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
Jesus Cares for You
Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7, NKJVDid you think Jesus only cares about things like heaven and hell? About forgiveness and sin? About holiness and wickedness? About truth and lies? About salvation and judgment? Jesus does care about those things. But He also cares about your job, about whether your child makes the sports team, about your children’s college tuition, about your budget now that you are unexpectedly pregnant, about the roof that leaks, about the c..Continue reading→
John 14:1-3
“[Jesus Comforts His Disciples] “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”Continue reading→
Hebrews 12:28-29 (12-28-16)
Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: For our God is a consuming fire. — Hebrews 12:28-29 (KJV) Thoughts on Today's Verse... Every earth-made empire will eventually topple. Every man-made structure will decay and fall. God, however, has given us a kingdom that can't rust, spoil, or fade, kept in heaven for us. It won't rot or ruin and no thief can break in and steal it a..Continue reading→
Jesus Meets Our Needs
"And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself." John 12:32, NKJVOften, when I arrive in a city to participate in some conference or seminar, the organizers will take me aside and tell me privately about the various people who will be attending. They describe the multitude. People with broken hearts and broken homes and broken dreams and broken hopes. And then they say, “Anne, we want you to know about someone in particular because we’re hoping you will say something t..Continue reading→
Matthew 11:28
““Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”Continue reading→
Daily Wisdom
Psalm 104:33-34 (01-06-17)
I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being. My meditation of him shall be sweet : I will be glad in the LORD.— Psalm 104:33-34 (KJV) Thoughts on Today's Verse... Do you sing in the shower? What words are on your lips? Singing is such a wonderful gift! First, it is a gift from God to us, to help us express our joy, excitement, sorrow, and victory. Second, it is a gift from us to God, to help us communicate our respect, appreciation..Continue reading→
A Love Relationship with God
"God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him." 1 John 4:16, NKJVThe first secret to loving others is to immerse yourself in a love relationship with God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit – and abide there. I will never get over the wonder that God the Father and God the Son do not have a working kinship nor a business partnership nor a brotherly friendship nor a competing dictatorship nor a mandatory fellowship nor an obligatory guardianship but a ..Continue reading→
1 Peter 1:13
“[Be Holy] Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming.”Continue reading→
Isaiah 26:9 (01-05-17)
With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early : for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.— Isaiah 26:9 (KJV) Thoughts on Today's Verse... When a young couple in love is apart, they long to be with each other again. When a parent is separated from his or her child, the parent misses the child intensely. When a spouse can no longer be with a long time marriage partner because of..Continue reading→
Prayers
Daily Prayer for December 30
And Mary said: "My soul praises the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me – holy is his name." Luke 1:46–49, NIV O Lord God, in exultation our hearts go out to you and your revelation of heaven, your revelation of the Spirit, who can fill our hearts so that we remain steadfast throughout our earthly life. It is still dark on earth. ..Continue reading→
Working Together
PassageColossians 4:12-18 PrayerDear Father,Help us to remember each other earnestly in our prayers.Help us to stand mature and to be fully assured in your will.Help us encourage one another to carry our assigned works to completion.Help us fulfil whatever ministry we have received in the Lord.Help us to remember those who are in prison, and those who suffer in any way for your service.May your perfect grace sustain and keep all of us.In the name of Jesus I ask. Amen. Devotional provided by Hear..Continue reading→
Daily Prayer for December 29
Praise the Lord. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Psalm 106:1, NIV Dear Father in heaven, whose might is over all the earth, we thank you for all the love you show us. We also thank you for everything that seems hard, but which you change into help and strength. We want to thank you in life and in death, in joy and in sorrow, for you are the great and mighty God, who calls us to life again and again, who leads us to fuller life. You have given us great love in J..Continue reading→
Encouragement and Comfort
PassageColossians 4:7-11 PrayerDear Father,Give us caring hearts when it comes to our fellow servants in Christ. May we carry the news of them to each other for the sake of building each other up.Stir us up to work hard for the kingdom of God and to encourage each other in all facets of our labor.Show us ways that we can encourage each other in our struggles and comfort each other in our sufferings.In the name of Jesus I ask. Amen. Devotional provided by Heartlight® © 1996-2016. All rights reser..Continue reading→
Questions & Answers
How You Can Believe God Will Release You From Evil
Most cultures have a belief in some sort of manifestation of evil. For some, it may be descriptive of the immoral behaviors that someone displays. For the vast majority of others, it may be descriptive of some sort of supernatural evil entity. As Christians, we know that Satan is the Biblical manifestation of evil and that he has the power to blind people to the truth and keep them in bondage to sin. However, God has provided a way of escape from evil. The question is, how can you believe that G..Continue reading→
What Jurors Can Teach Us About The World We Are Trying to Reach
Yes, I know I analogize and write often about the similarities between Christian Case Making and criminal case making, but bear with me one more time. I think we can learn something from the attributes of jurors when we consider how (and who) we ought to address as we defend what we believe as Christians. I’ve come to recognize the following characteristics of jurors: Jurors Usually Volunteer Their Service Reluctantly There’s a reason why we summon people for jury service; if we waited for peop..Continue reading→
What Are Prayers Of The Faithful?
