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
1 Corinthians 10:16 (10-16-16)
The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?— 1 Corinthians 10:16 (KJV) Thoughts on Today's Verse... The Apostle Paul makes clear that the heart of the Gospel is found in the death, burial, resurrection, and appearances of Jesus (1 Corinthians 15:1-8). The Lord's Supper, Communion or Eucharist as it is sometimes called, is a key part of our walk with Christ. It is a t..Continue reading→
Our Father Comes Alongside
If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Galatians 5:25, NKJV The Greek word for “comforter” is parakletos, which literally means one called alongside to help. This was beautifully illustrated in the 1992 Summer Olympics during a track-and-field event. As the runners in the 400-meter race flew around the oval track, one of them suddenly pulled up on the back stretch, one leg held up and dangling as he limped to a stop. He had pulled a hamstring! As the crowd stood, holding its c..Continue reading→
Psalm 19:14
“May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.”Continue reading→
Judges 10:15 (10-15-16)
And the children of Israel said unto the LORD, We have sinned: do thou unto us whatsoever seemeth good unto thee; deliver us only, we pray thee, this day.— Judges 10:15 (KJV) Thoughts on Today's Verse... When God's people realized the depth of their sin and the impending punishment by God, they repented and asked for his help. They didn't try to diminish the gravity of their sin. Instead, they threw themselves on the mercy of the LORD and his graciousness. Unfortunately to..Continue reading→
The Jewel of Creation
I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. John 10:10, NKJVIn the beginning, the Creator was not stingy with our environment. He filled it with life. Planet Earth was progressively transformed as every day God’s Word went forth and every day God’s Word was received. Each day’s change prepared the environment for the next day’s change until it was totally transformed. Yet it was as though it waited for something. In the same way a church sanctuary, all decora..Continue reading→
Daily Wisdom
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→
A Day of Rest
Work shall be done for six days, but the seventh is the Sabbath of rest, holy to the Lord. Exodus 31:15, NKJV Like a boat that would be tossed endlessly and aimlessly and dangerously on the open sea without an anchor, we need to anchor our lives as well. That anchor is devotion to God. God worked for six days during that first “week” then rested on the seventh: “And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done” (Gen. 2:3, NI..Continue reading→
Prayers
Daily Prayer for October 4
He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, "Ephphatha!" (which means "Be opened!"). At this, the man's ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly. Mark 7:34–35, NIV Father in heaven, we people on earth are poor and needy. We are deaf and dumb, but you rouse us every day and call to us, "Ephphatha." We thank you for this, in gladness for all you do for our sake. Help us to become united in expectation for the great day when our Lord Jesus Christ wil..Continue reading→
No Fear in Christ
Passage: Hebrews 13:6-8 Prayer: Dear Father,Help me say with confidence: The Lord is my helper. I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?I remember those who led me to Christ by speaking his word to me. Thank you for them. Bless them abundantly. Help me to imitate their faith.And most of all, thank you for Jesus Christ, who forever remains true to me. Thank you, my God, that he is the same yesterday, today, and for ever.In the name of Jesus. Amen.Continue reading→
Daily Prayer for October 3
All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 2 Corinthians 5:18–19, NIV Lord our God, our Father in heaven, we come to you as your children. Bless us, we pray. Bless us especially in days when fear tries to take hold of us. Let your help come down to us as you have promised..Continue reading→
Almighty and Everlasting God
Almighty and everlasting God, you are always more ready to hear than we to pray, and to give more than we either desire or deserve: Pour upon us the abundance of your mercy, forgiving us those things of which our conscience is afraid, and giving us those good things for which we are not worthy to ask, except through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ our Savior; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. BCPContinue reading→
Questions & Answers
What Does the Bible Say About Harvest?
One of my favorite seasons is fall. The weather is cooler, leaves are changing colors, and things planted in the garden have matured and are ready for harvesting. With that comes corn on the cob, apple cider, and pumpkin pie. Likewise, in most cultures it is a time when families unite to celebrate the blessings of the harvest before entering the long dark winter. In consideration of these things, what does the Bible say about harvest? Where do we get the word harvest? In not so ancient history,..Continue reading→
What Is The 7th (Seventh) Commandment In The Bible?
What is the 7th Commandment from the Bible and applications for today’s believer? The Ten Commandments The Ten Commandments were never part of the Old Testament or Mosaic Laws at all. These were written by the very finger of God and in stone, indicating their permanence, unlike the Mosaic Laws which were written on parchment or animal skins. These laws were only until the time of Christ and the completed work on Calvary. These laws all pointed forward to the coming work of Christ and were only ..Continue reading→
Are some sins more wrong than others?
Many of us have a tendency to judge certain sins as worse than others. We say, “I have my struggles, but at least I don’t struggle with that.” Surely some attitudes and behaviors carry the potential for greater, far-reaching consequences than others. But that does not make one set of sins worse than another. The New Testament calls us to take all sin seriously: Yes indeed, it is good when you obey the royal law as found in the Scriptures: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you favor some..Continue reading→
Are doubts a sign of a weak faith?
I’m a believer—a Christian. I’m a “lifer” and an insider. I was born into a Christian home. I have Christian parents. I’ve gone to church all my life. I’m also a doubter. Over the years I’ve had many troubling questions: How do I know God exists? Can I be sure Christianity is right? How can there be an all-loving and all-powerful God when there is so much evil in the world? Can I really trust that the Bible is true? For most of my life I’ve walked in a place of doubt-plagued faith. And while ..Continue reading→
Church & Ministries
7 Tools To Be Thankful For This Thanksgiving
In a few days, we’ll sit down to a Thanksgiving meal. Some will travel to see extended family while others may enjoy the celebration at home. As we prepare the turkeys, pies, and way too many side dishes, I wanted to share several tools I’m grateful we have at our disposal. These help us share the Gospel and make disciples in our communities and around the world. #1 – The ability to communicate to so many We can send mass emails out to those in our congregations, post a sermon video on our webs..Continue reading→
Vatican Explores Space-Age Technology To Preserve Its Most Ancient Documents
x To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Representatives from ESA and the Vatican Apostolic Library signed a declaration to continue collaboration, followed by a tour of the Library.Copyright ESA The Vatican has turned to space-age technology to help preserve some of the oldest and most fragile documents in the world. The Holy See is using a system called FITS, or flexible image transport system format, that was develope..Continue reading→
Finding a Rhythm and Raising the Energy Level in Your Leaders
Fun around Saddleback… Saddleback’s College Ministry Staff. “Stay Classy San Diego!” (via Facebook) The quickest way to destroy a team is to burn them out. And you don’t have to look around the field of ministry very long to realize that the ministry is filled with burned out leaders. But it’s possible to find a healthy working rhythm and ultimately increase the effective energy with which your leaders serve without causing them to burn out. Every minute of every day we are using up energy, an..Continue reading→
Pope Francis: Priests Can Forgive Women Who Have Abortions
Pope Francis has concluded his Jubilee Year of Mercy with an extraordinary grant of permission to priests to continue absolving women who have had abortions.Continue reading→
Hot Topics
Even If He Doesn’t
“Somewhere along her Christian path, some teacher or mentor had told this woman that God is good because He does what seems right to us. She had been taught that we are to name what we want and claim it territorially, as if we can instruct God on the best way to do things.” I once attended a non-denominational women’s Bible study, and each week we discussed the passage of scripture in small groups. I loved some things about it: the mix of ages, learning from other women’s life and faith experie..Continue reading→
Today’s Theologians: Dr. Richard Gaffin
“My primary interest in biblical theology has always been not for its own sake but for the relationship and interface between it and systematic theology, as the former serves to provide the latter with its life-blood: sound exegesis, and for that, attention to the text within its context in the unfolding history of special revelation is essential.” As we continue our series of interviews with notable theologians, we sit down with Dr. Richard B. Gaffin, Jr. Dr. Gaffin is Emeritus Professor of Bi..Continue reading→
Ministerial Godliness: Its Value
“Paul does not mince his words. He condemns them as ‘men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain’ (1TI 6.5). The life of these ministers had become a charade. Their ‘ministry’ was nothing more than a thinly veiled mask to cover up their greed.” What matters most to us in life? There is a ‘right’ answer to that question, but then again there are many ‘real’ answers that lurk beneath the surface. No serious-minded Christian wou..Continue reading→
Our Heart Telescope
Our problem is that, like astronomers before Hubble, we are so earth-bound with this world’s concerns that the atmosphere around us distorts our view of God’s love. Our lusts for rusting treasures, our worries over life’s issues, our yearning for yet one more pleasure render us unable to comprehend love’s measure without the assistance of the Spirit of God. Like a telescope, we need God’s Spirit to take the enormity of God’s love and focus it down into our hearts so that we can grasp more of the..Continue reading→
Life & Society
Obama Administration Finalizes Rule Banning States From Defunding Planned Parenthood
Photo Credit: All Nite ImagesWASHINGTON — The Obama administration finalized a rule on Wednesday that bans states from defunding family planning organizations such as Planned Parenthood because they abort unborn children. “This rule will strengthen access to essential services like cancer screenings and contraception for some of the most vulnerable patients in this country,” Chief Medical Officer Karen Scott of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, said in a statement. “Public comme..Continue reading→
Pagan Priest Wins Right To Wear Horns In Driver’s Licence Photo
Phelan MoonSong, known as the "Priest of Pan", was initially told he could not wear the headgear. But he challenged the decision and has been given the same recognition as other religions.Continue reading→
One Million Moms Criticises Highlights Magazine for Featuring Same-Sex Couples
The Christian watchdog group One Million Moms has slammed Highlights magazine, a monthly magazine for children ages 6 to 12, for deciding to feature same-sex families and making it appear as if having two moms or two dads is a normal way of life.Continue reading→
Voicemail Threatening to ‘Drop a Bomb’ on a California Mosque Being Investigated
A California mosque received a message on their voicemail service Friday afternoon from an individual who threatened to “drop a bomb” on the mosque, community Muslim leaders said Monday. The incident at the Islamic Center of Tustin was reported to the Tustin Police Department on Sunday, said Sgt. Mike Van Cleve. “It appears there was no caller ID on the call,” he said. “We took a report and are investigating.” A spokesman for the mosque did not return phone calls Monday. The voicemail is amo..Continue reading→
Movies
5 pieces of pop culture to help you endure the election
The election. I know, I’m sick of it, too. But take heart: November 8 is less than a month away. One month from now, the political ads will stop, a candidate will have been chosen, and we’ll begin the difficult work of moving on. I doubt there are many undecided voters left. Whether you’re casting a ballot for Donald Trump (shudder), Hillary Clinton (a slightly less violent shudder), a third party, or abstaining all together (which is your right), you’ve probably already chosen your side and are..Continue reading→
Watch: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story has an actual space battle — and goes to Iceland — in its newest trailer
Disney released a new trailer for Rogue One: A Star Wars Story today, and it consists almost entirely of new footage from the film. It also hints at an extra Bible-movie connection that I hadn’t anticipated. Check it out below the jump. Here is the new trailer: The opening scene is set at the foot of a mountain: I was immediately reminded of Methuselah’s mountain from Noah: And sure enough, last year there were reports that Rogue One was being filmed near Hafursey, the same Icelandic mountain..Continue reading→
Box office: Girl on the Train speeds past Birth of a Nation
A pulpy thriller beat a former Oscar front-runner at the box office this week. The Girl on the Train, based on the bestselling novel about a divorced woman who becomes obsessed with a couple that she watches from her train on the way to work, earned an estimated $24.7 million between Thursday and Sunday nights. That’s the sixth-best live-action opening of Emily Blunt’s career, and easily the best of any film in which she was the undisputed lead. (The films that had bigger openings co-starred Tom..Continue reading→
The Monthly Catch: Wilderpeople, Beatles, Raiders and more!
If you’re a constant reader, you’ve probably noticed my productivity has dropped a notch (or several) recently. This post was originally supposed to go live at the end of September, and here we are well into October. Well, there’s a reason for that: it’s back-to-school time. I started grad school the day after Labor Day, pursuing a master’s in communications with an emphasis in media studies, and it’s a lot of work. On top of that, the kids are gettin..Continue reading→
The Birth of a Nation and the problem of religious violence
Just a few quick thoughts about the depiction of violence and religion in Nate Parker’s The Birth of a Nation, which tells the story of Nat Turner’s slave rebellion in 1830s Virginia. Turner was a slave who knew how to read, and — as depicted in the film, at least — the only book he is allowed to read is the Bible. He gets to know the Bible so well that his master rents him out to other slave-owners, so that he can preach a message of obedience, telling other slaves to obey their masters.Continue reading→
Spiritual Transformation in The Birth of a Nation
Rarely has such a small, independent film been forced to carry such weight on its shoulders. Purchased for a record breaking price at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival and positioned as an Oscar contender months before it was released, The Birth of a Nation can’t really sneak into theaters. As soon as writer-director-producer-star Nate Parker audaciously titled his Nat Turner story, The Birth of a Nation, he was taking on the tangled history of Hollywood and race relations in America. What rare an..Continue reading→
Watch: Two new TV spots for Mel Gibson’s Hacksaw Ridge
Hacksaw Ridge tells the true story of a Seventh Day Adventist who saved dozens of lives during World War II even though he refused to carry a rifle into combat. The film, which marks Mel Gibson’s return to the director’s chair after a decade-long absence, got a standing ovation and mostly positive reviews when it premiered in Venice last month, and it’ll be coming to your local multiplex in four weeks. To help pique our interest, the studio has now released two new TV spots. This one focuses on ..Continue reading→
VIFF capsule reviews: The Red Turtle, Harold and Lillian: A Hollywood Love Story, The Unknown Girl
The Red Turtle (dir. Michael Dudok de Wit; Netherlands/France/Japan) — Oct 6 @ 6:15pm @ Vancouver Playhouse Well this was a fine way to kick off my birthday. Produced by Studio Ghibli (the outfit behind Hayao Miyazaki’s films), The Red Turtle marks the feature debut of Dutch animator Michael Dudok de Wit, who won an Oscar for his short film Father and Daughter and was previously nominated for The Monk and the Fish — and in some ways this is really two short films put together. The first half is ..Continue reading→
Box office: Tim Burton rises to the top of a crowded market
A Tim Burton film led a group of struggling newcomers at the box office this week. Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children — based on a popular novel about children with strange abilities who live on a Welsh island during World War II — earned an estimated $28.5 million between Thursday and Sunday nights. That was good enough to make it the first Tim Burton film to be #1 at the box office since Alice in Wonderland became a surprisingly huge hit six years ago. Miss Peregrine is also the seven..Continue reading→
Music
Kirk Franklin Unveils New Single And Visual For ‘My World Needs You’
Today, 10-time GRAMMY® Award winning recording artist, songwriter and producer Kirk Franklin, has released his latest single, "My World Needs You" to radio stations and debuted a visual for the song exclusively on BET.com. The heartfelt song speaks about the social injustices happening around the world today and calling upon God to bring strength in time of hardships. RELATED Tammy and Kirk Franklin Celebrate Milestone Anniversary Penned by Franklin, his message on "My World Needs You" support..Continue reading→
Sidewalk Prophets Premiere New Music Video For ‘Impossible’
Sidewalk Prophets premiered their latest music video for their song "Impossible" with a little help from the Sidewalk Prophets Family, who helped promote the video across hundreds of social network profiles reaching half a million people in a coordinated effort. "Impossible," the third single from Something Different, is currently Top 30 at BDS/Billboard and Mediabase AC-Indicator. RELATED Sidewalk Prophets Announces Second Leg of 'The Prodigal Tour' Sidewalk Prophets will be taking ..Continue reading→
