Seven Reasons to Celebrate Advent

Seven Reasons to Celebrate Advent – Here are seven potential benefits of observing Advent.

How To Make Christmas the Best of Times

How To Make Christmas the Best of Times – “While most cannot wait to get to Christmas, many simply cannot wait to get through Christmas.” 

Why Do Churches Focus So Much On Families?

Why Do Churches Focus So Much On Families? - Examining the risks of making "family" into an idol.

A Prayer for the First Sunday of Advent

A Prayer for the First Sunday of Advent – We prepare our hearts.

Prepare Him Room

Prepare Him Room – “The real Christmas was nothing like the Christmas we’ve come to know, with its traditions, memories, and legends. It was a desperate moment that occurred for a desperate reason.”

11 Stats That Will Change the Way You Think About Consumerism

11 Stats That Will Change the Way You Think About Consumerism - Breaking down the numbers.

Study: 41% of Shoppers Feel Like They Need to Spend More Than They Can Afford at Christmas

Study: 41% of Shoppers Feel Like They Need to Spend More Than They Can Afford at Christmas - Here is the message: "Don't be that guy."

Seven Sentimental Lies You Might Believe

Seven Sentimental Lies You Might Believe – We hear these often and have probably said several. The problem is, they’re not true.

Security from the Shepherd

Security from the Shepherd – Psalm 23 is comfort food for the weary soul. Read it, meditate on it, and rest in these simple truths.

What Is a Budget?

What Is a Budget? – As you navigate Christmas and look toward the new year remember, “A budget is more than numbers scribbled on a yellow steno pad in response to a crisis with good intentions that will never be fulfilled...A budget is the numerical expression of an individual’s or family’s mission and priorities.”

Jesus Fell Asleep

Jesus Fell Asleep – Throughout Scripture, God has had periods of time where He seemed asleep. Does that mean He didn’t care?

5 Reasons Giving Thanks is Always God’s Will

5 Reasons Giving Thanks is Always God’s Will – Why is it always God’s will no matter what happens in my life that I am to give thanks, not for my circumstances but in my circumstances?

Give Thanks in All Things

Give Thanks in All Things – “Maintaining an attitude of thanksgiving expressed through constant prayer provides at least six benefits.”

The Fruits of the Spirit

The Fruits of the Spirit - “When we look at a tree and see bad fruit, we conclude it is
a bad tree (Matt. 7:17-20). When we look at the same tree and it has good
fruit, new fruit, we conclude the tree has changed. There’s not just new fruit
but a new tree. This is what God does for His people in regeneration. He
doesn't just change the fruit; He changes the tree.”

5 Reminders for Christian Parents

5 Reminders for Christian Parents – “Parenting is just hard. It’s tiring. It’s busy. It’s laborious. It’s unending. It’s continuous. It’s demanding. But with all these realities, we as parents must remember that parenting is supremely rewarding.”

What Is Thanksgiving Day?

What Is Thanksgiving Day? – “Prosperity breeds ingratitude.”

Doctrine Matters: Eternal Life Depends Upon It

Doctrine Matters: Eternal Life Depends Upon It – “Christianity is much more than getting your doctrine right. But it is not less. You can have right doctrine and not be a Christian. You can know all sorts of true things about Jesus and not be saved.” 

A Prayer of Gratitude

A Prayer of Gratitude – Here is some valuable assistance from The Valley of Vision.

What to Do When You’re Bored With Your Faith

What to Do When You’re Bored With Your Faith - A few ways to refresh your faith.

Thanksgiving Is a Taste of Home

Thanksgiving Is a Taste of Home – “In all things, imitate and anticipate the final Thanksgiving table and a place where all our longings will finally find their home.”

Why We Need to Know Facts About the Bible

Why We Need to Know Facts About the Bible – “Our view of Scripture—particularly how we view the Bible’s truthfulness and authority over our lives—profoundly affects our spiritual formation.”

A Prayer for Remembering Things for Which We Are Grateful

A Prayer for Remembering Things for Which We Are Grateful – “Dear heavenly Father, before we have a chance to whine today, we want to worship you; before we starting counting our disappointments, we want to declare our encouragements; before we fall into fretting and blaming, we chose to rejoice and give thanks….”

The Greatest Thing You Could Do Today

The Greatest Thing You Could Do Today – “It seems like the people in America would be content to take a selfie with Moses. Don’t they know they can go up the mountain themselves? Why don’t they want to go up the mountain?”

They Did Not Honor Him or Give Thanks

They Did Not Honor Him or Give Thanks — Why Thanksgiving is Inescapably Theological – “What about the blessings that cannot be ascribed to human agency? Those are both more numerous and more significant, ranging from the universe we experience to the gift of life itself.”