Have you heard of the “prayers of the faithful?” If not, what are the prayers of the faithful? Definition: Prayers of the Faithful Prayers of the faithful are often prayers led by some church leader like a priest, pastor, minister, deacon, elder, or even a lay person. Some denominations have others in the congregation pray, and not just church leadership. This gives the church the idea that they too are one of many in the body of Christ, and since God has no respect for one person over another ..Continue reading→
Great KJV Bible Verses About Thankfulness
Have you taken time today to thank God for His mercy, kindness and grace? Are you thankful for all He has bestowed upon you? Here are some great KJV Bible verses about thankfulness. Thankfulness Described Psalm 116:17 I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, And will call upon the name of the LORD. Ephesians 1:16 Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; Ephesians 5:20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord J..Continue reading→
Church & Ministries
Evangelicals Warn Of A ‘New Fascism’ Sweeping The World
Evangelical mission specialists have warned of the rise of a "new fascism" in different countries around the world.Continue reading→
Archbishop Of Canterbury In Bid To Save Iraqi Christian From Deportation
The Archbishop of Canterbury has intervened in an attempt to save a Christian asylum seeker from being sent back to Iraq.Continue reading→
Disgraced Former Minister Paul Flowers Criticises Church Over Sacking
Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Sunday programme, Flowers said the Church could have acted "with a bit more grace".Continue reading→
It’s Time to Get Mean About the Vision God Has Given You
Your church doesn’t need a new mission. God determines the mission. He defines the mission. And he’s been about the mission for thousands of years and simply wants your church involved in it. But your church is in desperate need of a vision that is informed by God’s Word, inspired by God’s Spirit, and applied passionately and broken-heartedly to your local context. If you’re a Lead (Senior) Pastor and you don’t have a vision for how your church will carry out its mission in your local context, ..Continue reading→
Hot Topics
Why Paula White is a Heretic
She is either denying the deity of Jesus or elevating believers to deity. She goes on later to say in a CNN interview that she affirms the Nicene Creed. But saying you do doesn’t actually mean that you do. I wonder if she even understands the Arian heresy the Council of Nicaea was called to address? On Thursday night, NBC Nightly News showed a tweet by Dr. Russell Moore, leader of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, calling the leading religious figur..Continue reading→
A Reminder Of Why We Should Not Long For A State Church
The United States of America, for all her greatness, is not the “my people” of 2 Chronicles 7:14. That people was God’s temporary, national people Israel. That national covenant expired at the cross. Since that time God has had no national people, though many have thought and apparently still think that they must be God’s special, national people. God made that promise to national Israel not the USA or to any other civil people. The USA has no more standing before God, as a national people, than..Continue reading→
The Myth of Influence
The only way to dispel the myth of influence is to commit ourselves anew to the importance of biblical theology as the foundation for Christian action. We must allow the Bible in its fullness to direct our thinking and our doing. We must remember that Paul did not preach an abbreviated gospel, but declared the whole counsel of God. In the March 7, 1998, issue of the Los Angeles Times, the Religion section featured an article entitled, “L.A.-Area Seminary Teachers Gather to Ponder the Truth.” Fo..Continue reading→
How Much Blood Will Save My Soul?
