When life begins is a scientific, not a philosophic or theological, question: Life begins when the chromosomes of the sperm fuse with those of the ovum, forming a distinctive DNA complex that controls the new organism’s growth. This growth process continues unless a natural accident interrupts it or it is ended by the sort of... Continue Reading

“Yes, revival happens. Instantaneously and miraculously, men and women are born again or recovered from their backslidden posture. Yes, revival is a reality that comes at God’s good pleasure, and it is a fantastic spiritual phenomena which all ministers hope might fall upon their church and all parents pray might fall upon their children.”   It... Continue Reading

“If you are a pastor, almost certainly you have at least a few individuals in your congregation who fit this description. So as you prepare to shepherd your tenderhearted souls through their struggles with assurance, let me recommend a few resources.”   Call it “melancholy”, call it spiritual depression, call it excessively introspective, Bible-believing Christians... Continue Reading

A common approach to advancing in position is to start in children’s ministry or youth ministry and “moving up” to young adults, then Associate Pastor, and then one day to be Lead or Senior Pastor. I can’t even count how many times I was asked as a youth minister, “When do you think you’re going to move past youth... Continue Reading

“Meaty Christian biographies can be a feast.  The two volume biography of Martyn Lloyd-Jones, the 20th century pastor-preacher by Iain Murray  was a spiritual treat.  The two volume biography of 18th century evangelist George Whitefield, by Arnold Dallimore, sparked revival in my life.”   It is counter cultural, anti-twitteral, and to many people simply a... Continue Reading

“Confidence on the basis of body image relates to intimacy in a very special way. If we are ever rejected, we want the confidence to say, “They are wrong for rejecting me.” We search for self-confidence so that we can temper our experience of rejection.”   “If I could look like that guy who played... Continue Reading

“If liberal religion is so in sync with Western secular culture, why isn’t it more popular? First, it offers an echo rather than a distinctive voice. Second, it doesn’t demand very much beyond self-acceptance. Third, it lacks permanence, pegging belief on the trends of last week, always trying to keep up.”   Liberal religion will... Continue Reading

We are at a critical time in the history of the church where we have been given the opportunity to rise up and to truly learn how to love. If the church can awaken in response by being aware and conscious of the suffering victim in the midst of their own congregation,  then there is... Continue Reading

As I wrote in 1989, like the church of Sardis in Revelation 3, “we have become the ‘perfect model of inoffensive Christianity’ (G. B. Caird), ‘having a reputation of being alive, yet being dead’ (Rev. 3:1). Like Sardis, we have so come to terms with our pagan environment that we provoke almost no opposition and... Continue Reading

As I’ve written in USAToday, I believe the future of America will likely resemble the modern Pacific Northwest. While the majority there still claims to be Christian, it is more secular and progressive than other parts of the country. However, there is a significant population of convictional Christians who are living on mission in a... Continue Reading