August 16, 2010

Prepare to Die: Deriding All Our Deeds

By Mike Conroy

This article first appeared in Proclamation a free monthly discipleship newsletter. To be added to our print mailing list write to covenantrc@verizon.net

Matthew 7:21-23 is one of the most terrifying texts in the New Testament.

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

The expected outcome of this text is that those who did the “mighty works” in Jesus’ Name would be welcomed into the kingdom, but, in fact, the exact opposite happens. This is what makes this text so terrifying. This passage raises a couple questions. First, “What exactly was wrong with their obedience which they confessed on the Final Day of Judgment?” Second, “How do we avoid ending up like them?” As we meditate on these words of the Lord Jesus Christ, we are confronted with issues of life and death. Read More »

Posted in Christ, Good Works, Gospel | 2 Comments
August 13, 2010

Can You Make Me Feel Good?

By William Boekestein

A few weeks ago I was perusing U.S. Airways’  in-flight magazine (between bouts of tremendous turbulence!). After flipping past the pages dedicated to money ratios and golf swings I found the following title intriguing: “The Power and Perils of Flattery.” The article interacts with a study that demonstrated that even impersonal flattery with clear ulterior motives is “insidiously affective.”

The conclusion of the article says:

“We have a huge need for self-enhancement…In other words, we have a craving for anything that makes us feel good about ourselves. We’ll go to great lengths to get positive feedback, and we’ll hold on to the feeling even when we suspect we’re being played. Not a very flattering picture…But it’s not a bad thing that we want self-enhancement…It makes us reach out to other people. It makes us human.” Read More »

Posted in Christian Living, Uncategorized | 1 Comment
August 12, 2010

New Title in “Free Books”

By William Boekestein

Our congregation is presently grieving the loss of a dear saint, (Mickey Tedesco). We have made available to our friends and families, “Christians Grieve Too” by Donald Howard. We would be happy to pass this book along to others who may be grieving the loss of a loved one.

Donald Howard knows of what he writes. He was minister of St. Peter’s Church of England, Sydney, when his wife, Diana, at the age of  40 contracted cancer. She was to live a further six years but, he writes, although through faith in Christ “we were prepared for death, I was ill prepared for grief.”

This ill preparedness, he found, arose from a lack of understanding and two years later he wrote these pages for the help of others. They contain a blend of biblical, pastoral and personal elements and serve to fill a gap on the subject of bereavement.

For a free copy simply request in writing at info@lifereformation.org. For more titles visit our Free Books page.

Posted in Death, Free Books, Uncategorized | Tagged , | Leave a comment
August 11, 2010

Confession: It’s Not Just For Politicians

By William Boekestein

An editorial in yesterday’s Scranton Times-Tribune (Skrepenak’s ‘Forgiveness’ for Own Crime) made an interesting point. Unfortunately it didn’t go far enough.

The point is that politicians (in this case Luzerne County’s Greg Skrepenak) shouldn’t be blaming the political culture for making them corrupt (yes, this is true even in Luzerne County!). According to the article “Mr. Skrepenak said he had become enmeshed in the ‘selfish and self-centered business of politics.’” What he should have said was that he, being selfish and self-centered took a bribe from a land developer. The editorial is right in condemning Skrepenak’s failure to man-up to his mistakes.

But the article failed to make the same condemnation of the rest of us who every day fail to take responsibility for our actions. Hard to do; but well worth it. After all, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

Posted in Sin | Leave a comment
August 9, 2010

Do Christians Care About Nudity in Movies?

By William Boekestein

I was intrigued by Sam Thielman’s recent review in World Magazine of The Duel. The film is a limited-released period piece based on a short story by Anton Chekhov. The review was mostly positive with the following exception: “What will earn the movie an R rating, if it gets wider distribution, is a highly annoying quirk that several other directors of recent period pieces have indulged, and that is its totally superfluous nudity.” He goes on to say that this indulgence will “keep out those who find nudity objectionable.” And the closing sentence: “…It’s disappointing to have such an otherwise fine movie tarnished for the folks who might enjoy it most.” Read More »

Posted in Christian Freedom, Christian Living, Uncategorized, culture | Tagged , , | 3 Comments
August 6, 2010

Which Child Do You Love More?

By Mike Conroy

Sometimes I hear parents openly admit that they love one child more than their other children. I have often talked to other Christians about it and have raised the question, “Do the Patriarchs give us a principle of this?” The first-born was supposed to get the blessing. Does this warrant a present day kind of favoritism towards one of our own children?

