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
Psalm 18:1-2
“[Psalm 18] For the director of music. Of David the servant of the LORD. He sang to the LORD the words of this song when the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. He said: I love you, LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”Continue reading→
1 John 4:9 (02-03-17)
In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.— 1 John 4:9 (KJV) Thoughts on Today's Verse... Showing love is about sharing life with someone else. No one quite epitomizes this principle like Jesus! His sacrifice, however, is what saved us and brought us to our new life in Christ. Now God wants us to show his love to others by sharing it in ways that they can understand and appreciate. ..Continue reading→
God Loves Everyone
Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 1 John 4:15, NKJVGod loves each and every person who has ever been born into the human race! God loves: the Eskimo living in an ice hut, the Chinese living in a bamboo lodge, the African living in a mud hut, the homeless living in a cardboard box, the Bedouin living in a tent, the Indian living in a teepee, the royals living in a palace, the poor living in public housing, God loves the whole world! God lov..Continue reading→
Psalm 59:16
“But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble.”Continue reading→
1 John 4:8 (02-02-17)
He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. — 1 John 4:8 (KJV) Thoughts on Today's Verse... An unloving person doesn't know God. It's that simple. Enough said. My Prayer... Father, please bless me with a loving heart and a lifestyle that generously shares your love with others. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen. Today's Verse Illustrated CommentsContinue reading→
Hope
A Baby Changes…
A baby changes everything. When our first was on his way, someone gave us a card that said on the front page, "Congratulations!" It had the picture of the cutest baby you would ever see until ours was born. But then you opened it up and saw these words in large, bold print: "Life as you once knew it is over!" It was. Babies do have a way of disrupting the routine of life. It starts as soon as their existence is announced. "Guess what honey?" The young husband has no clue. "Did I forget our anni..Continue reading→
Something Greater to Come
Time of Waiting: A few years ago, I prepared for Lent and Easter by trying to determine from Scripture where Jesus was and what he was doing on each of the days leading to his crucifixion and resurrection. Though it would be interesting to try, it is impossible to follow Mary and Joseph from the time of Gabriel’s visit until they arrived in Bethlehem. We can imagine the hardships of travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem, but the Bible simply says that they went. Like all pregnancies, Mary’s involved..Continue reading→
Redemption and Restoration
Nate’s drug and alcohol addiction had overtaken his life. In order to support his habit, he committed a crime that earned him a 12-year prison sentence. Thinking her husband a lost cause, his wife, Rose, moved on with her life without him. You’ll be inspired by this story of redemption and restoration as both Nate and Rose surrendered their lives—and their marriage—to Jesus Christ.Continue reading→
Who Doesn’t Love Baby Jesus?
It is the time of year when many of us are celebrating the birth of Jesus. It is a time of mangers and pageants and the story of a baby coming down from heaven. We sing "Joy to the World", "Away in a Manger", and "Silent Night". We focus on gifts, love, family, and church. For some of you, this will be one of the two or three times all year you will make it to church. We celebrate this baby born to save us from our sins. So who would not love baby Jesus? Satan. Baby Jesus ruined all of his plan..Continue reading→
The gift of God’s grace
A gifted athlete, Bobby earned a scholarship and was the first in his family to graduate from college. But his insatiable pursuit of wealth and material things sent his life into a tailspin he never expected. Find out how a man who thought he’d lost everything instead gained everything in the gift of God’s grace.Continue reading→
Daily Wisdom
Your Future Is Confirmed!
