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→
Home
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 Verses
Proverbs 10:11 (01-16-17)
The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked. — Proverbs 10:11 (KJV) Thoughts on Today's Verse... Want to know the difference between a righteous person and a wicked one? Simple, check the fruit of their life. One of the most visible forms of fruit in a person's life is his or her speech. The righteous person finds a way to impart life with his or her speech. The wicked will nearly always reveal themselves by what his or her mou..Continue reading→
Our God-Given Counselor
It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. John 16:7, NIVFollowing supper the night before He was to be crucified, Jesus unburdened His heart to His disciples. He knew He was going not only to the cross but, after the resurrection, back to His Father in heaven. His disciples would be like orphans. Had He taught them all they needed to know? The disciples must have begun to sense His heavy burden. Without J..Continue reading→
Galatians 5:16
“So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”Continue reading→
Psalm 100:5 (01-15-17)
For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations. — Psalm 100:5 (KJV) Thoughts on Today's Verse... I usually "speed read" through the 'begats' (you know, through the genealogies in the Bible). But, let's take time today to go back and read Matthew 1:1-17 and be reminded that God's love, mercy, and faithfulness not only continued through all of those generations, but also blessed and nurtured each of those generations. As ..Continue reading→
When Bad Things Happen
We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28, NIVWhy does God let bad things happen to good people? to innocent people? to children? to me? Sometimes His ways seem so hard to understand! In Romans 8:28, Paul wrote to reassure believers who lived in a city dominated by Nero, a madman with absolute power. He wrote encouragingly, “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have..Continue reading→
Hope
Destructive Selfies
Selfies and artwork don’t mix. And not just for stylistic reasons. In 2014, a student attempted to take pictures of himself sitting on the lap of a 19th-century statue at the Milan Academy of Fine Arts of Brera; one of the legs of the statue broke off, and the statue was destroyed. In 2015, two tourists visiting Cremona, Italy, decided to stand on a statue of Hercules while taking pictures of themselves; when they bumped into the crown of the statue, a piece broke off and shattered on the grou..Continue reading→
Mercy, hope and a future through Jesus
Discover how both Marsha and Tony found the forgiveness of God right where they were—in prison! The pain from Marsha’s past created so much anger it spilled over in the most horrific ways. Tony was smart, yet he made some really poor decisions. Don’t miss these two remarkable stories of overcoming the past to walk into a better future with Jesus Christ!Continue reading→
Going to Heaven?
Going to heaven is a more frequent topic of conversation than you might think. Of course, it comes up among church goers, but I hear it at funerals and in hospitals from people who are not regular church goers. It comes up in casual conversations with people who find out I am a believer. I have discovered that that for most people there are three basic views about going to heaven. I wish I were going to heaven. This idea is usually expressed by someone who thinks they are not good enough for h..Continue reading→
The persecution was real
In many parts of the world, men and women must practice their religion in secret—in order to stay alive. Francis’s church in Uganda was forced underground after thousands of Christians were massacred. Bassim and his family fled war-torn Iraq to seek a better future. Hear both men tell their dramatic story of escape from religious persecution and how God moved in the midst of it all.Continue reading→
No greater love
The Bible tells us “There’s no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” That’s the kind of love Carl Powers exhibited during the Korean War when he turned down chance after chance to return home to the safety of the United States. Hear how Carl’s risky decision to bring an impoverished Korean teen named Billy to the U.S. changed not just two lives but an entire nation.Continue reading→
Daily Wisdom
Basis for Hope
