7 Ways to Find Your Calling - The clues to figuring out what you were made to do are closer
than you might think.
Tuesday, July 29, 2014
Defending Tony Dungy’s Right to Have an Opinion
Defending Tony Dungy’s Right to Have an Opinion – This article is clear and to the point. It
provides good examples too.
11 Differences between a College Football Fan and a Church Member
11 Differences between a College Football Fan and a Church Member - Thom Rainer begins, “Warning: The article below is a bit of
sarcastic humor. I am speaking in hyperbole to make a point. The football fan
noted represents a very rabid football fan. The church member represents some,
but certainly not all, church members.”
sarcastic humor. I am speaking in hyperbole to make a point. The football fan
noted represents a very rabid football fan. The church member represents some,
but certainly not all, church members.”
Five Specific Prayers for the Unsaved People in your Life
Five Specific Prayers for the Unsaved People in your Life - A simple set of prayers for those you know who don't know Jesus.
When God Seems Silent
When God Seems Silent
– Jon Bloom shares good things God is doing in us during times when God seems silent.
Four Lessons in Fruitful Time-Management
Four Lessons in Fruitful Time-Management - Here are four lessons in fruitful
time-management, for the mission of love.
3 Scriptures for Financial Hardship
3 Scriptures for Financial Hardship - Here are
three passages (out of many) that may console in times of
financial hardship.
A Prayer for God to Be at Work in Things I CAN Imagine
A Prayer for God to Be at Work in Things I CAN Imagine – Scotty Smith shares a good word on Ephesians
3:20-21.
Worship in the Dark
Worship in the Dark -
“Psalm 88 isn’t like the others. Most psalms end on the high note of
hope, but not Psalm 88.”
What Is a Disciple?
What Is a Disciple? -
What does it actually mean to be a “disciple” of Jesus? If we are going to
make disciples, we need to know what that is.
Journal as a Pathway to Joy
Journal as a Pathway to Joy – This article speaks to both the “why” and “how” of keeping a spiritual
journal.
The Myth of God’s Silence
The Myth of God’s Silence - Ed Welch writes, “If the Father appeared and spoke with us face
to face, his words would have no more weight in our hearts than the ones he has
already spoken. If we find his words in Scripture to fall short, we would also
find his personal visitation unsatisfactory.”
Wednesday, July 16, 2014
Manage Your Time for the Mission of Love
Manage Your Time for the Mission of Love - “Perhaps more than ever, we need to hear from our
loving Father the hard but happy reminder of 1 Corinthians 6:19–20 tailored to
our planning: Your time is not your own. You were bought with a price.
So glorify me in your schedule.”
8 Ways To Beat Temptation
8 Ways To Beat Temptation - We all face temptations of many kinds. God wants us to
beat them. We don’t have to sin, as powerful as temptations
feel. Here are 8 ways to gain the victory.
Tuesday, July 15, 2014
5 Important Questions to Ask Before You Tie the Knot
5 Important Questions to Ask Before You Tie the Knot – Some things to consider when things get
serious.
Avoiding the Pitfall of Syncretism
Avoiding the Pitfall of Syncretism – Ed Stetzer writes, “Churches and pastors must respect the
razor's edge between obscurantism and syncretism.”
Why Church Members Don’t Invite Others to Church
Why Church Members Don’t Invite Others to Church - Here are some of the most common reasons. Do you have a good one?
Divorce Shocker: Most Marriages Do Make It
Divorce Shocker: Most Marriages Do Make It – The divorce rate is still too high but it’s
not close to what you’ve heard.
I Do Not Aspire to Be a “Regular Guy”
I Do Not Aspire to Be a “Regular Guy” – “And since that’s not what my soul longs for, it’s not
what I long to be.”
Monday, July 14, 2014
The Road to Jericho and the Border Crisis
The Road to Jericho and the Border Crisis – “America’s southern border is engulfed in a
humanitarian crisis, as refugees fleeing violence in Central America, many of
them unaccompanied children, seek safety. As Christians, we must recognize both
the complexity of this situation and what it means to be people of justice and
mercy.”
Sunday, July 13, 2014
A Prayer for Bringing a Heavy-Laden Heart to Jesus
A Prayer for Bringing a Heavy-Laden Heart to Jesus – Scotty Smith’s written prayer may help you
express your burdens to the Lord today.
The Wonder of the Word in Corporate Worship
The Wonder of the Word in Corporate Worship – May we be a people marked by thinking rightly
and feeling deeply about the perfect, sufficient, enduring word of God.