The High Priest came out from his once-a-year visit to the Most Holy Place and said, “That’s it, you don’t need to come back next year or ever again!” No, he came out and all that could be said was “See you again next year.” The sacrifices were a powerful reminder of sin, but, in and of themselves, they were powerless to save. If any Israelite ever asked a godly priest, “How many animals will it take to save my soul?” the answer would have been: “It is not possible for the blood of bulls and goa..Continue reading→
Women
The Stanford Rape Victim Said the Words I Couldn’t
Why we all should pay attention to her bold account. “You don’t know me, but you’ve been inside me, and that’s why we’re here today.” With these brief opening words of her unflinching testimony, one sexual assault victim, named Emily Doe to protect her privacy, knocked a nation to its knees. Her story has hit us hard in recent days, but really it dates back to last January, when two Stanford University students caught a man thrusting himself on an unconscious girl behind a dumpster. They con..Continue reading→
‘yada, yada, yada’
"Whatever... " The Wednesday morning before turkey and pie and black Friday flyers, I wake up to this smothering of fog and this teen muttering it through the kitchen: "Whatever." And what do you say but that's not quite the way to start off the day, and he shrugs his shoulders and slams the bathroom door behind him, and I get it. It's there on the mantle, this framed God-thunder, "Give Thanks." It's no neon sign, more this painting in a quaint Shaker-style. There's only two..Continue reading→
Art by Faith
For we live by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). Growing up on my grandparents' farm, I was too busy playing outside with my sibling and cousins, chasing butterflies or climbing trees to worry very much about my poor eyesight. I was born with a progressive eye disease known as Retinitis Pigmentosa. As a child, I didn't understand that much about it and my family didn't make a big deal of it. Thankfully I was allowed the freedom to have fun in my childhood. My best friend�..Continue reading→
Finding Happiness?
During my twenties, I was a bridesmaid in several weddings. Unfortunately, most of those couples are now divorced. It will come as no surprise to you that each of them stated they were unhappy and they were getting a divorce in order to find happiness. After all, happiness is the American birthright, right? The United States Declaration of Independence says, in part, the following:We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with..Continue reading→
Music
Beyond Control by Kings Kaleidoscope
King's Kaleidoscope: an amalgamation of members as frenzied and flawless as the band's sound. The group is comprised of up to ten musicians, each bringing different musical genres to the table. Any number of instruments can be found in the bands lineup at a given time: A string trio, horns section, two drummers, flute, vibraphone, guitars and vintage synths weave an incredibly detailed musical tapestry. With each song, King's Kaleidoscope presents orchestral, overwhelmingly imaginative compositions that continuously bounce and overlap musical genres. With roaring horns, looped drums, chopped and reverbed orchestral notes and vocal melodies, King's Kaleidoscope takes each listener through[...]Continue reading→
Shine On Us by Vineyard Music
Shine On Us was recorded LIVE at Cause Con 2016, a 3-day catalytic conference launching young adults further into God's kingdom calling on their lives. Over 500 from across the US converged in Kansas City, MO to worship, connect, inspire, and engage in something bigger than themselves: a #Cause2Live4.[...]Continue reading→
Ivan Parker is ‘Dancing in the Rain’
Dancing in the Rain, the Difference Media debut from one of Southern Gospel's most beloved vocalists, Ivan Parker, is slated to bow July 29. Produced by Garry Jones (Brian Free, Canton Junction), the project marks Parker's 16th solo recording in a career spanning more than three decades. Featuring writing credits from such top names as Tony Wood, Sue C. Smith and Joel Hemphill, among others, highlights of Dancing in the Rain include the title cut; "Walk My Way" (feat. Canton Junction); "Let Me Take You To The Cross"; "That's What Love Does"; "There's Healing"; and the deeply personal "Mama's Rocking Chair" (feat. Sandy Parker). "I have seen so many people around the world who need to be encouraged and hear something that's going to give them hope," Parker says of the project. "Lives are shattered and homes are broken every day, which is why I love singing[...]Continue reading→
