Guarding My Heart in Troubled Times

Two months ago I was diagnosed with cancer. I am mostly recovered from the surgery and am undergoing treatment. A lot shifted for me the day the doctor said, “cancer”. As has been my practice in such challenging times, I changed some things in my prayer life for this new reality. Bible verses came to mind that I read regularly now to ready and steady me for this journey.

As I watched the Presidential Debate last night and consider how contentious and divisive the times are, the Lord brought a key Bible verse to mind, “Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life. Don’t let your mouth speak dishonestly, and don’t let your lips talk deviously. Let your eyes look forward; fix your gaze straight ahead. Carefully consider the path for your feet, and all your ways will be established” (Proverbs 4:23-26). I will be prayerful and informed and engaged in the many issues of our day but my ultimate goal, regardless of cancer or election results must be to run well this race of life before a Holy God and to finish the race well for and with Him.

This morning, I changed up some things in my prayer time to again, ready and steady my heart and my focus for this season. You may have other scriptures or additional words from God’s word buy I thought I’d at least share my list for meditation today. “This is the day the Lord has made; let’s rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24).

The Great Commandment - Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This the great and foremost commandment. And a second thing like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets. (Matthew. 22:36-40).

The Great Commission - Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. (Matthew 28:19-20).

Psalm 51:10-13 – Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you.

Romans 15:4 – For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.

Psalm 19:14 – Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

Psalms 103: 2-4 –  Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits— who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion

Romans 8:28 – And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Matthew 11:28-29 – Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Psalms 33:20-22 – Our soul waits for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name. Let your steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us, even as we hope in you.

1 Timothy 2:1-6 - First of all, I encourage you to make petitions, prayers, intercessions, and prayers of thanks for all people, for rulers, and for everyone who has authority over us. Pray for these people so that we can have a quiet and peaceful life always lived in a godly and reverent way. This is good and pleases God our Savior. He wants all people to be saved and to learn the truth. There is one God. There is also one mediator between God and humans—a human, Christ Jesus. He sacrificed himself for all people to free them from their sins. This message is valid for every era.

Philippians 4:6-9 – Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy—dwell on these things. Do what you have learned and received and heard from me, and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.

Ephesians 6:10-18 – Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

Calling Down Grace Instead of Fire

Calling Down Grace Instead of Fire – “Lord Jesus, on this last day of September, we are grateful to know you rule the world with your truth and grace. Perpetually praying for us; powerfully executing sovereignty over nations, nanoseconds, and naysayers; graciously meeting us with your burden-bearing love.”

He Lives That Death May Die: The Many Crowns of Christ

He Lives That Death May Die: The Many Crowns of Christ – “Jesus is worthy of more than a singular crown. As King of kings, and Lord of lords, and Glory of glories, he is worthy of many.”

3 Truths About the Reign of God

3 Truths About the Reign of God – “What does Scripture teach us about the reign of God? In times of uncertainty and tumult, this is perhaps one of the most important questions we can ponder.” 

How to Work From Home Without Losing Your Mind

How to Work From Home Without Losing Your Mind – These are worth mentioning and may just serve as good reminders.

Dismiss the Devil with a Song

Dismiss the Devil with a Song – “Singing is power. When you sing, the Holy Spirit comes and does something.”

What If The Church Wasted The Covid Crisis By Not Prepping For A More Hostile Shutdown?

What If The Church Wasted The Covid Crisis By Not Prepping For A More Hostile Shutdown? – “What if we had used the COVID disrupter as a dry run to prepare our churches for the rise of increasingly restrictive government measures on what the church can proclaim and practice? Because all the signs are saying that is clearly a direction we could be headed in.”

Amy Coney Barrett and the People of Praise

Amy Coney Barrett and the People of Praise – “How to respond when critics don’t understand our faith.”

We Live In Unprecedented Times

We Live In Unprecedented Times – “The certainties of our age; scientific advance, social change, economic growth and freedom from poverty, war and disease are built on sand.”

A Big Advance for Constitutionalism

A Big Advance for Constitutionalism – Amy Coney Barrett Nomination Sets the Stage for a New Era for the Supreme Court.

Atlases No More: Parenting During the COVID-19 Crucible

Atlases No More: Parenting During the COVID-19 Crucible – “How to lead your family well through times of transition.”

Counting with God: What Do Numbers in the Bible Really Mean?

Counting with God: What Do Numbers in the Bible Really Mean? – “Have you ever wanted to know more about the numbers contained in the Bible and yet keep a healthy distance from Bible codes, Kabbalah, and names that add up to 666 (as long as you spell them right)? If so, please read on.”

