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 Now Continue 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
1 John 4:16 (02-09-17)
And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. — 1 John 4:16 (KJV) Thoughts on Today's Verse... We can be sure that God loves us. He wants us to live in and be blessed by his love. That love is more than just the grace that reaches us when we are saved. God's love extends through us. His love is redemptive in our loving behaviors to others. His presence is seen in our loving attitudes and .. Continue reading→
1 John 4:15 (02-08-17)
Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. — 1 John 4:15 (KJV) Thoughts on Today's Verse... "Jesus is the Son of God." Six simple words. They are much more than simple words, however; they are the doorway that opens our heart to God. So tonight, as you confess Jesus as God's Son, consciously and intentionally welcome God into your heart. The Father lives in the person who confesses the Son! My Prayer... Father, I want.. Continue reading→
1 John 4:13 (02-07-17)
Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. — 1 John 4:13 (KJV) Thoughts on Today's Verse... Our sign of authenticity showing we are truly God's children is the Holy Spirit who lives in us. The Spirit helps bring forth the character of God in our lives (Galatians 5:22). The Spirit helps us when we pray (Romans 8:26-27). The Spirit empowers us to overcome sin (Romans 8:13) and gives us strength to do things we would never imagine w.. Continue reading→
Psalm 97:10
“Let those who love the LORD hate evil, for he guards the lives of his faithful ones and delivers them from the hand of the wicked.” Continue reading→
1 John 4:12 (02-06-17)
No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. — 1 John 4:12 (KJV) Thoughts on Today's Verse... What an incredible thought! God can be seen in my home. The Father of the universe lives in my church. The Almighty God's love is recognizable in my life. How so? When I love those around me, when they love me back, when we choose to be loving instead of petty, unforgiving, critical, and harsh, God's presence, powe.. Continue reading→
Hope
It’s Not Easy Being a Visitor
When I first went to live in Argentina, I took language classes daily. A couple of months after my arrival, one of my teachers got married and invited me to her wedding. One of my other teachers offered to let me ride with her to the ceremony. It was my first time to attend a wedding in Argentina. It was also my first Catholic wedding. I went with a bit of nervousness, hoping that I wouldn’t do anything to offend. As soon as we arrived, my companion headed for the font of holy water. I was unsur.. Continue reading→
We’re all saints and sinners
God has a plan for everyone. And sometimes that plan leads you places you wouldn’t expect. That was the case for both Mary Jo and John. Their journeys had nearly opposite starting points, but the endpoint is the same. Two stories of God leading His people back to Him. Continue reading→
Sharper than any double-edged sword
Perhaps you’ve heard someone say that “Christianity is a crutch.” Graham heard that statement often from his dad growing up. And though Steve was raised in the church, it would be in prison that he truly turned to Jesus Christ. Two remarkable journeys and how God is using these men today. Continue reading→
God is there in your brokenness
Many of you have heard her voice singing praises as a former member of the band Selah. Listen in as we hear Nicol Sponberg share her life story. Despite heartbreak and hardship, Nicol has found her security and hope in Jesus Christ. Continue reading→
Another Perspective
How are you viewing the previous year of your life? For many of us, 2016 was a pretty bumpy ride. I woke up on a recent morning with a dark cloud, literally and figuratively, hovering over me. I was reflecting on my unexpected heart attack that occurred, appropriately, on Valentine's day 2016. If that wasn't enough of a shock, I discovered that I have diabetes even though it doesn't even seem to run in my family. And I was in good shape and runner! All these shocking surprises mea.. Continue reading→
Daily Wisdom
1 John 4:17 (02-10-17)
Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. — 1 John 4:17 (KJV) Thoughts on Today's Verse... When we live lovingly like Jesus did, we can have the same confidence in the face of death and before God in judgment. Our confidence is not in our efforts, but in our Savior. His love has not only redeemed us, it has changed us. His love is not only a gift to us, but it is a gift through us. We can be confide.. Continue reading→
1 John 4:16 (02-09-17)
And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. — 1 John 4:16 (KJV) Thoughts on Today's Verse... We can be sure that God loves us. He wants us to live in and be blessed by his love. That love is more than just the grace that reaches us when we are saved. God's love extends through us. His love is redemptive in our loving behaviors to others. His presence is seen in our loving attitudes and .. Continue reading→
1 John 4:15 (02-08-17)
Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. — 1 John 4:15 (KJV) Thoughts on Today's Verse... "Jesus is the Son of God." Six simple words. They are much more than simple words, however; they are the doorway that opens our heart to God. So tonight, as you confess Jesus as God's Son, consciously and intentionally welcome God into your heart. The Father lives in the person who confesses the Son! My Prayer... Father, I want.. Continue reading→
1 John 4:13 (02-07-17)
Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. — 1 John 4:13 (KJV) Thoughts on Today's Verse... Our sign of authenticity showing we are truly God's children is the Holy Spirit who lives in us. The Spirit helps bring forth the character of God in our lives (Galatians 5:22). The Spirit helps us when we pray (Romans 8:26-27). The Spirit empowers us to overcome sin (Romans 8:13) and gives us strength to do things we would never imagine w.. Continue reading→