Jason Gray Debuts At No. 5 On Billboard Charts With New Album
Jason Gray has reached the highest album debut of his career with his latest project, Where The Light Gets In that is ranked No. 5 on Billboard's Top Christian Albums Chart. The record also marks the first time that Gray has worked with nine producers for an album that includes Jason Ingram, Ben Glover, Paul Mabury and Coby Wedgeworth. Where The Light Gets In delivers 12 new songs co-written by Gray, including the new single "Sparrows." The song is already No. 20 on Billboard's National Christian Audience Chart (NCA) and includes new adds from KFSH/Los Angeles, CA, WBSN/New Orleans, LA and KAFC/Anchorage, AK. "Wow! I was so grateful to learn that Where The Light Gets In debuted at No. 5 on Billboard this week, the highest debut of any of my records," says Gray. "I'm so thankful to everyone on my team at Centricity Music and Eaglemont[...]Continue reading→
Casting Crowns Reveals New Album Cover
Casting Crowns has revealed the cover for their brand new album, The Very Next Thing, available for pre-order tomorrow (7/1). The Grammy-winning group first released the cover in an exclusive email to fans today, saying "we could not be more excited! And because we just can't wait, we're revealing the new album cover below just for you our email list! You're seeing it first and we hope you love it." The Very Next Thing follows 2014's critically acclaimed Thrive and last year's hymns album Glorious Day Hymns of Faith. Check the band's Facebook page for more information about special bundles that include the new record, t-shirts, vinyl and more. Continue reading→
Unspoken To Release New Album ‘Follow Through’ August 26th
Unspoken will release Follow Through, their second full album for Centricity Music, on August 26th. The project features four producers at the helm with Seth Mosley (Newsboys, Citizen Way), Tedd T (for King & Country, Mutemath), Christopher Stevens (TobyMac, Michael W. Smith) and Mitch Dane (Jars of Clay, Bebo Norman). With the release of Follow Through, Unspoken has found a place of new freedom to push the boundaries of their trademark sound, mixing in horns and electronic elements in fresh ways without altering the core of their musical identity. Follow Through evidences a forward leap of artistic evolution from the last record, blending hip hop, soul, pop and folk influences to tell the story of the season of life the band members have found themselves in over the last couple of years. Band members Chad Mattson, Jon Lowry and Mike Gomez co-wrote every song on the[...]Continue reading→
Skillet Releases Music Video For ‘Feel Invincible’
Today Skillet released a music video for "Feel Invincible," the lead single off their upcoming tenth studio album Unleashed, due out August 5th. Singer John Cooper says the song "represents the album in one facet really well [Unleashed] is full of crowd-chanting anthems. The album is very exciting to listen to. Driving beats and melodic choruses, whether it's hard rock or leaning toward pop." Cooper describes Unleashed as "quite diverse there are more extreme songs on both sides of the spectrum, meaning harder rock and even metal, but also pop and atmospheric tunes/sounds." "Feel Invincible" is just the beginning of a hot year for Skillet. The song already gained national attention when it was named the theme song for TBS' E-League, an eight-week live competitive video game tournament broadcast in over 80 countries. In the fall, the band[...]Continue reading→
Natalie Grant and Danny Gokey Join Forces for 2016 “Be One” Tour
Four-time GRAMMY® nominee and five-time Dove Award-winning Female Vocalist of the Year Natalie Grant is joining forces with two-time Dove nominee and K-LOVE's newly-named 2016 Male Artist of the Year Danny Gokey for the "Be One" Tour, slated for 13 cities this fall. Sponsored by ChildFund International, the "Be One" Tour also features special guest artist Tauren Wells and will kick off Oct. 13, in Stamford, Connecticut. Ticket information for the "Be One" Tour is available at BeOneTour.net...Continue reading→
For Today Announces Disbandment and Farewell Tour