True, Lasting Refreshment

True, Lasting Refreshment – “Let us bask in the mercy of Christ that is more refreshing than a change of season and more satisfying than ice cold water on a hot day. Rather than wallowing in the swamp of our own shame and guilt, let us drink deeply from the fountain of his grace and love.”

David Platt’s Plea Before You Vote

David Platt’s Plea Before You Vote – “Even if we lose every freedom and protection we have as followers of Jesus in the United States, and even if our government were to become a completely totalitarian regime, we could still live in abundant life as long as we didn’t look to political leaders, platforms, or policies for our ultimate security and satisfaction.”

9 Things You Should Know About Supreme Court Nominee Amy Coney Barrett

9 Things You Should Know About Supreme Court Nominee Amy Coney Barrett – “On Friday, President Donald Trump announced Amy Coney Barrett will be his nominee to replace the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Here are nine things you should know about Judge Barrett.”

If You Could See What You Will Be

If You Could See What You Will Be – “Some of the sweetest and deepest promises of God are also some of the most neglected, often because they either feel too great to grasp or because they don’t seem to immediately intersect with life today.”

7 Questions about Conversion

7 Questions about Conversion – “A convert is a disciple, and disciples follow because they’ve been converted.”

The Blessing of (Good) Authority

The Blessing of (Good) Authority – “Really, people don’t hate authority, because we all love the freedom to decide things and to create. We just don’t like other people’s authority because we like deciding and creating things for ourselves.”

No One Believes in Social Injustice

No One Believes in Social Injustice – “When it comes to social justice, that’s exactly what’s happening—we are drawing definitions from different dictionaries.” Here are some of the frustrations we find in this discussion.

If You Don’t Evangelize at Home, You Won’t Overseas?

If You Don’t Evangelize at Home, You Won’t Overseas? – “If you don’t share the gospel at home, you won’t share it overseas. This is a trustworthy statement. At the same time, some may need to go overseas in order to learn the confidence, craft, and intentionality required to share the gospel regularly back at home.”

He Prunes Us Because He Loves Us

He Prunes Us Because He Loves Us – “Wherever you find yourself, may you know this: God isn’t standing over you cutting away all those things in your life because he doesn’t care about you and he wants you to be miserable. He’s pruning you because he loves you.”

In Praise of Uncomfortable Friendships

In Praise of Uncomfortable Friendships – “God loved David, but David often loved other things more than God. Thankfully he had people like Nathan around to help him get back on track. We all need people like this. And they don’t have to have a leadership title to do it.”

When Life Feels Crushing

When Life Feels Crushing – “Do you feel as though you are being crushed? Does your suffering feel overwhelming? Are you waiting in the dark alone?”

Why We Should be More Familiar with OT Sacrifices

Why We Should be More Familiar with OT Sacrifices – “I’m delighted to discover how richly rewarding it is to gain greater familiarity with these sacrificial rituals and with the text of Leviticus. Perhaps this will encourage you to take a closer look at this oft-neglected book as well.”

I Confess (It’s Easy to Neglect)

I Confess (It’s Easy to Neglect) – “Confession wipes away the relational junk between us and God.”

Why Did God Heal Me? Lessons from an Unexpected Miracle

Why Did God Heal Me? Lessons from an Unexpected Miracle – “The Christian answer to the problem of suffering does not answer every question people have, but it is still a better answer than anything else.”

What to Do When Life is Miserable

What to Do When Life is Miserable – “So what do we do when life is miserable? What did Paul and Silas do? They reached into a miserable, painful, hopeless situation in the dead of night with prayers and songs.”

Gospel + Safety + Time = A Church Where Anyone Can Grow

Gospel + Safety + Time = A Church Where Anyone Can Grow – “This is what our churches must be: gentle environments of gospel + safety + time. It’s where we’re finally free to grow.”

Holding Grief and Joy in Tandem

Holding Grief and Joy in Tandem – “So in those times we will walk our road holding hands with joy and grief, sometimes talking to one more than the other.”

Why We’re Drawn to Conspiracy Theories

Why We’re Drawn to Conspiracy Theories – “Conspiracy theory is an explanation of past, present, or future events or circumstances that cites, as the primary cause, a conspiracy. . . . Conspiracy theories are inherently political. Conspiracy theories are accusatory ideas that could either be true or false, and they contradict the proclamations of epistemological authorities, assuming such proclamations exist.”

Francis James Grimké – Through a Pandemic and Social Unrest

Francis James Grimké – Through a Pandemic and Social Unrest – “We ought to come out of this epidemic more determined than ever to run with patience the race that is set before us; more determined than ever to make heaven our home.”

Why Is the Bible So Violent?

Why Is the Bible So Violent? – “All of Scripture is profitable and God-inspired — and that includes the most violent parts.”

