Now for Then
In light of God's command through Peter in I Peter 3:15, what would you say to someone who asked you about your hope in Jesus Christ? Are you prepared?...
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NEW POST: Salvation Through Sickness, Not From It
At a time when sickness is on the minds of so many, the 'benefits package' offered by the often-termed 'prosperity gospel' might seem especially appealing. What is the prosperity gospel? It's the belief (popular in many Charismatic and Pentecostal circles) that Jesus came, not simply to save you from sin and self, but from disease and debt as well... But is this really what the Scriptures teach? Is this prosperity gospel the genuine gospel of the New Testament?...
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How Great Pain Can Point Us to a Great God
For many, painful circumstances drive us toward one of three, general stress responses: fight, flight, or freeze...But what if we added “faith” to that list? It was C.S. Lewis...who said: “Pain insists upon being attended to. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our consciences, but shouts in our pains. It is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world.”...
10 Reasons Why, Though Awful, the Idea of Hell is Not Absurd
When we consider what the Bible tells us about hell, it is undoubtedly awful. But is it absurd? Is the idea of hell unreasonable? Some people believe so. But hell is clearly taught in Scripture. In fact, Jesus spoke about it more than anyone else. So what can we do? What should we do with this Christian concept of hell in a 'hell no' society?...
You May Be Wrong About the Lord's Prayer
How exactly should we use the Lord's Prayer? In some traditions, consistent repetition of the exact words of this prayer seems to be done in a mechanical way, as if the prayer were some kind of 'magical mantra'. Others have emphasized the idea that this prayer is not a mantra, but a model, intended to shape the broad contours of all our prayers. So which is it?...
Practicing Digital Disciplines: Four Areas to Keep in Mind
Like the operator of a nuclear power station, effectively handling the power of your digital device requires careful consideration and consistent discipline. Without this mindset, experiencing a relational or emotional or mental or spiritual 'meltdown' is a very real possibility....
From Valentine's Day to Good Friday
While colorful hearts and cartoonish cupids are common images around Valentine's Day, the cross was the image the Apostle Paul wanted his reader to be informed and inspired by above all others. As Paul wrote in the opening verses of Ephesians 5, God has called us to “walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us”...
4 Ways Lust Hurts You and Yours
So many people today believe it's perfectly normal to make room in your life for lust. They think, “As long as I'm not hurting anyone, what's the big deal... ?” Such people might be surprised to learn there are many ways sexual lust harms you and those around you....
On Election Day, Every Christian Should Be an Independent
...I'd like to do more than just encourage you to vote. If you are a Christian, I'd like to encourage you to vote as an independent. No, I'm not talking about your party affiliation. But I am thinking about the idea of party affiliation. ...
Our Need for Neediness
Needy. Do any of us want to be needy? Do any of us want to be thought of as needy? If you are needy in our society, does it, from the culture's perspective, make you a hero or a 'zero'?...
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The Forgotten Fundamental: Fearing God
Quick question: What's your favorite praise song or hymn about fearing God? Struggling to come up with examples? You wouldn't be alone. Compared to songs about loving God or worshiping God, songs about fearing God are few and far between. And there's a good chance that poverty is also reflected in our prayers and preaching as well....
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Lessons from LeFou
But while some searching children and uncertain teens may find comfort in a character who is apparently questioning his sexuality, sadly, both the film and the general, cultural dialogue will never venture beyond the boundaries set by the 'new tolerance'. If they did, it might just expose the disturbing foundation that upholds the modern stance. ...
Keep ReadingGot Kids in Your Worship Service?
Kids in the worship service? Kids being kids in the worship service? What are we to do?...
Keep ReadingYour Faith, Your Vote
Every voter is a 'faith-based' voter. But if you are follower of Jesus, then the worldview that informs your vote should first be informed by God. That means the clear picture of reality painted by the words of Scripture should always be our first reference point when it comes to the candidates and issues for which we vote....
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Five Reasons the 2016 Presidential Election is Great for God's People
While cooler autumn weather begins to blanket our country, the political climate of the nation is still sizzling with confusion and conflict...But what if I were to tell you this polarizing and fever-pitched political atmosphere is not simply “good”, but is actually great for the Church....
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The Hardest Chapter in the Bible
Some thoughts on the challenges of interpreting Revelation 20....
Keep ReadingThe Power of Life and Death
The death of the prophet Ezekiel's wife is a shocking episode. Could God be to blame?...
Keep ReadingUnsearchable (Sorry, Google)
Not even Google or Bing could search out His understanding. Consider how Isaiah encourages us in our first memory verse of 2015-2016....
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Thank You, Supreme Court
Thoughts on the recent ruling of the Supreme Court regarding same-sex marriage....
Keep ReadingThe Deceiver and Accuser
Remembering the reality of Satan's frustration and fury....
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