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
I’m Glad Paul Used This Word
When we’re perplexed, we think, “How did this happen?” or “Why is this happening?” and we have no answer. Things don’t seem to line up with our expectations. I thought if I did this, God would do this. If I sowed, I’d reap. Well, you will reap, but before the harvest comes you might have to fight off a few crows. Before you see the sunshine, you might have to walk through a dark valley. The perplexing valley. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair…2..Continue reading→
When You Are Tempted to Despair
So when we get sick, I am tempted to despair. I feel helpless, weak, and useless. Questions swirl around my mind all day and night, “Should I switch doctors?” “What’s the long-term effect of this medication?” “When will we get better?” “How long can I go without sleep?” I find myself irritable and impatient. Stressed and anxious. Reactionary. All my thoughts and energies are focused on what’s happening, it becomes consuming. I just want God to intervene, fix it all, and return things back to nor..Continue reading→
The Relative Value of Temporal Things (Wilberforce)
“This disposition alone must constitute a vast difference between the habitual temper of the real Christian and that of the mass of nominal Christians. The concerns of the present world dominate them almost entirely. They know indeed that they are mortal, but they do not feel it. For the truth finds its way only into their minds but cannot gain admission to their hearts. This understanding of the mind is altogether different from that strong practical impression of the infinite importance of ete..Continue reading→
Children Are People Too
Our children are born with inherent worth and individual traits. We should remember that in raising them. It’s amazing to watch our children grow up and become the men and women God has planned for them to be. Each one is unique and has unique challenges and unique gifts. They may not fit our “mold,” but they were made to fit the place God designed them for. Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. Eph. 6:4 ESV In the last ..Continue reading→
Music
Tanks by Satellites & Sirens
"We live in a world that recently feels so filled with hate. I know it has always been there but it seems like racism, war, bullying, and just a lack of care for others has become the focus of so many news stories and Facebook posts that it's in front of us more than ever. TANKS came from the idea that we as Christians are called to love even in the midst of all that this world could throw at us and if we chose to combat these things with love and make our heart beat louder than the cry[...]Continue reading→
Long Live the Rebels by Disciple
Two-time Dove Award winning Disciple is a staple in the Christian hard rock scene. Known for it's unique blend of faith with intense yet accessible music, the band has forged a deeply connected fan base along the way. Now, after a massively successful Kickstarter campaign, the band is poised to release its 13th studio album, Long Live The Rebels, on October 14 in partnership with Tooth Nail Records BEC Recordings.[...]Continue reading→
Reflection by Derek Minor (PRo)
Minor is slated to release his sixth album, Reflection, on October 14 on his Reflection Music Group in partnership with Entertainment One. The album includes the lead single "You Know It," "Until I'm Gone" featuring BJ The Chicago Kid, "Love Go High" featuring Chrisette Michele, "I'm Good" featuring Janice Gaines, among other tracks. "The overall message of this record is you really are made for greatness," Minor explains. "You're not the sum of your mistakes. We are all imperfect. You were made to be greater than your probably realize."[...]Continue reading→
Wonder by Jean Watson
Internationally acclaimed recording artist Jean Watson is busy prepping the release of her eighth and most ambitious full-length CD to date, WONDER, due to be released October 14, 2016 on Suite 28 Records/Shadowlands Music through Naxos of America, Inc., the nation's leading independent classical music distributor. "The music on WONDER is the most authentically 'me' music I have ever recorded," Watson says. "I believe the music is quite accessible to both the faith-based and general markets, and the opportunity to partner with Naxos to get the music into the hands of music lovers is huge. I really want to launch[...]Continue reading→
Michael Sweet’s ‘One Sided War’ Attacks The Billboard 200 Landing At #77