You Don’t Have to Do It All

You Don’t Have to Do It All – “So what might that look like when it seems that there is too much to do? How can we do something today without being overwhelmed by everything? Here are some suggestions.”

When God Says No to Your Earnest Prayers

When God Says No to Your Earnest Prayers – “Have you ever prayed earnestly for something, only for God to say no? What should we do when God says no to our earnest prayers?”

Holy Is Who You Are: A Missing Weapon in the War Against Sin

Holy Is Who You Are: A Missing Weapon in the War Against Sin – “And unless we embrace the holiness that is already ours, our pursuit of holiness may leave us more harried and anxious than actually holy.”

“Love Thy What?”: 7 Ways to Befriend Your Neighbor During COVID-19

“Love Thy What?”: 7 Ways to Befriend Your Neighbor During COVID-19 – “So how does an introverted, unintentional, comfort-loving guy like me nudge himself to neighbor well in lockdown time or anytime?”

What Do We Do with Our Imperfect Worship?

What Do We Do with Our Imperfect Worship? – “Do you think you ever sin while worshiping God? All of us likely do. We unintentionally act in ways that violate God’s Word.” This is a good application on the “guilt offerings” of the Old Testament that relates to us well today.

Pandemic Denial Sows Division and Endangers Others

Pandemic Denial Sows Division and Endangers Others – “When pastors and church leaders deny that we are even in a pandemic, it can cause wide-ranging problems.”

How to Stop Hating Yourself

How to Stop Hating Yourself – “Self-hatred is not God’s plan for your life.  He is not calling you to focus on all the reasons why you’re odd or rubbish or stupid or shameful. He’s not waiting in the bushes with a long lens to capture your mistakes.”

Plan B Beauty

Plan B Beauty – “2020 seems like a microcosm of all the things that we don’t want–pandemic, political turmoil, injustice, and natural disasters on top of everything else.” If 2020 feels like a failed Plan A, what do we do now?

Praying…Through Gritted Teeth

Praying…Through Gritted Teeth – “I think this is one of the biggest discipleship challenges for Christians in the West. We are so culturally conditioned to assume that our personal opinions and desires should be paramount and to share in the general societal disdain for political leaders.”

It Isn’t About Me

It Isn’t About Me – “The world is a barren wilderness without love. You really do need each other.”

Here’s Another Reminder to Be Gracious During 2020

Here’s Another Reminder to Be Gracious During 2020 – “I want to be gracious, and right now that’s a virtue in short supply. This year has been out of control. Unfortunately, so have many people’s manners. This is a reminder to be gracious to others—especially when it’s easy not to.”

Wrestling with Beauty and Loss

Wrestling with Beauty and Loss – “Ultimately the way we must respond to the tension of any day in this life is to remember our limited perspective. God is God- not us. He is our Creator who holds infinite wisdom.”

Embodied Creativity: Delighting in God Through Diversity

Embodied Creativity: Delighting in God Through Diversity – “Here are three modest suggestions for growing in our appreciation of God’s infinite wisdom as Chief Designer of mankind.”

How Do I Overcome My Fear of the Future?

How Do I Overcome My Fear of the Future? – “I only have one message: if you have God, you don’t need to be afraid.” 

Red Rope Christianity

Red Rope Christianity – “Stop congratulating yourselves about how good your side is. Stop the faux commiseration with others of your particular stripe about how bad the other side is.”

Souls Are Our Reward: Running Well to Win the Lost

Souls Are Our Reward: Running Well to Win the Lost – “When our faith begins to falter, or our spiritual disciplines wane, or our joy fades to a dim flicker, or our love grows cold, we need to be reminded to run. Even when it hurts, even when we want to give up, even when we’d rather do anything else. Any race with Jesus will be hard (Luke 9:23).”

When Peace and Unity Seem Impossible

When Peace and Unity Seem Impossible – “One of the chief causes of disunity is a bunch of people strutting around assuming they’re right about everything. Seeking unity means practicing humility and being open to being wrong and having your perspective changed.”

The Good Death in Psalm 73

The Good Death in Psalm 73 – “Because we all die at the end, it’s remarkable how little time we devote to thinking about it. We long to live, but we know we’ll die—and have become masters at distracting ourselves from this fact.”

Fast and Furious: The Battle for the Supreme Court is Shaping Up Right Now

Fast and Furious: The Battle for the Supreme Court is Shaping Up Right Now – Al Mohler writes that, while there are plenty of issues to consider in this election year, the future and function of the Supreme Court is noteworthy.”

They Told the Truth Even When It Hurt

They Told the Truth Even When It Hurt – “Tim Barnett of Stand to Reason shows how the inclusion of embarrassing personal details in the New Testament points to the reliability of the accounts.”