He who heeds the word wisely will find good, and whoever trusts in the Lord, happy is he. Proverbs 16:20, NKJVWhen God had told Noah He was “going to bring the floodwaters on the earth to destroy all life under the heavens,” He had also said He would establish a covenant with Noah and his family to keep them alive along with all the animals who would come to him (Gen. 6:17-18, 20). Noah had God’s promise that God would bring him through the Flood to new life on the other side. Have you been in ..Continue reading→
Galatians 6:7-8
“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.”Continue reading→
Romans 5:6-7 (01-20-17)
For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. — Romans 5:6-7 (KJV) Thoughts on Today's Verse... Christ died for the ungodly. Christ died for me. Without his sacrificial death, without God's grace, I am powerless to save myself or make myself righteous. Jesus did for me what I could not do and paid off my debt to sin which I could not pay..Continue reading→
Go and Tell
Many people, because they had heard that he had given this miraculous sign, went out to meet him. John 12:18, NIVWhat has Jesus done for you? What things have your family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, classmates, teammates, employers, employees, professors, doctors, lawyer, counselor, pastor, and anyone else heard about that Jesus has done for you? John testified that, “Many people, because they had heard that he had given this miraculous sign, went out to meet him.” Who is seeking to meet Je..Continue reading→
Prayers
My Need
PassageRomans 5:6-11 PrayerDear Father, gracious God,Thank you, dear Father, that while we were helpless, Christ our Savior died for the ungodly. You showed your love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ your Son died for us.Since therefore we are justified by Christ's blood, much more shall we be saved by him from your wrath! For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to you by the death of your Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life!Let h..Continue reading→
Daily Prayer for January 21
In my distress I called upon the Lord; to my God I cried for help. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached his ears. Psalm 18:6, RSV Dear Father in heaven, we rejoice that you are our Father. We rejoice that you rule and guide each of us so that our path in life leads to what is good and genuine and we do not get stuck in this or that concern. Lead us, renew us, and again and again free us to go forward, finding new courage and joy for ourselves and for our fellowmen. Then w..Continue reading→
God’s Grace
PassageRomans 5:1-5 PrayerDear Father, giver of your Holy Spirit,Thank you for justifying me through faith, so that now I have peace with you through the Lord Jesus Christ.How grateful I am that I have access to your grace! I rejoice in the hope of sharing in your glory.More than that, my God, I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake. I know that suffering produces endurance, endurance produces character, and character produces hope.How I bless you for this wonderful hope that I have. It is a ho..Continue reading→
Daily Prayer for January 20
Fear not, for I am with you, be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand. Isaiah 41:10, RSV Dear Father in heaven, we thank you that you are our Father and that we may have you with us. We thank you that we can know you are leading us by your hand. Give us your Spirit of understanding so that we may always see your mighty and powerful hand guiding us on all our ways. Help us where we fall short. Help us, for we are w..Continue reading→
Questions & Answers
Is the “Virgin Conception” True (and Can It Be Defended)? (Podcast)
In this blast from the past, J. Warner takes a thorough look at objections to the essential Christian claim that Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born to the Virgin Mary. Is the “virgin conception” a ridiculous claim that defies reason and is unsupported by the history recorded in the New Testament and elsewhere? You can also subscribe to the Cold-Case Christianity Weekly Podcast on iTunes, or add the podcast from our RSS Feed. Subscribe to the Cold-Case Christianity Radio Interview P..Continue reading→
4 Examples Of Hospitality In The Bible
Here are four examples of hospitality in the Bible. Hospitality What is hospitality? It’s based upon being hospitable. That’s all. The Apostle Paul says that we should “Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality” (Rom 12:13) which means we should “not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares” (Heb 13:2), but “Show hospitality to one another without grumbling” (1st Pet 4:9), otherwise it’s not really being hospitable. Eve..Continue reading→
What Does Jesus Mean By Saying “Follow Me?”