Stryper frontman Michael Sweet continues to grow musically. His latest release One Sided War, released via Rat Pak Records, made a massive impact on the charts this week. The latest solo album from Sweet landed at #77 on the Billboard 200 with over 8300 units sold and was also #1 on the Hard Rock Albums and Top Christian Albums charts. One Sided War was also the #4 on Top Rock Albums, #6 on Independent Albums and #21 on Top Current Albums charts. The album was also #1 on the Amazon Hard Rock cha..Continue reading→
Jamison Strain Releases ‘Beautiful Beginning’
Singer-songwriter Jamison Strain hasn't had much down time since the July release of his latest album, Beautiful Beginning. He's toured relentlessly, including a September tour with Building 429 and Finding Favour, and the upcoming Wonder Tour 2016 alongside OBB and Love Collide. Sponsored by ChildFund International and Adelphoi Music Group, the Christmas tour will hit cities nationwide through mid-December. Growing up as a pastor's kid, Jamison grew up with a desire for people t..Continue reading→
TODDZERO Gets Brutally Honest With New Album
Los Angeles-based Indie Rock artist TODDZERO has performed on some of music's biggest stages, including SXSW and the MTV Movie Awards Pre-Show, and his critically acclaimed songs have been heard on hit TV shows like the Freeform/ABC Family series The Fosters. But when TODDZERO started to write songs for his latest album, My Precious Limp, he faced an unusual dilemma. It would by easy, and comfortable, to write another collection of songs about the usual themes. Or, he could take the opportu..Continue reading→
Trae Edwards Premieres ‘Love Got Us Through’ Music Video
While the news has been filled with terror attacks, mass shootings and unspeakable tragedies, inspirational Country Music artist Trae Edwards is speaking out with his new single, "Love Got Us Through." The music video premieres at 1000 a.m. EDT today exclusively at The Boot. Trae hopes that the song provides comfort to those that are grieving, and hope for all that better days are ahead. Response to the song has been overwhelming, leading to national media coverage, including appearances on FOX..Continue reading→
Journey’s Jonathan Cain Offers Exclusive Facebook Live Listening Party October 18
Jonathan Cain, longtime keyboardist and rhythm guitarist in Journey, co-writer of the No. 1 catalog rock song in iTunes' history, "Don't Stop Believin'," as well as writer of "Faithfully" and co-writer of "Who's Crying Now," "Open Arms" and many more international hit songs, will host an exclusive Facebook Live listening party Tuesday, Oct. 18, beginning at 700 pm CDT for everyone who preorders his solo album, What God Wants to Hear.Continue reading→
American
Abortion Pill Injures More Women as More Incomplete Abortions Leave Parts of Baby Inside Them
The State of Ohio is among the best in the U.S. when it comes to abortion reporting requirements, seeking as much information as possible from abortion providers about abortion methods, gestational ages, and maternal demographics. Now, one statistic reported to the Medical Board of Ohio has shed new light on the danger of abortions using the drug Mifeprex, also known as Mifepristone or RU486. Ohio requires abortionists who dispense the drug, often referred to as the Abortion Pill, to fill out a..
Why Do Unborn Babies Matter? Just Because They Are
A few of us were having a conversation yesterday and something a member of the class I lead said reminded me of a quote I had just read and to which all pro-lifers would probably say a hardy “amen.” The great apologist G. K. Chesterton once wrote, “All men matter. You matter. I matter. It’s the hardest thing in theology to believe.” Rob Renfroe took Chesterton’s observation and concluded, “And that God—the God who is big enough to speak all of that [just the part of the universe we know about] ..
Utah House Passes Bill Telling Women How the Abortion Pill Can be Reversed to Save Their Baby
The Utah House passed a bill Friday that would require women seeking abortions to be informed that the abortion pill possibly can be reversed and their baby’s life saved. The Salt Lake Tribune reports Utah House Bill 141 passed with strong support in a 56-13 vote, despite some very angry comments from opponents. If passed, Utah would become the third state to require that women be informed of the new medical procedure, which has saved more than 200 babies’ lives after their mothers took the fi..
God Wrote My Life Story Around Surviving an Abortion, How Did He Write Your Story?