RBG’S Dying Wish

RBG’S Dying Wish –  “The death of RBG should cause all of us to pause and consider. It must be difficult to be a judge and then have the gavel reclaimed in death, to be judged for every decision, action, word, thought, and motive of your life. But this will be the experience of us all at some point, and brings true equality for all; death is the ultimate equalizer.” 

God the Patient Gardener

God the Patient Gardener – “I would give up, were it not for this thought: my God is a patient gardener. He will finish the work he has started. He will not abandon us in the dirt.”

Was the Divinity of Jesus a Late Invention of the Council of Nicea?

Was the Divinity of Jesus a Late Invention of the Council of Nicea? – “People are free to disagree with early Christians about what they believed about Jesus.  But, there is little doubt that early Christians believed it.”

Christian, be a Peacemaker

Christian, be a Peacemaker – “In a culture where everybody is at each other’s throats, we need a breath of fresh air–fresh air of peace among people.”

The Greatest Danger Is Just Going Back To Normal

The Greatest Danger Is Just Going Back To Normal – “Is life back to normal? No. Is church back to normal? No. Will it ever get back to where it was in February? I just don’t know. Do you want it to? Now that’s the question.”

What ‘Taking the Lord’s Name in Vain’ Really Means

What ‘Taking the Lord’s Name in Vain’ Really Means – “These [Old Testament] lessons are about who we are as God’s people, who he is as our Sovereign Lord, and how he has called us to bear his name in the world.”

The Idolatry of Patriotism

The Idolatry of Patriotism – “So over the election season—and all year—be appreciative of your country. Be patriotic. But make sure your patriotism pales in comparison to your sacrifice, commitment and allegiance to the Kingdom of God.”

6 Ways Christians Can Be Wiser in Political Engagement

6 Ways Christians Can Be Wiser in Political Engagement – “It’s important believers don’t simply mirror a broken world when engaging politics. Here are six ideas to help frame how our thinking can be more characterized by Christian wisdom than by the ways of the world.”

5 Factors Fueling Dangerous Beliefs in America

5 Factors Fueling Dangerous Beliefs in America – “If you find Holocaust denial baffling and the anti-Semitism disturbing, you’re not alone. Hearing about such poll results can leave you wondering if you live in an alternate reality. And you do.”

Why Does It Matter That Christ Was ‘Begotten, Not Made’?

Why Does It Matter That Christ Was ‘Begotten, Not Made’? – “There is no salvation without the deity of Christ.”

A Word for Weary and Waiting Christians

A Word for Weary and Waiting Christians – “Throughout Revelation, John employs one word to help us as we ask questions about God’s timeline: soon.”

Where’s Your Joy-Wagon Hitched?

Where’s Your Joy-Wagon Hitched? – “May the riches of the Gospel enable us to unhitch our joy-wagon from people and politics, wealth and work, health and homes, circumstances and outcomes.”

 

Don’t Forget—the Gospel Is (Still) for Christians

Don’t Forget—the Gospel Is (Still) for Christians – “We never outgrow the gospel; we simply grow in our understanding of it.”

The Death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and the Future of the Supreme Court

The Death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and the Future of the Supreme Court – “From a Christian worldview, there is much to consider in the aftermath of Justice Ginsburg’s death.”

Looking to What is Unseen

Looking to What is Unseen – “When we fix our eyes on Jesus, everything else fades away. Our need for clarity lessens. Our desire to finally understand God’s purpose in our suffering doesn’t matter so much anymore. His glory becomes most important to us.” 

Porn—Even in the Name of ‘Art’—Perpetuates Abuse

Porn—Even in the Name of ‘Art’—Perpetuates Abuse – “The more pop culture sexualizes children and normalizes exploitation, the more it validates and perpetuates the lies of child abusers.”

The Promise of Holiness

The Promise of Holiness – “Of all the good reasons we have for pursuing holiness, here is the best: the promise of knowing God and being known by God.”

New Religions for a Godless World

New Religions for a Godless World – “Family and society no longer exert significant pressure toward traditional faiths, for in general the Remixed are the children of parents who already had no more than a formal, token association with a church.”

Money Motivates Me to Work Hard — Is That Okay?

Money Motivates Me to Work Hard — Is That Okay? – “God gives his people money so that we can use money in a way to show that money is not our God.”

How Shall I Love My Neighbor? By Keeping the Law!

How Shall I Love My Neighbor? By Keeping the Law! – “Love and law collaborate in that the commandments teach us how to love and the disposition of love supplies the motivation.”

What Does the Body Say? The Voice of God in Human Form

What Does the Body Say? The Voice of God in Human Form – “Christians have incredibly good news for a world full of body loathers and body idolaters. God made you, and that you includes your body.”

