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→
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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
Doxological Calvinism
Doxologies punctuate the Bible because they punctuate the life of faith. This at least was Paul’s understanding of the life of Abraham: “he was strong in faith, giving glory to God” (Rom. 4:20). Let me invite you to take a simple word-association test. The usual procedure for such a test is that the administrator says a word and the subject responds with the first word that comes to mind. Thus, the word horse might immediately prompt the word cart from some people, but race (as in horse race) f..Continue reading→
The Kingdom Comes Not Through Maneuvers But By Repentance
Today’s Essenes are the gnosis-exalting hip churches and the law-exalting fundy churches, each preaching legalism of a different sort and rendering different sorts of people untouchable. They advocate withdrawal from either “church people” or “the world,” as if true kingdom enlightenment exists in an ecclesiological utopia hermetically sealed off and protected by either their cultural savvy or their cultural avoidance. Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered..Continue reading→
NT Commentaries Withdrawn Over Plagiarism Allegations
The author, Peter T. O’Brien, was presented with the findings and provided the following response: “In the New Testament commentaries that I have written, although I have never deliberately misused the work of others, nevertheless I now see that my work processes at times have been faulty and have generated clear-cut, but unintentional, plagiarism. For this I apologize without reservation.” At the beginning of July 2016, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. received allegations against one of its New..Continue reading→
5 Lessons My Parents Taught Me About Sexuality
“These days, as I get older and consider marriage and my future, it’s the God-designed preciousness of sex that I think about more often. Sex, I’ve learned from my parents, is something to be esteemed without being glorified. While portrayed as a cheap commodity in culture today, God created it as a valuable gift.” “Sexuality”is an electric buzzword in our culture, igniting opinions like wildfire. With clashing commentary from secular society, Christians in recent years have increasingly recogn..Continue reading→
Life & Society
[Audio] How Pastors Can Preach about Religious Freedom
My friend Dr. McKay Caston (who happens to also be my pastor) preached a sermon recently that demonstrates how pastors can and should preach about religious freedom. It is fine example of speaking the truth in love and preparing a congregation for the rising tide of persecution in America. McKay has agreed to let me post the audio here and share his sermon notes below. You can follow his blog here. I encourage you to share them with pastors and church leaders and prayerfully encourage them to en..Continue reading→
Movies
“Hell House” and shock-and-awe evangelism
George Ratliff’s “Hell House,” (2002) resonates with me in a way few documentaries have. Its depiction of evangelicalism is strikingly familiar. When its church members speak about sin, salvation, and Hell, I hear phrases that could have come from my own lips 20 years ago. As I’ve returned to the film over 10 years, my relationship to it has changed. At first, I was sympathetic to the members of Trinity Church, located in Cedar Hill, Texas. Years later, I was frustrated. Now, I find their tactic..Continue reading→
Review: Inferno (dir. Ron Howard, 2016)
Remember The Da Vinci Code? It was all the rage a decade or so ago, what with its sensationalistic claims that Jesus had had a wife and child, and that a secret society had been keeping his descendants hidden for centuries to protect them from the big bad Catholic church. The book spawned a film, and the film spawned a sequel (which was actually based on an earlier book), and then… it all just kind of stopped. Dan Brown wrote a third novel, The Lost Symbol, but the studio never got around to fil..Continue reading→
Is Doctor Strange the best Marvel Cinematic Universe movie yet?
Variety magazine’s chief film critic has seen Doctor Strange, and he calls it “Marvel’s most satisfying entry since ‘Spider-Man 2’ ”. That’s high praise, considering Spider-Man 2 came out four years before Iron Man, and thus four years before the invention of what we now know as the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Other critics have been a little more reserved with their praise — IndieWIRE merely called this film “the most exciting addition to [Marvel’s] ever-expanding universe since ‘The Avengers,’ ..Continue reading→
Watch: Desmond Doss refuses to fight back in a clip from Hacksaw Ridge
Before he faced combat on the front lines, Desmond Doss — a World War II medic who refused to carry a weapon because of his religious beliefs — had to face his fellow soldiers. A new clip from Hacksaw Ridge shows how some of Doss’s fellow troops bullied him and called him a “coward” for refusing to kill or fight back. Here is the clip: The film opens across North America two weeks from today, on November 4. Update: A second clip, of Doss rescuing a sergeant who had dismissed him because of his ..Continue reading→
Watch: Desmond Doss refuses to fight back, and rescues one of his comrades, in two clips from Hacksaw Ridge
Before he faced combat on the front lines, Desmond Doss — a World War II medic who refused to carry a weapon because of his religious beliefs — had to face his fellow troops. A new clip from Hacksaw Ridge shows how some of Doss’s fellow soldiers bullied him and called him a “coward” for refusing to kill or fight back. Here is the clip: The film opens across North America two weeks from today, on November 4. Update: A second clip, of Doss rescuing his sergeant, has popped up too: Check out earl..Continue reading→
Newsbites: The independent Christian film edition!
