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→
Daily Verses
Deuteronomy 10:21 (10-21-16)
He is thy praise, and he is thy God, that hath done for thee these great and terrible things, which thine eyes have seen.— Deuteronomy 10:21 (KJV) Thoughts on Today's Verse... He is our praise! The God who parted the Red Sea and supplied manna to the Israelites in the wilderness is also the God who did the most amazing miracles in us — he has turned our selfish hearts to do his will and turned our lives to do his eternal work in the world. Then, after doing those things in us, he ha..Continue reading→
Love Written in Red
God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16, NKJVFor God so loved you that He gave His Son, His only Son, the Son Whom He loved – He gave heaven’s most precious Treasure – He gave everything He had – in order to offer you eternal life. Do you doubt the love of God? Why? Because of the bad things that He allows to happen to good people? Because of the unfairness and injustice and unkindness and mi..Continue reading→
Psalm 40:8
“I desire to do your will, my God; your law is within my heart.””Continue reading→
Deuteronomy 10:20 (10-20-16)
Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God; him shalt thou serve, and to him shalt thou cleave...— Deuteronomy 10:20 (KJV) Thoughts on Today's Verse... What do you find yourself holding onto most often? What is your source of security, reassurance, hope, and stability in times of trouble? What do you encourage folks to do and who do you encourage them to hold onto during times of trouble? My Prayer... Dear God and Abba Father, please be with a number of people I know that are un..Continue reading→
Patiently Waiting
God remembered Noah and all the wild animals and the livestock that were with him in the ark, and he sent a wind over the earth, and the waters receded. Genesis 8:1, NIV When the text says God “remembered,” it simply means the time had come for God to act on His own initiative, which required nothing of Noah except patient waiting. I wonder if Noah was just going about the chores he had been doing every day for weeks and months, feeding the animals, cleaning the stalls, when he was startled by ..Continue reading→
Daily Wisdom
Proverbs 11:12 (11-12-16)
He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbour: but a man of understanding holdeth his peace. — Proverbs 11:12 (KJV) Thoughts on Today's Verse... Wise folks don't have to prove their wisdom by disrespecting others and putting them down. Instead, they hold their tongues and let their lives speak what is good, honorable, righteous, and true. In a world of sarcasm and in a culture that is attracted to the person who can put down others with quick and razor-sharp "put downs," we..Continue reading→
Colossians 1:9
“For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,”Continue reading→
1 Corinthians 11:11 (11-11-16)
Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord.— 1 Corinthians 11:11 (KJV) Thoughts on Today's Verse... "We are all one in Christ Jesus!" Paul told the Galatians (Galatians 3:26-29). Satan, however, constantly tries to divide God's people. One of his most effective means of division has been to divide men and women — whether in families or churches. Paul reminds us that if Jesus is our Lord, we recognize we need each other and ..Continue reading→
We Can See God
No one has ever seen God, . . . God the One and only [Son], who is at the Father's side, has made him known. John 1:18, NIVAll through the ages people have longed to actually see God. They have drawn pictures and written books and composed music and constructed temples, all for the purpose of unveiling the mystery of what He is like. But we are no longer left to our imaginations, wondering in educated ignorance. We can know for sure. Although “no one has ever seen God, . . . God the One..Continue reading→
Prayers
Daily Prayer for October 10
...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood – to be received by faith. Romans 3:23–25a, NIV Lord our God, we praise your name because you have set up a mercy seat on earth, because you forgive our sins through the blood of Jesus Christ. May your mercy be seen at work in many hearts. Shed your light upon all ..Continue reading→
Lord, We Pray
Lord, we pray that your grace may always precede and follow us, that we may continually be given to good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. BCPContinue reading→
The Greatness of God
Passage: Ephesians 1:17-20 Prayer: Dear Father, God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of Glory.Give me a spirit of wisdom and of revelation so that I may truly know the Savior.Let the eyes of my heart light up with comprehension, that I may know how vast is the hope to which you have called me!May I come to know how truly boundless are the riches of your glorious inheritance that you have in us, your special people.May I understand to its depth how immeasurable is the greatness of your power in u..Continue reading→
Daily Prayer for October 9
They were standing by the sea of glass, holding harps that God had given them and singing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb: "Lord God Almighty, how great and wonderful are your deeds! King of the nations, how right and true are your ways! Who will not stand in awe of you, Lord? Who will refuse to declare your greatness? You alone are holy. All the nations will come and worship you, because your just actions are seen by all." Revelation 15:2b–4, TEV O Lord God, we t..Continue reading→
Questions & Answers
Who Was The Angel Of The Lord?
