For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?—1 Peter 4:17 (NIV) Ravi Zacharias, Johnny Hunt, Tony Evans, Robert Morris: The list of prominent Christian leaders accused of sexual misconduct keeps growing.   It is sickening, disheartening and an affront to the cause of Christ, especially in light of the responses among the accused. Zacharias went to his grave proclaiming his innocence, only for mounds of photos, texts and proof of payoffs to appear after his passing. Hunt conti ..read more

There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God, for apart from Him, who can eat or who can have enjoyment?—Ecclesiastes 2:24-25 (ESV) I’ve always been active and relatively health-conscious, but in 2019, I went through a metamorphosis. I was approaching a significant milestone. I was unhappy with my weight and concerned for my longterm health, and it was time to make some changes while I still could. I subscribed to a weight-loss plan that helped me address the psychology behind my eating behavi ..read more

One Sunday, an inquisitive man in our church small group posed the question, “What is a miracle?” His former pastor had told him a miracle is something beyond the realm of the explicable. I thought about the countless physiological and neurological processes at work within him as he spoke. I was struck by how each one of us, and every moment of life, is a miracle. Our existence itself is a miracle that science cannot adequately explain. Scientists have determined that the likelihood of a protein occurring naturally is 4.9 x 10-191. Others have determined the likelihood of cells developing natu ..read more

God killed Jesus. That’s what some people who stand in opposition to the gospel are saying. According to their teaching, this makes God a cosmic child abuser not worthy of their worship, assuming He is real. But there are two serious flaws with their reasoning.  First, Jesus is God. He always has been, and He always will be.  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The ..read more

Some people shy away from speaking about Jesus or doing anything in His name because they’re convinced God can’t use them. In their minds, they have nothing special to offer, or they feel discredited by their pasts.  But Rahab, a prostitute living in the ancient city of Jericho, didn’t allow even her present sins to prevent her from doing what God had given her to do. And all she had to offer were her knowledge of the city, a rooftop and a strategically placed window. Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim. “Go, look over the land,” he said, “especially Jericho.” So ..read more

. . . and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name.—Acts 5:40b-41 For years, Thanksgiving week became the time when I would focus on being grateful. But then a friend gave me a gratitude journal where I was to write three things for which I was thankful every day. Some days my list goes beyond the prescribed number. Some days—when I let life beat me down, or I’m weary of the same-old, same-old—I st ..read more

O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You discern my thoughts from afar.—Psalm 139:1-2 (ESV) Our society has clung to the idea of speaking truth to power in an effort to effect change. The term often is used in the face of perceived oppression or powerlessness. What if the powers to whom we appeal don’t have our best interests in mind? What if they don’t listen—or worse, don’t care?  In our chaotic world, we can sometimes forget there is One who holds all power. There is One who knows—and is—all truth. There is One who listens and c ..read more

My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you his greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. (You have received instructions about him; if he comes to you, welcome him.)—Colossians 4:10 (NIV) In Acts 13, we meet John Mark, the cousin of Barnabas, Paul’s friend and partner in spreading the gospel. But our first impression of Mark isn’t a good one. From Paphos, Paul and his companions sailed to Perga in Pamphylia, where John left them to return to Jerusalem.—Acts 13:13 (NIV) The Bible doesn’t say why Mark left, but we can infer from what follows that he didn’t have a good excuse. Was he fre ..read more

He came to His own, and His own people did not receive Him.—John 1:11 Our nation appears more divided than perhaps since the days of the Civil War. But some of God’s children, all of whom are called to be peacemakers, are instead fueling division with a push for Christian nationalism. The idea is that force-feeding Christian principles at any price upon those who do not share them will restore our country. Does our country desperately need restoration? Absolutely. But our hope doesn’t lie in a change of behavior or a change of leadership, regardless of where we stand politically. It lies in ..read more

Jesus looked at him and loved him.—Mark 10:21 (NIV) As Jesus was wrapping up a visit to Judea, a young man commonly dubbed “the rich young ruler” ran up and knelt before Him to ask for the key to eternal life. Jesus cited some of the most common commandments—don’t murder, commit adultery, lie, cheat, or dishonor your parents—leaving the man feeling pretty good about himself. He even said as much. Jesus knew this man. He created this man. He knew the man’s words before they came out of his mouth. Moreover, he could see into the man’s heart. Yet as this man was about to reveal his true colors ..read more