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I came across this passage in J.C. Ryle’s Expository Thoughts on Mark. I found it encouraging as an imperfect, heavy hearted parent. “She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter.” Mark 7:26 “And when she arrived home, her little girl was lying quietly in bed, and the demon was gone!” Mark 7:30 Fathers and mothers are especially bound to remember the case of this woman. They cannot give their children new hear...

Recently this blog has been resuscitated. The reason for my previous blog coma was twofold: a busy schedule (large family and church planting) and a lack of material. I write this post with the intention of helping busy people be more effective with writing (insert your busy life for mine if applicable). I was helped by my loving wife. One day in August she lovingly kicked me in the rear end and encouraged me to get off the bench and get back in...

We made a deal with our son, who is a freshman in HS, that if he was able to pull off all A’s then we would take him and a friend to the Lecrae concert in Omaha. Well, he pulled it off and tonight we get to experience the Unashamed Tour featuring Lecrae, Trip Lee, Tedashii, & DJ Official. We are all pretty amped about this. We went last year when Lecrae came to town (blog article here). It was a great show. But honestly, the thing that ...

One of the most common questions I get is, “Do you have any good resources for family devotions?” We have addressed this in the past and continue to be on the lookout for good resources to help families to this end. It looks like this book will be one of those resources. From the publisher: Christian parents know the importance of passing the gospel story on to their children, yet we live in a busy world filled with distractions. Sc...

This promotional video got my interests piqued. I am curious to see how this book is put together and how Dr MacArthur interacts with justification. The challenge, often times, is to make certain the indicative (what Christ has done) before unloading (or confusing) the imperative (what we must do). Here we have the indicative (who we are) and doubtless the imperative, (who we must be/do). I’m looking forward to it. You can preorder it at Am...

When you read through the letters of Peter in the New Testament it is easy to forget that he was on the inside. He wasn’t just one of Jesus disciples, he was the main guy. He was the leader of leaders. You see him getting all kinds of experiences that most of the other guys did not. For example, he walked on water (Matt. 14.28-31), saw a young girl raised from the dead (Mark 5.37-42), saw Jesus transfigured (Matt. 17.1-6), and was broke out...

Here are some good resources to think about and celebrate Reformation Day. Chris Castaldo helpfully explains what happened when Luther was asked to recant before the Diet of Worms in 1521. And here’s the scene from the contemporary Luther film: The following is an hour-long PBS documentary (caveat emptor!) that includes commentary by Alister McGrath (Reformation scholar and author of Christianity’s Dangerous Idea: The Protestant Revoluti...

Stephen Nichols was at Omaha Bible Church on Reformation weekend. He taught a day long conference on the Reformation. This is great stuff. If you have read any of his books you know that he makes history very fun and engaging. Check out the audio; you won’t be disappointed. (updated the links) The Road to Worms: Jan Hus, Martin Luther, and Sola Scripture Wittenberg: The Life of Luther and Commitment to the Church Flossenburg: Martin Luther...

Here are some meditations of a Pharisee meeting Jesus. Specifically from Mark 7.1-23. Sadly, as I grow as a Christian I feel more and more of a relation to the legalistic Pharisees. The assualt to this is always the gospel. But I am too often slow in breaking out the ammo that needs to be fired. Give me something to do, something to contribute. I’m good at rules. I can make them and keep them too. Or just let me watch others—I can keep t...

The doctrine of the Scripture is one subject that will need to be defended, clarified, and reaffirmed in every generation. And this current generation is no different. Thankfully we have many teachers who have devoted their entire lives to clarifying and defending the Scriptures. In our current generation D.A. Carson has been greatly used by God to this end. As a seminary professor, author, and pastor, Dr Carson has been a great gift to the churc...