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
Psalm 100:1 (01-11-17)
Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. — Psalm 100:1 (KJV) Thoughts on Today's Verse... With joy, let's praise and make a joyful noise to the LORD of lords and the King of kings today. Let's find short moments during our day, seize them, and use them to give thanks and praise to our Father in heaven. When we are blessed, let's take a moment and pause for praise. In every good thing, let's share a phrase of praise to our gracious Father. My Pr..Continue reading→
We Are God’s Treasure!
"They will be mine," says the Lord Almighty, "in the day when I make up my treasured possession." Malachi 3:17, NIVAs we totally yield our lives to the control of God’s Spirit within us, He uses: the responsibilities and relationships and ridicule, the opportunities and obstacles and obligations, the pressures and pain and problems, the success and sickness and solitude . . . He uses all things to work for our ultimate good, which is increasing, progressive, glorious conformity to the image..Continue reading→
Psalm 118:5-6
“When hard pressed, I cried to the LORD; he brought me into a spacious place. The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?”Continue reading→
Proverbs 16:9 (01-10-17)
A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps. — Proverbs 16:9 (KJV) Thoughts on Today's Verse... We're now a week-and-a-half into a new year. How are you doing with those changes and commitments you made for the new year? Don't give up or quit on them... even if you're having trouble staying on track. But, let's remember that the only real commitment for this year that is absolutely necessary to keep is that we ask the Lord where he want..Continue reading→
A Day Set Apart
If you call the Sabbath a delight and the Lord's holy day honorable, . . . then you will find your joy in the Lord. Isaiah 58:13-14, NIVIn the beginning, by His own example, God patterned our week to include not only the discipline of work but also one day out of every seven that would be “set apart,” different from the other six days. For the majority of people today, there is very little difference between the way they keep Sunday and the way they keep Saturday. Sunday has become more of..Continue reading→
Hope
Great Sin, Great Forgiveness, and Now What?
It is hard to imagine how he could make a bigger mess of his life. David slept with the wife of one of his officers. He first tried to hide his sin. When that did not work, he had her husband killed during a battle. David knew better. He was the King over God’s people. But I understand how it happened. So do you. We have all done things that we knew we should not do. We have tried to cover up our sin. And sometimes, we have involved others in our sin. We have hurt others. But the story of David ..Continue reading→
A Tiny Seed, A Tiny Deed
The Bible says: Do not despise small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin... (Zechariah 4:10). But somewhere deep inside us, our own voice of doubt mocks us: I see what others have done with their lives and before I even get started — I'm discouraged. What can I possibly do that God isn't already doing through someone else? Against a towering giant, a brook pebble seems futile. But God used it to topple Goliath. Compared to the tithes of the wealthy, a widow's c..Continue reading→
A love that restores
Isaiah chapter 61 promises that the Lord will provide comfort for those who mourn and restore broken lives with “a crown of beauty instead of ashes.” Both Beckie and Barbara Jean’s hearts had been deeply wounded by abuse and shame. Discover how their lives were transformed through Jesus Christ and how they found healing and freedom from the past.Continue reading→
You are not alone
When a difficult situation threatens to drag us down, we can either let ourselves fall or surrender to the only One who can hold us up. Learn how both Mary Ann and Pat found a lifeline in God’s Word when it felt like their worlds were falling apart. Find peace and joy when trying circumstances come your way.Continue reading→
Don’t Give Up!