What 1 Corinthians 7 Says About Desertion and Divorce

What 1 Corinthians 7 Says About Desertion and Divorce – “You never deserve abuse, no matter what you have or haven’t done. Your partner may try to make you think you’re to blame, but the Word of God insists otherwise.”

See Jesus in the Jewish Fall Feasts

See Jesus in the Jewish Fall Feasts – “As we seek to understand their significance and fulfillment in Christ, these feasts—including the three fall feasts (the Feast of Trumpets, the Day of Atonement, the Feast of Tabernacles)—invite us to remember and celebrate Jesus’s fulfillment of the Hebrew Scriptures (Matt. 5:17).” 

3 Lessons from David’s Fall and Forgiveness

3 Lessons from David’s Fall and Forgiveness – “As we face our sin, we have to navigate between two unbiblical ditches. One is despairing that our sin is beyond forgiveness. The other is carelessly thinking we can violate God’s commands without experiencing painful repercussions.”

Denying Yourself Is Loving Yourself

Denying Yourself Is Loving Yourself – “When we deny ourselves, Jesus tells us, we find ourselves. We defy the devil. We join heaven’s side. We destroy our sorrow.”

Losing Discernment

Losing Discernment – “Babies are cute, but they don’t make good decisions. Where we see immaturity in the church, we will see a lack of discernment. Discernment is needed as God’s people navigate life in a cursed world, make disciples, choose leaders, and speak into difficult issues.”

Now We Can’t Even Watch Football

Now We Can’t Even Watch Football – “I miss the days when Christian people could be compelled to refrain from doing something based on their own personal convictions, without imposing their convictions on everyone else as if they are gospel truth for the entire world.”

From Protest to Praise

From Protest to Praise – “No matter how difficult the calling, or the moment, or the day…I pray that our own protests would turn to praise and Christ would be lifted high in our thoughts, words and actions!”

Condemning ‘Cuties’ Should Be Noncontroversial

Condemning ‘Cuties’ Should Be Noncontroversial – “We’ve been so blinded by confirmation bias and negative partisanship—driven more by ‘owning’ the other side than by actual positive convictions—that we’re willing to justify something heinous because we don’t like the people calling it heinous.”

The 4 Promises of God When You Need Him

The 4 Promises of God When You Need Him – “No matter what you’re going through, God is with you. When you look at the struggles we’re dealing with right now, God’s presence changes everything.”

We Are Mists and Marvels: Weighing the Beauty and Brevity of Life

We Are Mists and Marvels: Weighing the Beauty and Brevity of Life – “We are marvels of creation, whose lives are imbued with great meaning, who long for eternity, yet whose lifespans here are like a mist. No wonder we find time mystifying.”

90,000 Hours: How God Grows Us through Our Jobs

90,000 Hours: How God Grows Us through Our Jobs – “By approaching work as a partnership with God, Christians can experience purpose no matter the ups and downs of their professional journeys.”

Is Jesus Divine? 30% of “Evangelicals” Say No.

Is Jesus Divine? 30% of “Evangelicals” Say No. – This means a large number of people who claim to know Jesus as Savior, deny Jesus as God and they are following a false “Jesus”.

9 Things You Should Know About the Voyage of the Mayflower

9 Things You Should Know About the Voyage of the Mayflower – “Today marks the 400th anniversary of the voyage of the Mayflower, which brought 35 Puritans to found the first permanent European settlement in New England. Here are nine things you should know.”

Cancelling the Weapons of “Cancel Culture”

Cancelling the Weapons of “Cancel Culture” – “It is obvious to all that 2020 has proven to be quite the revealing year for professing Christians. The way in which we deal with one another over our differences on conclusions about racial matters, masks, or governmental authority shows what is in our hearts.”

The American Political Parties: History, Problems, and Prospects

The American Political Parties: History, Problems, and Prospects – While there are not a lot of answers in the article, it does chart well how our political system got to where it is.

The Tyranny of Progress

The Tyranny of Progress – “Though often correct in diagnosing the sins and failures of our forebears, the proud generation misses the point that future generations will one day diagnose ours. Progress is devoted to fashions and fads.”

Recovering the Lost Art of Edification

Recovering the Lost Art of Edification – “There’s a lot falling apart these days, and I think Christians ought to be especially interested in building up.”

How to Navigate the Generational Divide in Politics

How to Navigate the Generational Divide in Politics – “If it seems our parents are being radicalized in one direction, are we self-aware enough to recognize if we are becoming more radical in the other direction?”