Christian hardcore band For Today has announced in a facebook post that 2016 will be their final year. Along with the announcement, the band shared dates for an extensive farewell tour scheduled for the fall. The news follows their most recent release Wake by less than a year. "After over 11 years as a band, 6 full length albums and 1 EP, we have decided to make 2016 the last year of For Today," the heartfelt facebook post said. "When we started this band in 2005, we never imagined that our mus..Continue reading→
World
U.S. Supreme Court refuses to hear family pharmacy’s religious claim
The Stormans family are committed to honouring God in all the things they do. The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to hear an appeal by a Christian family-owned pharmacy in Washington that refused to sell contraceptives to women because of their deeply held religious beliefs. In a decision issued on Tuesday, the High Court denied the appeal made on behalf of Ralph's Thriftway, a local grocery store and pharmacy in Olympia, Washington, owned by the Storman family..Continue reading→
10 albums to make you feel better about the world
The world feels pretty delicate right now. After the Brexit decision, the future of the UK and Europe is uncertain. Meanwhile, America is on the cusp of a bitter election season. That's before we even start on the rest of the world. How about some music for the weekend to cheer your heart? Here's 10 records, some Christian, some not explicitly so, which will give your soul a lift... Gungor – One Wild Life: Spirit The second of three albums the prolific Gungor will release in..Continue reading→
International Justice Mission lawyer found dead with client in Kenya
Willie Kimani worked for IJM and was defending 24-year-old Mwende, who as also found dead on Friday. A human rights lawyer has been found dead in Kenya along with his client and a taxi driver following their abduction in the capital city of Nairobi. Willie Kimani was a lawyer working for human rights and law enforcement organisation International Justice Mission (IJM), which today announced the deaths. "It is with deep mourning that we are announcing the deaths of IJM staff member, Willie ..Continue reading→
Patriotic Worship is Coming to a Church Near You
Pastors and churches mix patriotism and worship around July 4th. Doubtless most Americans believe America has a special relationship to God. Last year LifeWay Research found: Despite headlines lamenting the global decline of the United States since the Cold War, 54 percent of Americans believe the nation is on the upswing, according to a September survey by LifeWay Research. Only 4 in 10 think “America’s best days are behind us.” And though the U.S. Constitution makes no mention of God, 53 ..Continue reading→
American
Woman Complains About Body Image Issues After Late-Term Abortion of Girl With Spina Bifida
Missouri mom Jessica McCoy had a late-term abortion a few months ago after learning that her unborn daughter had spina bifida and a chromosomal abnormality. The mother of three born children has been sharing about her abortion publicly, both describing her grief at the loss of her daughter and justifying her decision to have her unborn daughter killed because of the girl’s disabilities. Several women’s publications picked up McCoy’s story this week after she posted photos on Instagram describi..
Texas Lawmakers Initially Approve Bill to Ban Abortions on Babies Just Because of Their Race or Gender
Today, the Texas Senate passed Senate Bill 415, the Dismemberment Abortion Ban, on second reading. The bill was preliminarily approved by the Senate on a bipartisan 22-9 vote. In addition to every Republican of the Senate supporting the measure, two Democrats – Senators Eddie Lucio Jr. (D-Brownsville) and Judith Zaffirini (D-Laredo) – voted for the life-saving measure. Senate Bill 415 and House Bill 844, the Dismemberment Abortion Ban, outlaw the barbaric and inhumane procedure that ends the li..
More Patients in Quebec Killed in Assisted Suicide as Hundreds Request Lethal Drugs
CBC news reported (March 14) that the number of euthanasia deaths in Québec significantly increased in the second half of 2016. According to the CBC news report: A total of 461 patients were granted doctor-assisted death during the first year of Quebec’s medical aid in dying law, according to data obtained by CBC’s French-language service, Radio-Canada. The number of requests increased significantly in the second half of 2016. From December 2015 to end of June 2016, 253 patients requested the ..
