inner struggles so freely as this woman did. It … More How Can I Be Thankful When I Feel So Low?
Text: Hosea 14, “Return to the Lord with Repentance and Faith” (August 26, 2007) Two disturbing opinions about the way of salvation are very common: 1. When I commit a sin, I ask God to forgive me; therefore, I will go to Heaven. 2. When I commit a sin, I confess it; therefore, I will … More Is Confession of Sin Enough to Go to Heaven?
O God the Father, hear our cry, Look down with pity from on high; With all creation, cursed we sigh, Till all Your sons are glorified. O God the Son, attend our prayer, Our guilt–a weight too great to bear; Of all earth’s sons, You are most fair– Your cross has shown how much You … More A Prayer for Salvation on Communion Sunday
One of our members once told me that when his dad was dying, the father confessed, “Son, it shouldn’t be this way.” He was right. The world really should not be as the world is. The world we see is not the world God originally created, nor is it the world that shall be some … More Why Is God's World Messed Up?
Sullen, sunken, grayish eyes— Loss of mother, frontier skies; Books at end of oxen row, Ax out straight, and toe-to-toe; Failed at shop—what’s lent was spent, Fifteen years for every cent; Three for law, then Springfield bride, In-laws: Country ways despised; Four sons, never felt the belt— No “parental tyranny” dealt; Uncouth, yes; but truly … More Abraham Lincoln
Historically, the French answered, “Fraternity.” More recently, William Kristol from Harvard University suggested the possibility of “Honor.” What should it be? This question is more than simply historical trivia. In our current politics, those in favor of liberty are often pitted against those in favor of equality. It is the libertarians against the egalitarians, and … More Liberty, Equality, and What?
“Where sin increased, grace super-abounded.” Romans 5:20 A propensity to sin is not a “weakness.” When Paul said, “When I am weak, then I am strong,” he had in mind the physical limitations of life. However, the same principle applies even to our sinfulness, but with more caution. Given the deceitfulness of our heart, it … More Proverbs from Paul for the Spiritually Depressed – Part 4
Spring Branch Academy - Jonesville, Michigan 