What does Jesus mean when He tells us “Follow Me?” A Christ-Follower I believe it is better to refer to believers as “Christ-followers” than it is to refer to them as Christians. To be a Christian is to be labeled as a believer, but this word is so generic today almost anyone can claim to be a Christian, but to be a Christ-follower is much different because we do more than claim to be a Christian, we claim to follow Christ wherever He leads, and He may lead us into some very difficult places an..Continue reading→
Psalm 101 A Sick Society: 7 Signs to Know
It is no secret that all around us, society has gotten worse overall as compared to God’s standards of a healthy society. Not only is there a rejection of Godly principles, but we now see widespread hostility toward them. This is the result of what has become a sick society. There are seven signs to know that we are living in a sick society. What is a sick society? Referring to society as sick is not referring to the source of the problems we see as being medical in origin. Instead, we should t..Continue reading→
Hot Topics
The Origin and Function of Government Under God
If you don’t like the president of the United States, remember that the One who cast the deciding ballot in his election was almighty God. Of course, God doesn’t sanction or endorse everything that the president does; neither is it the case that God turns the authority over to the president and says, “Go ahead and rule these people however you want.” Every king is subject to the laws of God and will be judged accordingly. It may be that the president is completely ungodly, but for reasons known ..Continue reading→
Progression Analysis
I remarked to my friend that I seem to think more highly of our fellow Americans than she does, even though I’m the one who acknowledges total depravity while she holds to innate goodness. The disconnect may reside not in our definition of goodness, but in our definition of progress. To me, it’s God’s common grace at work. Human nature will always have a long way to go, but it’s healthy to give thanks for how far we’ve come, no matter which side wins. A few months ago I began posting online con..Continue reading→
Rounding Out Calvin’s Advice
Calvin believed that both politics and providence were operative; indeed, he suggested that the Kingdom of God was already present, albeit not completely realized: “For spiritual government, indeed, is already initiating in us upon earth certain beginnings of the Heavenly Kingdom, and in this mortal and fleeting life affords a certain forecast of an immortal and incorruptible blessedness.” He advised, “Let no man be disturbed that I now commit to civil government the duty of rightly establishing..Continue reading→
Physical beauty and biblical sexual attraction
There is a difference between physical beauty and biblical sexual attraction. Physical beauty is on display to be admired by all who observe it. The Holy Spirit describes the beauty of Job’s daughters this way: “Nowhere in all the land were there found women as beautiful as Job’s daughters, and their father granted them an inheritance along with their brothers.” Physical beauty can and should be appreciated by many. But sexual attraction is only for one’s marriage partner. Sexual attraction ou..Continue reading→
Women
Who Will Love My Child When I Am Gone?
Parents of children with disabilities grapple with an uncertain future. For most mothers, the successful launch of a child into independent young adulthood means a return to work, fuller devotion to an already established career, or a deeper relationship with a spouse during retirement. But for women whose adult children have disabilities and cannot live independently, those choices may not be on the table. Instead of thinking about which college their child will attend or who they will marry, these mothers consider more sobering thoughts, such as: What will happen to my child when I am gone or too old to care for them? Who will they live with? How can I make sure there will be enough money for their future?Continue reading→
5 Fun Halloween Alternatives
It's no secret that Halloween ignites strong debates among Christian parents. Every fall, I can safely bet that someone from church will ask me if my family "celebrates" Halloween, and the truth is that I actually enjoy the question. My answer is always, "We 'celebrate,' but we don't celebrate Halloween." In other words, we make Halloween an occasion to celebrate our family without supporting the "darker side" of the h..Continue reading→
November, Bring It On
NaNoWriMo, Gilmore Girls, and American thankfulness.Continue reading→
Does America’s History Justify Rigged Election Fears?
What the United States’ past suggests about cynicism towards voting, the economy, and the criminal justice system—and what seeking the common good looks like in this context.Continue reading→
Life & Society
President Donald Trump Proves Pro-Life Credentials – Reinstates Anti-Abortion Policy
Trump has reinstated the Mexico City policy that blocks funding for NGOs that provide abortion or education supporting abortion.Continue reading→
What Sermon Did Donald Trump Listen to Before His Inauguration Ceremony?
His inauguration as the 45th president of the United States is probably the most important day of Donald Trump's life, and as such the sermon he listened to right before the big event could have been one of the most stirring messages he had ever heard.Continue reading→