A Brief Theology of Human Origins

A Brief Theology of Human Origins – “Scripture presents us with a rich and clear theology of human origins. God, our Creator, describes our beginning, fall, and the hope of redemption in Christ to us in his Word, showing us our identity and purpose as his image-bearers.”

An Embarrassing Example of Why We Need to Keep Learning Culture

An Embarrassing Example of Why We Need to Keep Learning Culture – We need to learn our own culture as well as the many cultures around us in order to share Christ well.

Promise and Peril: The Decline of Religion in America

Promise and Peril: The Decline of Religion in America – “The present decline is striking in its speed and uniformity across different measures of religiosity. But a longer historical perspective suggests some caution in making overbold statements about what such a decline might portend.”

Fifteen Lies Satan Tells You About Scripture

Fifteen Lies Satan Tells You About Scripture – As Paul said, “We are not ignorant of his devices” (2 Corinthians 2:11).  We know how he works.  And here are some of the lies we have noticed pouring out of his factory, all geared toward destroying confidence in God’s Word.

Where Is God When Your Dog Dies?

Where Is God When Your Dog Dies? – “Because God created animals, he has regard for them. And because he cares for his people, what matters deeply to them matters deeply to God.”

Enjoying Imperfection

Enjoying Imperfection – “Only God does all things perfectly. In a world that has written God out of the story, we have written ourselves into the role of perfection-attainment. And it is killing us—our dusty little frames, our finite abilities can’t handle it.”

The Other Side of the Coin

The Other Side of the Coin – “Christian belief in a supernatural, interventionist God has been eroded. Even if we don’t go to the extremes, our prayers can be tentative and we are often genuinely shocked when God does answer them.”

God’s Voice Isn’t as Hidden as You Think

God’s Voice Isn’t as Hidden as You Think – “We don’t need to constantly ask God to verify what he has said or reassure us of his promises. It’s there for all of us to see.”

The True Meaning of Success

The True Meaning of Success – “You can be successful academically, vocationally, as a leader, and even at religion, but without love you have nothing (1 Corinthians 13:2-3).”

What Do You Love Most About God?

What Do You Love Most About God? – “I hope to be spending the rest of eternity knowing and loving all of God’s excellencies better and better.”

When Your Mother Grows Old: Open Letter to Younger Believers

When Your Mother Grows Old: Open Letter to Younger Believers – “We do well to consider this unique call in regard to a mother: not to despise her when she is old. We could go many different directions in thinking about this call, but here are three.”

Where We REALLY Gather to Worship

Where We REALLY Gather to Worship – “Lord Jesus, whether we gather to worship you this weekend in a building or parking lot, in a courtyard or backyard, online or offline—no matter the address, this passage in Hebrews describes the true location and magnificence of our worship.”

The Real Problem of Prayer

The Real Problem of Prayer – “We think of the problems we encounter: a distracted mind, a weak will, a cold heart, a conscience plagued by shame. Why is it that when we’re praying that ticking clock or buzzing insect suddenly becomes so distracting? Why do we find it so difficult to pray? We face a lot of problems in prayer. But Ephesians 2 identifies the real problem, and it’s much more serious than any of those just mentioned.”

On My Failing Flesh (and the Flesh of Jesus)

On My Failing Flesh (and the Flesh of Jesus) – “God made your body. It’s the only one you have—so take good care of it. But let your body, in its frailty, move your heart to wisdom as you contemplate the sheer wonder of a Savior who would stoop low enough to take on a body just like yours, to make you just like him in his resurrection.”

Joy Comes Through the Mourning

Joy Comes Through the Mourning – “Both prosperity and poverty serve God’s eternal designs for his people.”

Subject To A Better Offer?

Subject To A Better Offer? – “You are not saved by your church attendance. You are not saved by going to Bible study every week. You are only saved by grace in Jesus. However, this doesn’t mean that commitment and reliability don’t matter at all. In fact, your involvement in the local church can be a great indicator of how you are going in your faith.”

How Perfectionism Makes You a Spiritual Quitter

How Perfectionism Makes You a Spiritual Quitter – “It has taken me 43 years to begin to learn that there is a happy, spiritually-nourishing medium between praying for an hour a day and not praying at all. Between reading five chapters in my Bible and not reading a single word. Spiritual disciplines don’t have to be feast or famine, and they shouldn’t be.”

If We Had Nothing Else to Be Grateful For

If We Had Nothing Else to Be Grateful For – “Forgive us when we want answers more than you; and when we want pain relief more than we want heart change.”

Why Has Quarantine Made Me So Angry?

Why Has Quarantine Made Me So Angry? – “What Scripture says about the roots of anger exposes what is ugly, but also what is beautiful.”