I love to see young people give their lives to Jesus. I love to see them commit to him in faith, dying with him in baptism, and starting a journey with him that will last the rest of their lives… and beyond. But as much as those young commitments bring me joy, I’m truly moved by those who come to Christ late in life. Many of us become set in our ways as we grow older, but some are willing to be born again despite their advanced years. Last month in Cuba, I got to see several people be baptized i..Continue reading→
Daily Wisdom
Worshiping God
God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth. John 4:24, NKJVTo worship God means to attribute worth to God through obedience to God, preoccupation with God, and praise of God. The Samaritan woman at the well in Sychar said, in essence, “Oh, well, I worship God.” And Jesus corrected her, “You Samaritans worship what you do not know.” Why was her worship invalid? Because she was substituting the traditions and rituals of her religion for a personal relationship with G..Continue reading→
Philippians 2:14-16
“Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain.”Continue reading→
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→
Prayers
Daily Prayer for January 15
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. Romans 8:26, NIV Lord God, send your Spirit, we pray, over us and over the whole world. Let your light dawn on earth among humankind. Reveal your power and let your reign begin. May your will be done, O Lord. We kneel before your throne and plead to you. We are weak. Lord, help us. Bless us. Establish your kingdom in the hearts of those..Continue reading→
Justification by Faith
PassageRomans 3:27-31 PrayerDear Father, just and justifier,All praise is due you, Father. Our boasting is totally excluded. Our justification is not by our works, but through our faith in you. So we are convinced by Paul that a person is justified by faith and not by works of the law.You are God not only of the Jews but of all other nations also. You are the one God, the only God, the God of all people everywhere.On the basis of whether people put their trust in you instead of themselves you ju..Continue reading→
Daily Prayer for January 14
For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by God's power. Likewise, we are weak in him, yet by God's power we will live with him to serve you. 2 Corinthians 13:4, NIV Lord our God, we come into your presence and kneel before your throne, asking you with all our hearts for your Spirit, so that our lives may be guided and ruled by you, the one God and Creator of all life. Let your Word come into our hearts. Give your blessing on all we experience in life and on all we as..Continue reading→
Righteousness Made Manifest
PassageRomans 3:21-26 PrayerDear Father, just and justifier,Thank you that your righteousness has been manifested to us. You made this happen apart from the law, although the law and the prophets bear witness to it, to your righteousness through faith in Christ Jesus for all who trust in him. How just you are in making no distinction between people on this matter, since every person has sinned and falls short of your glory.Thank you for justifying us by your grace as a gift, through the redempti..Continue reading→
Questions & Answers
What Is A Spiritual Awakening?
Have you ever heard about a “spiritual awakening?” What is it? The Age of Enlightenment Some call the Age of Enlightenment (late 17th-18th centuries) as being similar to a spiritual awakening, but the Age of Enlightenment was actually opposed to anything spiritual. The “Enlightenment” was a rebirth of humanity in one sense, but it was also their coming to an understanding about the natural world and our place in it, and our place in the universe should be based upon the science, reason, and log..Continue reading→
Why Making a Case for the Bible Is More Important Than Arguing About Politics
We’ve just experienced an unprecedentedly contentious and polarizing political season. Throughout this time, I’ve been tempted to enter the fray, especially on social media, where I’ve observed several heated exchanges between my friends and family members. I refrained from commenting or arguing about politics, however, and a few of my followers have asked why I’ve been so silent on the issues that seem to divide our nation. It’s not that I don’t have a view I would like to share, and it’s not t..Continue reading→
Three Tips for Parents Raising the Next Generation of Case Makers
If you’re a Christian Case Maker (a Christian interested in making the case for what you believe) and you’re also a parent, you’re probably interested in raising your son or daughter to become a Case Maker as well. I have four kids of my own, so I definitely understand this desire. I want my kids to have the tools and truths they’ll need to be good Christian ambassadors. I want them to understand their worldview and defend it against competing ideas. Parents often contact me to ask what they can..Continue reading→
Top 8 Bible Verses About Perception
