Last spring I had the privilege of speaking at a conference for NFL players put on by Pro Athletes Outreach (PAO), a group which exists to unite a community of pro athletes and couples to grow as disciples of Jesus and positively impact their spheres of influence. They have a fantastic outreach to professional football and baseball athletes and their wives. I’ve seen firsthand the amazing difference they’re making. In the off-season I exchanged emails and texts with dozens of NFL players and cha..Continue reading→
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Thoughts
Motherhood Is a Marathon
I wanted to do great things for God. In the spring of my senior year of college, on the brink of embarking upon my own journey into adulthood, my future was undecided and that was simultaneously terrifying and thrilling. As a philosophy major, my path was narrower than I had realized, but I was sure it would take me on some grand and glorious adventure. I knew the chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy him forever. “Glorify” sounds like such a grand term. It evokes images of battlefie..Continue reading→
1 Peter 5:7–8: How Not to Battle Anxiety
Anxieties attack our faith and torment our peace. The question with anxiety is not whether it will come, but rather, how can I fight it when it does? Watch NowContinue reading→
Is Love of Money Really the Root of All Evils?
Is the love of money the “root of all evils” or only the “root of all kinds of evil” (1 Timothy 6:10)? “All evils” is the formal English equivalent of the original Greek (pantōn tōn kakōn). It is remarkable that all older versions of the Bible translate 1 Timothy 6:10 in the more literal way: “The love of money is the root of all evils” (or all evil). This includes the Wycliffe Bible, Luther Bibel, Geneva Bible, King James Version, Douay-Rheims, Darby Bible, and Revised Standard Version. Bu..Continue reading→
Daily Wisdom
Romans 8:32
“He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?”Continue reading→
Luke 8:21 (08-21-16)
And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.— Luke 8:21 (KJV) Thoughts on Today's Verse... I love the simple truth that Jesus taught his first disciples. You want to be recognized as a part of Jesus' family? Obey his Father's word and live his Father's will! My Prayer... Bless me today, dear Heavenly Father, with the clarity to see the opportunities you have placed in my way to live in obe..Continue reading→
Psalm 42:8
“By day the LORD directs his love, at night his song is with me— a prayer to the God of my life.”Continue reading→
2 Corinthians 8:20-21 (08-20-16)
Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us: Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.— 2 Corinthians 8:20-21 (KJV) Thoughts on Today's Verse... We want to be generous in helping others in need, especially those who are part of our Christian family. Generosity reflects how deeply God's loving gifts have touched our hearts. At the same time, those who lead, and especially those entru..Continue reading→
Church & Ministries
5 Simple Mistakes That Sink Small Group Ministries
Figuring out why small group ministries fail is not complicated. There is a short list of simple mistakes that sink small group ministries. 5 Simple Mistakes that Sink Small Group Ministries Allowing the senior pastor to delegate the role of small group champion. It may seem logical to delegate the role of small group champion to the small group pastor. After all, why have a small group pastor if not to be the champion? This simple mistake may seem logical, but when this is allowed to happen y..Continue reading→
The one commandment that almost all Christians break, and why it matters
It had been a very busy time. I'd already been in Israel and Palestine for a month or so. In between volunteer shifts (I was there with the World Council of Churches) I had been taking every opportunity to meet people and see the sights. Although there is a wonder about that place, there's also a sadness. For every inspiring historical site, there's another contemporary situation that breaks your heart. So it was in a state of some tiredness that I came woke ear..Continue reading→
In defence of Justin Welby: mediator, not homophobe
Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, addresses the 2016 Greenbelt festival. How strange it is to be at an event and then see it misreported. Stranger still to see that misreporting to be based on your own report of that same event. Last weekend, Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury came to the Greenbelt festival in Northamptonshire for the first time. There was a mood of enthusiastic anticipation on the Saturday lunchtime when Welby sat down on the main sta..Continue reading→
US missionary’s work ended by Russia’s anti-evangelism law
Don and Ruth Ossewaarde. A Baptist preacher, Ossewaarde was fined 40,000 rubles for holding religious services in his home. The American missionary who fell foul of Russia's draconian anti-evangelism law is bringing his ministry there to a close. Donald and Ruth Ossewaarde work in the central Russian town of Oryol and Donald was one of the first to be fined under the new law, which severely restricts evangelistic activity. He is appealing against his conviction, which saw him fined 40,000..Continue reading→
Hot Topics
Gasps, Tears As Group of Iraqi Christians Return to ISIS-Destroyed Parish
“Inside the church, Habib, the priest, and several other men banged bibles and other holy books against each other, creating puffs of dust. A 54-year-old woman, Almaz Sleiman, sobbed quietly, holding a tissue against her face as she looked around. Prayers were held under the watchful eyes of armed Assyrian Christian militiamen, known as the Nineveh Plain Protection Units.” There were gasps, followed by tears at a small church in northern Iraq as a group of Christians returned to their parish Su..Continue reading→
When presents become possessions
The parable in Luke 12 tells of a rich man who had been so successful in his farming endeavors that he had run out of room to store his crops. That was good, right? He was financially secure. As he considered his options, one became attractive. The New Living Translation captures the mindset of our rich farmer: “Then he said, ‘I know! I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods. And I’ll sit back and say to myself, “My friend, ..Continue reading→
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Black Friday Sale — Up to 50% off our best-sellers!
