Cultivating Eternal Wishes for Others, Part 5 of 5

“Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you.” 1 PETER 1:1-2, ESV Over the past … Read More

The Implications of God’s Special Favor, Part 3 of 5

As mentioned last week, I first became aware of and grappled with doctrine of election when I was seventeen. I had just graduated from high school a year early and started my freshman year at Baptist Bible College (BBC) in Springfield, MO. I went there because it was affordable, the largest Bible college in the world, and the school that … Read More

A Critique of Gothardism, Part 5 of 5

As an exercise in discernment, this series critiques the teaching associated with the Institute in Basic Life Principles (IBLP), Advanced Training Institute International (ATI), and specifically their founder, Bill Gothard. His teaching includes a myriad of distortions and this post addresses examples under the final two of six main areas (listed at the end of Part 1).   Elevating the … Read More

My Favorite Eugene Peterson Quotes

On Monday, October 24th, Eugene Peterson, pastor, professor, and author of The Message and numerous other books died at the age of eighty-five. He left a rich, reflective, earthy, and grace-filled legacy. Below are the insights from his writings that I’ve appreciated or have influenced me the most. At the beginning, I’ve also included one passage from The Message because … Read More

The Strange Familiarity of God’s Mysterious Ways

We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps. (Prov. 16:9, NLT) In late 2015, I was in a discouraged place. God was providing for every financial need our family had, yet he seemed bent on frustrating MY plans. I had been in the process of trying to transfer my credentials to the Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC) and … Read More