“Word of the Father, late in flesh appearing.” Millions of people will sing these words from the classic advent carol “O Come, All Ye Faithful” in the ensuing weeks leading up to Christmas. As always, many of these voices will belong to unbelievers, who every year join in celebrating a story they have either outright […]
Friday, 11 December, 2020 by Jonathan Landry Cruse
In a world where we are apparently deeming people and functions as “essential” or “non-essential,” it’s necessary for the Christian to grasp this foundational fact: gathered, corporate worship is the most important thing you will ever do. Period. No matter how we may feel or think about it (and let’s be honest—we often feel and […]
Monday, 05 October, 2020 by Jonathan Landry Cruse
The various stay-at-home orders and social distancing mandates put in place around the world are highlighting a deep need within humanity: the need for community. This is, of course, because God made us to be together (Gen. 2:18). We want to see friendly faces across the dining room table and not just across the street. […]
Thursday, 28 May, 2020 by Jonathan Landry Cruse
Created to Draw Near: Our Life as God’s Royal Priests by Edward T. Welch Crossway, 2019 224 pages (paperback), $17.99 Years ago in Philadelphia, I watched a woman stand paralyzed and in tears on the platform of the subway station. She needed to get on the train, but she was gripped by fear. As several […]
Friday, 01 May, 2020 by Jonathan Landry Cruse
The current coronavirus pandemic undoubtedly poses a serious threat to global health, but it’s also proving to be equally deadly to global wealth. Economic effects are one of the more immediately recognizable consequences of the measures taken by governments around the world to stem the spread of the disease. In our own country, millions are […]
Thursday, 23 April, 2020 by Jonathan Landry Cruse
This Thursday, known as Maundy Thursday, Christians around the world will commemorate Jesus celebrating the Passover with his disciples, as recorded in John 13. But something happened before the meal: Jesus gave an important lesson. It was a lesson for the first disciples surrounding Jesus at that table, and it’s a lesson for us today […]
Thursday, 09 April, 2020 by Jonathan Landry Cruse
This coming February 26, the world will see literally millions of practicing Roman Catholics emerge from Mass with a smudge of cruciform ash upon their foreheads. This practice, known as Ash Wednesday, kicks off the forty-day Lenten season of fasting and penance which leads up to the celebration of Easter. It should surprise no one […]
Wednesday, 26 February, 2020 by Jonathan Landry Cruse
“Identity” is something of a buzz word today. It’s almost impossible to avoid discussions about gender identity, sexual identity, or racial identity in the mainstream media. So-called “identity politics” are increasingly dominating the decisions on Capitol Hill and the discussions at home. While this is a popular topic right now, it’s by no means a […]
Monday, 18 November, 2019 by Jonathan Landry Cruse
Producing a printed worship book, including a full psalter, in an era of screens and me-centered “praise” songs could seem like a fool’s errand. Yet, in a bold effort to reclaim and even reintroduce God-centered, Bible-filled, musically excellent, and theologically robust songs to the modern church, the Orthodox Presbyterian Church (OPC) and the United Reformed […]
Thursday, 01 November, 2018 by Jonathan Landry Cruse