A friend and I decided to grab a couple days of skiing this week. As I write this morning, I’m looking out on a wooded meadow with tall evergreens bowed low by freshly fallen overnight snow. Everything is calm, brilliant, and untracked. It’s gloriously pristine. I’m reminded of David’s prayer of confession in … [Read More…] January 15, 2023
Each year I have such good intentions. My New Year’s resolutions seem reasonable and achievable. I make a chart and begin with vigor! But then reality sets in. My self-discipline isn’t what I thought. Bad habits are stubborn things. Everything goes back to normal. And it’s only the second week of January! I’m … [Read More…] January 8, 2023
Happy new year, everyone! I can’t think of a better way to get 2023 off to a great start than to immerse ourselves in God’s Word and prayer. In many ways, these spiritual disciplines are like breathing. We breathe in God’s Word to us as we read the Scriptures, and we breathe out … [Read More…] January 1, 2023
Merry Christmas! Today we celebrate the moment when God broke into space and time in the sending of His beloved Son to live among us. The chasm that separated a holy God from a sinful humanity was crossed in the coming of the incarnate Christ, who has come to reconcile all things to … [Read More…] December 25, 2022
Wow! What a wonderful Christmas Concert we had last week! Christ was honored, souls were stirred, and the good news was proclaimed in Chicago! One of my neighbors who came for the first time sent this text to our neighborhood group: “Good evening, Pastor Philip, thank you for the early alert on the … [Read More…] December 18, 2022
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: ‘Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel’ (which means, God with us). —Matthew 1:22–23 Immanuel is my favorite name that God has revealed for Himself. To me, it captures the … [Read More…] December 11, 2022
“Pause…and let the wonder in.” For many years now, my heart’s longing for the Christmas season has been to pause and let the wonder in. There’s so much busyness. It’s all so hectic. So many distractions. Relentless expectations. And if I’m not careful, I’ll miss it. But somewhere in the stillness, a … [Read More…] December 4, 2022
I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving with your friends and family this past week! Today we turn the page to Advent and the season of Christmas. There’s a lot going on at The Moody Church in the next few weeks. Here are some of the highlights: Advent Sermon Series—The Coming King: … [Read More…] November 27, 2022
It’s hard to believe that Thanksgiving is just a few days away! I believe that gratitude is one of the most important marks of our spiritual health. When I’m delighting in the good gifts God has provided and responding in grateful praise, it’s a sign that my soul is functioning well. Conversely, entitlement and … [Read More…] November 20, 2022
We celebrate Veterans Day this weekend, as the election results continue to roll in. I’ve always liked how Veterans Day is so close to our elections. After all, our freedoms come through their sacrifice. But this year, I’m struck by the range of my emotions. My chest swells with honor for those who, … [Read More…] November 13, 2022
