The Voice of One

Predestined Controversy (Part 2)

In my last post, I asked readers to respond to John Calvin’s comments on predestination. So far, there have been no comments. Maybe this is a subject people don’t want to touch with a 10-foot pole! If there are any brave souls out there, feel free to comment on this post or the last one. I…

Predestined Controversy

I have been reading John Calvin’s Institutes of the Christian Religion…for about a year. It’s an enormous, exhaustive work of theology. Ironically, Calvin laments that he has a love of brevity and is unable to expound on religious matters as thoroughly as his forebears. If Calvin hadn’t loved brevity, I shudder to think of how much…

Less Is More: The Gospel of Surgery

I recently had ankle surgery. Almost two weeks later I still can’t walk on that leg. I am in pain all day. Evenings and nights (OK, and mornings) are worst. My wife does everything to care for the house, our kids, and me. Sometimes, for long stretches, I can’t do anything but groan…

The King’s Chambers

“Oh, that he would kiss me with the kisses of his mouth! For your love is more delightful than wine…. Take me with you—let us hurry. Oh, that the king would bring me to his chambers” (SOS 1:2-4). Pieces of clothing, like pretenses, are removed, like explanations, are cast aside, like self-image, collapse into hollow, rumpled piles, and…

I AM the Door

Originally posted on My utmost 4 His garbage can :
“Truly, truly I say unto you, I am The Door of the sheep” Jn. 10:7. Jesus is the Passover door. And the cross is the fulfillment of it. I want you to see that there may have actually been a cross painted in blood on the Passover…

What More Do You Want?

I was mildly stunned by what she said. In my hands was a letter from a lady with whom I had been corresponding about spiritual things. To paraphrase, she said something like, “What more can you offer people other than Jesus and His wonderful sacrifice?” I can’t remember what I wrote back word for word…

Revelation of the Lamb

Musings from my notes on the book of Revelation: “When He took the scroll, the four living creatures and the 24 elders fell down before the Lamb” (Rev. 5:8). At the center of all things—worshiped by countless angels, the elders, the living creatures, by all the great dignitaries of heaven—is a slaughtered lamb. ALL fall…

What Do You See?

Why this image? Scripture contains many genres: history, law, poetry, letters, prophecy, just to name a few. Understanding scripture in these ways is important. The historic, poetic, and other senses of scripture can teach us much about God. Still the full meaning of every scripture is only found in the person of Christ. This is…

The Storm of Martin Luther

Martin Luther 1483-1546 A few years ago I decided to read writings by major reformers. I started with Martin Luther’s Commentary on the Epistle to the Galatians. Luther dedicated his life to God while out in a thunderstorm. He was afraid for his life. History suggests that storm transferred into Luther’s soul. As the lightning rod…

Our Christian Pantheon

There is a need that is continually on my heart: That Christ be known and magnified as He is in scripture. I fear there isn’t enough of this among Christians. Many godly things and subjects draw bigger crowds than Jesus: the end times, miracles, and growing leaders; social or doctrinal contoversies; evangelism, social justice, and…