A Open Letter to Attendees of the Mid-Atlantic Reformation Society In Jesus’ teaching to His twelve, just before arrest and crucifixion, He compared their lives to branches of a vine. To the extent they drew their sustenance from the true root of the vine, Himself, their lives would bear fruit for God’s glory. At the same time He warned them that their fruit would be hated by the world because it was not worldly fruit. Read more…
We Christians have much to do – much to tell – much to teach. An article that appeared in our local newspaper last week (“One in Faith,” Reading Eagle, February 5, 2011, page D1. http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=284289 ) reports an example of tolerance run amok. A local group of varying faiths has coalesced around the following statement and question: “We acknowledge that all you hold to be sacred is indeed sacred to us. Can you reciprocate and Read more…
January 26, 2011: Today’s headline on CNN Money reads: “Conservative GOP group wants to cut $2.5 trillion”. From the article: “On Thursday, the House Republican Study Committee — which includes some of the party’s most conservative members — introduced a bill that the committee said would reduce spending by $2.5 trillion over a decade”. Wow. With a 2010 deficit of $1.3 trillion, this committee, which includes “some of the party’s most conservative members”, proposes reductions Read more…
You’ve heard it a thousand times: a reporter asks family members on the steps of the court house, “Do you believe justice was served today?”. Usually one side says yes and the other, no. True justice, God’s justice, is rarely served in today’s humanistic courts. The word justice in the Bible generally means the godly administration of judgment and the application of God’s righteousness. Restitution and restoration are the essence of justice. I was fortunate Read more…
“Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother And in His name all oppression shall cease.” Christmas Carol O Holy Night I have lost an argument with my son, who insists every Christmas season that “O Holy Night” is the best hymn ever written. Not just the best Christmas carol ever written, but the best hymn ever composed on any subject for any season. The combination of tune and lyrics, says Read more…
We at MARS wish to thank everyone who had a part in our 2010 activities. We were pleased with the steady attendance to our monthly lectures, and with the good turnout to the Old Fashioned Election Day Sermon. We are blessed by your attendance and all the other ways that you have helped us. We are encouraged also by those who have helped in some special way. When we established “the group” we recognized that Read more…
In our local newspaper there are stories from the “religious” beat in every Saturday edition. Recently there were two articles that set me thinking they belonged in the business section. First was titled “On God’s Mission” and it was all about local churches’ adoption of mission statements in order to “define the church’s reason for existence.” Speaking about one local congregation’s process of developing a mission statement, the article pointed out that the effort “not Read more…
This past summer, in Harrisburg, PA, a food deliveryman was attacked by two would-be robber-thugs. Police report that the two miscreants punched the man in the face and broke a glass bottle over his head all the while demanding his money. Fortunately, Mr. Deliveryman was armed and able to grab his sidearm sending some “warm lead” in their direction. The thugs fled and one was later treated for a non-life-threatening injury. It seems to me Read more…
The Mid Atlantic Reformation Society will be presenting two lectures this Saturday, November 13, 2010 (9:00 AM – 12:00 Noon). Calvary Chapel, in Bethlehem, PA will present through their Salt and Light Ministry, a pilot lecture in what they hope becomes a series of lectures entitled The Bible and Politics. This series will present the gospel of Jesus Christ and show how the Bible is relevant to Western Civilization and how the Bible was the Read more…
The first and much anticipated Old Fashioned Election Day Sermon presented by MARS was held this past Sunday at the Inn At Reading. How we thank the Lord God for a great day! It was a time of good fellowship, singing, and preaching. We enjoyed greeting some 95 attendees, with time for discussion before and after the service. The highlight was the sermon by Pastor John Weaver, outlining the scriptural origins and underpinnings of civil Read more…