I don’t believe God originally wrote abortion into my life, as God is the Creator of life. But when it was introduced by man, or in my case, a woman, He rewrote the story of my life around it, to create the story of a life that is more intricate, more redemptive, more grace-filled, than anything anyone else could have planned or written. “How do you know that you are not part of a book? That someone’s not reading your story right now?”—Jodi Picoult. Everyone has a story. Everyone. But every st..
Australia
Bible Society registered in Azerbaijan
BIBLE SOCIETY NEWS | World Watch Monitor Wednesday 5 October 2016 The recent registration of a Bible Society in Azerbaijan, after a 20-year fight, has brought fresh optimism to the country’s minority Christians, but there remains some confusion about the types of books it will be allowed to print, with even Bibles potentially falling foul of the country’s strict regulations. Terje Hartberg from United Bible Societies called it “a great development, which will start a new chapter in Bible mini..
Bible Society registered in Azerbaijan, but may not be allowed to print Bibles
BIBLE SOCIETY NEWS | World Watch Monitor Wednesday 5 October 2016 The recent registration of a Bible Society in Azerbaijan, after a 20-year fight, has brought fresh optimism to the country’s minority Christians, but there remains some confusion about the types of books it will be allowed to print, with even Bibles potentially falling foul of the country’s strict regulations. Terje Hartberg from United Bible Societies called it “a great development, which will start a new chapter in Bible mini..
Man Raped His Own Daughter for More Than a Decade and Then Forced Her to Have an Abortion
An Australian man who admitted to raping his daughter and then coercing her into having an abortion was sentenced to 16 years in jail on Thursday, according to the Illawarra Mercury. The man plead guilty to sexual assault charges involving more than a decade of abuse to his teenage daughter, and a judge sentenced him on Thursday in Illawarra, a region of New South Wales, the report states. The man also plead guilty to sexually abusing two of his siblings in the 1980s. The man, who is not named..
Australia: Anglican bishop backs same-sex marriage ahead of possible referendum
Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has introduced legislation for a referendum on same-sex marriage. An Anglican bishop in Australia has come out in favour of same-sex marriage ahead of a possible referendum on the issue next February. Ballarat's bishop Garry Weatherill, who opposes the referendum, told the ABC that he supported "marriage equality". Bishop Weatherill said: "The local position of this particular bishop is for marriage equality. The Bible teaches marriage is..
Law & Government
Abortionists Sue to Stop Texas From Requiring Burial, Cremation of Aborted Babies
AUSTIN — A coalition of abortion providers have filed suit in an effort to stop Texas officials from requiring that they bury or cremate the bodies of the unborn children they kill instead of having them incinerated with medical waste and dumped in landfills. “The regulation enshrines into law an exceedingly narrow set of beliefs regarding embryonic and fetal personhood, and what is appropriate for the disposition of embryonic and fetal tissue,” the lawsuit, filed on Monday, asserts. “These vie..
Trump Says Obama ‘Really Doing Great,’ Does Not ‘Care’ About Prosecuting Clinton Following Election
Speaking at “thank you” rallies in both Louisiana and Michigan on Friday, President-elect Donald Trump told those gathered that he believes Barack Obama has been “really doing great” and that he has no interest in prosecuting Hillary Clinton now that the election is over. He mentioned Obama in discussing concerns about voter fraud, which he said has only “gotten worse” since the current president spoke of the matter in 2008. “President Obama—who by the way I’ve gotten along with so well,” he s..
Mississippi City Settles Lawsuit Filed by Christians Harassed Outside State’s Last Abortion Facility
JACKSON, Miss. — Officials in Jackson, Mississippi have settled a lawsuit filed by a number of Christians who were reportedly harassed while conducting pro-life ministry outside of the last remaining abortion facility in the state. “We are pleased that the City has finally agreed to follow well-established legal precedent in this area of First Amendment rights,” Allison Aranda, senior staff counsel with the Life Legal Defense Foundation, said in a statement on Wednesday. “Our clients have been ..
