Carpe Diem: Redeeming the Time

By Martin Murphy

I finished reading Carpe Diem Redeemed: Seizing the Day, Discerning the Times, by Os Guinness. I had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Guinness in 1986. It was a pleasure because he spoke to a small group of conservative evangelicals about the cultural shift of western civilization. It set me on a long journey inquiring into the relationship of the culture to the evangelical church. Dr. Guinness influenced my thinking in terms of social and politica...

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Am I of That Number or Where Is My Eternal Home?

By Martin Murphy

In the Christian's eternal home no one goes to church but everyone is in worship. Eternal life is joy unspeakable. Life is not mere existence, because the wicked will exist forever, but under the hand of God’s divine justice. “And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt” (Daniel 12:2). There is an eternal life for the believer and eve...

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When I look at the books in my library authored by such men as St. Augustine, John Calvin, Jonathan Edwards, R. L. Dabney, classics from Plato and Aristotle or contemporaries such as John Gerstner, R. C. Sproul, Os Guinness and Alasdair MacIntyre, I  often feel a sense of astonishment.  In times past I thought their work was magnificent.  As time goes by, I realize more and more that these men are not so magnificent.  But they have accomplished so much.  What makes them so outstanding?  Is it...

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Mending the torn theological ignorance of evangelical Christianity is like the blind man telling his deaf child, “listen to me!”  I wrote a book in 1996 that received limited distribution, but I do recall a pastor calling me to say that the book had caused a disturbance in the church.  After he chastised me I asked him if it was true or false.  He responded, “that’s not the point.”  Yes, truth is the point of the entire Christian life and experience.   Biblical truth is necessary to...

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NASB – He who is the blessed and only sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords
NIV – the blessed and only ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords.
Living Bible – only Almighty God, the King of kings and Lord of lords
1 Timothy 6:15

King of kings and Lord of lords is a statement of God’s sovereignty.  Every king, president, governor, ruler and any other person in authority is subordinate to the great King and Lord of heaven and earth.   They all depend on the sovereign King and ...

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So teach us to number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:12

Too often, I have not followed the biblical pattern.  I understand the eternal essence and existence of God and I thank God for creating me.  Unfortunately, I try to take over my life and use it for myself rather than the glory of God.  I think I’m not the only one in the boat.  I call it the Epicurean spirit of the age.  Self-interest prevails while the spiritual nature of life becomes a utilitarian tool.  Oh,...

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After the first harvest of 1621, the American Pilgrims celebrated a day of Thanksgiving.  This eventful celebration has since become a national holiday.  Although Christians set aside this special time to acknowledge that the gracious hand of God provides for all our needs, thanksgiving should be a daily celebration.

The word providence comes from two Latin words "pro" and "videre"  which means "to see beforehand."  God is not a mere spectator.  He knows in advance because He plans in advanc...

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On October 31^st in the year 1517 Dr. Martin Luther posted his 95 theses on the church door.  He wanted to discuss the issues relative to salvation and the practice of the church.  He wanted the church to be reformed by the Word of God by the power of the Holy Spirit.  The purpose of this brief monograph to celebrate and encourage the church to be reformed by the word of God.

Reformation (the recovery of biblical truth) and revival (spiritual renewal) is much needed among churches and in the ...

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King of kings and Lord of lords is a statement of God’s sovereignty.  Every king, president, governor, ruler and any other person in authority is subordinate to the great King and Lord of heaven and earth.   They all depend on the sovereign King and Lord God Almighty.

He has brought down rulers from their thrones” (Luke 1:52).

Just before the 4th of July each year television, radio, newspapers, internet and literally every form of communication writes or talks about celebrating Independence...

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William Still was the minister of Gilcomston South Church in Aberdeen, Scotland from 1945 to 1997.    He was faithful to take the gospel to members and friends in the church by writing hundreds of letters through the years.  He wrote a Christmas greeting to the congregation which is appropriate for us during this Christmas season.

Dear Friends,
        On my fifty-first Christmas letter, I want to revert to the rude domesticity of the stable as an antidote to the lavishness of Christmas extra...

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 The word providence comes from two Latin words "pro" and "videre" which means, "to see before hand."  The word providence, like the word Trinity, is not a proper biblical term, but theologians use the term providence to describe an important biblical concept.  The Bible teaches that God created the world and God preserves what he creates.   God is not merely a spectator with a passive knowledge of future events.  God knows in advance because God plans before hand.  Providence is a theologica...
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This title needs some explanation.  The word protestant comes from the Latin "protestari" which has the root meaning "to protest."  The Latin word “testari” means “to bear witness.” The word protestant was used by the Christian church to describe those who protested the theology of the Roman Catholic Church in the 16^th century.  It became known as the Protestant Reformation.  Denominationalism relative to the Christian church describes a world view that designates names to various gro...

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We all have those milestones - some seemingly insignificant and others we regard as very significant - but we all have events in life that we remember. I have seen many milestones in my life. The most important event was when I came to a knowledge of the saving grace of Jesus Christ and trusted Him for eternal life. The day I married the most wonderful woman on earth (another man will, no doubt, make the same claim for his wife) was and remains extremely important to me. Remember milestones -...
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