Prayers
Mutual Acceptance
PassageRomans 14:1-16 PrayerDear Father, foundation of all our lives,Make me compassionate and generous toward my brothers and sisters in Christ. Let us welcome each other, and not dispute over opinions. May I never pass judgment on a brother or sister, for you have welcomed them. They are your servants. It is before you that they stand or fall. And they will be upheld, for you are able to make them stand.Let us be fully convinced in our own minds about honoring certain days, or about eating cer.. Continue reading→
Staying Awake
PassageRomans 13:11-14 PrayerDear Father, victorious deliverer,May I be found in Christ, not trusting any righteousness of my own. Let me know him and the power of his resurrection. May I share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, so I might attain the resurrection of the dead.O God, let me obtain it! Let me be awake! Let me put on the armor of light! Let me put on the Lord Jesus and his righteousness, and be found in him! Let me trust, obey, even suffer, in order to have the victory!.. Continue reading→
The Last Days
PassageRomans 13:11-14 PrayerDear Father, object of my desires,Everything points to the fact that we live in the last days. Knowing what hour it is, let me wake up from my sleep! For salvation is nearer to me now than when I first believed. The night is far gone. The day is at hand.Help me cast off all the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let me conduct myself as becomes one of your people, not in reveling or drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling or.. Continue reading→
Spirit of Generosity
PassageRomans 13:9 PrayerDear Father, generous giver,Love sees needs and shares resources. How lacking I am in this regard. Please forgive me and make me better. Give a spirit of generosity not only to me, but also to my wife, my children, and my whole extended family - also to my spiritual family, your church. Help all of us to be giving people, because you are a giving God. Move us to serve a needy world.I praise you and thank you for all your mercies. You are so bountiful in your gifts. I lov.. Continue reading→
Questions & Answers
There’s No Good Reason to Deny the Early Dating of the Gospels
Not long ago, Daniel Wallace (no relationship to me, except that all us Wallace’s claim to descend from William) posted some great news about an early fragment of the Book of Romans that was recently discovered. This fragment dates to the early third century which puts it in rare company. It contains Romans 9:18–21 and small portions of Romans 10. Wallace made news a few years back when he mentioned an early fragment of the Gospel of Mark that has yet to be published. The fragment of Mark is sai.. Continue reading→
Are There Good Reasons to Believe in the Resurrection? (Podcast)
In this audio recorded at Brentwood Academy, J. Warner teaches students about “abductive reasoning” and applies this form of thinking to the case of the Resurrection of Jesus. J. Warner offers seven possible explanations for the evidence surrounding the Resurrection, and then briefly investigates four of these explanations to see if they are reasonable. This presentation is excerpted from J. Warner’s longer talk on the issue and the material in Cold-Case Christianity and ALIVE. You can also sub.. Continue reading→
Good Jurors Make Good Christian Case Makers
When picking a jury for a homicide trial, it’s important to try to pick folks who will fairly examine the evidence without a pre-existing emotional or volitional bias. Good jurors are able to set aside their partialities and presuppositions in order to evaluate the evidence fairly. There’s a strong parallel between the characteristics of a good juror and the characteristics of a Good Christian Case Maker (I’ve written much more about this in my book). Let me tell you what I look for in a juror, .. Continue reading→
The Book of Acts: Summary and Overview
The Book of Acts in the Bible, written around 62-63 A.D., may be best described as a history of the founding and growth of the early church. While there are some areas of great detail of the Acts of the Apostles, many times you must use cross references to the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John as well as some other epistles in the New Testament to get the full picture of what was happening at this time in history. The book was written by Luke, the same writer of the Gospel of Luke and you .. Continue reading→
Hot Topics
Abortion’s Unintended Survivors
In her own words, Ohden brings a formidable testimony against abortion as she outlines the hurt and inner pain she dealt with as a teenager trying to cope with the knowledge she was so unwanted by her biological family, they attempted to end her life. She believes now that she developed post-traumatic stress reaction to the revelation of her beginnings as well as survivor’s guilt that she lived and so many others were destroyed by abortion. Her depression developed into anorexia, bulimia, alcoho.. Continue reading→
Worshiping the God of Justice
Sure, we usually do this selectively. Liberals and progressives, conservatives and traditionalists each have their own favorite sins that they like to denounce, while ignoring those that seem to painful to confront. In the meantime, adultery and complicity in oppression are far too prevalent among us, as we live our comfortable, non-confrontational lives. We are so used to slander and deceit – or even practicing it ourselves – that we stand by as it crashes like a wave through the highest places.. Continue reading→
What Came First? The Desire to Sin or the Opportunity?