Colorado College Student Charged After Using Skewer to Forcibly Abort Girlfriend’s Baby
COLORADO SPRINGS, Co. — A Saudi man attending college in the United States on a student VISA has been charged with unlawful termination of a pregnancy and sexual assault after he allegedly used a skewer to forcibly abort the child his girlfriend was carrying. Ahmed Almesbahi, 23, is a student at University of Colorado Colorado Springs and studies mechanical engineering. In May, his girlfriend, a Kazakh immigrant, contacted police to state that she had been assaulted by Almesbahi in August 2015 ..
Entertainment
Stories that Stir the Soul: Talking adoption, foster care and faith with the author of Bridge to Terabithia and The Great Gilly Hopkins
Comment countThe following is a guest post from Jedd Medefind, president of the Christian Alliance for Orphans, who recently talked with one of my favorite authors, Katherine Paterson, about some issues pretty close to my own heart. I love what she has to say here. It’s well worth the read. *** Embed from Getty Images“No book made a greater impression on me before high school,” a 40-something magazine editor recently shared with me. My 10-year old daughter said much the same, “Oh, I just loved i..
A Game About Grief and God Wins Major Award
That Dragon, Cancer was never meant to be the next big video game franchise. You don’t shoot aliens or run anyone off the road. You don’t fight the Joker or, despite its name, even battle any dragons. The game, designed by Ryan and Amy Green, was simply meant to help players understand what they went through as their son, Joel, suffered from and eventually died of cancer. You’re there with the doctors as they break the bad news, despair liberally flooding the room. You try to comfor..
“The Shack” official trailer released!
Octavia Spencer and Sam Worthington in “The Shack.” Courtesy Lionsgate, The official trailer for “The Shack” was released today. The film, based on the NYTimes best seller, will be released in March, 2017. Just know that this film goes where no other film has gone before, speaking theologically. I normally don’t post trailers before release but since I have seen this film twice I am posting it so you can get a taste of the film.
What Would Moana Do? Seven Life Lessons From Disney Princesses
Comment countFrom Moana, photo courtesy DisneyMoana, Disney’s latest animated heroine, sails into theaters this week. While she might not live in a palace or charm the socks off the nearest Prince Charming, everyone—especially the girls who’ll be flocking to see her—knows exactly who and what she is. “You’re in a dress and you’ve got an animal sidekick,” says resident demigod Maui. “You’re a princess.” Princesses have ruled Disney’s magic kingdom since Snow White first trilled into her animated ..
Health and Science
Jimmy Carter Visits Ken Ham’s Ark Encounter, Tells Reporters: ‘I Believe in Evolution’
Former President Jimmy Carter toured Ken Ham’s Ark Encounter on Friday, but told reporters that he was not necessarily endorsing Ham’s views, as he personally believes in evolution. “The earth is four billion years old, … but I don’t see a conflict there,” Carter told reporters, referring to the conflict between Christianity and evolution. “And as a scientist, I believe in evolution.” “But all things are possible through the divin..
‘Nobody Understands’: Chemist Debunks Evolutionary Viewpoint on Life’s Origins
An illustrious chemist who has previously shed light on critical shortcomings in scientists’ understanding of evolution has written a detailed essay explaining “the massive gaps in our understanding” of how life first originated. Dr. James Tour is a professor of chemistry, computer science, and materials science and nanoengineering at Rice University. He has written over 590 research publications and over 100 patents, and he is the recipient of numerous scientific aw..
Scientists Beginning to Doubt Discovery Once Touted as Evidence for Evolution
An influential scientific discovery that was once celebrated as compelling evidence for evolution may require reinterpretation, according to a growing number of scientists and researchers. In 2008, biologist Richard Lenski of Michigan State University jubilantly announced that he had witnessed a “major evolutionary innovation.” Lenski, as part of his Long-Term Experimental Evolution (LTEE) project, had been carefully observing the bacteria Escherichia coli (E. coli) reproduce in a lab. Finally,..