Education Department Issues New Rule on Religious Liberty and Free Inquiry

Education Department Issues New Rule on Religious Liberty and Free Inquiry – “The stated purpose of the rule is to restore religious liberty and prevent discrimination against faith-based organizations and to act in a manner consistent with the government’s obligation to be neutral in matters of religion.”

Peeking Past the Blindfold

Peeking Past the Blindfold – “Again and again God commands his people to be impartial. Why? Because our hearts are inclined to partiality.”

The Gospel at Ground Zero

The Gospel at Ground Zero – “The horrors of 9/11 were not unlike those of Good Friday.”

When Peace Is Like A River

When Peace Is Like A River – “How do you know if your soul has peace?”

What Are We Arguing About?

What Are We Arguing About? – “Let’s look at three of the most contentious issues dividing churches (or about to divide churches) at the moment.”

The Gospel is Big Enough for Your Church

The Gospel is Big Enough for Your Church – “The gospel is big enough to be the center of our church. We don’t have to add to it. To do so only ruins it. It’s big enough by itself.”

‘Always Learning but Never Arriving’

‘Always Learning but Never Arriving’ — “Ultimately arriving at a knowledge of the truth is a gift of God.”

 

When Detours Become Destinations

When Detours Become Destinations – “If we are following Jesus, we are pilgrims on an upward path. One that doesn’t end in a grave but instead leads to a grand reunion of light and love. Our detours are often the things that prepare us and point us to our beautiful destination.”

A Famous and Forgotten Romance: Six Lessons for Marriage and Ministry

A Famous and Forgotten Romance: Six Lessons for Marriage and Ministry – “Priscilla and Aquila did great good together, and to all, especially to those who shared their joy in Jesus. And in doing so, they left not prescriptions or commands, but a legacy and an aspiration for marriages like ours.”

Helping Your Church Survive Election Season

Helping Your Church Survive Election Season – “ Scripture directs us to three critical shelters to shield our hearts from turbulence so that we can be a people who are still on mission in the middle of the storm.”

A Short History of Racism

A Short History of Racism – This in no way minimizes today’s struggles with racism but it reminds of the long history that goes well beyond black and white.

What Is Time?

What Is Time? – This is a helpful reflection on how the Bible describes time and “timefulness”.

Why Unhealthy People Crave Controversy

Why Unhealthy People Crave Controversy – “Someone with an unhealthy craving for controversy can always convince himself he’s a warrior for Christ—instead of a captive to his passions.”

What Is God Accomplishing in My Suffering?

What Is God Accomplishing in My Suffering? – “God loves us so much that he will spare us nothing to get out of us what he really hates.”

Look Death In The Face

Look Death In The Face – “It’s the one area of human life where there is no discrimination or bias whatsoever. It might also be the only time where everyone agrees and acts similarly. It’s the harsh and inescapable reality of death.”

Does God Single Out the Sin of Homosexuality? (Romans 1)

Does God Single Out the Sin of Homosexuality? (Romans 1) – “Human sexuality is a gift not to be squandered.”

Seeking the Lost

Seeking the Lost – “Do we seek the lost and rejoice over their salvation like they would in finding a lost sheep, coin, or dog? Do you? Do I? May the Lord give us more the heart of our Savior.”

Good Works Are Not Your Problem

Good Works Are Not Your Problem – “Rather than writing off good works, the Apostle Paul considered good works and faith to be the closest of friends.”

Thinking Critically about Critical Race Theory

Thinking Critically about Critical Race Theory – “There’s a better alternative to CRT—Christianity. Christianity says our fundamental problem is sin.” 

State of Theology Study Finds Americans Embrace Conflicting Religious Beliefs

State of Theology Study Finds Americans Embrace Conflicting Religious Beliefs – “More than half of Americans say religious beliefs are a matter of personal opinion, not objective facts. And that’s made clear by examining the varying, and sometimes contradictory, theological doctrines they hold.”

Why Is It So Hard to Read My Bible These Days?

Why Is It So Hard to Read My Bible These Days? – “When people engage less with the local church, they engage less with their Bibles.”

Be Careful What You Put Your Hope in, Including Politics

Be Careful What You Put Your Hope in, Including Politics – “Like many of you, I am not looking forward to all the political turmoil, including in the church, that is sure to come as the presidential election gets closer. At the same time, this is an excellent opportunity for God’s people to determine where our hope is placed.”

His Rage We Can Endure, For, Lo, His Doom is Sure

His Rage We Can Endure, For, Lo, His Doom is Sure – “The Bible assures us that despite his horrendous power, the devil is actually a defeated enemy.”

Wordless

Wordless – “Have you ever felt at a loss for words? Unable to express to the Father what you long for?  When did you discover He is enough?”