Here are eight of the top Bible verses about perception. Proverbs 12:18 “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.” Imagine you’re waving your arms and trying to stop traffic just before a corner because you know the bridge is out. To the drivers, everything looks fine. They see no reason to stop because they see no highway barricades, so their perception tells them nothing’s wrong. To them, it’s right in their own eyes to drive around the corner, and they d..Continue reading→
Church & Ministries
Trump’s Refugee Ban Puts Christians In Danger, Warns UK’s Top Catholic Leader
The head of the UK Catholic Church has called for "self-discipline" in public debate as he accused politicians of trading in fear and letting the UK down.Continue reading→
Church Not ‘Reached End Of The Road’ On Gay Marriage, Welby Says
The Archbishop of Canterbury has said the Church of England has not "reached the end of the road" over its position on gay marriage, raising the possibility of future change to doctrine.Continue reading→
4 Strong Reasons to Preach to Skeptics in Every Sermon
Do you remember what it was like to go to church for the first time? A lot of pastors have been in church for so long that we can’t remember. Maybe you grew up going to church with your family like I did. If so, you can’t remember because you were too young. If you came to faith in Jesus later in life, you might have an advantage in this area. You know how awkward it was. Maybe you didn’t know anyone. Maybe you only knew one friend who invited you there. Maybe you were nervous. Maybe you were..Continue reading→
Griffith John: 8 Things You Didn’t Know About A Pioneer Missionary To China
Griffith John set sail for China in 1855 and founded a hospital in Wuhan that is now one of the largest in the country.Continue reading→
Hot Topics
Book Review: No Little Women by Aimee Byrd
Second, she demonstrates how Scripture teaches women to function as necessary allies. As necessary allies, women (1) warn men to turn away from evil like Abigail; (2) are cobelligerents against evil enemies like Esther; (3) mediate the Word of the Lord like Miriam; (4) give wise instruction and counsel like Priscilla; (5) collaborate in service to others; (6) respond to God as examples of faithfulness; and (7) influence men from a gift of empathy and relatedness. The list provides helpful catego..Continue reading→
Are Christians Arrogant? Rethinking the Definition of Humility
Thus, for Christians, humility and uncertainty are not synonymous. One can be certain and humble at the same time. How? For this simple reason: Christians believe that they understand truth only because God has revealed it to them (1 Cor 1:26-30). In other words, Christians are humble because their understanding of truth is not based on their own intelligence, their own research, their own acumen. Rather, it is 100% dependent on the grace of God. One of the most common objections made to the ab..Continue reading→
Strangers on a Train
In his memoir, Hentoff recalls meeting Jackson on a train in 1994. As they journeyed together, Hentoff told Jackson that he frequently quoted his pro-life writings because they were among the most compelling he had read. Jackson, he said, looked troubled. Hentoff then asked the politician whether he had any second thoughts on his change of mind. Jackson looked even more troubled and said, “I’ll get back to you on that.” Hentoff ended the anecdote on this laconic note: “I haven’t heard from him s..Continue reading→
The Early Symptoms of Spiritual Danger
Yes, apostasy happens. Sometimes the catalyst is flagrant sin. The pain of conviction and repentance is refused, and the only alternative to it is wholesale rejection of Christ. But sometimes the catalyst is a thorn growing quietly in the heart, an indifference to the way of the Cross, a drifting that is not reversed by the knowledge of biblical warnings. I can still recall the conversation although it took place more than three decades ago. A shocked friend asked, “Have you heard that Sarah is..Continue reading→
Women
Let Scripture Shape Your Soul
Editor’s Note: Each week, we’re publishing a new collection of devotional readings that will draw you deeper into the life-changing Word of God. This week’s devotions are drawn from The Wired Soul: Finding Spiritual Balance in a Hyperconnected Age by Tricia McCary Rhodes, PhD. In these readings, we are invited to consider how we can push back against the influence of our “wired,” digital, quick-paced culture to more deeply and meaningfull..Continue reading→
Are We Too Busy to Truly Live?
Editor’s Note: At CT, our ministry cause “Beautiful Orthodoxy” centers around the Word of God and the good, true, and beautiful gospel it conveys. This commitment is at the center of “Beautiful Word,” a free, daily e-newsletter that guides readers deeper into the life-changing Word of God through devotions from some of today’s leading voices. (You can click here to have Beautiful Word devotions delivered to your inbox Monday through Friday.)Continue reading→
Who’s Afraid of Her Own Authority?