Wholesome Fun? Popular Children’s Magazine Includes Homosexual Men in Latest Issue
Photo Credit: FacebookCOLUMBUS, Ohio – A widely-read children’s magazine that prides itself on its “wholesome” content has decided to feature two homosexual men in its pages for the first time. Highlights for Children, often referred to as Highlights, is a popular children’s magazine that has been published monthly since 1946. Advertised as a “magazine of wholesome fun,” Highlights has long been known as a family-friendly publication. In October, the magazine was criticized by “transgender” ac..Continue reading→
Billy Graham on Why Sexual Activity Outside Marriage Is a Sin
The world-renowned evangelist replied, saying that God truly wants His children to enjoy life, and this is precisely why He placed "fences" or boundaries around their sexuality.Continue reading→
Persecution
Youths in Eastern Uganda Pay Heavy Price for Turning to Christ
(Morning Star News) – Eight children from four families have taken refuge with Christians in eastern Uganda after their parents beat and disowned them for leaving Islam or animism, sources said. In another village in eastern Uganda, a high school student is recovering from a serious head injury inflicted by the Muslim father of a young woman he led to Christ, area residents said. The eight children in Busalamu village, Bukanga Sub-County, Luuka District came to Christ after visits from pastor ..Continue reading→
Deaf and dumb Christian escapes captor who forced her to convert to Islam
A severely disabled Pakistani Christian girl faces death threats if she does not return to her Muslim abductor who forcibly converted her to Islam. Asma, the girl's Christian name which became Aysha under her Muslim captors, has been told by Islamic clerics that she cannot live with her Christian parents because she has converted to Islam and married a Muslim, according to CLAAS-UK, a legal persecution charity. ReutersPakistani Christians demonstrate over the lynching of a Christian coupl..Continue reading→
Rape, murder, assault. What Christians in India face on an almost daily basis
ReutersA Catholic nun from the Missionaries of Charity, the global order of nuns founded by Mother Teresa, signs a banner to show solidarity with a 75-year-old nun who was raped during an armed assault on a convent school in Kolkata in March last year. Christians in India have been saying for some time that not enough is being done to protect their religion. Anti-Christian violence in India has surged to an "alarming level" according to the latest report from World Watch Monitor, with more than..Continue reading→
Report: Middle Eastern Christian Woman in Trouble With Muslim Family
Middle East (Mission Network News) — In some areas of the world, following Jesus means incurring the wrath of family and community. A still-unfolding situation in the Middle East comes as a critical prayer request. Todd Nettleton of Voice of the Martyrs says, “We received last week an urgent request for prayer from one of our contacts living in a Muslim nation. A female university student whom he had contact with who was a Christian suddenly broke off contact. She suddenly kind of disappeared.”..Continue reading→
Music
Tidal Wave (Single) by Rapture Ruckus
Track Listing 01. Tidal Wave Continue reading→
Behold: A Christmas Collection by Lauren Daigle
Award-winning singer/songwriter LAUREN DAIGLE, will release her first-ever Christmas album titled BEHOLD, on October 21 via Centricity Music. Produced by Paul Mabury and Jason Ingram, the style of the holiday album pays homage to the sounds of Lauren's hometown of New Orleans. Featuring soft jazz renditions of Christmas favorites, BEHOLD includes such classics as "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas," "Silent Night," "O Come All Ye Faithful," "What Child Is This," "O Holy Night," and more; in addition to an original composition titled "Light of the World", which was written by Paul Mabury and Jason Ingram. Pre-orders for the album[...]Continue reading→
Majesty In A Manger by Various Artists
The Integrity Music family of artists and writers have come together to start a new tradition celebrating Emmanuel, God With Us, in worship with Majesty In A Manger. It's a collection of original songs that focus on the coming of Jesus Christ from artists and writers like, Paul Baloche, All Sons Daughters, Darlene Zschech, Seth Nirva, Travis Ryan, Michael Farren and more. This is a worship album that was created with the intent that churches around the world can adopt these songs as we celebrate Jesus' birth. From the soulful sounds of newcomers Seth Nirva on "Fill The[...]Continue reading→
Adventure by Matthew Parker
Track Listing 01. Adventure 02. Ghost 03. Unstoppable (feat. Micah Ariss) 04. I Ain't Got No Money (feat. Spencer Kane) 05. Down In Flames 06. Heaven Calling 07. Night Sky 08. Remember Me (feat. Tristan Peace) 09. System Victim (feat. Hillary Jane) 10. Spark (feat. Rapture Ruckus) 11. Gone 12. Dynasty (feat. Cash Hollistah) 13. Tidal Wave (feat. Micah Ariss) 14. Fly (feat. Twilight Meadow) 15. My Love Continue reading→
You Wouldn’t Believe What Privilege Costs by CIVILIAN