Woman Was About to Have an Abortion When Something Incredible Happened to Save Her Baby’s Life
Two volunteers at the 40 Days for Life vigil in Pensacola spoke to a deeply troubled young woman who had conceived a child as the result of a sexual assault. “She was hurting and felt that abortion was her only solution to the recent trauma she had experienced,” said Ernie, the local coordinator. Counselors offered encouragement, assistance, prayers and tears. But still, she believed abortion was her only option … and she went inside the abortion center. The volunteers kept praying – and trust..
Australia
Bringing them up in the Lord
BIBLE SOCIETY NEWS Wednesday 21 December 2016 About 60 million children in China are “left behind” in their home villages, to be looked after by their grandparents or relatives because their parents are trying to find work in cities. This enormous group of neglected children – more than a quarter of the 215 million children in China – is in great need of hope, encouragement and care. These “left-behind” children are highly vulnerable to serious crimes such as sexual abuse and assault and suff..
Back where it all began
BIBLE SOCIETY NEWS Saturday 20 December 2016 Next year is a special year. Bible Society Australia will be celebrating its bicentenary, but 2017 is not only about thanking God for all he’s done in the past through his word. Bible Society Australia is calling upon you, your church and your community groups to help us continue the legacy of equipping our people with the life-giving word of God. Get The Word Out (GTWO) is Bible Society Australia’s year-long focus on providing one nation on earth ..
Everything you helped us achieve in 2016
BIBLE SOCIETY NEWS | Greg Clarke Monday 19 December 2016 Bible Society Australia isn’t about any one person. From the very start we’ve been a Society. Bible Society is the thousands of supporters and volunteers like you. And it’s through your generosity this year we’ve been able to: Train 30 literacy teachers in South Sudan under Professor Twong Yolong – so thousands of Collo people, traumatised by war, can read and write Translated the scriptures to the Tay, Nung and Muong people in Vietnam –..
Egyptian Christians killed in bomb attack on church
A bomb blast in St Peter’s church in Cairo on Sunday killed 25 people and wounded 49, mostly women and children. The bombing during morning mass was the deadliest attack on Egypt’s Christians since a 2011 bombing killed 21 people at a church in Alexandria. The Sunday bombing is the latest indication of how challenging it is for Christians living in Egypt, who account for about 10 per cent of Egypt’s 92 million people. The Bible Society of Egypt has requested prayers f..
Law & Government
Men With Scabies Arrested After Committing Homosexual Sex Act on Display Bed at Bed Bath & Beyond
(NorthJersey.com) – Two men were arrested and charged with engaging in lewd behavior on a display bed at Bed Bath & Beyond during regular business hours. Police officers responded to the Route 3 Riverfront shopping center at 5 p.m. Monday on a report from a witness that two men were engaged in a sex act, records show. Police arrested two 28-year-old men, one from Nutley and the other from North Carolina. Both were charged with lewdness, criminal mischief and possession of marijuana, according ..
Alabama Man Charged With Capital Murder for Killing Unborn Child in Beating Girlfriend
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — An Alabama man has been charged with capital murder for allegedly killing his unborn child while beating his girlfriend. According to reports, Reginald Sharp, 27, knocked his girlfriend to the ground in a domestic incident last July and then beat her with his fists and a belt. She was 26 weeks (six months) pregnant. The woman was transported to St. Vincent’s Hospital, where her baby was stillborn the next day. The county coroner listed the child’s death as “intrauterine feta..
Trump Mocks Schwarzenegger, Jokingly Asks for ‘Prayer’ for ‘Apprentice’ Ratings at National Prayer Breakfast
(ABC News) — President Trump jokingly requested prayer for Arnold Schwarzenegger as he addressed attendees at this morning’s National Prayer Breakfast. “They hired a big movie star, Arnold Schwarzenegger, to take my place, and we know how that turned out,” Trump said at the top of his remarks. He continued, “The ratings went right down the tubes. It’s been a total disaster. And Mark [Burnett] will never, ever bet against Trump again, and I want to just pray for Arnold, if we can, for those rat..
