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→
Hot Topics
Military’s Highest Court Denies Marine’s Religious Liberty Claim
In the majority opinion, the judges noted that because Sterling did not indicate until during her trial that the signs had any religious significance to her, the words on the signs could have been interpreted as being “combative in tone.” They concluded the order to remove the signs was valid and did not place a “substantial burden” on her exercise of religion. But in a dissenting opinion, Judge Kevin A. Ohlson argued that, in its decision, the CAAF went far beyond what was necessary to decide S..Continue reading→
This Republican Mayor Has An Incredibly Simple Idea To Help The Homeless. And It Seems To Be Working
In partnership with a local nonprofit that serves the homeless population, a van is dispatched around the city to pick up panhandlers who are interested in working. The job pays $9 an hour, which is above minimum wage, and provides a lunch. At the end of the shift, the participants are offered overnight shelter as needed. Republican Mayor Richard Berry was driving around Albuquerque last year when he saw a man on a street corner holding a sign that read: “Want a Job. Anything Helps.” Throughou..Continue reading→
How Much Should a Christian Olympian Give Up for Gold?
Three-time gold medalist Josh Davis and Rio correspondent Tim Ellsworth on picking between evangelism and family, the athlete’s faith community, and what the Games have in common with missions trips. Did you see the Americans’ sweep the hurdles last night? Do you go to bed at night still thinking about Katie Ledecky breaking her own world records? Do you have dozens of hours of unwatched pool play handball games on your DVR? We have a podcast for you. Two-time Olympian Josh Davis—who swam wit..Continue reading→
Whose Hate? Which Victims?
“So what do victim impact statements and the concept of hate crime have in common? They both point to an evaluation of the moral significance of criminal acts, and of victimhood, that prioritizes the psychological and the subjective.” One of the great problems in today’s world is that hate is rather limited in scope. For society to flourish, we really need more hate—or at least a broader understanding of what hate is. Confused? Well, bear with me a moment while I explain. Last week The Spectat..Continue reading→
Life & Society
Do You Live Like Your Story Matters?
Because of our natural human fixation on “the seen,” we tend to think only of the impact of our story in this brief season of our existence: the here and now. Although that impact is not unimportant, as immortal beings we should be far more concerned with how our story will sound when it is told there and then, in that next season of existence that will extend through all eternity. Unfortunately, for many Christians, the goal is simply to get across the finish line after surviving this earthly ..Continue reading→
Preschooler Made to Care about LGBT Agenda in Colorado
According to The Denver Post, a 4-year-old Aurora, Colorado girl was “kicked out” of a preschool last month when her parents raised questions about books read in her class, including ones that told stories about same-sex couples and worms unsure about their gender. The girl returned home from school one day concerned that her daddy might not like girls anymore–and her mommy is a girl. Montview Community Preschool & Kindergarten in Denver — run as a private, parent cooperative — used the stories ..Continue reading→
Disney Demands Georgia Let Go of Religious Freedom
We should have seen this coming. After all it was a Disney / Pixar film that captured the mantra of the secular Progressives: “We scare because we care.” Just as we describe in You Will Be Made to Care, Disney has joined the NFL and other compassionate bullies to try to shut down even stripped-down religious freedom protection in Georgia under the auspices of opposing discrimination. They are threatening to take their Marvel movie-making magic somewhere else if Georgia passes HB 757 to protect r..Continue reading→
Republican Convention Rules: It Takes a Majority
It takes a majority. It takes a majority of delegates to win the Republican nomination for President. It is not complicated. It is not new. These rules have been basically the same since the founding of the Party. A majority of the delegates to the convention must vote for a candidate if he or she is to become the Party’s nominee. Yet Trump and his fans are demanding the rules be changed to accommodate him. They are demanding that the Establishment (whatever that is anymore) rip up the rules and..Continue reading→
Music
About A Mile Preps For New Tour, Album With Video
About A Mile's frontman Adam Klutinoty is getting very real and personal, revealing for the first time his bout with drug addiction, lust and more, and how he has received healing and has learned to 'trust God all the way.' In the video below, Adam talks about these things and how they all led to the band's full-length sophomore album, Trust You All The Way, releasing globally Oct. 28 from Radiate Music, and the tour of the same name which launches tonight (October 14) in Blu..Continue reading→
