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
Isaiah 1:18
““Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.”Continue reading→
Deuteronomy 11:8 (11-08-16)
Therefore shall ye keep all the commandments which I command you this day, that ye may be strong, and go in and possess the land, whither ye go to possess it...— Deuteronomy 11:8 (KJV) Thoughts on Today's Verse... God's desire that we obey his will is not arbitrary, impulsive, or demanding. He simply wants us to reflect his character, find his blessings, and receive his strength. Let's not look at obedience merely as something we must do, but as a blessing we get to discov..Continue reading→
Heavenly Treasure
Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. Matthew 6:20, NIV Gold is one of our most precious commodities. We hoard gold, we wear gold, we invest in gold, we work hard for more gold – we love gold! We sacrifice our families, our friends, our reputations, our health – all so that we can increase our supply of earthly treasures. We want to buy more things . . . so we can dust more things so we can break more thing..Continue reading→
Joshua 24:15
“But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.””Continue reading→
Psalm 11:7 (11-07-16)
For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright.— Psalm 11:7 (KJV) Thoughts on Today's Verse... Can you think of any greater promise for those who seek to be righteous and just? We will see God face to face! Incredible. What a blessing! What a future! What an incredible Father! So let's seek our Abba Father, the LORD God, with all heart and soul and mind and strength until that day that we get to see him as he is, face-to-face with God in al..Continue reading→
Daily Wisdom
Matthew 11:27-28 (11-27-16)
All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him. Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.— Matthew 11:27-28 (KJV) Thoughts on Today's Verse... True rest comes from knowing God. King David reminds us of this in Psalm 23. Jesus makes it clear again. Only Jesus can fully reveal God to us. Only Jesus can take awa..Continue reading→
Colossians 3:16
“Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.”Continue reading→
John 11:26 (11-26-16)
And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?— John 11:26 (KJV) Thoughts on Today's Verse... Several days ago, we emphasized that Christians who died physically were never really separated from their relationship with God's loving presence. Today, Jesus challenges us to believe a very similar thing. Do you believe that the real, living part of you made by God will never die even though your physical body dies? It's an incredible thought, is..Continue reading→
Shaped by God
The Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living being. Genesis 2:7, NIVThe Hebrew word for “formed” is yatsar, which means “to mold.” It is the same word used to describe a potter molding and shaping clay. The description reveals that while God spoke the worlds into space, the planets into orbit, the earth on its axis, the seas within their boundaries, the sun, moon, and stars to appear in the sky, the trees and..Continue reading→
Prayers
Daily Prayer for November 1
Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. Colossians 3:16, NIV Dear Father in heaven, we seek you and your kingdom. We gather to hear your Word so that we may receive strength for our own lives and for all our relationships with others. We want to stand firm, believing that in everything great and small your will is being done and that we ma..Continue reading→
A Clean Mind
PassageEphesians 5:5 PrayerDear Father, Holy God,You have warned me that I can be sure of this: that no fornicator or impure person, or one who is covetous (idolatrous!) has any inheritance in the kingdom that belongs to you and Christ.Furthermore, keep me from enjoying as entertainment the depiction of such things in books or magazines, or on the stage or on television.Help me to understand that most of what comes through these media is from the minds and imaginations of unregenerate people, wh..Continue reading→
Daily Prayer for October 31
Let those who fear the Lord say: "His love endures forever." When hard pressed, I cried to the Lord; he brought me into a spacious place. The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? Psalm 118:4–6, NIV Lord our God, dear Father in heaven, we thank you. How often you rescue us from all fear and distress! How often you hear and answer us! Grant that our hearts may always be eager and joyful because you answer us. There is nothing else for us in this world; you are our..Continue reading→
A Clean Mouth
PassageEphesians 5:3-4 PrayerDear Father,Keep me from talking about or thinking about illicit sex and pornography and covetousness, since you require that your holy people avoid referring to these things.Keep me from filthy stories, silly or flippant talk, and any other kind of conversation not fitting for one who follows you.Instead, let my mouth be filled with - thanksgiving!In the name of Jesus I ask for the purity of mind and spirit that was in him. And I give you thanks. Amen. Devotional pr..Continue reading→
Christian Quotes
Neill: the Church in the Gospel
