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→
Church & Ministries
Is Your Church ‘True’? 8 Checks from Billy Graham
[Editor’s Note: This excerpt is taken from Where I Am: Heaven, Eternity, and Our Life Beyond by Billy Graham Copyright © 2015 by William F. Graham Jr. Used by permission of Thomas Nelson www.thomasnelson.com] The Church Eternal Wake Up and Take Charge: Ephesians The church is in turmoil today. Why is this? The church—the body of Christ—will never fail; however, when “churches” turn away from God’s Word to chase after the worldly system, they stumble and fall. What is the true church? The chur..Continue reading→
Turkey bans Christian pilgrims from ancient monastery
Bjørn Christian Tørrissen/WikipediaAn annual service at the Panagia Sumela monastery has been cancelled. Turkish authorities have cancelled an annual service at the historic Panagia Sumela monastery near the Black Sea town of Trabzon, raising fears among Orthodox believers that it may be permanently banned. The monastery is built into a rock face 1,200 metres high and was founded in AD 386 in the reign of the Byzantine Emperor Theodosius. It was abandoned in 1923 after forced population exchan..Continue reading→
Roman Catholics seek unity with Protestants 499 years after the Reformation
Martin Luther With the 500th anniversary of the start of the Reformation in 2017, Catholic Bishops in Germany have reached out to Protestants. They've released a new report, which speaks warmly about Martin Luther – the founder of the German Reformation – while also addressing some of the key theological disputes between Catholics and Lutherans. Bishop Gerhard Feige said the "Catholic Church may recognize today what was important in the Reformation – namely, that Sacred Scripture is the ..Continue reading→
Archbishop of Canterbury: Church must address ‘culture of silencing’ on abuse
ReutersThe Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, says that the Church must be a "safe place" where a "culture of silencing" must be overturned when it comes to abuse. The Church must overturn a "culture of silencing" and be "compassionate and attentive to those who have been abused and sinned against," the Archbishop of Canterbury has said. In a foreword to the July 2016 edition of the social ethics journal Crucible, Justin Welby says that on becoming Archbishop, he knew that safeguarding wo..Continue reading→
Hot Topics
An Anonymous Story from a Pastor’s Wife
We have found out that because of budget shortfalls, we will again not receive a cost of living raise. This has been the case for many years (I’m not revealing how many years without a raise in hopes that other churches will think I am writing about THEIR church). Why are we to “trust God for our finances” but the church is not willing to “trust God for the finances needed for ministry”? I wrote this last week to our church family – but of course, I’m not going to share it with them. I just fou..Continue reading→
A Tale of Two Marxisms
We are all indicted by this. We have made a world where entertainers are the new priesthood, able to propitiate the public and endow those politicians who pay them homage with apparent moral and intellectual integrity. Cool chic and celebrity connections are now far more important than coherent policies and personal integrity. And Mr. Trump is surely no better. In many ways he is more representative of the moral and intellectual vacuum of this present age than Mrs. Clinton. He really is nothing ..Continue reading→
Shame, Sanctification, Singleness, and Marriage
I don’t want to be ashamed of the fact that at 35, I’ve only been married a year and while most of my peers are coming into their second decade of marriage, I am still a baby at it. I don’t know how to do it well, but I also take great delight in it. Please don’t say to someone who is newly married, “Just you wait.” You have no idea how they are being painfully cracked open and splayed out today. You have no idea what kinds of identity they’re wrestling with. What things they are grieving. When ..Continue reading→
Robin Hood, History, and Neo-Atheists (Copan)
“Third, the New Atheists aren’t willing to own up to atrocities committed in the name of atheism by Stalin, Pol Pot, or Mao Zedong, yet they expect Christians to own up to all the barbarous acts performed in Jesus’ name. …I think the reason it’s difficult, if not impossible, for New Atheists to acknowledge immorality in the name of atheism is because it would take much wind out of their sails when criticizing religion.” Some people have “issues” with aspects of the Old Testament. In the OT you ..Continue reading→
Life & Society
Floridians: Don’t #PrayForFlorida; pray for the people in Haiti and Bahamas Instead
Destroyed houses are seen in a village after Hurricane Matthew passes Corail, Haiti, on Oct. 6, 2016.Reuters Some Florida residents urged netizens to stop using the hashtag #PrayForFlorida, not because people didn't care about what would happen to Florida with the passage of Hurricane Matthew, but because public attention needed to be diverted to Haiti and the Bahamas, areas that suffered greater devastation. These Floridians want netizens to show more concern to people who might need pra..Continue reading→
Over 300,000 Students Get Biblically Equipped During ‘Bring Your Bible to School Day’
Pixabay Over 300,000 students went to school spiritually equipped on Thursday as Christians observed the annual "Bring Your Bible to School Day." The national event was sponsored by Colorado Springs, the Colorado-based Focus on the Family. Jim Daly, president of Focus on the Family, told The Christian Post that it's the third straight year that the socially conservative group organised the event, and they are proud that it has seen "inspiring" growth in participation. "In 2014, around 8,..Continue reading→
Andy Stanley Answers Critics Who Accuse Him of Undermining the Bible
Andy Stanley says, 'The dechurched who grew up in church exit because they find the version of Christianity they've grown up with unconvincing, uninspiring and irrelevant.'(Photo: Facebook/Your Move) Pastor Andy Stanley from North Point Community Church upset a lot of people from the faith community after he said Christians' troubles began when they started believing, "Jesus love me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so." Stanley was accused of undermining the Bible and p..Continue reading→
One Million Moms Calls Out H&M for ‘She’s A Lady’ Ad Which Features 2 Women Kissing
Two teenage girls kiss in this screenshot of a new H&M 'She's A Lady' TV ad.(Screenshot/H&M Ad) The Christian watchdog group One Million Moms is upset with retail giant H&M because it recently came out with a TV ad called "She's A Lady," which features two teenage girls kissing. The group's director Monica Cole wrote in an article for the American Family Association that her organisation "is not sure of H&M clothing company's thought process behind their new telev..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→
American
Another “Lifestyle Choice” — Trans-Species
Nano, a 20-year-old Norwegian, says, “I was born in the wrong species.” Nano believes she is trapped in a human female body instead of a feline body. A woman who hisses at dogs, claims her night vision and sense of smell is better because she is really a cat. She even meows in “cat language.” The Daily Mail reports: Sadly, such “lifestyle choices” are nothing more than disordered affections, in some cases mental disorders, which enable people to reject truth and condone wrong and delusional beha..
The Myth of the ‘Moderate Muslim’
Below is a guest post from my friend and Liberty Alliance colleague, J. Matt Barber which was first published on his site: BarbWire.com. “When the sacred months are over slay the idolaters wherever you find them. Arrest them, besiege them, and lie in ambush everywhere for them.” – The Quran, Surah 9:5 When it comes to the global scourge of orthodox Islam, the Western world, which Islamists expressly seek to “destroy from within,” is an upside-down realm wherein objective facts, logic and reason ..
O Holy Night– Unique History, Watch Beautiful Performance
“O Holy Night,” one of the most beautiful Christmas carols worshipping the birth of Jesus Christ, was written by an atheist. Not just an atheist, but an avowed atheist and vocal anti-cleric. In 1843 a local parish church in Roquemaure, France, completed renovating its organ. To celebrate this joyous event that coincided with Christmas, the parish priest asked Placide Cappeau (1808-1877), a wine merchant, poet, and native of Roquemaure, to write a Christmas poem for the celebration. Cappeau agree..