A follow-up to 2012s Should This Noose Unloosen, YWBWPC's ringing guitars and sonorous vocals sway with austere, precise drumming while thoughtful bass paints outside the lines. Unlike its predecessor, "all of these songs were written after having just fallen ass over tip for a gal" as Alexander so eloquently puts it. "I wrote with the same intention to, through art, add nuance to how we talk about government and poverty except this time my brain was drenched in dopamine and serotonin."[...]Continue reading→
Never Lose Sight by Chris Tomlin
Often called America's Worship Leader, Chris Tomlin returns with his new album, NEVER LOSE SIGHT, on October 21. As the songwriter behind the worship favorites "How Great Is Our God," "Our God," and "Whom Shall I Fear," Chris' songs lead people to the heart of Jesus and into a deeper worship of Him. Featuring "Good Good Father" and the new single "Jesus," this brand new album is filled with songs that draw us closer to Jesus and give voice to our praises, prayers, cries and hopes.[...]Continue reading→
Marc Martel Announces ‘The Silent Night EP’
Marc Martel, former co-vocalist of Canadian Christian contemporary pop/rock band Downhere, is preparing to release a new Christmas EP. Entitled The Silent Night EP, the EP will feature Martel's signature vocals set to several classic Christmas carols. Martel has already been dropping a few songs as singles these past few Christmases, in the form of "O Holy Night" and "O Come O Come Emmanuel." Both of those will be featured on the EP alongside new arrangements of "In the Bleak Midwinter," "..Continue reading→
Switchfoot Releases Surprise Live Album
Switchfoot pulled off one of the best-kept surprises of Christian music in recent years and released a new live album on Friday, October 21. Fans had previously been given no indication that the band was planning such a release. Live in Chicago The Looking for America Tour marks Switchfoot's first major live album in 7 years, since 2009's The Best Yet Live in Nashville. Featuring cuts from their critically-acclaimed new album Where The Light Shines Through as well as several of the b..Continue reading→
David Dunn Debuts Music Video For New Single ‘I Wanna Go Back’
BEC Recordings' David Dunn has debuted the music video for his new single, "I Wanna Go Back," from his forthcoming early 2017 release Yellow Balloons. Click below to watch the music video. This single is currently the No. 2 most added song at AC radio for the second week in a row with 25 adds. Click here to get the single at digital outlets. RELATED BEC Recordings Announces New Artist Signing, David Dunn "'I Wanna Go Back' is a song of nostalgia, of longing for the time in my li..Continue reading→
World
U.S. Supreme Court refuses to hear family pharmacy’s religious claim
The Stormans family are committed to honouring God in all the things they do. The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to hear an appeal by a Christian family-owned pharmacy in Washington that refused to sell contraceptives to women because of their deeply held religious beliefs. In a decision issued on Tuesday, the High Court denied the appeal made on behalf of Ralph's Thriftway, a local grocery store and pharmacy in Olympia, Washington, owned by the Storman family..Continue reading→
10 albums to make you feel better about the world
The world feels pretty delicate right now. After the Brexit decision, the future of the UK and Europe is uncertain. Meanwhile, America is on the cusp of a bitter election season. That's before we even start on the rest of the world. How about some music for the weekend to cheer your heart? Here's 10 records, some Christian, some not explicitly so, which will give your soul a lift... Gungor – One Wild Life: Spirit The second of three albums the prolific Gungor will release in..Continue reading→
International Justice Mission lawyer found dead with client in Kenya
Willie Kimani worked for IJM and was defending 24-year-old Mwende, who as also found dead on Friday. A human rights lawyer has been found dead in Kenya along with his client and a taxi driver following their abduction in the capital city of Nairobi. Willie Kimani was a lawyer working for human rights and law enforcement organisation International Justice Mission (IJM), which today announced the deaths. "It is with deep mourning that we are announcing the deaths of IJM staff member, Willie ..Continue reading→
Patriotic Worship is Coming to a Church Near You
Pastors and churches mix patriotism and worship around July 4th. Doubtless most Americans believe America has a special relationship to God. Last year LifeWay Research found: Despite headlines lamenting the global decline of the United States since the Cold War, 54 percent of Americans believe the nation is on the upswing, according to a September survey by LifeWay Research. Only 4 in 10 think “America’s best days are behind us.” And though the U.S. Constitution makes no mention of God, 53 ..Continue reading→
American
Woman Complains About Body Image Issues After Late-Term Abortion of Girl With Spina Bifida
Missouri mom Jessica McCoy had a late-term abortion a few months ago after learning that her unborn daughter had spina bifida and a chromosomal abnormality. The mother of three born children has been sharing about her abortion publicly, both describing her grief at the loss of her daughter and justifying her decision to have her unborn daughter killed because of the girl’s disabilities. Several women’s publications picked up McCoy’s story this week after she posted photos on Instagram describi..