Sunday, June 26, 2016 Meditation: To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. —Ephesians 3:8-10 (ESV) Quotation: Theologically, we have been discovering anew t..Continue reading→
Fuller: God’s work, God’s way
Saturday, June 25, 2016 Meditation: Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. —2 Corinthians 4:1-2 (ESV) Quotation: God’s own work must be done by God’s own ways. Otherwise, we can take no comfort in obtaining the end, if we cannot justify..Continue reading→
Newman: pray for a perfect heart
Friday, June 24, 2016 Feast of the Birth of John the Baptist Meditation: I will sing of mercy and judgment: unto thee, O LORD, will I sing. I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart. —Psalm 101:1-2 (KJV) Quotation: Pray Him to give you what Scripture calls “an honest and good heart,” or “a perfect heart;” and, without waiting, begin at once to obey Him with the best heart you have. Any obedience is bette..Continue reading→
Tozer: continuous prayer
Thursday, June 23, 2016 Feast of Etheldreda, Abbess of Ely, c.678 Meditation: Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. —Hebrews 4:16 (NIV) Quotation: God desires and is pleased to communicate with us through the avenues of our minds, our wills, and our emotions. The continuous and unembarrassed interchange of love and thought between God and the souls of the redeemed men and women is the throbbing he..Continue reading→
Questions & Answers
Top 7 Bible Verses Peer Pressure
Here are seven Bible verses that relate to peer pressure and how to avoid it. Romans 12:2 “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” The word for “conformed” as used in the command to not be conformed to this world could better be rendered, “do not let the world squeeze you into its form” so we are told to not let the world conform us or shape us but rathe..Continue reading→
Why Did Jacob Wrestle With God In The Bible?
Why would Jacob choose to wrestle against God? Didn’t he know he would lose? Wrestling against Spirit The Apostle Paul tells us that we’re wrestling, but hopefully, not against God. No, “we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Eph 6:12) and without putting on the armor that God’s provided for us (Eph 6:13-18). It’s impossible to ..Continue reading→
What Defensive Tactics Training Can Teach Us About Defending Christianity
Police officers train obsessively. Our state certification organization requires us to stay up to date and tests us consistently to see if we are still competent in a number of areas. From firearms qualification to driver’s training to legal updates, each officer is required to spend hundreds of hours learning and practicing necessary skills over the course of a career. Along the way, we spend many hours engaged in “defensive tactics” training. Beyond our academy preparation, officers must conti..Continue reading→
10 Important Bible Verses About Betrayal
Here are ten important Bible verses about betrayal. Luke 22:4 “He went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers how he might betray him to them.” This was right after Judas left the Passover meal when Satan entered Judas (Luke 22:3) and tragically, “He went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers how he might betray him to them. And they were glad, and agreed to give him money. So he consented and sought an opportunity to betray him to them in the absence of a crow..Continue reading→
Church & Ministries
The Leaders Of Africa’s Anglican Christian Churches Are ‘Despotic’ Says Nigerian Archbishop
The Archbishop who heads the leadership team at the Anglican Communion has confessed he took the job because he felt called to do something to address the "disagreement and even hatred" between fellow Anglicans.Continue reading→
In the Christmas Season Remember, God Is For You
“But the angel reassured them. ‘Don’t be afraid!’ he said. ‘I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people’” (Luke 2:10 NLT). Knowing God is for you will change your whole perspective on life. You’ll stop thinking of God as someone looking down from Heaven, ready to yell “Gotcha!” any time you mess up. God is for your success in life; he created you for a purpose, and he wants you to succeed. It is God, your Creator, who will measure your success in life, and no one else. This ..Continue reading→
How to Let Go of Loneliness
Christmastime is, for the most part, an enjoyable season for most people. But, for many of us, it’s a season of painful memories, depression and loneliness. Sometimes we choose to isolate ourselves from others and sometimes we face loneliness through no fault of our own. Loneliness is so painful that people will try anything to relieve it. We medicate with drugs, alcohol, sexual promiscuity, pornography, and other addictive behaviors. Loneliness can be especially dangerous to people in recovery..Continue reading→
Earthquakes And Migrant Drownings Recalled In Vatican Nativity Scene
The annual Vatican Christmas nativity tableau this year includes a poignant reminder of an Italian tragedy: a spire from one of the churches damaged and destroyed in this year's earthquakes.Continue reading→
Hot Topics
The “Grievous Sin” of Neglecting the Church (Ames)