Here are three quick news items that came up over the past week. 1. The Hollywood Reporter says atheists are complaining that I’m Not Ashamed, a film about the Columbine massacre, depicts Rachel Scott, the first person killed by Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, as a Christian martyr. The news site also has a clip of the scene in which Scott is shot. The film comes to American theatres tomorrow. 2. The makers of God’s Not Dead have been sued by several people who claim that the film ripped off the..Continue reading→
“The Second Coming of Christ” drama coming in March 2017
Flawless Production Inc. (Tarzana, California) has released the first trailer for their upcoming action drama “The Second Coming of Christ.” The main protagonist is a female atheist scientist experiencing end events leading up to Christ’s return. Experienced cast members include Golden Globe nominee Tom Sizemore (“Saving Private Ryan”), Oscar® nominee Sally Kirkland (“JFK,” “Bruce Almighty”), Jason London (“Dazed an..Continue reading→
Box office: The Accountant balances the books in North America, while Inferno heats up ticket sales overseas
A thriller starring Ben Affleck topped the North American box office this week, but the biggest winner globally was a Da Vinci Code sequel that opened overseas. The Accountant, starring Affleck as an autistic hit man, led the way domestically with an estimated $24.7 million between Thursday and Sunday nights. But Inferno — the third film starring Tom Hanks as a Harvard “symbologist” who uses his knowledge of Renaissance art to thwart a series of global conspiracies — made more than double that, ..Continue reading→
Watch: Two more TV spots for Mel Gibson’s Hacksaw Ridge
Another week, another pair of Hacksaw Ridge TV spots. Here’s one called ‘Stay True’ (as in Desmond Doss’s line, “I don’t know how I’m going to live with myself if I don’t stay true to what I believe”): And here’s one called ‘Witness’: The film opens November 4, which is three weeks from today. Check out earlier Hacksaw Ridge trailers and other videos here: The ‘Believe’ trailer (July 28, 2016)The ‘Greg Laurie Interviews Mel Gibson’ video (August 31, 2016)The ‘Incredible’ and ‘Duty’ TV spots (O..Continue reading→
Music
Aaron & Amanda Crabb To Join Inaugural Festivities
Acclaimed Difference Media husband/wife duo Aaron & Amanda Crabb will head to Washington, D.C., next week to perform at Family Research Council's Faith Freedom & Future Inaugural Ball, it was recently announced. The couple joins a lineup of top performers, including best-selling comedian Chonda Pierce, at the black-tie gala set to follow the inauguration of President Donald J. Trump on January 20. RELATED Chonda Pierce To Perform At Faith Freedom & Future Inaugural Ball "We truly count i..Continue reading→
Bethel Music’s Brian & Jenn Johnson To Unveil ‘After All These Years’ January 27
More than 10 years since their last solo release, Bethel Music's Brian & Jenn Johnson will debut their highly anticipated album After All These Years on January 27, capturing the wonder, conviction, and tenderness of heart behind the story of who they've become and who they've remained over the past season. Cowriting every song on the album together, After All These Years varies stylistically from previous projects, as each track is marked by a distinct and bright 80-piece symphon..Continue reading→
Thousand Foot Krutch Gives Away Three Song EP
Thousand Foot Krutch is starting the new year by giving away a three song EP via NoiseTrade. You can download it here. RELATED Thousand Foot Krutch Fights With A 'Different Kind Of Dynamite' The EP features "Push," the latest single from last year's album Exhale, alongside a remix of Oxygen Inhale's song "Untraveled Road" and an acoustic version of "Let the Sparks Fly" from 2012's The End is Where We Begin. All three songs are available on a free or pay-what-you can b..Continue reading→
Chonda Pierce To Perform At Faith Freedom & Future Inaugural Ball
Best-selling comedian Chonda Pierce is set to take the stage for a performance at the Faith Freedom & Future Inaugural Ball in Washington, D.C., January 20. Presented by Family Research Council, one of the country's leading policy organizations, the ball is among a slate of high-profile celebrations to follow the inauguration of President Donald J. Trump earlier that day. RELATED Chonda Pierce Caps 2016 With Sold-Out National Tour, Award-Winning DVD And Key Appearances "The inaugural even..Continue reading→
Big Daddy Weave Kicks Off 2017 With Set Free Tour
Fervent Records/Word Entertainment artist Big Daddy Weave will kick off 2017 with their Set Free tour. The 25-city tour, which will begin January 25th in Joplin, Missouri, will feature guest artists We Are Messengers and Zach Williams. The current singles from the three artists Big Daddy Weave's "The Lion and the Lamb," We Are Messengers' "Magnify" and Zach Williams "Chain Breaker" are all topping the Christian music radio charts. RELATED Big Daddy Weave Receives The Rich Mullins Arti..Continue reading→
Cece Winans Returns After Nine Years With Soul-Stirring Album
Ten-time Grammy winner Cece Winans' long-awaited new album, 'Let Them Fall In Love,' is set for release on February 3, 2017 via Puresprings Gospel/Thirty Tigers. Recording her first solo album in nearly a decade, the multiplatinum-selling artist returned to the studio to cut her most adventurous album yet. Produced by her son Alvin Love III, along with Winans' long-time collaborator Tommy Sims (Garth Brooks, Michael McDonald, Bonnie Raitt) and mixed bye Dae Bennett (Tony Benn..Continue reading→
MercyMe’s Bart Millard Announces Movie