The critical lesson is that if we crucify the desire, God will almost always shield us from the opportunity. And even if God may permit the devil to throw a spark of opportunity our way, there’s nothing in the heart that will easily catch fire. However, if we entertain and enjoy the desire to sin, God may permit the opportunity to sin to coincide. When a Christian falls into gross immorality, the question arises: What came first: the desire to sin or the opportunity? From what I’ve seen and he.. Continue reading→
Marriage: A Means to Holiness or to Happiness?
When God created Adam, he made an interesting observation: The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable* for him.” (Genesis 2:18.) Bringing Eve into the picture, then, was a response to the solitude of Adam, not his unholiness. Again, how could it be about making Adam holy before sin had entered the world (see Genesis 3). The answer, as shown above, is that marriage was not designed for holiness. It was designed for companionship. Marriage Isn’t for .. Continue reading→
Women
Leading Fragile Lives
Leading Fragile Lives I dare to say that our lives are more fragile than each of us probably realizes or truthfully admits. If we are honest with ourselves, we feel confidently secure that when we lay our head on our pillow at night, we will awaken to face another day. We do our best to control the variables in our lives with the hope that we can control our fitness level and health and even avoid obvious risky behaviors. But the truth of the matter is that we are all on borrowed time. If we ta.. Continue reading→
Making Married Sex Mutual
Pervasive ideologies distort our view of female sexuality. God’s Word shows us a better way. Continue reading→
God Doesn’t Need You to Try So Hard
A spiritual lesson for chronic achievers. Continue reading→
Life & Society
Pence Comes Out in Support of Trump Decision to Retain Obama Order on Homosexual, Transgender Protections
WASHINGTON — Vice President Mike Pence defended on Sunday President Donald Trump’s decision to retain an Obama-era order banning groups that contract with the federal government from “discriminating” against homosexuals and transgenders in their business or non-profit organization. “I think throughout the campaign, President Trump made it clear that discrimination would have no place in our administration,” Pence said during an interview on ABC’s “This Week,” according to a transcript of the di.. Continue reading→
Mississippi Town Rallies After Complaint Results in Removal of Christian Flag
RIENZI, Miss. — Over 100 residents from a small Mississippi town rallied on Saturday after a complaint from a prominent professing atheist organization that took issue with a Christian flag being displayed in a public park resulted in the removal of the banner. The Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) sent a letter on Jan. 20 to Rienzi Mayor Walter Williams to assert that the flag, which had been flown in Veterans Memorial Park, was unconstitutional. It said that it had been .. Continue reading→
Tweets Taunt Trump for Allegedly Wanting Female WH Staffers to ‘Dress Like a Woman’ at Work
Social media is buzzing with posts from those upset over an unconfirmed report from an anonymous source who once worked with President Donald Trump, who allegedly told the media that Trump wants his female staffers to “dress like a woman” while they’re at work. The outlet Axios released the report on Thursday, which mentioned the president’s presentation preferences for both male and female White House staff. “If you’re going to be a public person for him, whether it’s a lawyer or representing.. Continue reading→
Report: ISIS Chops Off Hands of Two Children for Refusing to Execute Civilians
MOSUL, Iraq — Members of the barbaric Islamic group ISIS, which identifies itself as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, recently cut off the hands of two children for refusing to execute civilians. Alsumaria News reports that the incident occurred in the ISIS-occupied territory of Mosul, being tipped off by an anonymous source. “The Islamic State’s leaders issued orders to train a group of children on fighting in the group’s camps in Nables neighborhood, in the western side of Nineveh,” it o.. Continue reading→
Persecution
Teenager Charged with Blasphemy in Pakistan Waits in Jail
LAHORE, Pakistan (Morning Star News) – A 16-year-old Christian in Pakistan is languishing in jail under a baseless blasphemy charge after a judge declined to grant him bail this month, his attorney said. The judge in Punjab Province’s Kasur District on Feb. 7 denied bail to Nabeel Masih, who has been jailed since Sept. 18, 2016 after a Muslim friend accused him of “sharing” and “liking” on Facebook an allegedly blasphemous photo of the Kaaba, the holiest Islamic site in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Pol.. Continue reading→