Saturday, July 12, 2014
2014 Update on Largest Churches in the Southern Baptist Convention
2014 Update on Largest Churches in the Southern Baptist Convention - There a a lot of large churches in the Southern Baptist Convention. Of the 40,000 or so churches in the SBC, we are number 335 on this list.
Don’t be a Slave to Expectations for Yourself
Don’t be a Slave to Expectations for Yourself – We can’t be exceptional at everything. And
that’s OK.
Is My Suffering Meaningless?
Is My Suffering Meaningless? – As Joni Eareckson Tada says, “Every sorrow we taste will one
day prove to be the best possible thing that could have happened to us. We will
thank God endlessly in heaven for the trials that he sent us here.”
Friday, July 11, 2014
The Great Commission for Apologetics
The Great Commission for Apologetics – “The next time you feel the urge to quote 1 Peter
3:15, it might be helpful to share the whole passage and explain the
foundation for defending the faith and how we should go about fulfilling the
Great Commission for Apologetics.”
The Unexpected Answers of God
The Unexpected Answers of God – “We are often unprepared for the answers we receive from
God. His answers frequently do not look at first like answers. They look like
problems.”
Why You Should Never, Ever Touch That Hospital Elevator Button
Why You Should Never, Ever Touch That Hospital Elevator Button – This is especially
important to remember when visiting a patient and the reason why you should use
the hand sanitizer going into a room and out.
Thursday, July 10, 2014
4 Ways We Unfairly Judge Others
4 Ways We Unfairly Judge Others – Sometimes, we're forced to make judgments about others—so
let's make sure we do it right.
5 Habits That Sabotage Joy
5 Habits That Sabotage Joy – You'd be surprised how many common practices can get in the
way of contentment.
Redeeming Summer Reading
Redeeming Summer Reading
- Summer reading doesn't have to
be drudgery. In fact, summertime may be the perfect opportunity to develop in
your children a keen sense of the enjoyment of God's word.
In Praise of the Quiet Time
In Praise of the Quiet Time – Why have a quiet time of Bible study and prayer?
Why Study the Prophets?
Why Study the Prophets? – In your Bible reading it may be tempting to avoid the Old Testament
prophets. Here’s a good article on why you shouldn’t overlook them.
War on Religious Liberty
War on Religious Liberty - Denny Burk points to a
chilling new front in the war on religious liberty in the United States
Comfort for Christian Parents of Unconverted Children
Comfort for Christian Parents of Unconverted Children -
Jim Elliff: “All Christian parents wish that God would show us
something to do to secure our child’s salvation, and then ‘we’ll do it with all
our might’ because we love our child so much. Yet, God has not made salvation
the effect of somebody else’s faith; our son or daughter must come to Christ on
his or her own.”
Evangelism at Ease
Evangelism at Ease - We
tend to forget that even the most compelling arguments, the most logical
defenses, cannot draw a heart to Jesus, because it is Jesus who draws a
heart to Jesus.
A Booby Trap in the Christian Budget
A Booby Trap in the Christian Budget - The Bible is clear that we will put our
money where our hearts are, so it is important that we regularly test our
treasure.
A Company Liberals Could Love
A Company Liberals Could Love - Ross Douthat offers
some important points about Hobby Lobby.
Tuesday, July 8, 2014
What Not to Say When Your Friends Are Hurting
What Not to Say When Your Friends Are Hurting – How you might be using a new kind of profanity
and not even know it.
9 Things You Should Know About Islam
9 Things You Should Know About Islam - Throughout the world, Muslims are observing their annual
observance of Ramadan. Christians need to become more aware of Ramadan as well
as the other practices and tenets of this fast-growing global religion. As an
aid in that effort, here are nine things you should know about Islam.
What We Get Wrong About 'Finding God's Will'
What We Get Wrong About 'Finding God's Will' – God's will is not a mystery to be solved but a
road to be traveled.
Beware of Obscurantism
Beware of Obscurantism – “Christians must
not obscure the gospel by seeing other issues as more important.” Our politics
are a good example of an obstacle to evangelism.
Put Your Phone Down
Put Your Phone Down - "As a people we have
lost the plot. Because we can document everything, we will, and we can't stop.”
Monday, July 7, 2014
Responding to Pain: See it Coming and See it Through
Responding to Pain: See it Coming and See it Through – “Paul’s example in Acts 16 and Jesus’
words in John 16 point to two principles concerning our pain: we need
to see it coming, and we need to see it through.”
Rest Is an Act of Resistance
Rest Is an Act of Resistance – Why you’ll never overcome feelings of constant busyness until
you just stop.