For this reason the Westminster Confession notes that outside of the church “there is no ordinary possibility of salvation” (25.2). This doesn’t mean that a Christian who cannot possibly join with the fellowship is lost (for example, there are Christians in some prisons who have no way of being part of the church or fellowship). But it does mean that those who willfully refuse to be part of a church are putting their souls in grave danger. Why? Because neglecting the assembly is a multi-layered ..Continue reading→
20 Things in 20 Years
Christ must be the center: We sang the hymn Be Thou My Vision at our wedding ceremony twenty years ago. When we chose the hymn, how little did I know how important having Christ as our vision would be! Christ must be the center of marriage for it to thrive. He must be first. After all, marriage is a reflection of the relationship between Christ and his church. We can’t reflect to a watching world who Christ is and what he has done if he is not central. A lot of things can happen in the space o..Continue reading→
Ciceronian Time Call for Ciceronian Voices
To address the present we surely need to avoid the clichéd pieties of political correctness that serve only to bolster special interests. But we must also resist the simplistic populist rhetoric of reaction. We have to address the present by drawing on the history and culture of our past. And we must do so in a public way that calls out those who abuse their power while giving good arguments to those who wish to work for a deeper, greater good than the myopic vision offered by the regnant gospel..Continue reading→
Sinner Theologians
“In the first place it must impact the way we do theology. We handle the infallible truth of the divine revelation, but do so as those who ourselves are flawed in our ability to grasp that truth in its fullness and interconnectedness.” It has been on my mind for quite a while to post an article on ‘sinner theologians’, but I hesitated because of its potential for being misconstrued. However, having just received the latest issue of the Westminster Theological Journal and having read a review ar..Continue reading→
Life & Society
Tragedy Drives New York Man to Give ‘Safe Haven’ to Thousands of Babies
LEVITTOWN, N.Y. (Associated Press) – To untold numbers of children, he’s simply Uncle Tim. Nearly 3,300 babies across the country who otherwise might have been abandoned and perhaps died have found homes in the past 17 years, thanks in part to the efforts of Tim Jaccard, a retired New York police ambulance medic who grew weary of responding to calls of dead infants abandoned in trash cans and alleys. “To hold a newborn infant in your arms and have to pronounce that child dead is heart-wrenchin..Continue reading→
Queen Misses Christmas Church For First Time In Nearly 30 Years
The Queen will miss the Christmas Day church service at Sandringham for the first time in almost 30 years.Continue reading→
Hillsong’s ‘Naked Cowboy’ Appears as Half-Naked Santa at ‘Christmas Tropical Party’
The youth leader at Hillsong NYC, who generated controversy earlier this year after appearing at a Christian women’s conference as a look-alike to the city’s famed “Naked Cowboy,” recently was photographed at a “Christmas tropical party” again half-naked—a photo that was later deleted following concerns. Esther Houston, the wife of Joel Houston, who serves as the leader of the popular worship band Hillsong United and co-pastor of Hillsong NYC, posted the photo to her Instagram this week with th..Continue reading→
Catholic Health Educator Fired After She Chose Not to Teach Students About Contraceptives
Catholic health educator Karen "Alexia" Palma refused to compromise her principles by choosing not to teach students about contraceptives. As a result, she was fired from her job.Continue reading→
Music
Beyond Control by Kings Kaleidoscope
King's Kaleidoscope: an amalgamation of members as frenzied and flawless as the band's sound. The group is comprised of up to ten musicians, each bringing different musical genres to the table. Any number of instruments can be found in the bands lineup at a given time: A string trio, horns section, two drummers, flute, vibraphone, guitars and vintage synths weave an incredibly detailed musical tapestry. With each song, King's Kaleidoscope presents orchestral, overwhelmingly imaginative compositions that continuously bounce and overlap musical genres. With roaring horns, looped drums, chopped and reverbed orchestral notes and vocal melodies, King's Kaleidoscope takes each listener through[...]Continue reading→
Shine On Us by Vineyard Music
Shine On Us was recorded LIVE at Cause Con 2016, a 3-day catalytic conference launching young adults further into God's kingdom calling on their lives. Over 500 from across the US converged in Kansas City, MO to worship, connect, inspire, and engage in something bigger than themselves: a #Cause2Live4.[...]Continue reading→
Ivan Parker is ‘Dancing in the Rain’