Browse our Black Friday Sale and save up to 50% off our best-selling titles.Continue reading→
Life & Society
Lecrae Shares Grief Over the Loss of Black Lives: ‘There Was No Empathy’
'I've been grieving the loss of black lives since 2014,' says Christian rapper Lecrae.(Facebook/Lecrae) Grammy Award-winning artist Lecrae is done trying to explain himself to people who are bent on misunderstanding him. The Christian rapper said he's a mess trying to point out the racial injustices in America, all the while fending off senseless criticisms. "I've been grieving the loss of black lives since 2014...without consultation. Been fighting critics and scrutin..Continue reading→
XXX Church Shares Hopeful Message For Cheating Spouses: ‘God Was Waiting There to Catch Me’
Pixabay Do cheaters deserve a second chance? The answers might vary from person to person, but Stephen Kuhn from XXX Church, an online ministry dedicated to helping people with porn and sex addictions, is just grateful his wife forgave him after he cheated on her using porn. "I hid my porn addiction from my wife for the majority of our marriage. When I finally did confess it to her, it was like a bomb went off in her heart. She felt hurt, betrayed, blindsided, and angry," he confessed on their..Continue reading→
Wisconsin Man Pleads Guilty to ‘Attempting to Provide Material Support’ to ISIS
MADISON, Wisc. — A Wisconsin man has plead guilty to a federal charge of attempting to provide material support for the barbaric Islamic group ISIS. As previously reported, Joshua Van Haften, 35, was arrested in April 2015 by the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) as his flight from Turkey landed at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport. Van Haften had traveled to the country in August 2014, which is known to be an entry point into Syria. “Van Haften traveled overseas for the alleged purp..Continue reading→
Trump: In My First Hundred Days I’ll Sue Women Who Accused Me Of Assault
Donald Trump delivered an address at Gettysburg.Reuters Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump promised on Saturday to sue women who have accused him of sexual misconduct after the election, calling them liars. Trump, whose candidacy has caused ruptures in his party, listed his policy plans for the first 100 days of his presidency in a campaign speech in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, near the site of a Civil War battlefield and a celebrated address by President Abraham Lincoln. But he al..Continue reading→
Music
Christmastime by Jody McBrayer
Track Listing 01. Imagine This Christmas 02. Candlelight Carol 03. O Come All Ye Faithful 04. Count Your Blessings Instead Of Sheep/Silent Night (feat. Sarah Clayton-McBrayer) 05. What Child Is This? 06. Ave Maria/O Holy Night 07. Bring A Torch Janette Isabella 08. Last Christmas 09. Christmastime is Here 10. Have Yourself A Merry Little CContinue reading→
What God Wants to Hear by Jonathan Cain
Jonathan Cain, longtime keyboardist and rhythm guitarist in Journey, co-writer of the No. 1 digital catalog song in history, "Don't Stop Believin'," as well as writer of "Faithfully" and co-writer of "Who's Crying Now," "Open Arms" and many more international hit songs, will release his solo album, What God Wants to Hear, Oct. 21 on Identity Records with The Fuel Music distribution. Cain, who continues to tour the world with Journey, one of the most popular American rock bands of all time, crafted his new solo album from his personal faith-journey that started in Chicago when, at a young age,[...]Continue reading→
No Shadows by Eric Kneifel
No Shadows is Eric's debut worship album, and has been a dream of his since he began songwriting. This album began with over 50 songs that were narrowed down to a final 12 to be recorded on the album. The theme of the album reflects Eric's desire to see the church become filled the light of Christ to the point where it fills every void, leaving no room for fear, sin, or shame. As stated in the title track, "there's a light that will leave no shadows." The song selection includes congregational worship songs, as well as songs of personal reflection[...]Continue reading→
Lecrae Releases New Single Can’t Stop Me Now (Destination)
The wait for new music from Lecrae is over, with a new single heralding a new era for the legendary Christian rapper. Lecrae has been hinting on social media for the past few months that new music was brewing as snapshots of him in and out of the studio appeared. The appetizer has finally arrived as he released a new single on Friday titled "Can't Stop Me Now (Destination)," produced by Reach Records' own Alex Medina. You can stream the new track on either Apple Music or Spotify. The ..Continue reading→
Jered Sanders’ Third Release Set For December
