A few years ago, I read David Mathis’ new book, Habits of Grace: Enjoying Jesus Through the Spiritual Disciplines. I wholeheartedly recommend it to you. Within his section on Christian fellowship, he has a word to us on the much underrated ministry of listening. Borrowing extensively from Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s Life Together, Mathis has these important reminders for…
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This is a fun time of year when it comes to books. I follow around a dozen “top books” lists that shape my reading for the year to come. Perhaps this will do the same for you. Additionally, Christmas is coming. 1) Contentment: Seeing God’s Goodness – Megan Hill It’s not the fact that this book is…
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“The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it, the world and all who live in it.” – Psalm 24:1 I realize what all the advertisements say. They say, “Spend this on yourself because you owe it to yourself; you’ve earned it.” Have you ever noticed this about marketing? “You’ve earned it; you owe it to yourself…
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In the academy award winning movie Chariots of Fire, one of the main characters, Harold Abrahams, is determined to win the 100 meter dash. He’ll stop at nothing to see that gold metal around his neck. Just before the Olympic finals of that race, he’s in the training room getting ready when he suddenly becomes reflective….
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Friction occurs when the desires of my heart and my external reality are at odds with one another. In order to resolve the friction, we are prone to believe the best way to do this is to change our external reality. Think back to the temptation of Jesus in Luke 4. He’s fasted for forty…
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As a Christian, I have more in common with brothers and sisters in Christ in other countries than I do with non-believing citizens of the U.S. If you’ve never traveled internationally and spent time with believers in other countries, this may be difficult to grasp. If you have been blessed to experience this, then you…
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“I believe in God.” These are four simple words that seemingly say much. When we hear someone make a statement like this, we might even conclude that person is a Christian. But if there’s one thing the Bible teaches about human beings it’s this: our true nature is often more complicated than the words we…
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The Bible was originally written in Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic. So how did we get one in English? Answer: translation committees. The below video illustrates the labor of love involved in translating the Bible from the original languages. Keep in mind, this video is only a snapshot of the discussion surrounding just one word!
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“Do not fear” is the most frequent command in Scripture. But if fear is the most common emotional struggle Scripture discusses, anger is the most dangerous. Why? Behind anger is tremendous emotional energy. In my own life and in ministry, I have witnessed and experienced the ferocity of anger’s destructiveness. It has the potential to…
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Biblical Christianity is the one true religion. Some may react negatively to that statement, so let’s all think together about a few objections to it and what might be said in response. “All religions are equally valid and basically teach the same thing.” Are we really willing to agree religions requiring child sacrifice are equally valid to…
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