Bart Millard, lead singer for GRAMMY-nominated band MercyMe, has announced that he is in the process of filming a movie based on his childhood and how it inspired the writing of MercyMe's biggest hit. "5 years ago I was approached about making a movie about my childhood and how it inspired the song "I Can Only Imagine." This is Dennis Quaid, who plays my dad. CRAZY!" Millard shared via social media this week. RELATED MercyMe Announces New Album Through PledgeMusic Campaign The movie, dire..Continue reading→
Worship Artist Josh Pantana Premieres New Video
Josh Pantana is an independent artist based in Nashville, TN with a style reminiscent of singer-songwriters such as James Taylor, and John Denver. His modern effect of ambient post-rock and electro influences can be heard in his songs that deal with topics such as faith and healing, and his story-esque approach pays homage to the stylings of greats such as Johnny Cash, and Paul Simon. NewReleaseToday.com is premiering his new worship video, "My King is Known By Mercy," today. "My church, Midto..Continue reading→
Cana’s Voice To Launch New Year With Video Shoot In Houston, TX
Cana's Voice remains a busy touring act and will start off the New Year with a live concert videotaping at Champion Forest Baptist Church, Houston, Texas on Jan. 22. Mark Lowry will be the special guest on the program, and the church's choir will join Cana's Voice on several songs. This will be a free concert, with an open invitation for anyone to attend and be a part of the live taping. Doors will open at 6 pm CST and the concert will begin at 7 pm CST. Cana's Voice will per..Continue reading→
American
How to Read the Bible (RJS)
For Christians the big questions in any discussion of science and faith generally come down to Scripture. How are we to read Scripture as the word of God? In much of the church there is an assumption that this should be straightforward… just read it literally. Unfortunately, this doesn’t hold up well for many of us. It isn’t even science that is the biggest challenge to this “simple” reading, it is Scripture itself. It isn’t clear that the Bible was intended to be read in this flat, literal mann..
Back to Church? (Michelle Van Loon)
By Michelle Van Loon at www.MomentsAndDays.org and www.MichelleVanLoon.com I’ve been blogging for more than a decade,and I’ve written often about spiritual abuse by church leaders – sharing both my own experience and referencing the struggles of others. I’m just one voice in a large crowd: there are numerous blogs, books, and worthwhile organizations telling the stories of spiritual and/or clergy sexual abuse survivors. The internet has been a tool for good in this struggle as it has facilitated..
Planned Parenthood VP Claims “Women Will Die” Because Trump Defunded Its International Group
President Donald Trump signed a life-saving executive order this week that prohibits international groups from receiving U.S. taxpayer funding if they promote or perform abortions overseas. Planned Parenthood already is on the attack, making misleading claims that Trump’s reinstatement of the Mexico City Policy will cause women to die. As LifeNews.com reported, the pro-life policy had been in place during the entirety of the George W. Bush administration, but President Barack Obama rescinded i..
Trump Spokesman: White House Staff Will Attend the March for Life
During the March for Life in previous years, pro-abortion President Barack Obama celebrated abortion and issued a presidential statement praising Roe vs. Wade. What a difference a change in president makes. Yesterday, a spokesman for President Donald Trump indicated White House staff will attend the March for Life, where over half-a-million pro-life people from around the country will mourn the almost 60 million unborn children who have been aborted since that fateful Supreme Court decision. ..
US
More on the banned Down syndrome video
We blogged about that video showing happy Down Syndrome children that was banned by the French government on the grounds that it might “disturb the conscience” of women who have had abortions. (You can see the video at the link.) George Will, who has a Down son, weighs in on the issue, explaining the origin of the video (which was made to reassure new parents) and making the point that this is a case of extending the concept of protection from being disturbed associated with college campuses to ..
And now, the commercialization of Advent
One reason that many Christians are rediscovering Advent is that Christmas has become so commercialized. Advent is a way to keep our concentration on what the Christmas season is supposed to be about, namely, the coming of Christ. But now Advent is also becoming commercialized! Alissa Wilkinson has written a good explanation of Advent for Vox. She explains the history of the season and what it means. She includes some interesting details that I had not realized. (For example, that Lutherans inve..
In trouble for belonging to an “anti-gay” church
Chip and Joanna Gaines are the hosts of “Fixer-Upper,” a popular home remodeling show on HGTV. They are openly devout Christians. And they are now under fire. A BuzzFeed article is accusing them of being anti-gay. This is because they belong to an evangelical congregation that does not conduct gay weddings and that holds to traditional teachings about sexual morality. That means, according to the Buzzfeed author, that the church is anti-gay. And because the Gaineses belong to this church, that m..
Back in the U.S.A.!
We are back in the good old U.S. of A. after spending a month visiting our daughter and her family in Australia. We enjoyed our time down under very much. But it’s good to be back home. I can’t believe that I was able to keep this blog going as usual despite the time difference (16.5 hours, a day ahead) and our many activities. Thanks for hanging in there with me. It was strange to watch the election from the other side of the world, but sometimes a little distance (literally) is clarifying. Aft..