As women, we’re often taught to fear power. Here’s how I’ve overcome that fear. When I was around five years old on a camping trip, someone accidentally locked the keys inside our camper trailer. We were hot and miserable. My parents and their grown-up friends hatched a plan to have me climb through the narrow luggage compartment, so I shimmied into the dark opening and my dad coached me through the hatch into the trailer. As I grabbed the keys and unlocked the trailer door, my family and camp..Continue reading→
Refining Fire
Editor’s Note: Each week, we’re publishing a new collection of devotional readings that will draw you deeper into the life-changing Word of God. This week, Bianca Juarez Olthoff expands upon upon themes from her new book, Play with Fire, inviting you to reflect on five spiritual choices that are crucial to spiritual transformation. (Click here to receive these and future daily devotions emailed directly to your inbox.) Monday: Cry Out “I cry out to t..Continue reading→
Persecution
Indian Police Threaten to Fine Christians Attacked by Hindu Extremists
NEW DELHI (Morning Star News) – A month after a crowd of village Hindus in Jharkhand state, India summoned 25 Christians, tied up six of them and beat them with sticks, some of the assailants ran into one of the Christians and asked if he was still worshiping Christ. The Hindu extremists in Hunter village, Palamu District came across Gunni Bhuiya on June 14 on an area road. Bhuiya told them he still believed in and worshipped Christ, and the Hindu extremists manhandled him and threatened to kil..Continue reading→
Chinese Official Threatens to Skin Christian Alive After Taking Land
NANYANG, Henan (China Aid) — “I’ll skin you alive if you dare to complain again,” an official told a Christian in China’s central Henan province as a demolition team reclaimed his property on June 12. A gang hired by government officials seized a three-acre soybean field on June 12 belonging to Bai Fengju, a local Christian, in order to build a Buddhist temple on the site. A week earlier, they forcibly took the land only to later return it, offer him 2,000 Yuan (U.S. $304) in compensation and p..Continue reading→
Indian Hindus Beat Pastor Unconscious
NEW DELHI (Morning Star News) – A church in northern India remains closed more than a month after four masked Hindu extremists stormed a worship meeting and beat a 66-year-old pastor unconscious. After prayer and song at his church in Naupur, Jaunpur District, Uttar Pradesh state on May 22, pastor Lalta Ram stood up to preach when the assailants with bamboo sticks entered from the back and began accusing him of forceful conversion as they beat him, sources said. “Pastor Ram was beaten up sever..Continue reading→
Chinese Christian Detained for Printing Religious Materials
GUANGZHOU, Guangdong (China Aid) — On June 6, authorities criminally detained a member of a house church in Guangzhou, the capital of China’s southern Guangdong province, accusing him of “illegal business operations” after he printed religious materials. Officers from multiple government departments criminally detained Li Hongmin, a member of Guangfu Church, after he printed various religious materials. These authorities confiscated all of the materials, as well as Li’s phone and other items fr..Continue reading→
Movies
THE YOUNG MESSIAH in a World on Fire
Who has time to answer a child’s questions amidst racial strife, religious conflict, and a refugee crisis? There is so much uncertainty and anger surrounding our search for a new leader, threats can lead to violence at any moment. And if we fail to see the parallels being the tumultuous ancient world that Jesus entered and our context today, then we’ve missed the poignant, life affirming point of the captivating new movie, The Young Messiah. Opening in movie theaters this weekend, The Young Mess..Continue reading→
RISEN Dares to Dabble in Mystery
The Greatest Story Ever Told is also one of the most oft told cinematic tales. So how can filmmakers bring a fresh take to Jesus’ death and resurrection? Directors often succumb to the digital temptation of bigger, louder, faster in an effort to instill faith in their audiences. Unfortunately, relying on spectacle only builds fascination with the special effects. Risen restores my faith in the Gospel film by doing the hard work of finding a new angle. It places us within the dramatic moment when..Continue reading→
Does the Arc In Hollywood Bend Towards Justice?
