Come Down, Lord!

   * The following was originally written in May of 2021 when I was still the pastor of Faith Presbyterian Church of the ARP.  Now that the trial is past I am free to share it publicly.  I have since removed some irrelevant sections and added italics and bold emphases in places. It was prepared originally because it was important for the court to understand why we were continuing to gather for worship even when forbidden to do so. I share it here because it is important for believers to understand why believers should continue to gather for worship even when forbidden to do so. The Redacted Affidavit I am the pastor of Faith Presbyterian Church in Tillsonburg (“FPC”) and as such I have personal knowledge of the facts and matters herein set forth, except where stated to be based on information and belief and where so stated I believe them to be true.                Personal background I completed my Masters of Divin...

  I want to offer here a brief update regarding my court case.  I do so with a measure of trepidation.  I have heard some say that if I believe my cause is just I should just quietly accept the penalty.  Some might think my updates have been motivated by pride.  They may feel that what I have done - in keeping my church open - was wrong and that spreading the word about my charges is self-serving and arrogant.  I can say this with a fair degree of certainty. Such men do not know my heart.  If they did I expect they would find it worse even then they believe.  I am nowhere near the man I would like to be, and if there is anything praiseworthy in me it is by the grace of God.  The truth is I am probably far more proud than I know.  Though I want to eschew pride, and while I desire humility, pride seems strangely natural to sinful men.  But I also know what motivated me through 2020 and 2021; and I can say that at every step I ac...

“My soul is among lions.” Psalm 57:4 Some of you cannot say this and you ought to be very thankful that you are not obliged to do so. Happy are you young people who have godly parents and who dwell in Christian families. You ought to grow like the flowers in a conservatory, where killing frosts and biting blasts are unknown. You live under very favorable circumstances. Your soul, I might almost say, is among angels, for you dwell where God is worshipped, where family prayer is not forgotten, where you can have a kindly guidance in the hour of difficulty and comfort in the time of trial. You dwell where angels come and go and God Himself deigns to dwell. Happy young people to be in such circumstances! How grateful and how holy you ought to be! I want all who dwell where everything helps them, to recollect the many gracious ones who dwell where everything hinders them. You who live near the Beautiful Gate of the temple must not forget the many who are sighing in the tents of Kedar. If...