Inscriptions Found in Ancient Fortress Support Biblical Timeline, Challenge Skeptics
TEL AVIV, Israel – A team of Israeli researchers has found evidence that literacy was widespread among ancient Israelites, thus challenging critics of the Bible who claim most people in Old Testament times were illiterate. Critics of the Bible have long alleged that Israelites prior to the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem in 586 B.C. were largely illiterate. Therefore, they argue, many of the Old Testament books were written after the destruction of Jerusalem, which is much later than the Bi..
US
What Trump has done so far
(2) The U.S. has now pulled out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the vast and complicated free trade pact with Asian countries, Canada, and Australia (not including China).(3) A hiring freeze for the federal government is now in effect.After the jump, 18 more things that the new administration has done in its first 72 hours.Critics are saying that Trump has broken his promises in not doing various things that during the campaign he said he would do on his first day. See this scorecard. But a da..
When Jesse Jackson was pro-life and why he changed
In a tribute to the recently-deceased Nat Hentoff, Carl Trueman describes an encounter on a train between the pro-life leftist and Jesse Jackson. From Carl R. Trueman, Strangers on a Train | Carl R. Trueman | First Things: There is one passage in Speaking Freely (177-78) that offers disturbing insights into modern political culture. Hentoff quotes a certain politician on abortion: “What happens to the soul of a nation that accepts the aborting of the life of a baby without a pang of conscience? ..
Mathematical proof of God’s existence?
The great mathematician and logician Kurt Gödel, who died in 1978, left behind a series of equations that purport to prove the existence of God. As I understand it (and I don’t understand the math!), the equations test the validity of St. Anselm’s ontological argument for God’s existence, which defines God as the greatest being [Read More...]
Many gods were invoked at the Inauguration service
The traditional Inauguration Service at the National Cathedral was an interfaith service featuring Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Baha’is, Native American religion, Jews, and Christians–including Catholics, Orthodox, mainline Protestants, and evangelicals–who aren’t bothered by syncretism. After the jump, a list of the participants, with a link to a story about the event. UPDATE: For a description of the [Read More...]
Church & Theology
A Brief Case for Reading Scripture with a Trinitarian Lens
Whatever your method of biblical exegesis, theological construction, or preaching and teaching, the Trinity should never be taken for granted in how you read Scripture. The triune God choosing to reveal himself to mankind is the cornerstone of our relationship with him and the bedrock content of his revelation. He didn’t have to communicate with us–before or after the Fall–and he certainly didn’t have to leave us his Word. But he did. So we should be careful not to forget the God who speaks thro..
8 Characteristics of an Effective Discipleship Program
One of the core ministries that God has greatly blessed in our church is the organized discipleship on Wednesday evenings. Not only are there new people continually being enrolled in discipleship and others completing the course, but the biblical grounding and personal mentoring that takes place during the weeks of discipleship continues to bear fruit in people’s lives years after they have finished. At our church, we use the Continue discipleship book and have found it both helpful and fruitfu..
What Do Pastors Do All Week?
I think one of the most common misconceptions of those who have not served as a senior pastor is that a pastor’s work is only the work of preaching. If you look at it that way, it would seem the pastor hardly works at all—perhaps for an hour two or three times each week. Yet, when Paul described the “office of a bishop” (pastor), he specifically called it “work.” This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.—1 Timothy 3:1 It was a joy a few months bac..
Did New Testament Writers Understand the Trinity?
In a thesis I recently wrote for Ridley College, under the supervision of Michael Bird, I argued that the Book of Revelation contains an incipient Trinitarianism. I made the case that John, looking back at his Old Testament (OT) and reflecting on the Christian tradition that would produce the New Testament (NT), at some level understood the divinity of the Son and Holy Spirit. No doubt, NT writers were not Nicene-confessing Christians–but I think it is an overreach to assu..