Man Charged in Turkey Nightclub Massacre Says His Intent Was to Target Christians
Photo Credit: Burak Su(World Watch Monitor) — The man charged with killing 39 people on New Year’s Eve at Istanbul’s exclusive Reina nightclub attack, Abdulkadir Masharipov, has testified before a Turkish court, saying, “My purpose was to kill Christians.” The Uzbek national was arraigned in court 11 Feb., nearly a month after he was captured by Istanbul police 16 Jan. He told the judge interrogating him at the hearing that he was a member of the so-called Islamic State, which had claimed respo.. Continue reading→
Christian in India Dies After Tribal Villagers Immerse Him, Wife in Cold Pond, Son Says
NEW DELHI (Morning Star News) – A Christian in Jharkhand state, India last month succumbed to illnesses incurred when villagers immersed him and his wife in frigid water because they refused to deny Christ, relatives said. Upset that his family had left their indigenous religion, tribal residents of Kubuaa village, Palamu District immersed Bartu Urawn and his wife up to their necks in a cold pond one night this winter, when temperatures can dip below freezing, from 5 p.m. to 10 a.m. the next mo.. Continue reading→
Christians in Nigeria’s Yobe State Face Pressure to Convert to Islam
(Open Doors USA) — The long drawn-out Boko Haram insurgency in Northern Nigeria has created an ongoing humanitarian disaster. In the northern state of Yobe, one of the three worst affected states, Christians who have finally returned to their destroyed and severely damaged communities are facing added pressure for their faith. Reports reached Open Doors that while the government has spent millions on rebuilding other communities and restoring amenities, Kukar Gadu, Yobe’s only Christian communi.. Continue reading→
Movies
Goodbye, Family Christian Stores
This week, it was announced that Family Christian Stores — one of the world’s largest Christian retailers — will close all 240 of its stores. This isn’t really shocking; Family Christian had gone through bankruptcy a few years back. But it will have an impact; more than 3,000 employees are going to lose their jobs as the stores shutter and Christian culture loses one of its largest and most diverse suppliers of books, music and trinkets. Granted, this is just the nature of the beast these days. .. Continue reading→
Have you caught up with “It’s My Favorite”?
Hey everyone, Not going to lie: it’s been a week. Work, school and home life have been busy, and the general insanity of our world right now has really robbed me of a lot of energy and will to write. It’s a shame, because I have some really good stuff on deck for you. One new series I want to write and one Oscar-related miniseries of articles, and I’m hoping that starting this weekend those will start posting. And in the weeks ahead I’m going to really be jumping into the reviewing pool again ha.. Continue reading→
Watch: New music video for The Shack with new footage
Itching to see The Shack — or at least to get a taste of it before it comes out five weeks from now? Well, maybe this will tide you over: the powers that be have released two new songs from the film’s soundtrack, one of which even has a music video. Here is the video, for a new acoustic version of Skillet’s ‘Stars’: The studio has also released the full version of ‘Keep Your Eyes on Me’, which is sung by Tim McGraw and Faith Hill and has previously been heard in the trailers. Here is a Spotify .. Continue reading→
The Story of God: Proof of the Divine
Photo by Amanda Slater, Flickr. C.C. Licensing. Season two of “The Story of God with Morgan Freeman” airs Mondays at 9 p.m. (8 p.m. Central) on the National Geographic Channel. Once again, I’m writing about it here each week from a Christian perspective as a preview. This post is about episode three, the season finale, “Proof of God.” In the final episode of “The Story of God’s” second season, Morgan Freeman travels the world speaking to people who believe they’ve experienced proof — often tang.. Continue reading→
Oscar nominations — my own two bits, and a complete list
It looks like La La Land is the movie to beat at this year’s Oscars. The film, a jazzy musical that stars Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone as a musician and an actress trying to make their way in Hollywood, racked up 14 Academy Award nominations this morning — tying the record set by 1950’s All About Eve and 1997’s Titanic. However, because La La Land was nominated twice for original song, it is actually nominated in 13 categories — which is more than the 12 categories that All About Eve was nominate.. Continue reading→
Let’s talk Oscar noms!