Dancing in the Rain, the Difference Media debut from one of Southern Gospel's most beloved vocalists, Ivan Parker, is slated to bow July 29. Produced by Garry Jones (Brian Free, Canton Junction), the project marks Parker's 16th solo recording in a career spanning more than three decades. Featuring writing credits from such top names as Tony Wood, Sue C. Smith and Joel Hemphill, among others, highlights of Dancing in the Rain include the title cut; "Walk My Way" (feat. Canton Junction); "Let Me Take You To The Cross"; "That's What Love Does"; "There's Healing"; and the deeply personal "Mama's Rocking Chair" (feat. Sandy Parker). "I have seen so many people around the world who need to be encouraged and hear something that's going to give them hope," Parker says of the project. "Lives are shattered and homes are broken every day, which is why I love singing[...]Continue reading→
Jason Gray Debuts At No. 5 On Billboard Charts With New Album
Jason Gray has reached the highest album debut of his career with his latest project, Where The Light Gets In that is ranked No. 5 on Billboard's Top Christian Albums Chart. The record also marks the first time that Gray has worked with nine producers for an album that includes Jason Ingram, Ben Glover, Paul Mabury and Coby Wedgeworth. Where The Light Gets In delivers 12 new songs co-written by Gray, including the new single "Sparrows." The song is already No. 20 on Billboard's National Christian Audience Chart (NCA) and includes new adds from KFSH/Los Angeles, CA, WBSN/New Orleans, LA and KAFC/Anchorage, AK. "Wow! I was so grateful to learn that Where The Light Gets In debuted at No. 5 on Billboard this week, the highest debut of any of my records," says Gray. "I'm so thankful to everyone on my team at Centricity Music and Eaglemont[...]Continue reading→
Casting Crowns Reveals New Album Cover
Casting Crowns has revealed the cover for their brand new album, The Very Next Thing, available for pre-order tomorrow (7/1). The Grammy-winning group first released the cover in an exclusive email to fans today, saying "we could not be more excited! And because we just can't wait, we're revealing the new album cover below just for you our email list! You're seeing it first and we hope you love it." The Very Next Thing follows 2014's critically acclaimed Thrive and last year's hymns album Glorious Day Hymns of Faith. Check the band's Facebook page for more information about special bundles that include the new record, t-shirts, vinyl and more. Continue reading→
Unspoken To Release New Album ‘Follow Through’ August 26th
Unspoken will release Follow Through, their second full album for Centricity Music, on August 26th. The project features four producers at the helm with Seth Mosley (Newsboys, Citizen Way), Tedd T (for King & Country, Mutemath), Christopher Stevens (TobyMac, Michael W. Smith) and Mitch Dane (Jars of Clay, Bebo Norman). With the release of Follow Through, Unspoken has found a place of new freedom to push the boundaries of their trademark sound, mixing in horns and electronic elements in fresh ways without altering the core of their musical identity. Follow Through evidences a forward leap of artistic evolution from the last record, blending hip hop, soul, pop and folk influences to tell the story of the season of life the band members have found themselves in over the last couple of years. Band members Chad Mattson, Jon Lowry and Mike Gomez co-wrote every song on the[...]Continue reading→
Skillet Releases Music Video For ‘Feel Invincible’
Today Skillet released a music video for "Feel Invincible," the lead single off their upcoming tenth studio album Unleashed, due out August 5th. Singer John Cooper says the song "represents the album in one facet really well [Unleashed] is full of crowd-chanting anthems. The album is very exciting to listen to. Driving beats and melodic choruses, whether it's hard rock or leaning toward pop." Cooper describes Unleashed as "quite diverse there are more extreme songs on both sides of the spectrum, meaning harder rock and even metal, but also pop and atmospheric tunes/sounds." "Feel Invincible" is just the beginning of a hot year for Skillet. The song already gained national attention when it was named the theme song for TBS' E-League, an eight-week live competitive video game tournament broadcast in over 80 countries. In the fall, the band[...]Continue reading→
Natalie Grant and Danny Gokey Join Forces for 2016 “Be One” Tour
Four-time GRAMMY® nominee and five-time Dove Award-winning Female Vocalist of the Year Natalie Grant is joining forces with two-time Dove nominee and K-LOVE's newly-named 2016 Male Artist of the Year Danny Gokey for the "Be One" Tour, slated for 13 cities this fall. Sponsored by ChildFund International, the "Be One" Tour also features special guest artist Tauren Wells and will kick off Oct. 13, in Stamford, Connecticut. Ticket information for the "Be One" Tour is available at BeOneTour.net...Continue reading→
For Today Announces Disbandment and Farewell Tour
Christian hardcore band For Today has announced in a facebook post that 2016 will be their final year. Along with the announcement, the band shared dates for an extensive farewell tour scheduled for the fall. The news follows their most recent release Wake by less than a year. "After over 11 years as a band, 6 full length albums and 1 EP, we have decided to make 2016 the last year of For Today," the heartfelt facebook post said. "When we started this band in 2005, we never imagined that our mus..Continue reading→