Don’t Worry, You Won’t Be a Perfect Parent

Don’t Worry, You Won’t Be a Perfect Parent - You will mess up, and that's OK.

What (Some) Church Members Really Mean When They Say They Want Their Church to Grow

What (Some) Church Members Really Mean When They Say They Want Their Church to Grow – Funny, sad, interesting…

7 Ways Christian History Benefits You

7 Ways Christian History Benefits You – We tend to live in the moment but we stand in the flow of historical Christianity. 

Contextualization at Home: What Would Jesus Do Here?

Contextualization at Home: What Would Jesus Do Here? – We can’t reach the world for Jesus if we don’t know Jesus and how He operates. How do we live as missionaries at home?

Questions Through the Decades

Questions Through the Decades – Alan Wilson shares a series of questions which characterize each decade of life.

The Prize Is Worth the Price

The Prize Is Worth the Price – Here are some great personal, spiritual assessment questions.

Thanksgiving Starts on Sunday

Thanksgiving Starts on Sunday – “While opening the Scriptures, singing, praying, and giving our offerings, a formation is underway: God is performing the slow and steady work of making us a thankful people.”

Saturday Night Prayer

Saturday Night Prayer – It will work for a Sunday morning as well.

How to Witness at Work

How to Witness at Work – “Every day when you arrive at your workplace, an attitude arrives with you. Our attitudes are like the perfume or cologne we are wearing; we smell the fragrance when we first put it on, but others smell it throughout the day. The fragrance you’re wearing at work, others are picking up.”

Brother, Where Is Your Identity?

Brother, Where Is Your Identity? - Who are you? What gives a man his identity? On what foundation are you building your sense of self? Your answer, whether true or false, defines your life.

How Do We Deal with Tragedy in a Fallen World?

How Do We Deal with Tragedy in a Fallen World? - From the Paris attacks to our daily lives, finding hope in a messed up world.

What You Should Know About The Syrian Refugee Controversy

What You Should Know About The Syrian Refugee Controversy – Here is what you should know about the current controversy.

Eight Words from Jesus in a World with Refugees

Eight Words from Jesus in a World with Refugees - Jesus calls us to follow him. Sometimes it is clear how we do this, and often it is not.

A Charlie Brown Religion

A Charlie Brown Religion – Interesting summary of a new book about the faith journey of Charlies Schultz.

Watch Colbert Try to Convert Bill Maher to Christianity

Watch Colbert Try to Convert Bill Maher to Christianity – If you missed this exchange between Stephen Colbert and atheist, Bill Maher, you will find plenty to ponder.

The Book of Psalms: Outlined and Explained with Animation

The Book of Psalms: Outlined and Explained with Animation – Here is the latest in this series. It’s a clear summary of the book of Psalms in just under nine minutes.

20 Principles for How Christians Should Relate to Muslims (And Those of Other Religions)

20 Principles for How Christians Should Relate to Muslims (And Those of Other Religions) – There is plenty to consider in this article from John Piper.

Don’t Follow Your Heart

Don’t Follow Your Heart  - It’s popular to say but is it biblical? Not hardly.

Should We Pray For ISIS To Be Defeated Or Converted?

Should We Pray For ISIS To Be Defeated Or Converted? – “These are not contradictory prayers, and to each of them I say, ‘Amen!’”

5 Things Married Couples Should Do Every Day

5 Things Married Couples Should Do Every Day - How to invest in your marriage.

A Prayer for Those in the Grip of Grace and the Valley of Fear

A Prayer for Those in the Grip of Grace and the Valley of Fear – A good prayer for such times as these.

9 Things You Should Know About Islamic State

9 Things You Should Know About Islamic State – Here are nine things you need to know about this Islamic terrorist group.

Thirteen Practical Steps to Kill Sin

Thirteen Practical Steps to Kill Sin – And you know it needs killing…

The Most Encouraging and Comforting Promise in the Bible

The Most Encouraging and Comforting Promise in the Bible - Found in Hebrews 13:5, For He has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

What’s a Budget?

What’s a Budget? – “A budget is the numerical expression of an individual’s or family’s mission and priorities.”

The Islamic Revolution Comes to Paris

The Islamic Revolution Comes to Paris – David Murray explores several reasons why our world has become infested with the threat of terrorists.

A Call for Christian Extremists

A Call for Christian Extremists – “We are to bring glory to God by doing good for others. Allah may be glorified in maimed bodies and blood-soaked city streets, but God is glorified in acts of love and deeds of kindness.” 

