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
Leeland Announces Pre-Order For New Album
Today Bethel Music announced the pre-order of Leeland's first album as part of their artist collective. "We're excited to announce that Leeland's first album with Bethel Music is now available for pre-order on iTunes. 'Invisible' offers a refreshing perspective on a gospel that is alive and moving in us and through us," Bethel shared. Invisible will mark Leeland's first release since 2014's Christ Be All Around Me EP and will be available July 22. Click here to pre-order the album now and get 3 instant song downloads "Invisible," "Carry It All Away" and "Son Was Lifted Up." Invisible Track Listing 1. My Treasure 2. War 3. Spirit 4. Ever Love You Lord 5. For Your Glory 6. Perfect Love 7. Lock & Key 8. Invisible 9. Breath of God [...]Continue reading→
Project 86 Announces PledgeMusic Campaign for 10th Album
Project 86 has launched a special PledgeMusic campaign in support of their upcoming tenth studio album and their 20 year anniversary as a band. The project will be comprised of ten original songs and five covers. All of the songs will be available to backers on a one song per month basis, beginning with a cover of Beastie Boys' "Sabotage" as an immediate download for all backers. The PledgeMusic campaign is designed as both a preorder for music to come and a celebration of music past, with offers including vintage merch. Accompanying tour dates are coming soon, with Project 86 promising to play fan favorites from their early days alongside current tracks. Above all, the band sees the campaign as a way to celebrate the past two decades alongside their fans. "You have stuck by us for twenty years. We want to meet you, spend[...]Continue reading→
Word Entertainment Scores Two Trophies For Christian Retailing’s Best Awards
It was announced earlier this week that Word Entertainment was honored two times at the annual Christian Retailing's Best Awards. Big Daddy Weave's acclaimed album Beautiful Offerings (Fervent Records) won in the music category and When Calls the Heart Complete Season 2 (Word Films) won for the DVD Movie division. The awards, honoring the best new products of the year, were given on Monday, June 27 in Cincinnati during the International Christian Retail Show (ICRS). "At Word Entertainment, we are passionate and intentional about delivering the best in Christian entertainment to people everywhere," shares Rod Riley, President & CEO, Word Entertainment. "Big Daddy Weave's Beautiful Offerings and When Calls the Heart Complete Season 2 are two projects that we have seen impact thousands and thousands of lives with the good news of the Gospel. To be recognized with awards for each of these projects from Christian Retailing's[...]Continue reading→
Metalcore Group Toarn Signs With Luxor Records
Christian metalcore band Toarn has announced their signing with Luxor Records, making their upcoming EP Giant Killer their debut with the label. Toarn released a new song titled "In Flander's Fields" alongside the label news, giving fans an initial taste of Giant Killer prior to its July 15 release. Preorders for the EP are available through major retailers like Amazon, BestBuy and Barnes & Noble as well as through VictoryMerch.com. The Washington-based band has developed a grassroots following through the release of past independent projects Protoevangelium and Brood of Vipers. Toarn will be hitting the road with Hemarosa in support of the release, with tour dates listed here. You can listen to "Flander's Field" below.Continue reading→
Britney Spears Endorses Pastor/Author Max Lucado
Britney Spears has a new album coming out and is about to kick off a two-year residency in Las Vegas, so she’s out there working the publicity machine. During a recent Twitter chat, a fan asked Britney what her favorite book was, and the singer replied, “Anything by Max Lucado.” Lucado is a Texas-based preacher and author of a hundred (yes, a hundred) Christian-themed adults and kids’ books. Their titles include Grace for the Moment, Outlive Your Life: You Were Born to Make a Difference, and God..Continue reading→
Katy Perry’s Song “By the Grace of God” Is a Flashback to Her Christian Singer Days
Before Katy Perry was an animal-print-and-candy-loving pop star, she was Katy Hudson, aspiring Christian singer. Though her switch to the secular side of music helped make her a star, Katy (whose parents are pastors) hasn’t given up on her Christian background. Her new album Prism features the ballad “By the Grace of God,” which probably won’t ever be released as a single but does a bang-up job appealing to one of her core constituencies. But what does John Mayer think?Continue reading→