Boy Scouts to Allow Girls Who Identify as Boys
(New York Times) — Reversing its stance of more than a century, the Boy Scouts of America said on Monday that the group would begin accepting members based on the gender listed on their application, paving the way for transgender boys to join the organization. “For more than 100 years, the Boy Scouts of America, along with schools, youth sports and other youth organizations, have ultimately deferred to the information on an individual’s birth certificate to determine eligibility for our single-..
Entertainment
Martin Scorsese talks Spirituality and Silence
Comment countSilence was one of the most provocative, moving bits of cinema I saw last year. It’s complex and murky and inspiring and troubling and beautiful–all of which, in a way, reflects how I interact with faith itself. Perhaps, when we attempt to understand and embrace the transcendent, it can be no other way. The movie is arguably one of Martin Scorsese’s most overtly religious works. But as many have noted, almost every movie that Scorsese has ever done is about, in some way, faith. Scor..
Why Silence Deserved Oscar’s Love
Comment countAndrew Garfield and Yōsuke Kubozuka in Silence, photo courtesy Paramount PicturesWhen Academy Award nominees earlier this week, plenty of Oscar’s snubs made headlines. No Amy Adams? No Sully? Where’s Hugh Grant? But the Academy reserved its biggest oversight for one of Hollywood’s most acclaimed directors: Martin Scorsese. Silence, the film that Scorsese spent 26 years planning and making, earned just a single nomination—for Rodrigo Prieto’s gorgeous cinematography. Nothing for Andr..
The Story of God: Is There Anybody Out There?
Comment countMorgan Freeman from National Geographic’s The Story of GodFor two seasons, National Geographic’s The Story of God With Morgan Freeman has taken us behind the curtain to see the world’s religions, both great and small, at work. This Monday in the second season finale, Freeman and his crew tackle the biggest question of all: Is there a reason for all this religion? In other words, is there a God? But proof of God, as Oxford Theoretical Physicist Ard Louis says on the show, is impossib..
The Story of God: Finding Heaven in Hell
Comment countMorgan Freeman from National Geographic’s The Story of God.What is heaven? What is hell? And how do they impact how we live right now? “Heaven and Hell,” the latest episode of The Story of God With Morgan Freeman (airing Jan. 23) grapples with those questions. They’re questions that have fascinated me, too. They always have, ever since I was a little boy. In the episode, Freeman and others take an interfaith trip through the Good Place and Bad Place. The show takes us to a cave in T..
Health and Science
Is Genesis History? New Film Affirms Truthfulness of Biblical Record
A soon-to-be-released documentary-style film, featuring footage from around the U.S. and interviews with over a dozen scholars and scientists, will provide visual evidence and scientific arguments for the Bible’s accounts of Creation and the Flood. On February 23, hundreds of movie theaters across the U.S. will participate in a one-night showing of the film “Is Genesis History?” The film, produced by Compass Cinema and structured as a documentary, features interviews with respected Christian sc..
Researchers Experiment Creation of Human-Pig ‘Chimera Embryos’ to Address Shortage of Donor Organs
LA JOLLA, Calif. — A team of biologists at the Salk Institute in California has reportedly created the first-ever human-pig chimeras in an effort to test the idea of growing organs in animals that can later be used in human transplants. “This biomedical advance has long been a dream and a quandary for scientists hoping to address a critical shortage of donor organs,” National Geographic writes. “Every ten minutes, a person is added to the national waiting list for organ transplants. And every d..
Why Our Body Destroys Itself
The science and spirituality behind the latest Nobel Prize in medicine. With every patient I treat, I hear myself echo the same sentiment: I know this hurts. I’m sorry. It will be over soon. In the emergency department, healing rarely comes without pain. It may be the wrenching of a joint back into place, the lancing of an abscess, or the administering of antibiotics through the business end of a large needle. But with the exception of the few who decide at the first flash of my scalpel that pe..
