And so the Republican party asks, “Why shouldn’t we do what we want with our money and do all we can to maintain our nation’s power?” And so the Democratic party asks, “Why shouldn’t we fulfill every desire that is in our hearts?” Embedded in both is the same question: Why should we deny ourselves... Continue Reading

Because he is the “authority” in the local church, the one who is called to bear the burdens of others, the one who is supposed to have all of the answers, the super-Christian who never does anything particularly egregious, your pastor is less likely to share with anyone else the doubts, fears, shameful thoughts and... Continue Reading

This is how Scripture can declare all believers to be saints in the here and now. What is true of Jesus is true of all those unite to Him by faith. When believers come to understand that their sainthood is founded on the sufficiency of the work of Jesus Christ, they learn that the ups... Continue Reading

Spurgeon’s preaching was conversational, extemporaneous, and “off the cuff.” He was forceful, winsome, direct, and earthy. He had no patience for the dry, polished lectures many preachers delivered from Victorian pulpits. Spurgeon criticized a sermon that “requires a dictionary rather than a Bible to explain it” (MTP 56:482). His critics accused him of being irreverent and... Continue Reading

Lott was pulling up floor boards in her flooded business in Springfield, La., when she prayed to God for help: “Right then, three people from church showed up. What would have taken me three hours to do, we knocked out in 30 minutes.” Compared to previous disasters, relief workers told me they have seen a... Continue Reading

“I take my text and make a beeline to the cross.” This is Spurgeon’s most famous quote. Do a search online and you’ll find dozens of popular Christian blogs, church history articles, and even reputable publications that attribute this quote to Spurgeon.  But Spurgeon did not say this – or even anything close to this.... Continue Reading

I encourage individuals to save for their rainy day, because troubles do always come. I encourage our local, state, and federal leaders to do the same. We, as baby boomers, have failed to invest in the coming generations. Instead of strengthening our infrastructure, we have mortgaged our future. This is not progress, and it is... Continue Reading

“I think their absence is going to be felt for a long, long time,” said Lisa Dew, the manager of the nuns’ clinic. “There are a lot of people here who depended on them for their care, their medicines. It’s going to be rough.”   UPDATE (8/27/16, 9:20 a.m.): Mississippi authorities have arrested and charged... Continue Reading

You Don’t Have to Raise Your Voice to Raise the Dead. “A bell will be heard much further off than a drum; and, very singularly, the more musical a sound is the farther it travels.” “Do not start at the highest pitch as a rule, for then you will not be able to rise when... Continue Reading

The appeal of this quote is understandable. The powerful arrangement of words elevates the importance of the cause and bringing Bonhoeffer to one’s side only strengthens the sense that the cause is just. However, since the quote isn’t his, using it is a false witness.   Dietrich Bonhoeffer is a modern day hero among evangelical... Continue Reading