Pressure

Pressure – Here are some good reminders and suggestions about helping your lost or unchurched friend take a step toward Jesus.

The Core of the Qur’anic Worldview

The Core of the Qur’anic Worldview – “At the center of the Qur’an’s view of reality are three concepts: The oneness of God, the day of judgement, and prophethood.”

A Labor of Love

A Labor of Love – Lord Jesus, on this 2020 Labor Day, we are grateful for your perfect and complete “labor of love.” Everything changed when you cried out from the cross, “It is finished!” That’s one job that’s completely and forever over. Hallelujah!

Raise Your Kids So They’re Not Self-Reliant

Raise Your Kids So They’re Not Self-Reliant – “Children are a gift from God (Psalm 127:3) and parents are stewards of that gift. If we believe our children belong to God, shouldn’t our goal be to point them to Him as their Ultimate Security?”

How Home Renovations Point to Heart Renovations

How Home Renovations Point to Heart Renovations – “There is one major difference between my house and my heart. God promises to finish the renovation of my heart once and for all. It’s a certain and sure truth, ensured by the Great Architect himself.”

 

The Brightness of Life in the Shadow of Death

The Brightness of Life in the Shadow of Death – “In Christ, though we still walk through death’s shadowy valley, we can do so with the confidence of our deliverer with us.”

Trusting God in Times of Plenty

Trusting God in Times of Plenty – “We know we will be challenged to trust God in times of difficulty, but what about in times of plenty?”

3 Questions about Self-Care

3 Questions about Self-Care – “Self-care for the Christian must be fundamentally distinct from self-care found in the world.”

The Still More Glorious Day

The Still More Glorious Day – “Has the eagerness slowly dissolved out of your waiting for him? Meditate, again, on just how glorious that great day will be.”

When Looking for a Church, Beware the “Right Fit”

When Looking for a Church, Beware the “Right Fit” – “I’m looking for a church that’s just like me.” It may not be the the view of “church” we really need.

Loose Change

Loose Change – “Every time I choose to trust and obey God, no matter how small it seems, I am making a deposit which strengthens my relationship with Him. Becoming more like Christ is usually a slow process; so slow it takes a lifetime and will not be completed until I reach heaven.”

What Happens When a Christian Dies?

What Happens When a Christian Dies? – “A Christian is a person who owns two homes. The home you are living in now is a temporary one, a ‘tent.’ But you have another home that is more enduring, more substantial. The date for your moving to your new home has not yet been given, but it is already known to God.”

Quadruple Glory

Quadruple Glory – “Be encouraged Christian, for you are a receptacle of the glory of God.”

Want Your Church to Enjoy Unity? Let the Gospel Do Its Dividing Work.

Want Your Church to Enjoy Unity? Let the Gospel Do Its Dividing Work. – “When I became a lead pastor, I preached the gospel enthusiastically, but I didn’t understand its winnowing power or how positive that process would be. Like all pastors, I didn’t want division. I wanted unity and inclusivity. But that’s not how ministry works.”

Remember Who You Were Without Christ

Remember Who You Were Without Christ – “If we are going to love Christ much, we need to remember the depths from which he saved us. If we are going to treasure all we have in him, we need to remember who we were without him.”

Divine Statues: What the Bible Says to 2020 America about Human Dignity

Divine Statues: What the Bible Says to 2020 America about Human Dignity – “If it has accomplished anything, 2020 has laid bare the way Americans often view their neighbors.”

We Need Wisdom, Not Wealth

We Need Wisdom, Not Wealth – “You may think you need wealth, but you don’t need it and God hasn’t promised it. Faith in God will not guarantee you a Bentley. But you can count on God for the thing you need even more than wealth.”

Why Was Satan Allowed to Torment Job? (Job 1)

Why Was Satan Allowed to Torment Job? (Job 1) – “God is impressed not by Satan’s extraordinary abilities but rather by Job’s character.”

In His Hand

In His Hand – “The life of every living thing is in his hand, and the breath of every human being” (Job 12:10.

4 Theological Questions Your Church Has About Reopening

4 Theological Questions Your Church Has About Reopening – “Here are a few responses to the most common theological questions we’ve seen arise out of COVID-19. If members of your church aren’t voicing these, they’re probably thinking about them.”

I Need Endurance

I Need Endurance – “My hope cannot be in getting back to my ‘comfort zone.’ Even if I find it momentarily, it will disappoint; for, as 2020 has shown us, everything we consider normal or happy or safe in our own little kingdoms can be shaken.”

Follow Jesus, Expect Suffering

Follow Jesus, Expect Suffering – “Suffering is an expected part of the Christian life. This truth in itself will never attract anyone to the Christian faith—until they understand that because suffering is the way of Jesus, it also brings life.”