Editors’ Note: This article is part of the Patheos Public Square. This month we’re asking: Has Hollywood Become Our National Conscience? Read other perspectives here. While some decry the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as an exclusive club deserving an #OscarsSoWhite label, others see it pushing a liberal agenda through every ribbon displayed at the annual Academy Awards. Given the conservative nature of the economic decision-making in Hollywood, the truth resides somewhere in betwe..Continue reading→
Faith-based drama ‘The Reconciler’ being released
Justice Pictures and IMD Films are releasing the Dove Foundation approved film, “The Reconciler,” which includes the first appearance of Canadian professional wrestler and actor Roddy Piper in a film since his passing on July 30, 2015. “The Reconciler” also stars Sherry Morris of “The Book of Ruth.” The film is now available in all Walmart stores through an exclusive agreement with Black Wolf Media Group and Origin Releasin..Continue reading→
SPOTLIGHT: No More Silent Nights
Spotlight is a throwback to the golden age of seventies cinema. It is a whip smart tribute to investigative journalism, rooted in character and grounded in a world where the most special effect is human emotion. Spotlight follows the tireless efforts of a team of reporters from The Boston Globe to uncover the sexual abuse perpetrated by far too many Roman Catholic priests. The most disturbing revelations in this true story involve the systematic cover up by Cardinal Bernard Law and the Boston Ar..Continue reading→
ROOM: Expanding Our Empathy
Heartache is an interesting condition. It is usually associated with romance, when break ups lead to heartbreak. So what should we call a situation where you find yourself rooting so hard for someone else’s happiness, that their trials and tribulations make your heart ache? Room is both harrowing and heroic. It places a heavy burden upon its characters and thanks to superb acting, writing and directing, transfers that weight to the audience. Emma Donoghue adapted her award-winning novel to what ..Continue reading→
Faith-based historical football drama “Woodlawn” coming to theaters nationwide
A faith-based period drama with a modern-day purpose and explosive sports action is headed to theaters nationwide October 16, 2015. WOODLAWN, is said to be an exhilarating high school football story about revival and reconciliation, offering hope for overcoming the racial crises facing America today. The movie, an Erwin Brothers film produced by Kevin Downes, tells the true-life story of Ton..Continue reading→
“One Generation Away” film tour visits the frontlines of religious liberty issues
“One Generation Away” is a fast-paced film that travels the United States (and Europe) in search of a deeper understanding of the religious freedom clauses in the Constitution’s First Amendment. From Hobby Lobby to the Mt. Soledad Cross in San Diego to wedding service providers in the Northwest, “One Generation Away” asks hard questions about the status of religious liberty in America toda..Continue reading→
Inside Out (2015)
Take a deep dive into your own head. Do an archaeological dig. Work your way all the way to the center. What do you find? Core memories. Foundational impressions. The moments that made you. Me? Mine are almost all related to creativity: – Reading books — fairy tales and fantasy, mostly. – Writing and illustrating my own fantasy stories with crayons, and then learning how to type out the words with my index finger on a typewriter. – Drawing pictures on church bulletins during church while my mom softly shushed me. – Opening presents on Christmas morning at my grandparents’ house, and discovering that my grandfather has built me my very own puppet stage. – Hanging out with my dad while he read theology books and graded high school students’ papers all evening. – Playing basketball in the backyard all by myself, inventing new variations on the game, and pretending to be every player on opposing teams as I acted out whole games. – Watching Disney’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs on the bi..Continue reading→
Music
The Chapel Band Releases ‘The Gathering’
Pop worship team, Chapel Band is proud to release their new album, The Gathering. After recently signing with DREAM Worship, the group quickly went into the studio to finish amazingly powerful pop live album. The songs of this revival were penned by the young worshipers of Chapel Band who had poured into this movement and were beginning to see all they had prayed and longed for. The songs on the album have become anthems over the nation in their hometown in Ireland. Check out their new song, "A..Continue reading→
Pop Artist Julianna Zobrist’s Husband Ben Named World Series MVP