Lauren Daigle’s AMA Nominations, Dove Wins Make for a Big Week
Centricity Music artist Lauren Daigle continues to build momentum with unprecedented record sales, multiple award wins/nominations and a sold out concert tour. Daigle received her first American Music Award nomination this week for "Favorite Artist Contemporary/Inspirational," in great company with Hillsong UNITED and Chris Tomlin. She also took top honors at the Gospel Music Association's (GMA) 47th Annual Dove Awards as the frontrunner of award wins with three for the evening, making this..Continue reading→
DcTalk Reunites Onstage for Surprise Performance
There was a buzz among artists traveling the red carpet at the Gospel Music Association's 47th annual Dove Awards Tuesday night that Christian music superstar TobyMac's performance would be something unforgettable. And they were right. For the first time in more than a decade, TobyMac got the band back together, as he, Michael Tait (currently of Newsboys) and Kevin Max reunited as dcTalk, performing the song "Love Feels Like" live to an astonished crowd.Continue reading→
Bake Sale – EP by Applejaxx
Track Listing 01. Love You Better 02. Trapazoid 03. Blueberry Muffins 04. Budget (feat. Mr. Coldstone) Continue reading→
Only Jesus by Austin Stone Worship
A new kids worship from Austin Stone Worship. Track Listing 01. Jesus Forever 02. King Of Everything 03. Only Jesus 04. You Made Everything 05. Rescue For My Soul 06. Center My Life 07. I Found A Treasure 08. Tell The World 09. Trust 10. We Are One Continue reading→
Lone / Grey by Comrades
Comrades have joined the Facedown Family and are set to release their Facedown debut full length "Lone/Grey" on October 7, 2016. From their beginnings as an instrumental post-rock band, Comrades has consistently created music that is both aggressive, ambient, complex, and emotional. Drawing from their diverse musical backgrounds, band members Ben Trussell (drums/vocals), Laura McElroy (bass/vocals), and Joseph McElroy (guitar) create music that they feel passionately about, and draft a space for the listener to take part in. Their passion and energy continues into their intense and sometimes chaotic live show. As a part of the DIY touring community since 2009,[...]Continue reading→
Now I Understand EP by Bro Ken
Worshipful rock songs from singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, BroKen. Track Listing 01. Now I Understnad 02. Your Love Is All That I Need 03. To My Wife 04. Oh Lord My God 05. Battles Of The Heart Continue reading→
Campfire II: Simplicity by Rend Collective
Irish worship band Rend Collective has announced Campfire II: Simplicity, set to release this November. The album will feature brand new tracks, a cover of Hillsong UNITED's hit "Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)", along with favorites from The Art Of Celebration and chart-topping As Family We Go. "The vision behind this project is so near to our hearts," the band shared. "We long to see outsiders invited in, hope restored to the hopeless, rest for the cynics and revival for God's people. We can't wait to share these songs with you. We're praying they encourage, equip and speak life to all[...]Continue reading→
Your Mercy by Paul Baloche
Track Listing 01. Psalm 92 (It Is Good) 02. Once For All 03. Found In You 04. I Will Worship You 05. Your Mercy 06. Songs of the People 07. We Come to You Jesus 08. God Evermore 09. Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus (We Turn) 10. To The Cross I Come 11. More Than I Deserve 12. Peace On Earth Continue reading→
World
Bible Left Untouched And Unmoved After Powerful Tornado Rips Through Christian University In Mississippi
Powerful tornadoes ripped through southern Mississippi late last month, bringing death and destruction to many places.Continue reading→
In France, People Who Speak Against Abortion Will Now Be Treated As Criminals
People who try to discourage women from having abortions are now virtually considered criminals in France.Continue reading→
Christian Astrophysicist Sees Little Chance Of Alien Life In New Earth-Size Planets Discovered By NASA
Seven new Earths? As in seven new habitable worlds?Continue reading→
Christian Family Of ISIS Suicide Bomber Believe He Was ‘Brainwashed’
British citizen Jamal al-Harith stunned his Christian family when he blew himself up in a suicide bombing mission carried out in behalf of the Islamic State (ISIS) earlier this month against Iraqi forces near Mosul.Continue reading→
American
Feel the Bern? Here’s the Next Step
Daniel Strauss: The revolution is back in business. Supporters of Bernie Sanders’ failed presidential bid are seizing on Democratic disarray at the national level to launch a wave of challenges to Democratic Party leaders in the states. The goal is to replace party officials in states where Sanders defeated Hillary Clinton during the acrimonious Democratic primary with more progressive leadership. But the challenges also represent a reckoning for state party leaders who, in many cases, tacitly s..