Who was the “Angel of the Lord” mentioned so often in Scriptures? Angels The word “angel” simply means a “messenger of God” for a messenger from God and in both the Old Testament and the New Testament, angels are always messengers of God or His representatives, depending upon the situation. Angels are powerful spirit beings that can, with God’s command, appear in human form. One angel is powerful enough to kill 185,000 soldiers in one quick passing (2 Kings 19:35) so this may be why the author ..Continue reading→
14 Good Bible Discussion Questions About Faith
Here are 14 good Bible discussions on the subject of faith. 1. Why is it hard to have faith in God? When a man came up to Jesus to discuss his mute son, he told Him, “I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able” (Mark 9:18b) so “Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief” (Mark 9:23-24). The son’s father said he believed but then says, “Help my unbelief” b..Continue reading→
Sorcery Bible Definition
One of the most common images around Halloween is that of an old witch huddled over a boiling cauldron creating a potion. Likewise, sorcerers, are depicted as having special powers and using potions that cause supernatural things to happen or mythical creatures to respond to their beckoning. In either case, the witch or sorcerer is the one that has the power to make these thing happen. Given the popularity of sorcery in popular media and literature, it is important to understand what does the Bi..Continue reading→
What Is The 10th (Tenth) Commandment In The Bible?
What is the 10th Commandment in the Bible? Is this Commandment still in effect today? The Ten Commandments When Moses brought down the Ten Commandments to Israel, they had already broken most of them by the time he came down the mountain, but these commandments were not from Moses but from God, written by God Himself in tablets of stone, which signifies their permanence. Moses did bring some laws and these were the Mosaic Laws but even these weren’t his ideas but from God, however the Mosaic La..Continue reading→
Hot Topics
Incarnation or Reincarnation
The human male baby, born of a woman created in God’s image, is what the Creator gives us at Christmas time. Jesus is the perfect image of who we were meant to be. Thus, we need the incarnation, not reincarnation. We need the final revelation of God in human form, who, bearing our sins, died on the Cross for us and was raised from the dead in newness of life. Incarnation or Reincarnation? The “no crying” chubby little thing in the manger, captured with Hallmark brilliance, fails to express the..Continue reading→
Are Short-Term Mission Trips a Waste of Time and Money?
“If $1,500 per teenager has to be raised so that a youth group can go on a short-term mission trip we need to make sure that it was worth the investment! A sure way of doing this is to make sure that, in addition to whatever humanitarian projects are being done, the lost are being reached and the believers are being energized, encouraged and, maybe even equipped, to share the Gospel!” Okay, I know this is a powderkeg subject. There are two very divergent views when it comes to this question. O..Continue reading→
Major New Research Devastating to Abortion; Times Flips It the Other Way Around
Researchers compared mental health outcomes for women who had been granted abortions and those who had been denied it due to the baby’s gestational age. It found that those who seek abortions have similar mental health outcomes whether they are granted the abortion or denied it for reasons of law or policy beyond their control. Abortion proponents have been telling us for years the damage it would do to women if abortion were made illegal. Now a major gold-standard study has shown that argument..Continue reading→
Zero Gee and I Feel Fine … Remembering John Glenn
I was born on May 5, 1961, the day the first American, Alan Shepard, was launched into space atop a Redstone rocket. Shepard did not orbit the Earth but took a 300-mile parabolic trajectory—a short hop that got him to the edge of space. In the day, NASA did not announce who would fly on each mission until a day or two before the launch. Not knowing who would be tapped for the mission, my parents planned to name me after both John Glenn and Alan Shepard. The man for whom I was named has died. Jo..Continue reading→
Life & Society
3 Misconceptions That Are Turning America’s Youth Off Christianity
What is happening to today's Christian youth? The differences between the churchgoing kids of the past and today's churchgoing youth have become quite stark, according to the American Family Association (AFA). The group pins the blame for this on three misconceptions that are leading today's children away from Christianity.Continue reading→
Hillsong’s Worship Leader Shares Secret to Leading With Energy and Passion
Anybody who has ever seen Hillsong's worship leader Jonathan Douglas, JD for short, can attest to the fact that he is one of the most energetic and passionate worship leaders in their team.Continue reading→
2 Reasons Why Christians Should Stop Arguing With Atheists
It looks like atheists are pulling out all the stops in riling up Christians. This year, they put up a billboard claiming that people will have a "merrier" Christmas if they skip church services.Continue reading→