We Are at War: 2 Lessons From the Paris Massacre

We Are at War: 2 Lessons From the Paris Massacre - What should we learn from the Paris tragedy? How should we
respond?

The 12 Most Challenging Oswald Chambers Quotes

The 12 Most Challenging Oswald Chambers Quotes - Nearly 100 years after the preacher's death, his book ‘My Utmost for His Highest’ remains a masterpiece.

We Are All Parisians Now: A Christian Response to Global Terror and Radical Islam

We Are All Parisians Now: A Christian Response to Global Terror and Radical Islam –How can we respond in a uniquely Christian way to the horror in Paris?

France: A Fabric Torn

France: A Fabric Torn – “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:15).

Making Jesus Central in Your Family’s Life

Making Jesus Central in Your Family’s Life – “Some important foundational ways you can help your kids see and savor Jesus Christ.”

Why You Shouldn’t Just Believe the Bible Is True

Why You Shouldn’t Just Believe the Bible Is True – “The preeminent question of past generations was “Is the Bible true?,” today we’re being asked “Is the Bible good?”

How to Help Those in Need (Without Treating Them Like Beggars)

How to Help Those in Need (Without Treating Them Like Beggars) – This article addresses the important topic of helpful and sustainable engagement with the poor. 

21 Ways I Know You’re Financially Unstable

21 Ways I Know You’re Financially Unstable – This is pretty basic and revealing.

Why Can’t Christians Just Join the Revolution?

Why Can’t Christians Just Join the Revolution? – “Why not just join the revolution? This question seems obvious to many people who look at conservative Christians and honestly wonder why we cannot just change our views on homosexuality, same-sex marriage and the entire LBGT constellation of issues.”

A.C.T.S. Prayer App

A.C.T.S. Prayer App – Earlier this week I posted an article about praying daily an A.C.T.S. pattern (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication). This link is to an app you might look into for prayer prompts according to this prayer pattern.

Evaluating Seventh-day Adventism

Evaluating Seventh-day Adventism – “This article is not about politics. But Dr. Ben Carson’s involvement in the Republican primaries has raised questions in the minds of many evangelicals about his religious affiliation as a Seventh-day Adventist.” 

Patience is Not Optional for the Christian

Patience is Not Optional for the Christian – “Most of us recognize that patience is one of the cardinal Christian virtues—we’re just in no hurry to obtain it.”

Ten Diagnostic Questions for Your Marriage

Ten Diagnostic Questions for Your Marriage – The questions are simple as reminders or challenges to grow.

How Not to Talk About Politics

How Not to Talk About Politics – There is something for everyone in this practical post.

A.C.T.S. of Prayer

A.C.T.S. of Prayer – This is a simple way to structure your prayer time. It’s a great place to start.

One of the Strangest Commands in the Bible

One of the Strangest Commands in the Bible – “Why in the world would God tell Israel to hamstring captured horses? Does he have something against horses?”

Debunking Stupid Statements about the Bible

Debunking Stupid Statements about the Bible – Statements like this one: “No television preacher has ever read the Bible. Neither has any evangelical politician. Neither has the pope. Neither have I. And neither have you. At best, we’ve all read a bad translation—a translation of translations of translations of hand-copied copies of copies of copies of copies, and on and on, hundreds of times.”

9 Things You Should Know About Orphans

9 Things You Should Know About Orphans - Here are nine things you should know about orphans in America and around the world.

6 Reasons You Need the Songs of Jesus

6 Reasons You Need the Songs of Jesus – “The psalms are the divinely ordained way to learn devotion to our God.”

You Are a Saint, Sinner, and Sufferer

You Are a Saint, Sinner, and Sufferer – As Christians, we are all a combination of saint, sinner, and sufferer.

12 Ways to Love Your Wayward Child

12 Ways to Love Your Wayward Child – A good article for parents of prodigals.

How to Keep Your iPhone from Destroying Your Relationships – If you’ve ever watched a group of people glued to their smartphones and wondered how these devices are shaping our relationships, Sherry Turkle’s research is for you.

The 6 Assassins of A Man's Contentment – “You have enemies as you try to live as a content man. Most of the time we think the enemies are from without—people around us and circumstances upon us. But the true enemies of contentment are within in us, which is where contentment is either fed or starved.”

7 Gospel-Centered Principles for Protecting Your Marriage

7 Gospel-Centered Principles for Protecting Your Marriage – “What can a couple do to preserve the joyful loving intimacy of their marriage? Consider these seven gospel-centered principles.”

You Cannot Domesticate Pride

You Cannot Domesticate Pride – “Pride is not something to take lightly. It is something to be identified and mortified.”