Some quick thoughts on the 2017 Academy Award nominations, which were announced earlier today. A full list of nominees is available here. At first blush, my biggest surprise is that there isn’t a ton here I would bicker with. The list of nominees this year is really darn good, spread out over several movies. Maybe it’s because I saw fewer movies than normal this year or simply because so many of the nominated films are on my best-of list, but I can’t really find a bad choice among the films. Re.. Continue reading→
Star Wars Episode 8 gains a title
Earlier today, the official Star Wars Twitter feed ended more than a year of speculation by revealing the title of the latest entry in the saga, due out this December: It’s official. STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI is the next chapter of the Skywalker saga. This December. #TheLastJedihttps://t.co/ySkVwQcMTPpic.twitter.com/eHrPgbsRJq — Star Wars (@starwars) January 23, 2017 [Read More...] Continue reading→
Encountering the Mystical in the ‘The Fits’
The fascinating film about adolescent encounters with the sublime gives us plenty to ponder. If you’re looking for a film that inspires lively conversation, you’ve got to check out The Fits. Anna Rose Helmer’s debut feature film runs a brief, but intense, 72 minutes, leaving plenty of time for discussion and debate afterwards. It caused a stir last year at Sundance, and critics have been talking about it ever since. Fortunately, Amazon Prime subscribers can currently stream it for free—and for .. Continue reading→
Review: The Resurrection of Gavin Stone (dir. Dallas Jenkins, 2017)
The Resurrection of Gavin Stone is a “faith-based” comedy about a washed-up former child star who, having trashed a hotel roof bar, is told to do a couple hundred hours of community service at a Chicago-based megachurch and ends up starring in their Easter play. It’s a safe, formulaic and utterly predictable film — precisely the kind of “Christian” movie I tend not to review here — but because of my interest in movies about Jesus, I was interested in seeing how this film would depict the play. T.. Continue reading→
Music
One-Way Conversations by Hollyn
Hailing from Ohio, this Dove Awards New Artist of the Year nominee has been working the past year on her debut full length album titled "One-Way Conversations". Listeners were introduced to this vibrant you lady on TobyMac's latest release with the songs "Backseat Driver" and "Lights Shine Bright" and later with her debut #1 single "Alone (featuring TRU)". As a songwriter, Hollyn co-wrote all of the songs on her debut full length album and worked with producers Bryan Fowler (Ryan Stevenson), Wit and 42 North (Andy Mineo), Cole Walowac of Capital Kings, Eric Ramey (Britt Nicole) and more. The album[...] Continue reading→
Run The Race (Single) by Holly Starr
The new single from Holly Starr, co-written with and produced by Bryan Fowler (Ryan Stevenson, Tobymac, Mandisa, Hollyn).[...] Continue reading→
The Garden (Deluxe Edition) by Kari Jobe
Grammy nominated Kari Jobe is the premiere female worship leader in Christian music. Coming off her last live album, Majestic, which featured the worship anthem 'Forever' and radio hit 'I Am Not Alone', Kari Jobe has returned to the studio to record her new album, full of brand new worship anthems for the church and for personal reflection. Finding inspiration from life's joys and hardships, Kari leans into the firm foundation of Christ through it all. With career sales that top 1 million, Kari still comes back to the reason why she started in the first place- leading people into[...] Continue reading→
Back To Life by Anthony Evans
Recording Artist and Worship Leader Anthony Evans' highly-anticipated new album Back To Life releases February 3, 2017 through Sherman James Productions. A collection of worship songs, this new album features NBC's The Voice alumnus on 11 worship-themed tracks exploring authenticity, vulnerability, honesty and the way that the culmination of those three things brought him Back to Life. It marks Evans' eighth solo studio album and will be available through all digital retailers and exclusively at Lifeway Christian Stores. Back To Life is available for pre-order on January 6, 2017. "Over the last year, God has given me one revelation after[...] Continue reading→
Canopy by nobigdyl.
"I wrote Canopy coming out of a time of isolation and darkness. It felt like my life was completely falling apart and I'd have to start over again from nothing. God showed me that sometimes there's safety and protection in isolation. Sometimes, the darkness makes it easier to see the light," confessed nobigdyl. when speaking of the anticipated release. 'Canopy' is nobigdyl.'s first album release since his debut in 2015 with the 'Smoke Signal' EP. Check out indie tribe and nobigdyl at his website, nobigdyl.com.[...] Continue reading→
Books
A Look at Notable 2016 Publications
TEDS President offers his list of best books “There is no end to the making of many books,” says the author of Ecclesiastes. In the United States alone, there were close to one million titles published during the past year, with revenue approaching $1.8 billion. Hundreds of titles competed for our attention during 2016. I offer the following observations with the recognition that I have no doubt missed several important works that some of you would have included in such a survey. The books not.. Continue reading→
Recommended Biographies By or About Women
Faith Cook is an author, biographer, and hymn writer. She grew up as a missionary child in war-torn China and has chronicled her story in an autobiography. Her own biographical work has been on both men: Fearless Pilgrim: The Life and Times of John Bunyan William Grimshaw of Haworth and women: The Nine Day Queen of England: Lady Jane Grey, Selina: Countess of Huntingdon: Her Pivotal Role in the 18th Century Evangelical Awakening, and Anne Bradstreet: Pilgrim and Poet Continue reading→
Bibliotheca Bible – a Review
There are many things that I have great admiration for, but perhaps one of the things I enjoy the most is seeing a long-awaited, labor of love come to full fruition. The tenacity, hard work, dedication, and pitfalls along the way in seeing something through to the end is something that, for lack of better terms, gets me emotionally invested in a project. Yet not all projects are equal and not all catch my particular attention – but if we’re truthful, that’s precisely what makes these types of th.. Continue reading→
Christianity Today’s 2017 Book Awards
Our picks for the books most likely to shape evangelical life, thought, and culture. Make a list of all the blessings the Protestant Reformation has brought, and eventually—long after jotting down iconic phrases like “salvation by grace alone through faith alone”—you’ll get around to the CT Book Awards. Books, of course, had existed long before Luther posted his 95 Theses. But there’s no denying that reading and the Reformation, with a vital assist from Gutenberg’s printing press, soared toget.. Continue reading→
Where Should Our Women be Discipled?