I, John, saw the holy city, . . . coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. Revelation 21:2, NKJVRegardless of your present circumstances or crisis, pressures or pain, suffering or sorrow, failures or frustrations, danger or disease, memories or misery, temptations or trials, problems or persecutions, burdens or brokenness, your situation is temporary compared to eternity. And eternity is going to be spent with Jesus in His Father’s house that has..Continue reading→
Psalm 33:4-5
“For the word of the LORD is right and true; he is faithful in all he does. The LORD loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love.”Continue reading→
Everything Will Be New
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Revelation 21:1, NIVPlanet earth is, at the very least, thousands of years old. Some think it may be millions or billions of years old. And it is showing signs of age. It is getting frayed and worn out. It is being polluted, gouged, stripped, burned, and poisoned, and much of the damage has been willfully and selfishly inflicted by man. But some of the scars are simply due to the wear and tear of a..Continue reading→
Psalm 18:1-2
“[Psalm 18] For the director of music. Of David the servant of the LORD. He sang to the LORD the words of this song when the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. He said: I love you, LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”Continue reading→
Prayers
Living in Love
PassageRomans 12:9-15 PrayerDear Father, empowering God,Let my love be genuine for everyone in heaven and on earth. Help me hate what is evil at all times and everywhere. Help me hold fast to what is good, the old and the new.May I love my fellow disciples with brotherly affection. May I show them greater honor than they show me.Let my zeal not cool. May it blaze with energy from your Spirit.May I rejoice in hope and be patient in tribulation. Let me be constant in prayer. May I contribute liber..Continue reading→
Value of Interdependence
PassageRomans 12:3-8 PrayerDear Father, who wills our interdependence,Having gifts that differ, let us use them appropriately according to your will.If prophesy, in proportion to one's faith. If service, diligently serving. If teaching, instructively teaching. If exhortation, strongly motivating encouragement. If giving, with liberal and generous contributions. If giving aid, with zeal. If acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.Great Giver, give your gifts to your people through your people. But ..Continue reading→
Need for Interdependence
PassageRomans 12:3-8 PrayerDear Father, who wills our interdependence,Help me not to think more highly of myself than I ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, according to the measure of faith which you have assigned me.I know that I am but one member in the body of Christ, and while important, no more important than any other.For as in one body, we have many members, and all members do not have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of..Continue reading→
A Holy Temple
PassageRomans 12:1-2 PrayerDear Father, dweller of my temple,Please give me the mind of Christ and make my body a temple of the spirit of holiness which is his.Make me holy through and through. May my whole spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless by your power until the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.I trust you to do this because you are the one who has called me, and you are faithful. Your word says that you will do it!By the authority of Jesus and in his name I ask for this growth in grace...Continue reading→
Questions & Answers
Should Christians Judge Others Outside The Church?
Is it right for Christians to judge those outside of the church? Church Discipline The Bible teaches through the Apostle Peter that “it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God” (1st Pet 4:17)? We know that the outcome will be utterly horrible for them, and since “the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner” (1st Pet 4:18), but does this mean we’re to ..Continue reading→
The Salvation Equation: The Simple Relationship Between Faith and Works
I’ve taken many missions trips to the great state of Utah. Our high school and adult teams have had the opportunity to talk with many LDS and Christian believers about the nature of salvation. Many of our conversations centered on the relationship between faith and works. Christianity is unique in its characterization of salvation as the free gift of God: Ephesians 2:8-9 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, s..Continue reading→
Who Are The Nestorians And What Is Nestorianism?
What is Nestorianism? Who are the Nestorians? What do we need to know about them? The Nestorians A Nestorian is a member of a “Christian” sect that originated in Syria and Asia Minor around 386 to 451. A Nestorian believes that since there were two natures in Christ, both the flesh and the Divine, or His divinity, there must be two people or persons loosely united in this union but under conflict. They didn’t see the unity in Christ’s fleshly body and His being God; rather they emphasized the d..Continue reading→
How Can You Start Your Own Ministry?
