The Reality of Our Present World

We’ve got to remember, folks, that no matter how promising an idea sounds, if God’s not in it, you don’t want to be in it either. This is true of a relationship, career change, buying or selling a house, even something as simple as a vacation. We only want what Jesus is in; we only want what our Father is giving. The key test for this moment is not only “I give you my allegiance, Jesus” but also “I only want what you are doing.” And…

Over the years, it has struck me—in view of Paul’s warning that those who desire to be rich plunge into ruin and destruction—how strange it is how many Christian people still pursue wealth. But Paul means what he says—desiring to be rich is deadly. And there is more. The key that unlocks this text is in verse 6: “Godliness with contentment is great gain.” What is the protection against these deadly effects of money? Answer: a heart that…

I’m reading Dr. Ben Carson’s recent book entitled Created Equal. In it he shares insights into a number of issues prevalent in today’s culture around race relations. But I was fascinated by a subject he knows a little something about. As the former director of pediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins he writes a few paragraphs about brain plasticity. Unlike many other organs of the body, the brain has not reached developmental maturation at birth. Babies…

Years in the Comfort Culture made us emotionally soft. If we don’t feel like doing something, we don’t do it. If we don’t feel like believing something, we don’t believe it. Folks like to call this authenticity, but it’s really just adolescence. Like a fourteen-year-old, we treat our emotions as some sort of right, the truest part of our existence. If we don’t feel love, we think we are no longer in love; if we don’t feel God, we…

This is one of the fundamental questions that every person asks and seeks answers for, even if they don’t realize that they’re seeking answers for that. You see, our lives have meaning because every single one of us has been made in the image and likeness of God. And because of that, we all have inherent dignity and worth in the eyes of God. Now, sadly, because of sin, we’ve distorted that image in one way or another. Some of us, we recognize that:…

It’s impossible to live in this world without ever facing doubt, confusion, or apprehension. The Word of God doesn’t dismiss these concerns. Instead, it tells us what to do when we’re afraid. The best response is to admit your fears to the Lord and trust Him to work out the situation according to His will and timing. Many people want to hold anyone but God responsible for their adversity—that’s because they can’t reconcile why a good God…

In 2013, British actor David Suchet was filming the final TV episodes as Agatha Christie’s beloved Belgian detective Hercule Poirot—and also starring in a stage play—when he took on “the biggest role in [his] life.” Between those projects he recorded an audio version of the entire Bible, from Genesis to Revelation—752,702 words—over two hundred hours. Suchet, who became a believer in Jesus after reading the book of Romans in a Bible…

After receiving the devastating diagnosis of a rare and incurable brain cancer, Caroline found renewed hope and purpose through providing a unique service: volunteering photography services for critically ill children and their families. Through this service, families could capture the precious moments shared with their children, both in grief and “the moments of grace and beauty we assume don’t exist in those desperate places.” She observed that “in…

I’ve been mostly silent on Facebook for some time. Originally, I thought it would be a great way to stay in touch with friends and family to see just what was happening in their collective lives. It turned into a time toilet that had to be moderated. It also had turned into a place that builds tribes and silos. The algorithms only allow me to see those feeds of the folks I interact with on most occasions. I’d have to hunt down any other interesting parties. BUT……;.…