A Plague of Locusts
Oh that the Lord might awaken the church once again!
Seasons of locust plagues in Africa can seem distant to us, with our comforts and the knowledge that there is an ocean between us insulating us from the idea that we could also suffer. Likewise. the church in the West is asleep and largely ignorant of the cosmic battle being waged around us. Demons are... Continue Reading
Will He Fail Me Now?
When we doubt the faithfulness of God.
Our God is a doer of his word. Our God is faithful to keep what he has promised because he is righteous in his character. As Aslan asked Lucy, “Do you think I wouldn’t obey my own rules?” It is the testimony of Scripture from Genesis 1 to Revelation 22 that our God will do what... Continue Reading
Lessons Learned Through Grief
I want to be sure to offer the greatest comfort I can, as is fitting for the situation.
As I stood up to welcome people on behalf of the family and to thank them for coming, I was deeply moved to see other friends who had traveled from afar, at some cost and some inconvenience, just to be with us in our sorrow. So from all this I have learned the value of presence... Continue Reading
Be Still My Soul: A Cure for Panic
God is your Father, your rock, your redeemer, your fortress, and your friend. Ask him for help.
When you are panicking or stressed or anxious, take a deep breath, close your eyes, and run through the truths you know about God: he is on your side, he is good, he is powerful. Jesus was able to calm the storm with a word, heal the sick with a touch, and dispel evil spirits.... Continue Reading
To Anyone Who Thinks Christianity Is Hateful or Bigoted
To say that Christianity is the cause of bigotry misses the mark.
Christianity does not, by its nature, cause its adherents to possess hateful attitudes or commit hateful actions. Are there instances of Christians—or Christian societies—sinning against others? Of course. But there’s a world of difference between arguing that Christians sin and arguing that Christianity causes those sins. In 1971, John Lennon wrote a song that... Continue Reading
The Death of Decency in the American Mind
Are we willing to accept the label “bad human” for the sake of the gospel?
I shouldn’t get my instructions about how to live a godly life from politicians or movie stars or bloggers. If I am living according to Scripture, I will see the world differently, and that means I will sometimes be misunderstood and considered prudish, judgmental, out of touch, and irrelevant, even by some in the church.... Continue Reading
3 Unique Characteristics of Christian Love
Christian love goes. It pursues. It seeks out. Just as Jesus did for us.
Love, in many cases, is a weapon. If not a weapon, then a bargaining chip. It’s something that we hold back, waiting for another person to warrant it. It’s ironic to think that we use the word so freely and yet have the tendency to be so careful with its reality. But Christian love is... Continue Reading
Why Study Esther
Esther is not only a setting for God’s providence to be on display, but it is also a mirror into our own lives.
Esther is the only book of the Bible that does not mention God or God’s name. In fact, the author goes out of his way to avoid writing it (consider the pains he took in Esther 4:14, writing an ambiguous sentence when every Jewish child would know God was the one working). But this too is... Continue Reading
It Was Good for Me That I Was Afflicted
The spinning of our world is the very thing the Lord uses to reveal our true north.
Our souls seek their fulfillment in the things of earth, and these chains are not easily broken. We lean on money, health, power, sexuality, and intelligence, for in them we think we will find our security. Regarding this, one of the greatest blessings the Lord gives His child is to show them just how empty... Continue Reading
Why You Should Build Meals Into Your Church
Food offers everyone an opportunity to serve and be served.
Food can act as a real draw for people. Even more so when the food acts a catalyst for the kind of Christian community that ought to be appealing to people. In the early church, as people saw the Christian community, they found it attractive. Food can have that same community building, evangelistic pull today.... Continue Reading
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