Just as we had no control over our physical birth, we do not control our spiritual birth. It is the sovereign work of the Holy Spirit. Those who say that we are only spiritually wounded will say that we can be regenerated, born again, by placing our faith in Christ. This, however, puts everything precisely... Continue Reading

Most courageous new chapter: Brothers, be Bible-oriented – not Entertainment oriented preachers (13) Here Piper bravely takes on the flippant, funny, feel-good entertainment-type preaching that can be found in so many churches. He says the main problem with this “is that it is out of sync with the subject matter of the Bible, and diminishes... Continue Reading

Our starting point determines the answer, ultimately. If we see the Bible as a mere collection of ancient stories, we’re going to have trouble answering that question definitively. If you’re evil and trying to violate people in order to satisfy your own sinful desires (see Joseph Smith, the founder of Mormonism), then you can probably... Continue Reading

Maybe you feel trapped in a difficult marriage. Or a painful church situation. Or you’re stuck in a job with a tyrant for a boss. Or you’re at your wits end with your teenager. Or you’re single with no prospects. You’re tempted to fear. Tempted to despair. Tempted to give up hope.   After Moses... Continue Reading

Students at University of Missouri don’t need to cram for exams that fall on Wiccan and Pagan holidays, now that the school has put them on par with Christmas, Thanksgiving and Hanukah. The university’s latest “Guide to Religions: Major Holidays and Suggested Accommodations” — designed to help faculty know when and when not to schedule... Continue Reading

Paul might turned a blind eye. It’s sure that many leaders today would have been able to find a way to counsel Paul not to confront Peter. After all, what sort of example would it be for two apostles to disagree so strongly? It would be confusing to the sheep. Arguably, it might set back... Continue Reading

“Our world is overpopulated.” If you repeat something often enough, it becomes “truth”. In 1968, Paul Ehrlich wrote The Population Bomb, warning that we’d all soon be fighting over food, space, and power as the earth sagged under the weight of all those darned people. He was wrong, of course, and not just wrong: spectacularly... Continue Reading

The senior adult dilemma is not universal in churches, but it is widespread enough to cause heartburn for many a leader. From changing Sunday School meeting rooms, to changing musical styles, to changing service times, it seems anything–no matter how trivial–can start waves of complaints. Not only is this grievous to watch, it is difficult... Continue Reading

While Spielberg’s Lincoln wrestles with the ethical dilemmas of dirty politics, he never seems to waver in his rock solid conviction that everything must take a back seat to ending slavery. And unlike most everyone around him, he doesn’t doubt that blacks deserve full legal, political and social equality. This Lincoln is inspiring. This Lincoln... Continue Reading

From second through ninth grades I was a student at a school founded by graduates of Bob Jones University who came to my home town originally as Child Evangelism workers. With a little humor and a little pain I now refer to my school as The Big House and my leaving after ninth grade (no... Continue Reading