Category Archives: Personal Holiness

What Matthew Henry Was Thankful For

Matthew Henry was an English preacher in the late 1600s and early 1700s. He is best remembered for the legendary commentary set that bears his name. He died from a stroke while on a preaching tour in June, 1714. Once, … Continue reading

Posted in Adversity, Complaining, Contentment, Disappointment, Personal Holiness, Prayer, Problems, Revenge, Sanctification, Suffering, Thankfulness, Thanksgiving | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Slander

Ray Donovan was the Secretary of Labor under President Reagan. His time in office was marked by a highly publicized case in which Donovan and six others were tried in New York on charges of larceny and fraud. In the … Continue reading

Posted in Character, Communication, Criticism, Discernment, Doing Good, God's Work, Holiness, Honesty, Influence, Personal Holiness, The Tongue, Truth | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

God Is Watching

It was lunchtime at a Catholic elementary school, and a large pile of apples was placed on a tray at the head of the long table upon which the food was placed. A note posted on the tray read: “Take … Continue reading

Posted in Backsliding, Character, Choices, Conscience, Decisions, Disobedience, Doing Good, God's Omnipresence, Man's Freewill, Obedience, Personal Holiness, Rebellion, Sin | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Ted Kennedy & Leadership

When Ted Kennedy died a couple of months ago the media launched a full-scale examination of his personal life and legacy as a politician. The consensus opinion was that Kennedy was a flawed man but an outstanding political leader. My … Continue reading

Posted in Character, Government, Leadership, Personal Holiness, Politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

A Prayer Worth Praying

My friend Malcolm Woody once sent me an e-mail that included an awesome prayer. The prayer came from John Baillie, the Scottish theologian who wrote the classic book A Diary of Private Prayer. The prayer goes like this: Teach me, … Continue reading

Posted in Adversity, Courage, Disappointment, Fear, God's Sovereignty, Humility, Loneliness, Persecution, Perseverance, Personal Holiness, Prayer, Problems, Sanctification, Sickness, Suffering, Trials, Trusting In God, Waiting | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Sin & Church Attendance

Can you imagine getting drunk Saturday night and then going to church the next morning? Can you imagine rolling out of a bed you share with your live-in lover, getting dressed, and going to church? Can you imagine having beer … Continue reading

Posted in Backsliding, Character, Church, Church Attendance, Discipleship, Disobedience, Doing Good, Faithfulness, Holiness, Obedience, Personal Holiness, Repentance, Sanctification, Sin, Worship | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

“Lord, Send Us Rattlesnakes”

Once upon a time there was a family of backslidden church members. The family consisted of a father and three sons. They had all once been very active in church but lately had fallen away completely. Many people visited the … Continue reading

Posted in Adversity, Backsliding, Church Attendance, Discipline, Disobedience, Obedience, Parenting, Personal Holiness, Prayer Requests, Rebellion, Repentance, Sin | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Lunchroom Trays & Jesus

You remember those lunchroom trays from your childhood, don’t you? They were so compartmentalized. They were the epitome of “a place for everything and everything in its place.” The cream corn wasn’t supposed to spill over into the mashed potatoes. … Continue reading

Posted in Church Attendance, Commitment, Discipleship, Dress and Appearance, Entertainment, Family, God's Will, Obedience, Personal Holiness, Sanctification, Separation, Work, Worship | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Walking Civil War

William Barclay wrote, “Every man is a walking civil war. Within him there is the tension, the division, the battle between right and wrong, between good and evil, between passion and reason, between the instincts and the will.” Truer words … Continue reading

Posted in Addiction, Backsliding, Choices, Comfort, Covetousness, Disobedience, Doing Good, Encouragement, Eternity, Heaven, Man's Freewill, Obedience, Personal Holiness, Rebellion, Salvation, Sin, Temptation, The Holy Spirit, War | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Got Your Baptismal Certificate with You?

The two ordinances that God has given the church are the Lord’s Supper and Believer’s Baptism. The Lord’s Supper points us to Christ’s death, and Believer’s Baptism points us to His resurrection. Each ordinance hinges upon a right understanding of … Continue reading

Posted in Addiction, Adultery, Backsliding, Baptism, Character, Christ's Death, Christ's Resurrection, Commitment, Conviction, Crucifixion, Discipleship, Disobedience, Doing Good, Dress and Appearance, Dying To Self, Eternity, Faithfulness, Holiness, Hypocrisy, Idolatry, Lust, Lying, Obedience, Personal Holiness, Racism, Rebellion, Repentance, Sin, Temptation, The Lord's Supper | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment