Israel Accuses World Vision Gaza Staffer of Giving Millions to Hamas
World Vision halts Gaza operations, but disputes Israel’s accusations of fraud
World Vision has suspended operations in Gaza, the organization stated. “We are conducting a full review, including an externally conducted forensic audit, and will remain fully engaged with the investigation that is underway.” Update (August 9): World Vision questioned Israel’s accusations that Gaza branch manager Mohammad El Halabi siphoned off tens of millions over... Continue Reading
When God’s Timing Is Not Our Own
Often our schedule and God's seem out of sync
“We often find ourselves asking, What does God expect of me? What does he want? The answer is that he wants a people who will faithfully respond to his call to act in the pursuit of his promises, even at the most unlikely time.” The God of the Unlikely Time Often our schedule and... Continue Reading
Ten Truths For Thomas
Put your trust in this mighty God, who has sent His Son to save, and bring you through this life, in the hands of the God the Everlasting, who never tires or wearies, to the holy world beyond
So here are ten truths for Thomas to drive out unbelief – are you facing financial ruin, are you unable to pay the mortgage, has you child gone off the rails, is your church wrecked by dispute, have you lost you wife or parent, are you about to be laid off, are you worried about... Continue Reading
Does it Matter?
Yes, I am concerned about the churches that are being planted through Redeemer City to City and for various reasons.
Some will ask why these things matter as long as the gospel is being proclaimed. In answer to that, I have two points. First, if we believe that our doctrines and distinctives are faithful to Scripture, wouldn’t we want others to be taught in the most faithful way? Don’t we love others enough to want... Continue Reading
The Danger of Losing American Free Speech
It may come as a surprise to many people that the history of hate speech laws is that they originated with communist governments.
There is also no good rationale for hate speech laws. There are two main justifications: 1) Hostile speech leads to physical violence, and 2) hostile speech results in psychological harm. In the first justification, it is held that violence must be stopped before it happens by suppressing speech that will cause violence. Coleman said that... Continue Reading
Why I Live in the Most Ditched City in America (And Maybe You Should Too)
It may not be a hotspot of church planting, but it’s a place God made with people who don’t know God.
How many from your city and area will be around the throne in heaven? We don’t know but we do know that there will be people from every tribe and tongue and nation (Rev 7:9). That mission field, then, includes my city and we should minister there with a gospel optimism that God has people... Continue Reading
The Cause of our Quarrels
What is the source of all our fights and quarrels, even those in our own homes? Our idolatry.
In order to effectively address the conflicts in our homes, we need to see the real issues behind the conflict. We need to get to the heart of the matter. Our children’s hearts. Our hearts. We need to pray and ask the Spirit to make us aware of the idols we worship. We need to... Continue Reading
What Denny Burk Could Do
While it is good to see Burk distance himself from the EFS of Ware and Grudem, he still wants the big umbrella that would affirm the orthodoxy of their teaching on the Trinity.
I would love to see CBMW clean house and actually be the leaders they write about sometimes, I really would. But I am not going to accept a veneer of concern without real change. At this point it appears that all the proponents of ESS will still be people of influence there. No one from... Continue Reading
Is Allah Loving?
"Nothing in the Quran suggests that Allah desires intimacy with humanity."
“Truly, nothing else in the Quran appears to indicate that Allah wants a relationship with humans. This is especially true of a father-child relationship, as the Quran specifically denies that Allah is a father (112.3), and in 5.28 it rebukes the idea of God’s spiritual fatherhood: ‘The Jews and Christians say, “We are the children... Continue Reading
Cautions About Signs of Grace
Do not look for spiritual qualifications before trusting Christ for your justification.
First, be careful how you define the marks of grace. On the one hand, do not require such signs of yourself as no Christian has in this life. A true Christian keeps God’s commandments (1 John 3:24), but no Christian ever comes to the point where he may say he has no sin (1 John... Continue Reading