Last night in game 7 of the World Series with the score tied in the top of the 10th inning, it was pop artist Julianna Zobrist's husband Ben who saved the day with a go-ahead double that sent in two runs and led the Chicago Cubs to a 8-6 victory over the Indians and their first World Series win since 1908. Zobrist was named MPV of the World Series (the first player in Chicago Cubs history to have that honor since the award wasn't established until 1955) for his "curse-breaking" hit.Continue reading→
The City Harmonic To Part Ways Summer 2017
This morning The City Harmonic made the announcement that they would be parting ways come summer 2017. The difficult announcement was partnered with the promise of a final tour next year and a unique worship album recorded during that time. The City Harmonic will be hosting a Facebook Live Event on Saturday, Nov. 5, beginning at 700 pm EDT. Fans friends of the band who would love to talk more about the announcements by the band in the letter below are invited to participate during this live even..Continue reading→
Newsboys Shine Spotlight On Heroes
GRAMMY®-nominated, Platinum®-selling Newsboys brought their blockbuster "Love Riot Tour" to a capacity audience at Nashville's Curb Event Center Friday night, with the band's hometown concert also serving as a benefit for the Guardian for Heroes Foundation. Established by late U.S. Navy SEAL and "American Sniper" Chris Kyle, the organization assists combat veterans transitioning to post-military life. During the evening, Guardi..Continue reading→
Ron Block And Jeff Taylor Visit World-Famous WSM Radio
Multi GRAMMY®-winner Ron Block and GRAMMY®-nominee Jeff Taylor stopped by Nashville's world-famous 650 AM WSM Radio earlier this week to share selections from their collaborative debut, Trouble Go Down, which bows today. The virtuosos joined legendary host Bill Cody and producer Charlie Mattos on the "Coffee, Country and Cody" morning show, heard around the globe on WSM Radio and online, as well as broadcast to television audiences via The Heartland Network. Continue reading→
Integrity Music Releases ‘Majesty In A Manger’
Committed to resourcing churches with songs of substance for every service need, Integrity Music announces the global release of Majesty In A Manger, a new worship album for the Christmas season. Produced by Dove Award winner Michael Farren (AllAboutWorship) and Daniel Kinner (Mandisa/Royal Tailor), the album features 11 tracks including new songs and an instrumental. "The Advent season brings some challenges to most wor..Continue reading→
The Creepier EP…er by Relient K
Track Listing 01. The Halloween Blues 02. The Cup 03. Halloween in Owatonna Continue reading→
I’m Not Ashamed – Single by Jeremy Camp
Track Listing 01. I'm Not AshamedContinue reading→
Flammable Kingdoms (Matthew Parker Remix) – Single by MHEternal
Hot on the heels of Matthew Parker's critically acclaimed release, Adventure, the producer and electronic pop artist has reimagined MH Eternal's deceptively deep yet infectiously catchy single, "Flammable Kingdoms," from 2015's 'Songs For Tomorrow' EP.[...]Continue reading→
World
McDonald’s May Be the Most Welcoming Spot in Your Neighborhood
A fast-food skeptic finds lessons on community in an unexpected place. I’ve blamed McDonald’s and fellow fast food joints for enabling Americans’ worst eating habits. They help us scarf down a meal in our cars, by ourselves, and in a hurry. Their cheap, greasy food steals away poor people’s paychecks, and their glowing signs interrupt our skylines. I worry that McDonald’s triumph has led us to value expediency and efficiency over all else. But maybe I’ve missed something major about fast-food..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→
Weekend Edition—July 1, 2016
Care for Refugees, America Divided, Church Signs, and more! Evangelicals and refugees: Care first, conversion maybe later—Adelle M. Banks Love and care may open the door to the gospel, but even if not we should love and care. Today’s Betrayal of Women by the Female Bloc on SCOTUS—Dr. Gerard Nadal Razor sharp analysis of how the three female SCOTUS justices betrayed women. The Plight of the Falling Pastor—Daniel Darling interviews Scott Sauls Pastors can never have too much encouragement t..Continue reading→
Wise Decision-Making in God’s Economy
How do we know that we are pleasing God in all that we do? Who will be our next president? It’s a question that is on everyone’s mind. In light of the upcoming presidential election, economic questions like, “Should we trade with China?” or “How do we pay for our debt?” are swirling in the minds of Americans. Questions like these are important, but they are also overwhelming and seem to best belong with pundits and academics. The reality is, the average American has little impact on the econom..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..