Texas Lawmakers Initially Approve Bill to Ban Abortions on Babies Just Because of Their Race or Gender
Today, the Texas Senate passed Senate Bill 415, the Dismemberment Abortion Ban, on second reading. The bill was preliminarily approved by the Senate on a bipartisan 22-9 vote. In addition to every Republican of the Senate supporting the measure, two Democrats – Senators Eddie Lucio Jr. (D-Brownsville) and Judith Zaffirini (D-Laredo) – voted for the life-saving measure. Senate Bill 415 and House Bill 844, the Dismemberment Abortion Ban, outlaw the barbaric and inhumane procedure that ends the li..
More Patients in Quebec Killed in Assisted Suicide as Hundreds Request Lethal Drugs
CBC news reported (March 14) that the number of euthanasia deaths in Québec significantly increased in the second half of 2016. According to the CBC news report: A total of 461 patients were granted doctor-assisted death during the first year of Quebec’s medical aid in dying law, according to data obtained by CBC’s French-language service, Radio-Canada. The number of requests increased significantly in the second half of 2016. From December 2015 to end of June 2016, 253 patients requested the ..
Woman Was About to Have an Abortion When Something Incredible Happened to Save Her Baby’s Life
Two volunteers at the 40 Days for Life vigil in Pensacola spoke to a deeply troubled young woman who had conceived a child as the result of a sexual assault. “She was hurting and felt that abortion was her only solution to the recent trauma she had experienced,” said Ernie, the local coordinator. Counselors offered encouragement, assistance, prayers and tears. But still, she believed abortion was her only option … and she went inside the abortion center. The volunteers kept praying – and trust..
Australia
Bringing them up in the Lord
BIBLE SOCIETY NEWS Wednesday 21 December 2016 About 60 million children in China are “left behind” in their home villages, to be looked after by their grandparents or relatives because their parents are trying to find work in cities. This enormous group of neglected children – more than a quarter of the 215 million children in China – is in great need of hope, encouragement and care. These “left-behind” children are highly vulnerable to serious crimes such as sexual abuse and assault and suff..
Back where it all began
BIBLE SOCIETY NEWS Saturday 20 December 2016 Next year is a special year. Bible Society Australia will be celebrating its bicentenary, but 2017 is not only about thanking God for all he’s done in the past through his word. Bible Society Australia is calling upon you, your church and your community groups to help us continue the legacy of equipping our people with the life-giving word of God. Get The Word Out (GTWO) is Bible Society Australia’s year-long focus on providing one nation on earth ..
Everything you helped us achieve in 2016
BIBLE SOCIETY NEWS | Greg Clarke Monday 19 December 2016 Bible Society Australia isn’t about any one person. From the very start we’ve been a Society. Bible Society is the thousands of supporters and volunteers like you. And it’s through your generosity this year we’ve been able to: Train 30 literacy teachers in South Sudan under Professor Twong Yolong – so thousands of Collo people, traumatised by war, can read and write Translated the scriptures to the Tay, Nung and Muong people in Vietnam –..
Egyptian Christians killed in bomb attack on church
A bomb blast in St Peter’s church in Cairo on Sunday killed 25 people and wounded 49, mostly women and children. The bombing during morning mass was the deadliest attack on Egypt’s Christians since a 2011 bombing killed 21 people at a church in Alexandria. The Sunday bombing is the latest indication of how challenging it is for Christians living in Egypt, who account for about 10 per cent of Egypt’s 92 million people. The Bible Society of Egypt has requested prayers f..
Law & Government
Men With Scabies Arrested After Committing Homosexual Sex Act on Display Bed at Bed Bath & Beyond
(NorthJersey.com) – Two men were arrested and charged with engaging in lewd behavior on a display bed at Bed Bath & Beyond during regular business hours. Police officers responded to the Route 3 Riverfront shopping center at 5 p.m. Monday on a report from a witness that two men were engaged in a sex act, records show. Police arrested two 28-year-old men, one from Nutley and the other from North Carolina. Both were charged with lewdness, criminal mischief and possession of marijuana, according ..
Alabama Man Charged With Capital Murder for Killing Unborn Child in Beating Girlfriend
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — An Alabama man has been charged with capital murder for allegedly killing his unborn child while beating his girlfriend. According to reports, Reginald Sharp, 27, knocked his girlfriend to the ground in a domestic incident last July and then beat her with his fists and a belt. She was 26 weeks (six months) pregnant. The woman was transported to St. Vincent’s Hospital, where her baby was stillborn the next day. The county coroner listed the child’s death as “intrauterine feta..