When the Abortion Industry Self-Destructs
When the Abortion Industry Self-Destructs – Opponents of the recent Hobby Lobby decision
still like to try and frame the debate as a women’s rights issues. Jonathan
Parnell writes, “In one sense, there
are really just two types of people when it comes to the topic of abortion:
those who think it is okay to kill unborn babies, and those who think it is
wrong. If you don’t think you’re in one of these categories, you still are;
you’re just confused.”
When the Transgender Issue Comes Home
When the Transgender Issue Comes Home - Josh Bishop
has a helpful article on what to do when the transgender issue comes home.
3 Reasons You Should Not Try To Bind Satan
3 Reasons You Should Not Try To Bind Satan – We often hear this language used when talking about
spiritual warfare. From my study of prayer, I would agree with all three of
these points.
Forsaken Faith
Forsaken Faith –
Randy Alcorn offers up “thoughts
on why an astounding number of college students are abandoning their faith in
Christ”. It appears more likely they are not rejecting “the faith” but rather
their parents’ nominal faith.
Saturday, July 5, 2014
Independence and the Empty Tomb
Independence and the Empty Tomb – Russell Moore writes, “Thomas Jefferson is still dead. I thank God
for him, but standing at his grave reminds me how limited even his legacy can
be in the grand scheme of trillions of years of cosmic time. It also reminds me
of the contrast with a Middle Eastern day-laborer whose monument isn’t a house
or a temple made with hands, or even a simple grave-marker. It’s instead a
borrowed tomb that isn’t filled anymore.”
Thursday, July 3, 2014
Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness
Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness – “In the annals of history, it truly is a
revolutionary statement: every human being has God-given rights to live, be
free, and pursue their happiness.”
A Prayer for Resisting Satan’s Main Attack
A Prayer for Resisting Satan’s Main Attack – Scottie Smith offers up a good devotional thought.
The Rich Young Ruler Redux
The Rich Young Ruler Redux – The author of this story has brought the biblical story into a
modern context.
5 Questions and the 5 Solas
5 Questions and the 5 Solas - These five solas still live on to this very
day. They define what the gospel is for evangelicals worldwide, and also
provide a helpful summary—a cheat sheet even—of what marks the true gospel from
a religion of works.
day. They define what the gospel is for evangelicals worldwide, and also
provide a helpful summary—a cheat sheet even—of what marks the true gospel from
a religion of works.
Wednesday, July 2, 2014
When We Best Learn the Bible
When We Best Learn the Bible – “Sound Bible study is rooted in a celebration of delayed
gratification.”
Four Questions to Keep Close to Your Wallet
Four Questions to Keep Close to Your Wallet - Here are four questions we can ask to help us
get to the bottom of our treasure.
The Second-Most Important Book for Every Christian
The Second-Most Important Book for Every Christian – “Christians are not isolated pilgrims
on a journey to heaven.”
Hobby Lobby Hysteria
Hobby Lobby Hysteria –
The message going out from those who disagree with the Hobby Lobby decision
is that women are being denied all birth control. The last paragraph of this article
explains why detractors would take this to this level of hysteria.
The Apparent Paradox of Sanctification
The Apparent Paradox of Sanctification - John MacArthur asks and answers, “Is the Christian life an
exercise in passive trust or active obedience?”
exercise in passive trust or active obedience?”
The Danger of Coasting
The Danger of Coasting – Tim Challies shares an excellent devotional thought. We don’t
coast toward God.
Tuesday, July 1, 2014
Religious Freedom at Work in Hobby Lobby
Religious Freedom at Work in Hobby Lobby – Here’s another good summary article.
5 Bad Reasons to Get Married
5 Bad Reasons to Get Married – Not all reasons for getting married are created equal.
The Supreme Court Agrees with Hobby Lobby But Your Neighbor Probably Doesn’t
The Supreme Court Agrees with Hobby Lobby But Your Neighbor Probably Doesn’t – Trevon Wax
shares several good thoughts. Here’s my favorite, “A generation ago, a person’s
religious observance was a public matter, a defining characteristic of one’s
identity, while a person’s sexual activity was something private. Today, this
situation is reversed. A person’s sexual behavior is now considered a defining
characteristic of identity, a public matter to be affirmed (even subsidized) by
others, while religious observance is private and personal, relegated to places
of worship and not able to infringe upon or impact the public square.”
The Greatest Challenge in the World
The Greatest Challenge in the World – “Never, never, never forget that Jesus commanded
us to make disciples of all the peoples on this planet — the whole planet
(Matthew 28:19–20). This is the greatest challenge in the
world.”
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