Christians are exiles. That is, what Christians believe is becoming increasingly strange to the culture around us. We don’t need to fear this because God’s people have been here before. In the Bible, we are called ‘exiles,’ ‘strangers,’ and ‘foreigners,’ dozens of times. There’s plenty in the pages of Scripture to direct our thinking and…
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Found all throughout life, including sports, there is story. A plot is established. There’s a sense of anticipation. Good stories create tension, dissonance, and mystery. There are moments where the story is not going the way you would like. There are even times when the story doesn’t end the way you’d like it to; but…
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New Year’s resolutions are upon us. Goal setting can be a good thing, and perhaps one goal you need to have in 2016 is to be less busy. Here’s one thought that may help fuel your motivation. Jesus was a busy man. He was in high demand. Crowds flocked to Him. Everybody wanted a piece…
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We are living in the golden age of Christian publication. I am grateful to God for that! Here are my top 10 favorite reads of 2015. 10. Christ and Culture Revisited – D.A. Carson: To what degree is the church called to change the culture? What expectations should we have? Should we expect the church to…
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“I know what I need. My motives are pure. Certainly this prayer request is something God would want to answer.” How often do these thoughts run through our minds? And when He doesn’t give us what we asked for, we’re perplexed and even a bit agitated. How do we deal with unanswered prayer? Jesus addresses…
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High school was challenging for me. I attended a large public high school in Green Bay, Wisconsin, with a graduating class of 460 students. Socially it was a nightmare. I had come from a very small, private middle school and as a result was clueless to what was and was not “cool.” Early in my…
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10. “Hey, girl, I’ve got the gift of prophecy and I see you in my future.” 9. “You must be made out of water, because Jesus turned you into FINE!” 8. “I have been struggling with loneliness. Would you mind meeting me to pray about it?” 7. “Your middle name must be ‘Grace’ because, baby,…
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With multiple pastors serving on the staff of a single church, and with thousands of sermons from hundreds of different preachers available to people through digital media, we run the risk of falling into a danger Paul addressed in the Corinthian church. That danger? Having a favorite pastor. In my own ministry context, I am…
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’Tis the season to be thankful. Thankful for family and friends, health and food, clothing and shelter. I enjoy Thanksgiving and the traditions it brings. But the thanks we offer around Thanksgiving has always struck me as a bit forced. Perhaps it draws out the cynic in me, but questions like: “are we really thankful…
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This article was written by Joe Carter and is currently posted on The Gospel Coalition. To read this post in its entirety, please click here. Islamic State claimed responsibility for a series of attacks in Paris this past weekend that killed 127 people. In a statement, the group said the purpose of the killings was, “To teach France, and…
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