How can you, even being one person, start your own ministry? Trial and Error I should have received more training or read more on the subject of starting a ministry before I began one, because I was a comedy of errors along the way. My first ministry was actually started by God’s providence because I wasn’t planning on beginning a nursing home ministry. It just worked out that way. One of our elderly church members broke her hip. Sadly, she was never going to be able to return to church, so I t..Continue reading→
Hot Topics
12 Trends That Shaped U.S. Religion Since the ’70s
“Attitudes toward homosexuality and sexual identity have been transformed, obviously, with far-reaching consequences for religious movements of all kinds. Religious groups have had to confront gay-related issues in their own ranks and also had to decide their attitudes to public policy.” What are the most significant changes and megatrends that have occurred in the U.S. since the mid-1970s? If you imagine someone time traveling between the eras, what would strike them? What was not tolerated t..Continue reading→
No Little Women: Know What We’ve Got Before She’s Gone
“It is abnormal for men, as effeminate as many are today, to actually be feminine, and frankly, impossible. What woman has inside her can only be cheaply imitated by a man to another man. She alone can shine as female from within. Only Hannah can cry and sing over motherhood. Only Abigail can slow down David and make him marvel at her delicate influence.” Jennifer Marie, my dear wife, died on the fourteenth of September last year.[1] She was thirty-eight. We had barely made it to our eighteenth..Continue reading→
The Inconceivable Start of African-American Christianity
“It is a remarkable event not merely because of the risks incurred (200 lashes of the whip often awaited those caught at such a meeting) but because of the hurdles overcome merely to arrive at this moment. For decades all manner of people and circumstances conspired against African Americans even hearing the gospel, let alone responding to it in freedom and joy.” Peter Randolph, a slave in Prince George County, Virginia, until he was freed in 1847, described the secret prayer meetings he had at..Continue reading→
They Devoted Themselves to Prayer
“Prayer continued to mark apostolic ministry. Burdened with administering relief for widows, the apostles declared they must not leave the ministry of the word and prayer to serve tables. They asked the church to choose seven men. They appointed them to lead this mercy ministry and ordained them in prayer.” From the Mount of Olives, where Jesus ascended to heaven, the disciples went to a prayer meeting. They met in a familiar upstairs room in Jerusalem. All 11 apostles and the women who had bee..Continue reading→
Women
Latasha Morrison: The Church Is the ‘Only Place Equipped to Do Racial Reconciliation Well’
The founder of Be the Bridge reveals her vision for solving America's race problem.Continue reading→
Listening for God’s Holy Whisper
Some days we need a cheerleader—someone to pick up the pompoms on our behalf. Someone to say, “Keep going, you can do this!” when we feel like giving up. Then there are other days—days when we need that gentle voice of encouragement from someone who knows us well. That’s when we need someone to say, “I know this feels hard, but you did the right thing.” And then there are the days when you just need someone to tell you the truth.Continue reading→
When Women Blame Men for Domestic Stress, They Miss the Big Picture
The gender wars inspire finger-pointing. The gospel offers another way.Continue reading→
Life & Society
Trump At National Prayer Breakfast: ‘As Long As We Have God, We Are Never, Ever Alone’
President Trump used a speech at the National Prayer Breakfast to repeat his pledge to abolish the Johnson Amendment that prevents religious organisations engaging in political campaigning.Continue reading→
Evangelical Jerry Falwell Jr To Head Education Task Force For Trump
Prominent Evangelical leader Jerry Falwell Jr. has been appointed to lead an education reform task force under U.S President Donald Trump. Falwell is keen to cut university regulations, including those that deal with campus sexual assault.Continue reading→
Archbishop Of Canterbury ‘Glad’ To Meet Trump: ‘I Would Try To Change His Mind’
The Archbishop of Canterbury would be "very glad" to meet Donald Trump and try and "persuade him to change his views" if the US president came to the UK on a state visit.Continue reading→
New York Gov. Seeks to Enshrine Abortion in State Constitution in Case Roe v. Wade Overturned
ALBANY, N.Y. — The Democratic governor of New York is calling for lawmakers to pass a bill enshrining abortion as a right in the state Constitution in the event that the U.S. Supreme Court ever overturns Roe v. Wade. “As they threaten this nation with a potential Supreme Court nomination that will reverse Roe v. Wade, I want them to know today: If that’s what they do, we’re going to protect Roe v. Wade in the state of New York,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo declared at a “I Stand With Planned Parenthood” ..Continue reading→
Persecution
Report: Global Christian Persecution Rose for Third Year in a Row in 2016
SANTA ANA, Calif. — A watchdog organization that releases a report each year on the global persecution of Christians says that acts of hostility against believers rose for the third year in a row in 2016, with persecution in South and Southeast Asia particularly rising to “unprecedented levels.” “For Christians in the West, the Open Doors World Watch List is a clear indicator that we need to advocate on behalf of those who do not have the same religious freedom privileges we do,” said David Cur..Continue reading→
Christian in Algeria Sentenced to Prison for Islamic Cartoons on Facebook
