Dr Paul Allen

Psalm 28 -  David. To you, O LORD, I call;  My rock, be not deaf to me,  lest, if you be silent to me, I become like those who go down to the pit. Hear the voice of my pleas for mercy,  when I cry to you for help,  when I lift up my hands  toward your most holy sanctuary.  The LORD is the strength of his people;  he is the saving refuge of his anointed.  Oh, save your people and bless your heritage!  Be their shepherd and carry them forever. (Ps. 28:1–2, 8–9) A cry for help. At times that’s the only way we can pray. Some trouble we’ve been dealing with takes a turn for the worse, or a brand-new crisis breaks over our life in the course of a single day, an hour, a phone call. When that happens, when we are suddenly and utterly overwhelmed, God is there. Our new crisis is not new to God, so we can simply cry out for help. That’s exactly what David does as he prays for deliverance and for a divinely imposed barrier on the evil coming agains...

Gene Edwards's "A Tale of Three Kings: A Study in Brokenness" retells the biblical stories of David, Saul, and Absalom. It offers comfort and clarity for those suffering pain and hurt, particularly from fellow believers. The book also explores themes of leadership, authority, and suffering. The book recounts the tales of King Saul, King David, and David's son Absalom, highlighting the inner turmoil and pain that David experiences as he moves toward kingship. It investigates themes of authority, submission, suffering, and the necessity for leaders who have endured their brokenness.  This work explicitly targets Christians who have faced pain, loss, and heartache caused by other believers, providing solace, healing, and hope. Gene Edwards, the author of A Tale of Three Kings: A Study in Brokenness, aims to comfort and clarify the brokenhearted by emphasising the importance of God's presence during times of pain and hardship.  The book is structured into two main sec...

According to Pastor Andy Stanley, Dr. Al Mohler’s “version of Christianity draws lines, and Jesus drew circles. He drew circles so large and included so many people in His circle that it consistently made religious leaders nervous. And His circle was big enough to include sinners like me, and I come from a long line of sinners like me.” Yes, “On one occasion, Jesus said, ‘Come to Me, all weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. You will find rest for your souls. All. That’s a big circle. That’s the invitation of our Savior. That’s the invitation of our church.” Indeed, as a church, Pastor Stanley stated, “We decided 28 years ago, we draw circles, we don’t draw lines, we draw big circles.” The truth is that Jesus drew both circles and lines and if we don’t do both, we hurt those we are called to help. On the one hand, God’s love, expressed in Jesus, is massive beyond words. Jesus died for our sins. He took the punishment for our guilt. He was pronounced guilty so that we could be p...