Trump rebukes alleged racism among supporters
Copyright (c) 2016 Baptist Press. Reprinted from Baptist Press (www.baptistpress.com), news service of the Southern Baptist Convention. The original story can be found at http://www.bpnews.net/47889/trump-rebukes-alleged-racism-among-supporters Trump rebukes alleged racism among supporters Screen capture from CBS NewsScreen capture from CBS NewsWASHINGTON (BP) -- In his first major interview since Election Day, President-elect Donald Trump said he is "saddened" by reported incidents of r..
Bill Hunke, former Alaska exec & historian, dies
Copyright (c) 2016 Baptist Press. Reprinted from Baptist Press (www.baptistpress.com), news service of the Southern Baptist Convention. The original story can be found at http://www.bpnews.net/47888/bill-hunke-former-alaska-exec-and-historian-dies Bill Hunke, former Alaska exec & historian, dies E.W. "Bill" Hunke Jr. E.W. "Bill" Hunke Jr. SUN LAKES, Ariz. (BP) -- E.W. "Bill" Hunke Jr., executive director of the Alaska Baptist Convention from 1966-71 and prolific chronicler of Southern Ba..
Cloyd Sullins, Alaska exec from 1995-2000, dies
Copyright (c) 2016 Baptist Press. Reprinted from Baptist Press (www.baptistpress.com), news service of the Southern Baptist Convention. The original story can be found at http://www.bpnews.net/47887/cloyd-sullins-alaska-exec-from-19952000-dies Cloyd Sullins, Alaska exec from 1995-2000, dies Cloyd Sullins Cloyd Sullins MOORE, Okla. (BP) -- Cloyd Sullins, who led the Alaska Baptist Convention from its 50th anniversary year in 1995 until his retirement in 2000, died Nov. 7 in Moore, Okla. ..
US
Donald Trump’s “personal Vietnam”
Donald Trump dodged the Vietnam War, but he has said that he feels “like a great and very brave soldier” who endured “my personal Vietnam”: risking sexually transmitted diseases! From George Will, Republicans: Save your party, don’t give to Trump – The Washington Post: Yes, as Republicans should remember when their convention opens in less than a month, on the one-year anniversary of Donald Trump’s disparagement of John McCain as unheroic because he was “captured.” McCain was captured (with a br..
Military will now accept the transgendered
The Pentagon announced that it will now allow transgendered individuals to serve in the military under their preferred sex. The military health care system will also provide hormone therapy and gender reassignment surgery to current servicemen and women who wish to transition to another sex. From Pentagon ends transgender military ban – CNNPolitics.com: The Pentagon said Thursday it was ending the ban on transgender people being able to serve openly in the U.S. military. The announcement — which..
Ben Sasse, the anti-Trump
As other Republicans keep equivocating, Nebraska Senator Ben Sasse is the only Republican in the Senate to consistently oppose Donald Trump. And he is paying a price for it. But Sasse, a Lutheran, is standing firm. An interesting profile after the jump. From Ben Terris, As the GOP’s anti-Trump, Ben Sasse picked a big fight. What would it mean to win? – The Washington Post: Today, freshman senator Ben Sasse of Nebraska remains the only Republican in the U.S. Senate who has consistently, and vocal..