Is this a good practice? Should you love one child more? Does God love you more than me?

Posted in Feedback Friday | 1 Comment
August 4, 2010

The Cup Christ Wouldn’t Drink

By William Boekestein

In the Garden of Gethsemane Christ promised to drink to the bottom the cup of the wrath of God (Mark 14:36). For this very reason he refused to drink another cup that was presented to him at the cross (Mark 15:23). And I’m so thankful he did!

Posted in Christ, Suffering | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment
August 3, 2010

Sizing Up God through Song?

By William Boekestein

As a delegate to the recently held URCNA Synod, I was particularly blessed by the times of worship. I must admit that I didn’t always feel like singing given how exhausting the week was. But when I heard the sound of 200+ voices filling that small auditorium it was a treat.

This experience illustrates a point I made in a sermon a few months ago: Our singing is often a reflection of our view of God. Robust singing can be an indication of a robust view of God. Of course, the opposite might also be true.

Posted in Worship | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment
August 2, 2010

A Long Forgiveness

By guest

Most of us think of justification when we mention the forgiveness of sins. This is correct. “Blessed is the man whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered” (Psalm 32:1). The receiving of God’s forgiveness of sins at the beginning of our Christian life is truly sweet to our souls. But our tendency is to think only of justification.

The reason for this tendency is obvious. But if justification was such a great event, must we also continue to seek God’s forgiveness? Were not all of our sins – past, present, and future – forgiven? The answer is yes. “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1)

But once we are truly forgiven, we are in a new place! God’s kingdom is a place of chastening and never wrath. Praise God! We are no longer under the guilty sentence of the Creator’s hell. Rather in this kingdom we are under the care of the Father’s hand. By adoption, God declares He is now our forgiving Father. Continual forgiveness is needed because God correctly warns us of the chastening we deserve. Divine sanctification means His children are now under His chastisement when we sin. In ‘the Lord’s Prayer’ Christ commands His children to continually seek forgiveness from the God He commends. “Despise not the chastening of the Lord. . .” (Hebrews 12:5) Rather let us pray. As our one saving prayer turned God’s wrath aside, so our daily prayers can turn His chastening aside!

The chief feature of the kingdom of God in the world is the forgiveness of sins. It teaches sinners to seek God’s grace concerning both His wrath and His chastening. God’s forgiveness is a long forgiveness. This kind of forgiveness will even prevail in the Day of Judgment. Then the Spirit will pour out His blessings just as the Father poured out His forgiveness, all because Christ poured out His blood for sinners.

By Phil Urie

Posted in Salvation, Sanctification | Leave a comment
July 30, 2010

Feedback Friday: Three Portraits of Leadership

By William Boekestein

In Mark 15:1-15 three portraits of leadership emerge. The gist of the passage is that Jesus is standing trial before Pilate while the Sanhedrin, or Jewish leaders accuse him of many things and eventually rile up the crowd enough to sway Pilate away from his conviction of Jesus’ innocence.

1. The leadership of the Chief Priests. The members of the Sanhedrin provide a portrait of abusive, authoritarian leadership. They strong-arm their people into making a 180 degree turn from the position they held a week before at Jesus’ triumphant entry. Strong leaders can be very persuasive. The chief priests were able to turn this crowd against Jesus who only a few days earlier received him as their king. The danger in overly-strong leadership is that sometimes you might be wrong and if you manipulate your people to follow you your guilt will be double.

2. The leadership of the Pilate. Pilate provides a portrait of abdicating, people-pleasing leadership. At Jesus’ trial, Pilate repeatedly tests the waters of popular opinion. He bases his decisions not on the moral absolutes which steer his convictions but on poll numbers. Sometimes it is prudent, as a leader, to test the waters; especially when the issue is divisive and not absolutely black and white morally. But not when the answer is so obvious, as it is here.

3.  The leadership of Christ. In the face of this failed leadership we see Christ quietly, faithfully, lovingly doing what needs to be done. That’s real leadership. He doesn’t defend himself in the face of accusations. He doesn’t lash out erratically when his subjects cross him. He doesn’t quit his call when his mission becomes unpopular.

In the darkest night light shines the more clearly!

How do you struggle with leadership?

Posted in Christian Living, Leadership | Leave a comment

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