The Help of God in Every Step

The Help of God in Every Step – Here is an encouraging word for whatever a day holds.

How ‘Peanuts’ Took Faith to Culture

How ‘Peanuts’ Took Faith to Culture - The deeper message of Charlie Brown.

When Jesus Rebukes the Persecuted Church

When Jesus Rebukes the Persecuted Church – “The Center for the Study of Global Christianity estimates 100,000 Christians now die each year, targeted because of their faith. That’s 11 per hour. But would Jesus ever rebuke the persecuted church? He did 2,000 years ago.” 

If Richard Dawkins Is Right

If Richard Dawkins Is Right - “Nobody knows who the four evangelists were, but they almost certainly never met Jesus personally. Much of what they wrote was in no sense an honest attempt at history. . . . The gospels are ancient fiction.” – Richard Dawkins, The God Delusion

What to Do When You Feel Like You Aren’t Growing

What to Do When You Feel Like You Aren’t Growing - If you're feeling stuck, it might be time to examine what you really believe.

14 Billy Graham Quotes That Helped Shape American Christianity

14 Billy Graham Quotes That Helped Shape American Christianity - In honor of the influential evangelist's 97th birthday.

Your Bible Is a Gold Mine

Your Bible Is a Gold Mine – “The wonderful thing about this mine is that we often find treasure in unexpected places.”

Taking God’s Word with Us to Work

Taking God’s Word with Us to Work – “While we may reflect on God’s Word as we hear it taught on Sunday morning, it is as if we have a kind of spiritual amnesia that accompanies us when we go to work.”

Three Ways Christians Can Be Like Jesus Amidst a More Polarized Culture

Three Ways Christians Can Be Like Jesus Amidst a More Polarized Culture – New data from Pew Research Center points to a growing ideological polarization in the U.S., and an opportunity for us to be like Jesus.

Moving Beyond “God won’t give you more than you can handle”

Moving Beyond “God won’t give you more than you can handle” – We hear it all the time. Is it a biblical teaching?

Why Would Drivers in China Intentionally Kill Those They Hit?

Why Would Drivers in China Intentionally Kill Those They Hit? – “Here we see the results of a worldview that devalues the sanctity of individual life.”

Be Known for What You’re for, Not Just What You’re Against

Be Known for What You’re for, Not Just What You’re Against - That’s what Jesus did.

You Only Live Forever

You Only Live Forever – “Our life planning ought to be about the next trillion years, and beyond.” This is a great word for “earthbound believers”.

Satan Hunts Among the Hurting

Satan Hunts Among the Hurting – “He lies in wait with lies, wanting to consume the fragile and vulnerable.”

Three Ways to Love Your Imperfect Husband

Three Ways to Love Your Imperfect Husband – While written by a woman about husbands, the principles would apply to loving your wife as well.

China’s One-Child Policy

China’s One-Child Policy – Joe Carter has a helpful FAQ on China’s one-child policy and the recent change to make it a two-child policy.

Effort, Power, and Trusting the Lord

Effort, Power, and Trusting the Lord – God will work through us, but that doesn't mean we don't have to work hard!

Why Would the World Ask About Your Hope?

Why Would the World Ask About Your Hope? – Why in 1 Peter 3:15 does the unbelieving world ask Christians about their hope?

4 Reasons You Should Vote Today

4 Reasons You Should Vote Today – Christians should exercise their vote (and not just once every four years in presidential elections). Here are some good biblical reasons to vote.

Read Scripture Series: Job

Read Scripture Series: Job – This video explores the main ideas and flow of thought of the book of Job. It is an 11-minute illustrated summary. It’s well done. 

A Church Transforming Proverb

A Church Transforming Proverb – If Christians practiced the truth of these two proverbs, a lot of problems would disappear in churches.

How Do Americans See Sacred Texts?

How Do Americans See Sacred Texts? New Data From LifeWay Research – Americans see the Christian Bible and the Muslim Quran in very different ways.

Five Ways to Stop Spending Time Managing Time

Five Ways to Stop Spending Time Managing Time – “While in no way exhaustive, here are five applications Christians might employ for buying back time for the purposes for which they were given it by God.”

The Key to a Happy Marriage

The Key to a Happy Marriage – “After interviewing 468 married individuals on relationship satisfaction, covering everything from communication habits to finances, they found that the "most consistent significant predictor" of happy marriages was whether one's spouse expressed gratitude.”

Bearing Burdens

Bearing Burdens – The last paragraph is worth the read.

Your Painful Story Brings God Glory

Your Painful Story Brings God Glory – “We can all think of an instance where someone revealing their difficult story has touched us. What if they never had told their story? What if you never tell yours?”