Bush-Appointed Judge Halts Law Banning Dumping Babies in Trash Over ‘Likely’ ‘Burden’ to Abortion
AUSTIN, Texas — A federal judge appointed to the bench by Republican President George H.W. Bush has halted a Texas rule banning the disposal of aborted babies with medical waste, following legal criteria for an emergency injunction that requires judges to rule based on the “likelihood” that the complainant will succeed on the merits of the case. U.S. District Court Judge Sam Sparks issued the injunction on Thursday during a hearing that was described as “testy.” According to the Austin Statesm..Continue reading→
Music
Tidal Wave (Single) by Rapture Ruckus
Track Listing 01. Tidal Wave Continue reading→
Behold: A Christmas Collection by Lauren Daigle
Award-winning singer/songwriter LAUREN DAIGLE, will release her first-ever Christmas album titled BEHOLD, on October 21 via Centricity Music. Produced by Paul Mabury and Jason Ingram, the style of the holiday album pays homage to the sounds of Lauren's hometown of New Orleans. Featuring soft jazz renditions of Christmas favorites, BEHOLD includes such classics as "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas," "Silent Night," "O Come All Ye Faithful," "What Child Is This," "O Holy Night," and more; in addition to an original composition titled "Light of the World", which was written by Paul Mabury and Jason Ingram. Pre-orders for the album[...]Continue reading→
Majesty In A Manger by Various Artists
The Integrity Music family of artists and writers have come together to start a new tradition celebrating Emmanuel, God With Us, in worship with Majesty In A Manger. It's a collection of original songs that focus on the coming of Jesus Christ from artists and writers like, Paul Baloche, All Sons Daughters, Darlene Zschech, Seth Nirva, Travis Ryan, Michael Farren and more. This is a worship album that was created with the intent that churches around the world can adopt these songs as we celebrate Jesus' birth. From the soulful sounds of newcomers Seth Nirva on "Fill The[...]Continue reading→
Adventure by Matthew Parker
Track Listing 01. Adventure 02. Ghost 03. Unstoppable (feat. Micah Ariss) 04. I Ain't Got No Money (feat. Spencer Kane) 05. Down In Flames 06. Heaven Calling 07. Night Sky 08. Remember Me (feat. Tristan Peace) 09. System Victim (feat. Hillary Jane) 10. Spark (feat. Rapture Ruckus) 11. Gone 12. Dynasty (feat. Cash Hollistah) 13. Tidal Wave (feat. Micah Ariss) 14. Fly (feat. Twilight Meadow) 15. My Love Continue reading→
You Wouldn’t Believe What Privilege Costs by CIVILIAN
A follow-up to 2012s Should This Noose Unloosen, YWBWPC's ringing guitars and sonorous vocals sway with austere, precise drumming while thoughtful bass paints outside the lines. Unlike its predecessor, "all of these songs were written after having just fallen ass over tip for a gal" as Alexander so eloquently puts it. "I wrote with the same intention to, through art, add nuance to how we talk about government and poverty except this time my brain was drenched in dopamine and serotonin."[...]Continue reading→
Never Lose Sight by Chris Tomlin
Often called America's Worship Leader, Chris Tomlin returns with his new album, NEVER LOSE SIGHT, on October 21. As the songwriter behind the worship favorites "How Great Is Our God," "Our God," and "Whom Shall I Fear," Chris' songs lead people to the heart of Jesus and into a deeper worship of Him. Featuring "Good Good Father" and the new single "Jesus," this brand new album is filled with songs that draw us closer to Jesus and give voice to our praises, prayers, cries and hopes.[...]Continue reading→
Marc Martel Announces ‘The Silent Night EP’
Marc Martel, former co-vocalist of Canadian Christian contemporary pop/rock band Downhere, is preparing to release a new Christmas EP. Entitled The Silent Night EP, the EP will feature Martel's signature vocals set to several classic Christmas carols. Martel has already been dropping a few songs as singles these past few Christmases, in the form of "O Holy Night" and "O Come O Come Emmanuel." Both of those will be featured on the EP alongside new arrangements of "In the Bleak Midwinter," "..Continue reading→
Switchfoot Releases Surprise Live Album
Switchfoot pulled off one of the best-kept surprises of Christian music in recent years and released a new live album on Friday, October 21. Fans had previously been given no indication that the band was planning such a release. Live in Chicago The Looking for America Tour marks Switchfoot's first major live album in 7 years, since 2009's The Best Yet Live in Nashville. Featuring cuts from their critically-acclaimed new album Where The Light Shines Through as well as several of the b..Continue reading→
David Dunn Debuts Music Video For New Single ‘I Wanna Go Back’
BEC Recordings' David Dunn has debuted the music video for his new single, "I Wanna Go Back," from his forthcoming early 2017 release Yellow Balloons. Click below to watch the music video. This single is currently the No. 2 most added song at AC radio for the second week in a row with 25 adds. Click here to get the single at digital outlets. RELATED BEC Recordings Announces New Artist Signing, David Dunn "'I Wanna Go Back' is a song of nostalgia, of longing for the time in my li..Continue reading→