Hype has begun to build for Jered Sanders' third release, Nobody Famous. An all-star roster of features will be included such as Eshon Burgundy, KiShon Furlow, Dee Black and Dre Murray among others. Production from Illien Rosewell, Talen Ted and others will fill the background. Eshon Burgandy shared a tweet previewing what's to come, saying "we've got a lot to talk about, y'all. In February of this year, Jered Sanders claimed hip-hop's version of the Rookie of the Yea..Continue reading→
Unto Us: A Christmas Collection by Matthew West
Track Listing 01. Unto Us 02. The First Noel 03. Silent Night 04. A Christmas to Believe In 05. Join the Angels 06. Come On, Christmas 07. Jingle Bells 08. The Heart of Christmas 09. O Holy Night 10. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas Continue reading→
These Christmas Lights by Matt Redman
Debuting the first Christmas album of his career, 2X GRAMMY® winner Matt Redman will unveil These Christmas Lights on October 21. Filled with powerful and diverse collaborations, featured artists on the album include longtime friends Natasha Bedingfield, Chris Tomlin and Tasha Cobbs. These Christmas Lights finds Redman sharing his interpretation on quintessential holiday songs, along with creating new, originals including "His Name Shall Be," "Help from Heaven," the title track and more. "I don't want to just tell a story, I want to make sure that we put ourselves in the story too. To help with the songwriting on this record,[...]Continue reading→
The Best Christmas Ever by NewSong
Track Listing 01. The Best Christmas Ever (Ft. Jody King) 02. Sweet Little Jesus Boy 03. This Christmas 04. My Heart's With You (Ft. Bethany Cruz) 05. The King Is Born 06. The Christmas Shoes (Live Anniversary Edition) 07. White As Snow 08. The Song Of Christmas 09. The Little Drummer Boy 10. Go Tell It On The Mountain 11. The Christmas Hope 12. O Holy Night 13. What A Wonderful World 14. Sing Noel 15. Christmas Time Is Here/ Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas Continue reading→
A Canton Christmas by Canton Junction
Celebrate the Christmas season with A Canton Christmas, the first Christmas project from Dove award-winning southern gospel quartet Canton Junction. On their newest release, steel guitars and fiddles set the scene as Canton Junction's timeless harmonies paint the wintry pictures celebrating the season of our Savior's birth. From the soothing sounds of "Silent Night" to the creative arrangements of "Hark the Herald," Canton Junction delivers eternal Christmas favorites wrapped in a country-tinged style that is sure to be a gift to enjoy year round.[...]Continue reading→
American
Feel the Bern? Here’s the Next Step
Daniel Strauss: The revolution is back in business. Supporters of Bernie Sanders’ failed presidential bid are seizing on Democratic disarray at the national level to launch a wave of challenges to Democratic Party leaders in the states. The goal is to replace party officials in states where Sanders defeated Hillary Clinton during the acrimonious Democratic primary with more progressive leadership. But the challenges also represent a reckoning for state party leaders who, in many cases, tacitly s..
Trump rebukes alleged racism among supporters
Copyright (c) 2016 Baptist Press. Reprinted from Baptist Press (www.baptistpress.com), news service of the Southern Baptist Convention. The original story can be found at http://www.bpnews.net/47889/trump-rebukes-alleged-racism-among-supporters Trump rebukes alleged racism among supporters Screen capture from CBS NewsScreen capture from CBS NewsWASHINGTON (BP) -- In his first major interview since Election Day, President-elect Donald Trump said he is "saddened" by reported incidents of r..
Bill Hunke, former Alaska exec & historian, dies
Copyright (c) 2016 Baptist Press. Reprinted from Baptist Press (www.baptistpress.com), news service of the Southern Baptist Convention. The original story can be found at http://www.bpnews.net/47888/bill-hunke-former-alaska-exec-and-historian-dies Bill Hunke, former Alaska exec & historian, dies E.W. "Bill" Hunke Jr. E.W. "Bill" Hunke Jr. SUN LAKES, Ariz. (BP) -- E.W. "Bill" Hunke Jr., executive director of the Alaska Baptist Convention from 1966-71 and prolific chronicler of Southern Ba..
Cloyd Sullins, Alaska exec from 1995-2000, dies
Copyright (c) 2016 Baptist Press. Reprinted from Baptist Press (www.baptistpress.com), news service of the Southern Baptist Convention. The original story can be found at http://www.bpnews.net/47887/cloyd-sullins-alaska-exec-from-19952000-dies Cloyd Sullins, Alaska exec from 1995-2000, dies Cloyd Sullins Cloyd Sullins MOORE, Okla. (BP) -- Cloyd Sullins, who led the Alaska Baptist Convention from its 50th anniversary year in 1995 until his retirement in 2000, died Nov. 7 in Moore, Okla. ..