The Pacific Garden Mission, founded in 1877 on the notorious Whiskey Row in Chicago’s South Loop, is the oldest continuously-serving rescue mission in America. It was the first place I preached after my honeymoon more than 50 years ago. Following the service, I chatted with the attendees. One man, a former medical doctor, had lost […]
Ever since man was expelled from the Garden, he’s been trying to pretend he’s in the “in” crowd. There’s nothing better than being at home with God, the meaning of the two words selected by David in Psalm 15:1—“Lord, who may abide in Your tabernacle? Who may dwell in Your holy hill?” There is within humankind a strong desire to […]
“Then Jacob said, ‘O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac,…I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies and of all the truth which You have shown Your servant…” (Gen 32:9-10). C.H. Spurgeon writes: “I have a dear brother in Christ, Mr. Curme, who is the mirror of […]
H.P. Barker was visiting the doors when he asked a man, “Are you able to say, ‘My sins, which are many, are forgiven?’” ‘Oh no, I don’t think anyone can speak positively on that.” “What place do you attend on Sundays?” He pointed to the parish church. “Why, sir, every Sunday you repeat in that […]
They say the atheist’s holiday is April 1. But did you know the atheists also have a psalm? Two things were clear to David. The first was that anyone who concluded in his heart that there was no God was a fool. The second was that such people who denied God His rightful place in […]
CHRIST our SHEPHERD: “I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own” (Jn 10:14). David, who well knew the characteristics of a good shepherd, describes in Psalm 23 the most convincing proof of such: contented sheep! As John Hooper (c. 1495-1555)—executed at the stake for his faith during […]
“Do not remember the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions; according to Your mercy remember me, for Your goodness’ sake, O Lord. Good and upright is the Lord…The humble He guides in justice, and the meek (KJV) He teaches His way” (Ps 25:7-9). At Wigtown, Scotland, on April 13, 1685, widow Margaret MacLachlan and […]
“Andrew…first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah.”…And he brought him to Jesus” (Jn 1:40-42). “One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to Him, ‘There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish’…” (Jn 6:8-9). “Certain Greeks…came to Philip…saying, ‘Sir, we […]
CHRIST the PLANNER of the AGES: “God…in these last days did speak to us in the Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He did make the ages” (Heb 1:1-2, Young’s Literal Translation). Paul speaks of the “purpose of the ages, which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Eph 3:11, […]