Perplexed Scientists Think C-Sections During Childbirth Are Affecting Human Evolution
Photo Credit: Lisa EspinosaWhy is obstructed labor such a common complication during human childbirth? A team of evolutionary scientists thinks recent human evolution and the modern practice of childbirth via C-section contribute to the problem. Obstructed labor happens when a baby is unable to smoothly pass from the mother’s womb through the birth canal. A major cause of both maternal and newborn morbidity and mortality, obstructed labor is especially common in poorer countries and results in ..
US
The Superbowl and vocation
The Superbowl is this weekend, time for the obligatory polls about whether or not God gets involved in the outcome of sporting events. One-quarter of Americans believe that he does. About a half believe that God rewards faithful athletes with health and success. Certainly, the easy answer is that of course God doesn’t care about a sporting event because He has much more important things to do. But if God attends to the fall of a sparrow, why wouldn’t He attend to the fall of a pigskin? The real ..
The anti-Trump “resistance”
French Resistance fighters, 1944 Democrats have gone into full resistance mode, with Democratic Senators boycotting confirmation hearings to prevent a vote on President Trump’s candidates. (Republicans suspended the rules and approved Treasury Secretary candidate Steven Mnuchin and HHS Secretary candidate Tom Price anyway. See this.) Meanwhile, a self-described “alternative left” has emerged that is pressuring Democratic elected officials not to co-operate with the Republicans. Notice how the us..
Trump’s Supreme Court nominee
President Donald Trump has nominated Colorado appeals court Judge Neil Gorsuch to fill the Supreme Court vacancy left by the late Antonin Scalia. Reportedly, Judge Gorsuch is from that same mold: eloquent, learned, articulate, and an “originalist” when it comes to interpreting the Constitution. He is the author of a book against euthanasia and supported Hobby Lobby in its suit against the Obamacare birth control mandate. An Anglican, he would be the only Protestant on the bench, joining the 5 Ca..
“Pregnant people”
The British Medical Association has issued guidelines saying that to avoid offending the transgendered, health workers should not refer to “pregnant women.” Rather, say, “pregnant people.” After all, a biological female–no, that wording is forbidden too; we must say “assigned female”–who identifies as a man can have a baby. And since we must go by self-identification, that means that men can be pregnant. The Transgender movement has at least destroyed feminism. Now that men can claim the identit..
Church & Theology
“Enlightenment” and True Freedom
“I think, therefore I am.” René Descartes penned this popular line in his 1637 treatise, Discourse on the Method, and it’s a good summary of the book itself. Heralding the importance of scientific discoveries and the necessity of doubting one’s own view of the world, Descartes’s work is often considered the first domino to fall in what is now called the Enlightenment. The Enlightenment, with its explosion of scientific discoveries and philosophical arguments, had one task:..
New Book — Rooted: Theology For Growing Christians
As you may know, my friend Jeff Medders and I wrote a short, accessible book on the most important doctrines of the Christian faith. It’s called Rooted: Theology for Growing Christians, and it released this weekend from Rainer Publishing. As two men who’ve served in church leadership in various ways, we kept running into laypeople who were accidental Universalists, Arians, mystics, and even worse. We’ve found that it’s often not their fault; rather, they spent most of thei..
Church Grammar: Theology as the Language of Christianity
If you’re anything like me, you’ve had your favorite dinnertime evangelists, the local Jehovah’s Witnesses, show up at your door. They’re kind. They smile. And they even tuck in their shirts. To top it all off, they speak Christianese pretty well. Or do they? Though they sound like Christians, they come bearing bad news–an anti-gospel that denies the divinity of Jesus and only offers the possibility of Heaven for a select few people. Their gospel sounds so close to the bib..
Jesus Hanging Out with Wild Animals
The Temptations of Christ, 12th century mosaic at St Mark’s Basilica, Venice. On a recent episode of Word Matters, Trevin Wax and I discussed Mark’s rendering of Jesus’s temptation in the wilderness, particularly the unique insertion of the phrase, “He was with the wild animals” (Mark 1:13, HCSB). After discussing the prominent views of this passage throughout church history, Trevin and I both landed at the same conclusion: Mark is recapitulating the temptation scene of Ge..