One of my favorite poems is "Birches" by Robert Frost: "When I see birches bend to left and rightAcross the lines of straighter darker trees,I like to think some boy’s been swinging them.But swinging doesn’t bend them down to stayAs ice-storms do…"1 Frost imagines the weeping birches as the result of some boy's play. But he knows better. Fun-loving boys, swinging on … [Read more...] about Literal Metaphors
Articles
What Heaven Means
When we say "heaven," what do we mean? J.I. Packer, in Growing in Christ, writes: "Heaven" in the Bible means three things: (1)The endless, self-sustaining life of God. In this sense, God always dwelt "in heaven," even when there was no earth. (2) The state of angels or men as they share the life of God, whether in foretaste now or in fullness hereafter. In this sense, … [Read more...] about What Heaven Means
Victory Over Trials
Easter means Victory Over Trials [See full sermon notes] Imagine your spouse or maybe your parent announces you’re going to the beach. You are so excited. You think okay I am going to get in a little better shape, and so you start exercising more. You think oh, I need a new bathing suit, so you spend hours and too much money getting one. You run to the store and get a beach … [Read more...] about Victory Over Trials
Victory Over Death
Easter means Victory over Death. [See full sermon notes] So it is not just that Jesus is victorious over death, but that for all of his followers, they too will receive this same victory over death. Paul writes, “[51] Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, [52] in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For … [Read more...] about Victory Over Death
Victory Over Sin
Easter means Victory over Sin [See full sermon notes] Paul writes, “And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins” (1 Corinthians 15:17). If there is no Easter, we’ve got a problem: You’re still in your sins. But, since Christ has been raised, just the opposite is true: You are no longer in your sins! How is Easter and the … [Read more...] about Victory Over Sin