Photo Credit: Mohamed BengueddaTIZI-OUZOU, Algeria (Morning Star News) – A judge in Algeria has reduced from five years to one year a prison sentence for a Christian convicted of offending Islam with cartoons on his Facebook page. Samir Chamek, a 33-year-old theater actor in Algeria’s northern area of Wilaya de Bouira, had been sentenced to five years and a fine of 100,000 Algerian dinars (US$900) last year under Article 144 of the country’s 2006 law outlawing any “writing, drawing, statement o..Continue reading→
Sudan Officials Ignore Order to Remove Government-Imposed Church Leaders
Photo Credit: OCHA(Morning Star News) – After more than three years, the leadership of the Sudan Presbyterian Evangelical Church (SPEC) remains in the hands of government-appointed committee members even after a court ruled in November that the appointments were illegal, sources said. Sudan’s Ministry of Guidance and Religious Endowment appointed a group to run the SPEC offices on May 13, 2013, in what the prior church leaders called a bid to control church activities and rid the country of Chr..Continue reading→
Nigerian Christians Face Pressure to Abandon Faith
(World Watch Monitor) — While violent attacks on Christians at the hands of Islamist militants Boko Haram and the Fulani herdsmen in the northeast and Middle Belt of Nigeria have captured media attention, the persistent social pressures Christians face elsewhere go mostly unnoticed. Despite common misperceptions that they are a minority across the north of Nigeria, Christians still form the majority in half of the 12 northern states now all under Islamic law (although they are in theory exempt ..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
NFL Player Ben Watson Tells March for Life: “We Must End the Unthinkable Practice of Abortion”
Joining hundreds of thousands of people at the March for Life today is NFL star Ben Watson. The Baltimore Ravens tight end has been using his fame not to speak for himself but to speak up for the most vulnerable lives in America – babies in the womb. “Abortion will not end until men stand up” for women and babies in the womb, Watson challenged the crowd during the 44th annual March for Life in Washington, D.C. “We must end the unthinkable practice of abortion in the United States of America.” ..
March for Life President: The Only Number I Care About Is The 58 Million Babies Killed By Abortion
While the theme of this year’s March for Life was “The Power of One,” March President Jeanne Mancini seemed keen to take the focus off of crowd numbers and overall statistics and focus on the big picture: 58 million babies have been aborted in the United States since 1973. Mancini immediately dismissed any comparison to last week’s Women’s March on Washington, saying that the organizers were not concerned with crowd size or likes on social networks. Instead, Mancini said that the only number th..
Trump Advisor Kellyanne Conway Tells March for Life: President Donald Trump “Stands With You”
Kellyanne Conway, a top adviser to President Donald Trump, told hundreds of thousands of people at the March for Life that the president stands with them in their battle against abortion. “Steps away from here in the White House, a president and a vice president sit at their desks and make decisions for the nation,” Conway told the crowd. “As they sit there, they stand here with you.” “Their impassioned defense of life as presidential candidates showed a nation that courage and commitment can ..
Kingdom Roots with Dennis Venema, Genomist
Please listen to this to hear Dennis Venema’s story about changing toward evolution.
US
The Christmas wars throughout history
A new book by Gerry Bowler entitled Christmas in the Crosshairs: Two Thousand Years of Denouncing and Defending the World’s Most Celebrated Holiday points out that the “Christmas wars”–the conflict between secular and religious observances of Christmas–have been going on throughout the history of Christianity. The Bishop of Amasea complained in 400 A.D. about how Christmas presents make children greedy. St. Augustine complained about the commercialization of Christmas. And Christians have long c..
Person of the Year
Time Magazine’s Person of the Year is Donald Trump. Of course it was. Who else could it be? One of our end-of-the-year customs here at the Cranach blog–along with making predictions and checking last year’s predictions–is to make our own proposals for Person of the Year. Trump is clearly, in the words of Time’s criteria, “the person who had the greatest influence, for better or worse, on the events of the year.” Feel free to comment on whether you think his influence will be “for better or worse..
Ancient scientists helping modern scientists
Contrary to the stereotypes about ancient and medieval knowledge and totally contradicting Mark Twain’s depiction in Connecticut Yankee of King Arthur’s court panicking over an eclipse, the scientists of yore were keen observers of the heavens. They kept meticulous records of things like eclipses and analyzed them mathematically. Now astronomers from 2016 A.D. are using data recorded by the Babylonians in 136 B.C. to determine that the earth’s rate of rotation has slowed down. They are also maki..
From “the most humiliating year in our history” to victory
Today is the 75th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. The Daily Oklahoman has a fascinating and moving feature looking not only at the coverage of that event but of its anniversary through the war years and beyond. We often forget that the first year of the war we were losing. The editorial for December 7, 1942, called it “the bitterest and most humiliating year in our history.” The next year’s paper was sober but more upbeat. Then we see optimism. In 1945 we see the exuberance–and relief..