This summer I’m running 500 miles, biking 1500 miles, and swimming 13 miles–along the way, I’ll be joined by some of my friends and students. Why would we take on such a huge challenge, you ask? Well, we want to raise $30,000 for the Chalmers Fund to provide scholarships for worthy, needy students. Won’t you support us? You can give online right …
Meat and Drink
“The study of everything that stands connected with the death of Christ, whether it be in the types of the ceremonial law, the predictions of the prophets, the narratives of the gospels, the doctrines of the epistles, or the sublime vision of the Apocalypse, this is the food of the soul, the manna from heaven, the bread of life. This …
Gaining Our Liberty–and Losing It Again
On June 9, 1776, the Continental Congress accepted a resolution of Virginia delegate Richard Henry Lee to appoint a committee to draft a declaration of secession from the dominions of the English King and Parliament. On June 29, the committee—composed of Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert Livingston—presented their draft for debate and a vote. It …
Your Legacy of Truth
The glories of the ages past, Long held for you in trust, Are deeded now for your employ, Are ceded now in grateful joy; The splendors of the ages past, Reserved but for the just. The rich bequests of Christendom, Insured against default, Are brought to flower on this day, Are sought in valor just this way: The vast endowments …
The Battle of the White Horse
The Christian king of Wessex, Alfred the Great, defeated the pagan Viking warlord Guthrum at the Battle of Ethandun on this day in 878. The battle not only ensured that Christianity would survive in England, it made the unification of that land possible for the first time since the departure of Roman legions in the fifth century. The battle was …
Take Us Back
On May 18th the Ryman here in Nashville will host the first concert in a 36-city tour featuring the pioneers of contemporary Christian music: Andrae Crouch, Chuck Girard, Evie Tornquist, Randy Stonehill, and the Archers. According to Evie, “The One Way Experience Tour,” will hopefully “rekindle a pilot light in many of our hearts.” Indeed, just thinking about the concert …
Holy Boldness
By the spring of 1521 a 38-year-old theology professor from a tiny university town in Saxony Martin Luther had surprisingly become a powerful and popular voice of reform—much to the chagrin of both the secular and the ecclesiastical authorities throughout late Medieval Europe. The situation was more than a little distressing—and threatening—to the authorities. So it was that Marin Luther …
Activism
Just as the first law of heraldry is to wear your heart on your sleeve, the first law of activism is to wear out your welcome. It is a paradox that seems to contradict every vestige of sound logic in this poor fallen world; which is precisely why it is so effective.
Three Days and a Harrowing
Holy Saturday is the day between the substitutionary death of Jesus on the cross and His glorious resurrection. On Holy Saturday we celebrate the Harrowing of Hell–the mystery of Christ’s descent into Hades to lead the captives in a great parade of triumph (Ephesians 4:8-10). This is therefore a day of watchful expectation, in which mourning is being transformed into …
The Seven Last Words
1. Forgiveness: “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” Luke 23:26-35 2. Redemption: “This day you will be with me in Paradise.” Luke 23:35-43 3. Covenant: “Behold, your son; behold, your mother.” John 19:23-27 4. Substitution: “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani.” Matthew 27:45-54 5. Suffering: “I thirst.” John 19:28 6. Triumph: “It is finished.” John 19:30 7. Resolution: …
Painted Repentance
In the striking painting, The Raising of the Cross, Rembrandt was not so much creating an illustration of a Bible scene as he was making a very personal confession of sin and a profession of faith. Rembrandt places himself in the painting twice: the first of his alter egos is the man who cruelly thrusts the cross upwards and into …
A Prayer in Spring
The iconic American poet, Robert Frost, had a beautiful answer for what Sociologists and Psychologists often call either “Mindset Scarcity” or “Foreboding Joy.” He called it “A Prayer in Spring.” Oh, give us pleasure in the flowers to-day; And give us not to think so far away As the uncertain harvest; keep us here All simply in the springing of the …
Why Palm Fronds?
The palm tree and palm leaves appear again and again throughout the Bible as symbols of integrity, honor, righteousness, holiness, godly authority, and royal glory. The palm was used in the carved decorations of the temple, usually associated with the Cherubim, but also with the regal lion and the flower in full bloom. Indeed, the association of the palm with …
St. Patrick’s Lorica (Breastplate)
I bind unto myself today The strong Name of the Trinity, By invocation of the same The Three in One and One in Three. I bind this today to me forever By power of faith, Christ’s incarnation; His baptism in Jordan river, His death on Cross for my salvation; His bursting from the spicèd tomb, His riding up the heavenly …
Chesterton’s “Gloria in Profundis”
There has fallen on earth for a token A god too great for the sky. He has burst out of all things and broken The bounds of eternity: Into time and the terminal land He has strayed like a thief or a lover, For the wine of the world brims over, Its splendour is spilt on the sand. Who is …