Pastors and elders want thinking women in the church, right? And yet popular beliefs that came out of the nineteenth century’s cult of domesticity still seem to linger in the evangelical culture today. Back then, people taught that women’s brains were inferior to men’s intellectually and that women needed to reserve their energy and blood flow for reproductive purposes. These are ideas we usually joke about now, even to provoke a woman in innocent fun, because we know them to be scientifically p.. Continue reading→
10 Books Every Christian Teenager Should Read
A reader recently asked the question: Do you have a suggested list of books for teenagers, something like a “Ten best books every Christian teenager should read?” It surprised me that I have never compiled such a list, especially since I’ve got two teenagers of my own. I decided I’d better remedy this oversight straight away. Here, then, is a list of ten great books every Christian teen ought to read—or at least consider reading. Please note that these are not necessarily the ten best books your teens will read in their lifetime. Not all of these books will stand the test of time as Christian classics. But each of them is suited to twenty-first century teenaged readers and together they will provide a foundation for the Christian life that will prove both deep and wide. I list them in no particular order. The Holiness of God by R.C. Sproul. It is rare that a book is elevated to the ranks of the classics, but The Holiness of God is a prime candidate. Sproul’s book will introduce teens.. Continue reading→
Signposts to God and More (RJS)
Books, books, books … What is the best book you’ve read on Science and Christian faith? It seems to be the season … not the holiday season, but the book season. I recently received three new books. Books by a physicist, a biologist (with training in theology as well), and a philosopher. All three tackle questions of science and Christian faith. Each of the three presents an interesting perspective – and I intend to dig into them more completely over the upcoming months. Peter Bussey’s book, Sign.. Continue reading→
2016 Reading Challenge Update: September & October
This year I have been participating in the 2016 Reading Challenge, a fun way to increase and diversify your reading through another year. I took the challenge and set this year’s goal at 104 books. However, because so much of my reading has to go toward reviewing books that are recently published and of interest to Christians (both for reviews published here and in WORLD magazine), I decided to pick from all over the list rather than working through it in order. What follows are the books I completed in September and October and, in parentheses, the reading challenge category they fulfill. Below that is the complete list of categories I need to cover. As you can see, I did not finish many books over the past couple of months, something that is not unusual as my reading ebbs and flows over the course of the year. You can see my previous updates for January, February, March-April, May, June, and July-August. Sexual Morality in a Christless World by Matthew Rueger. This is a brilliant w.. Continue reading→
6 Reflections on Community Inspired by Bonhoeffer
My church has recently launched a series on community called Better Together. In conjunction with the sermon series, I, in collaboration with my senior pastor, wrote a small group curriculum to compliment the series. I love community, which is why I love small groups. Like many of you, I work hard on our small group system at my church to equip leaders and to help many in my church experience the fullness of community—the good, the bad, and the ugly. However, as I continue to reflect on communi.. Continue reading→
American
Scientists Given Green Light to Edit the DNA of Unborn Babies
A group of international scientists opened Pandora’s box this week with a new report arguing that it may be acceptable to genetically edit unborn babies’ DNA in certain circumstances. According to Science magazine, the report came from an international committee organized by the U.S. National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Medicine in Washington, D.C. The committee said more research needs to be done before a clinical trial could take place. It also cautioned that DNA editing..
Teen Mom Gave Birth, Threw Her Baby Out 2nd Floor Window, Then Texted Her Boyfriend: “It Was a Girl”
A Nebraska teen admitted to throwing her premature newborn out of a window after she secretly gave birth in the middle of the night, killing the child, the Mirror reports. Antonia Lopez, 16, of Omaha, also reportedly texted her boyfriend after giving birth, saying, “It was a girl by the way,” according to Opposing Views. The Omaha World-Herald reports Lopez admitted this week in court to throwing the baby out the second-story window in a panic. The baby was born prematurely and weighed about 2..
Arkansas Senate Passes Bill Requiring Doctors to Care for Babies Born Alive After Abortion
In an unanimous vote, the Arkansas Senate passed a bill to require doctors to provide medical care to babies born alive after botched abortions. The Associated Press reports state Senate Bill 148 passed in a 34-0 vote on Thursday. It now heads to the state House for consideration. The bill requires healthcare professionals to provide the same medically appropriate care to infants born alive after abortions as they would to babies born prematurely. It also would require medical professionals to..