Trump Mocks Schwarzenegger, Jokingly Asks for ‘Prayer’ for ‘Apprentice’ Ratings at National Prayer Breakfast
(ABC News) — President Trump jokingly requested prayer for Arnold Schwarzenegger as he addressed attendees at this morning’s National Prayer Breakfast. “They hired a big movie star, Arnold Schwarzenegger, to take my place, and we know how that turned out,” Trump said at the top of his remarks. He continued, “The ratings went right down the tubes. It’s been a total disaster. And Mark [Burnett] will never, ever bet against Trump again, and I want to just pray for Arnold, if we can, for those rat..
Boy Scouts to Allow Girls Who Identify as Boys
(New York Times) — Reversing its stance of more than a century, the Boy Scouts of America said on Monday that the group would begin accepting members based on the gender listed on their application, paving the way for transgender boys to join the organization. “For more than 100 years, the Boy Scouts of America, along with schools, youth sports and other youth organizations, have ultimately deferred to the information on an individual’s birth certificate to determine eligibility for our single-..
Entertainment
Martin Scorsese talks Spirituality and Silence
Comment countSilence was one of the most provocative, moving bits of cinema I saw last year. It’s complex and murky and inspiring and troubling and beautiful–all of which, in a way, reflects how I interact with faith itself. Perhaps, when we attempt to understand and embrace the transcendent, it can be no other way. The movie is arguably one of Martin Scorsese’s most overtly religious works. But as many have noted, almost every movie that Scorsese has ever done is about, in some way, faith. Scor..
Why Silence Deserved Oscar’s Love
Comment countAndrew Garfield and Yōsuke Kubozuka in Silence, photo courtesy Paramount PicturesWhen Academy Award nominees earlier this week, plenty of Oscar’s snubs made headlines. No Amy Adams? No Sully? Where’s Hugh Grant? But the Academy reserved its biggest oversight for one of Hollywood’s most acclaimed directors: Martin Scorsese. Silence, the film that Scorsese spent 26 years planning and making, earned just a single nomination—for Rodrigo Prieto’s gorgeous cinematography. Nothing for Andr..
The Story of God: Is There Anybody Out There?
Comment countMorgan Freeman from National Geographic’s The Story of GodFor two seasons, National Geographic’s The Story of God With Morgan Freeman has taken us behind the curtain to see the world’s religions, both great and small, at work. This Monday in the second season finale, Freeman and his crew tackle the biggest question of all: Is there a reason for all this religion? In other words, is there a God? But proof of God, as Oxford Theoretical Physicist Ard Louis says on the show, is impossib..
The Story of God: Finding Heaven in Hell
Comment countMorgan Freeman from National Geographic’s The Story of God.What is heaven? What is hell? And how do they impact how we live right now? “Heaven and Hell,” the latest episode of The Story of God With Morgan Freeman (airing Jan. 23) grapples with those questions. They’re questions that have fascinated me, too. They always have, ever since I was a little boy. In the episode, Freeman and others take an interfaith trip through the Good Place and Bad Place. The show takes us to a cave in T..
Health and Science
Is Genesis History? New Film Affirms Truthfulness of Biblical Record
A soon-to-be-released documentary-style film, featuring footage from around the U.S. and interviews with over a dozen scholars and scientists, will provide visual evidence and scientific arguments for the Bible’s accounts of Creation and the Flood. On February 23, hundreds of movie theaters across the U.S. will participate in a one-night showing of the film “Is Genesis History?” The film, produced by Compass Cinema and structured as a documentary, features interviews with respected Christian sc..
Researchers Experiment Creation of Human-Pig ‘Chimera Embryos’ to Address Shortage of Donor Organs
LA JOLLA, Calif. — A team of biologists at the Salk Institute in California has reportedly created the first-ever human-pig chimeras in an effort to test the idea of growing organs in animals that can later be used in human transplants. “This biomedical advance has long been a dream and a quandary for scientists hoping to address a critical shortage of donor organs,” National Geographic writes. “Every ten minutes, a person is added to the national waiting list for organ transplants. And every d..
Why Our Body Destroys Itself
The science and spirituality behind the latest Nobel Prize in medicine. With every patient I treat, I hear myself echo the same sentiment: I know this hurts. I’m sorry. It will be over soon. In the emergency department, healing rarely comes without pain. It may be the wrenching of a joint back into place, the lancing of an abscess, or the administering of antibiotics through the business end of a large needle. But with the exception of the few who decide at the first flash of my scalpel that pe..