1GN Disbands, Former Lead Singer Carmen Justice Steps Out As Solo Artist
Carmen Justice has been a front-woman in Dove nominated girl band 1 Girl Nation for the past five years, and this year, she is stepping out on her own as announced by CCM Magazine exclusively this morning. Her single "Flaming Arrows" marks Carmen's first release as a solo artist as she moves into the next chapter of her music evolution and will be available on all digital platforms on January 20. RELATED 1GN's "Unite" Out Now Writing the song from a place of uncertainty and doubt, th..Continue reading→
Jaci Velasquez Shares Details Of New Album
This week Christian/Latin pop recording artist Jaci Velasquez shared a video from the studio discussing the details of her new album, Trust, set to release March 31st through Integrity Records. The project will be available in both English and in Spanish, and as an added bonus, when fans buy one version of the record they will also get the other at the same time. "It's been a great experience recording in both English and in Spanish finally after so many years," Jaci says in the video. "I..Continue reading→
Matty Mullins Signs with BEC Recordings
Today Matty Mullins and BEC Recordings announced that they will be partnering on the release of Matty Mullins' sophomore solo album, due out this spring. RELATED Matty Mullins of Memphis May Fire Announces Solo Christian Rock Release The first single from the project, "Unstoppable" (featuring Jordan Feliz), can be heard now on Air1 radio. The album's title and release date will be announced in the days ahead. Matty shared his excitement on his facebook page, saying "SO excited to an..Continue reading→
Brothers Christon and Taelor Gray Announce Upcoming EP
The talented dynamic urban duo of Christon and Taelor Gray have collaborated to craft an EP titled Jacob X Judas. Such a collaboration hasn't been heard since 2007, when the brothers dropped Necessary under the name the Elevationists. Jacob X Judas will release exclusively through PledgeMusic to those who pledge. It will not be available on iTunes, Amazon, Google Play, streaming services or any other digital space. Taelor is bringing something unique to the table, an element which used to..Continue reading→
Dream Junkie John Givez Parts Ways With Label
Through a post on twitter, John Givez announced his departure from his label on January 1. He tweeted the following statement "It's best I tell ya'll I'm no longer with Kings Dream Entertainment. Dream Junkie is tatted on my skin. I'm forever one. But, it's time I do my own thing." When a fan inquired if any future Dream Junkies collaborations will be in the works, Beleaf of the former label simply stated, "No." Upon Givez's departure, the label shared they had a g..Continue reading→
American
Another “Lifestyle Choice” — Trans-Species
Nano, a 20-year-old Norwegian, says, “I was born in the wrong species.” Nano believes she is trapped in a human female body instead of a feline body. A woman who hisses at dogs, claims her night vision and sense of smell is better because she is really a cat. She even meows in “cat language.” The Daily Mail reports: Sadly, such “lifestyle choices” are nothing more than disordered affections, in some cases mental disorders, which enable people to reject truth and condone wrong and delusional beha..
The Myth of the ‘Moderate Muslim’
Below is a guest post from my friend and Liberty Alliance colleague, J. Matt Barber which was first published on his site: BarbWire.com. “When the sacred months are over slay the idolaters wherever you find them. Arrest them, besiege them, and lie in ambush everywhere for them.” – The Quran, Surah 9:5 When it comes to the global scourge of orthodox Islam, the Western world, which Islamists expressly seek to “destroy from within,” is an upside-down realm wherein objective facts, logic and reason ..
O Holy Night– Unique History, Watch Beautiful Performance
“O Holy Night,” one of the most beautiful Christmas carols worshipping the birth of Jesus Christ, was written by an atheist. Not just an atheist, but an avowed atheist and vocal anti-cleric. In 1843 a local parish church in Roquemaure, France, completed renovating its organ. To celebrate this joyous event that coincided with Christmas, the parish priest asked Placide Cappeau (1808-1877), a wine merchant, poet, and native of Roquemaure, to write a Christmas poem for the celebration. Cappeau agree..