Survival Rates of Premature Babies Born at 23-24 Weeks are Improving
Research based on an 11-year study of 4,500 babies indicates very premature babies are surviving at a greater rate than ever before. The researchers found a “small but significant drop in fatalities for babies born between 23 and 37 weeks gestation,” as well as a decrease in premature babies manifesting with neurophysiological problems, the Daily Mail reported. Dr. Noelle Younge, Neonatologist and Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Duke University, led a team of scientists in the investigati..
Australia
Same-sex attracted Christians called to a life of love and friendship, not just self-denial
Wesley Hill, from Trinity School for Ministry in Pennsylvania, describes himself as “celibate, gay and Christian”. Eternity’s Kaley Payne asked one of her friends who describes himself similarly to contribute to questions for her interview with Hill who is in Australia this month with Ridley College, talking to churches about a pastoral response to same-sex attraction. When did you realise that you were same-sex attracted, and how did ..
Teaching churches in remote Queensland how to minister to themselves
The parish of Barcaldine in central QLD, about an eleven hour drive from Brisbane, hasn’t had a minister for 25 years. Instead, it’s been run by lay people. But there has been very little or no growth in the parish, and the people are wearing out. But all that is about to change. In a partnership between Bishop David Robinson of the Anglican Diocese of Rockhampton and Bush Church Aid, Graeme Liersch and his wife Susan have been appointed to go to Longr..
The murder of a French priest has horrified the world. The same thing happens to Christians in lesser-reported places.
The 26 July killing of a Catholic priest in his church in St. Etienne du Rouvray, France, once again has pushed jihadist violence into the headlines. The so-called Islamic State claimed responsibility for the murder, committed by two knife-wielding attackers who were shot and killed by police. Rev. Jacques Hamel, murdered on July 26, 2016 in St. Etienne du Rouvray, France. What pushed the story onto Europe’s front pages was its location – Franc..
Media Watch and Miranda Devine slug it out over the Safe Schools Coalition
The feisty conservative columnist for Sydney’s Daily Telegraph, Miranda Devine, had a bucket tipped over her by Media Watch last night. But the ABC show failed to knock her out of the ring. Instead they confirmed essential details in her story,Media Watch and Miranda Devine slug it out over the Safe Schools Coalition giving her a win or a draw, but inflicting real damage on the anti-Safe Schools Coalition cause she has been championin..
Law & Government
Judge Dismisses Satanic Temple Suit Seeking ‘Religious Exemption’ From Abortion Waiting Period
ST. LOUIS, Mo. — A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit from the atheist group known as the Satanic Temple that sought a religious exemption from a state law requiring mothers to wait 72 hours for an abortion following their initial visit to an abortion facility. As previously reported, the New York-based Satanic Temple announced in 2014 that it was using the Supreme Court decision in favor of the popular craft chain Hobby Lobby to ‘bolster’ an initiative to seek an exemption from pro-life law..
Federal Judge Dismisses Roy Moore’s Lawsuit Challenging Suspension From Bench
MONTGOMERY, Ala. — A federal judge has dismissed a federal lawsuit filed by attorneys for Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore challenging the constitutionality of the charges leveled against the “Ten Commandments Judge” and seeking his immediate reinstatement to the bench. U.S. District Court Judge W. Harold Albritton issued a notice that he was dismissing the suit because he does not believe that federal courts should intervene in state proceedings. “Chief Justice Moore has asked this federal cou..
Idaho Posts List of Locations With Free Ultrasounds in Effort to Save Unborn Babies
BOISE, Idaho — The Department of Health and Welfare in Idaho has posted a list of locations that provide free ultrasounds for pregnant mothers in compliance with a new law that is meant to help save the lives of unborn babies. In March, Idaho lawmakers passed H.B. 516, which mandates that a list be “compiled by the Department of Health and Welfare of health care providers, facilities and clinics that offer to perform ultrasounds free of charge and that have contacted the department annually wit..
U.S. Supreme Court Grants Emergency Injunction to Block Girl From Using Boys’ Restroom
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court has granted a Virginia school district’s request for an emergency injunction to temporarily halt a lower court ruling that would have required officials to allow a female student who identifies as male to use the boys’ restroom. The court voted 5-3 to grant the injunction while the matter is being considered for an appeal, with Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan siding with the student. As previously reported, Gavin Grimm, now 17, ..
Entertainment
We’re All Fixer Uppers
Comment countA confession: My wife and I watch HGTV’s Fixer Uppers, starring Chip and Joanna Gaines, whenever we can. We dig tinkering with our own house when budget and time allow, and I think both of us occasionally wish we lived in Waco, Texas, so we could get the advice of these home renovation experts. Unlike a lot of folks on reality shows—particularly renovation shows—Chip and Joanna feel real. Their lines don’t feel scripted. Their interactions feel grounded in living life together. You ..