Perplexed Scientists Think C-Sections During Childbirth Are Affecting Human Evolution
Photo Credit: Lisa EspinosaWhy is obstructed labor such a common complication during human childbirth? A team of evolutionary scientists thinks recent human evolution and the modern practice of childbirth via C-section contribute to the problem. Obstructed labor happens when a baby is unable to smoothly pass from the mother’s womb through the birth canal. A major cause of both maternal and newborn morbidity and mortality, obstructed labor is especially common in poorer countries and results in ..
US
The Superbowl and vocation
The Superbowl is this weekend, time for the obligatory polls about whether or not God gets involved in the outcome of sporting events. One-quarter of Americans believe that he does. About a half believe that God rewards faithful athletes with health and success. Certainly, the easy answer is that of course God doesn’t care about a sporting event because He has much more important things to do. But if God attends to the fall of a sparrow, why wouldn’t He attend to the fall of a pigskin? The real ..
The anti-Trump “resistance”
French Resistance fighters, 1944 Democrats have gone into full resistance mode, with Democratic Senators boycotting confirmation hearings to prevent a vote on President Trump’s candidates. (Republicans suspended the rules and approved Treasury Secretary candidate Steven Mnuchin and HHS Secretary candidate Tom Price anyway. See this.) Meanwhile, a self-described “alternative left” has emerged that is pressuring Democratic elected officials not to co-operate with the Republicans. Notice how the us..
Trump’s Supreme Court nominee
President Donald Trump has nominated Colorado appeals court Judge Neil Gorsuch to fill the Supreme Court vacancy left by the late Antonin Scalia. Reportedly, Judge Gorsuch is from that same mold: eloquent, learned, articulate, and an “originalist” when it comes to interpreting the Constitution. He is the author of a book against euthanasia and supported Hobby Lobby in its suit against the Obamacare birth control mandate. An Anglican, he would be the only Protestant on the bench, joining the 5 Ca..
“Pregnant people”
The British Medical Association has issued guidelines saying that to avoid offending the transgendered, health workers should not refer to “pregnant women.” Rather, say, “pregnant people.” After all, a biological female–no, that wording is forbidden too; we must say “assigned female”–who identifies as a man can have a baby. And since we must go by self-identification, that means that men can be pregnant. The Transgender movement has at least destroyed feminism. Now that men can claim the identit..
Church & Theology
“Enlightenment” and True Freedom
“I think, therefore I am.” René Descartes penned this popular line in his 1637 treatise, Discourse on the Method, and it’s a good summary of the book itself. Heralding the importance of scientific discoveries and the necessity of doubting one’s own view of the world, Descartes’s work is often considered the first domino to fall in what is now called the Enlightenment. The Enlightenment, with its explosion of scientific discoveries and philosophical arguments, had one task:..
New Book — Rooted: Theology For Growing Christians
As you may know, my friend Jeff Medders and I wrote a short, accessible book on the most important doctrines of the Christian faith. It’s called Rooted: Theology for Growing Christians, and it released this weekend from Rainer Publishing. As two men who’ve served in church leadership in various ways, we kept running into laypeople who were accidental Universalists, Arians, mystics, and even worse. We’ve found that it’s often not their fault; rather, they spent most of thei..
Church Grammar: Theology as the Language of Christianity
If you’re anything like me, you’ve had your favorite dinnertime evangelists, the local Jehovah’s Witnesses, show up at your door. They’re kind. They smile. And they even tuck in their shirts. To top it all off, they speak Christianese pretty well. Or do they? Though they sound like Christians, they come bearing bad news–an anti-gospel that denies the divinity of Jesus and only offers the possibility of Heaven for a select few people. Their gospel sounds so close to the bib..
Jesus Hanging Out with Wild Animals
The Temptations of Christ, 12th century mosaic at St Mark’s Basilica, Venice. On a recent episode of Word Matters, Trevin Wax and I discussed Mark’s rendering of Jesus’s temptation in the wilderness, particularly the unique insertion of the phrase, “He was with the wild animals” (Mark 1:13, HCSB). After discussing the prominent views of this passage throughout church history, Trevin and I both landed at the same conclusion: Mark is recapitulating the temptation scene of Ge..