‘Tower’ film marks 50th anniversary of Texas school shooting
Scene from “Tower,” with live action and rotoscopic animation. (Kino Lorber films) Fifty years ago, on August 1, 1966, a 24-year-old sniper positioned himself on the observation deck of the Clock Tower overlooking the University of Texas, Austin. His name was Charles Joseph Whitman. He shot 49 people. 18 people died, including an unborn baby. Another victim died of complications of the shooting in 2001. Meredith Vieira and Luke Wilson are among the executive producers of “Tower,” an award-winnin..
Why Is Everyone Scared of Clowns?
Comment countWe’re all being attacked by clowns. People across the United States say they’re seeing red-nosed, white-faced Pennywises everywhere, lurking in parks, walking down streets and threatening to do more than stuff several of themselves into a car. The threat of clowns has become so severe that Target has removed some creepy clown masks from its shelves. When I was a kid, clowns were generally thought to be, y’know, funny. But looking back, I was wasn’t immune to coulrophobia. Someone ha..
‘Priceless’ reveals impact of human trafficking
(This film review is by guest blogger Sister Kathleen Bryant, RSC.) Priceless is a suspense driven film raising a critical issue facing the world today. An ordinary man going about his own human struggles to be a good person is confronted with a choice, which transforms his life at quite a cost. Early on in the film, James, (Joel Smallbone), would rather not ask questions or know what “cargo” he is delivering. The film raises an important question for most of us who would rather not know who is ..
US
Luther’s influence on German culture
The Economist has a fascinating article on “How Martin Luther has shaped Germany for half a millennium.” I’m not sure how accurate it is. (Luther’s moralism? For the person who insisted that salvation is by grace through faith, rather than good works? Well, maybe so. Maybe this is evidence that an emphasis on faith really [Read More...]
Gay divorce
We have gay marriage. Now we are also getting gay divorce. The New York Times has published an op-ed piece entitled “I Got Gay Married. I Got Gay Divorced. I Regret Both.” The author, Meredith Maran, tells with poignant honesty how she crusaded for gay marriage, took the plunge, but then went through a long, costly, and painful divorce. After the jump, theology professor Denny Burk quotes from the article and comments on the problem: wanting the rights of marriage without the norms of marriage (..
Legal rights for robots as “electronic persons”
A committee of the European Parliament has passed a measure that would give legal rights to robots, classifying them as “electronic persons.” It also imposes obligations, such as liability for any damages they might be responsible for. The report also says that robots must not be made so as to appear “emotionally dependent” and must have a kill switch, should they go rogue.That the committee is thinking in science fiction terms is evident in its implementation of Isaac Asimov’s Laws of Robotics,..
Trump and the prosperity gospel
Giving the opening prayer at Donald Trump’s inauguration will be Paula White, a megachurch “pastor” and televangelist who is a leading proponent of the “prosperity gospel.” In fact, prosperity gospel preachers were the leading “evangelicals” who supported Trump from the beginning in an organized way. Westminster professor and White Horse Inn host Michael Horton has published an op-ed piece in the Washington Post about the prosperity gospel movement and its connections to the president-elect. He ..
Church & Theology
4 Ways to Block God’s Grace in Your Ministry
We often talk about what God’s grace does for us. And, truly, it is abundant. We talk about how greatly we need it in ministry. And we do. But have you ever considered if you might be preventing God’s grace from working in your heart? If you might be blocking its flow in your ministry? Scripture tells us that we can hinder the work of grace. How? 1. Walking in the Flesh We begin our Christian life humbly seeking God, and we begin ministry hungry for the power of the Holy Spirit. But over ti..
4 Ways You Can Promote Grace in Ministry
Would you like your ministry to be full of grace? Your life? Your relationships? Over the past few posts, I’ve shared the importance of motivating by grace, letting God’s grace work, and hindering grace. This is the last in what has turned into a mini-series on grace. In the previous post, we noted four ways we hinder God’s grace. We boiled them all down to one—pride—and saw then that the answer is to humble ourselves. But if we could name several manifestations of pride that hinder God’s gra..
ETS, Heresy, and the Task of Christian Scholarship
In a recent open letter to the members of the Evangelical Theological Society (ETS), Stanley Gundry expressed concern about the ramifications of a recent resolution affirming traditional marriage and the sexual binary of men and women. Commenting on the dangers he sees in defining ETS’s boundaries beyond its current parameters (affirmation of the Trinity and the Bible’s inerrancy), Gundry asks: What better forum is there for collegial discussion and debate of complementari..
Make Today Your Masterpiece
Coach John Wooden used to say, “Make each day your masterpiece.” I read that statement recently, and it got me thinking. When you’re a kid, you’re asked from time to time, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” If you’re like me, your answer to that question changed from year to year, but it always included big dreams. You wanted to do something great—something honorable and noble…or at least noteworthy. If I asked you today, “What is your greatest life goal?” or even “What is your next bi..