born twice
The other day I noticed a bumper sticker on the back of an SUV that read, “Born right, the first time.” I can’t be certain, but there’s a good chance the message is a reaction against being “born again” as a believer in Jesus.
The phrase “born again” originated with Jesus. In John 3, Jesus told a religious leader by…
no ordinary baptistry
This is a baptistry in Kawangare, Kenya. But this is no ordinary baptistry. It has special significance to Pastor David Kitonga and the believers of Huduma Church. After enjoying a very successful ministry in the Methodist Church in Kenya, the Lord called David to the slums of Kawangare. He ministered and ministers to the poorest of the poor there every…
pride and punishment
"Christian Leader Resigns Amid Adultery Scandal.” “Pastor Sacked for Misappropriating Church Funds.” Such headlines sadden me, but they don’t surprise me anymore. Last July, however, a news article about the resignation of the president of a church-planting network did surprise me. He resigned, not because of sexual misconduct or financial impropriety, but because of “various expressions of pride, unentreatability, deceit, sinful…
marshmallow test
You’re seated in a small room with a table in front of you. On the table is a tray of puffy white confections that most of us know and love— marshmallows. A man shows up and explains that he is going to leave the room for a few minutes. While he’s gone, you can ring a bell to summon him…
you choose Q: what should I do next?
Q: How do I know what to do next in life after having taken care of my Mom for over 24 years? —Raleigh
A: 24 years! You’re to be highly commended for your years of faithful sacrifice on behalf of your mom. At the same time, being a caretaker for so long presents some unique challenges. It can become so much…
hard work
Hey, Dad! It’s Micah. All that hard work finally paid off. I made gold defense (starting defense). I’m so happy. These are just baby steps to my days in the pros.”
My 12-year-old son sent me this text after his final football practice. As a first-year player, he had made it into games, but had not started all season. As a…
bread of life
I’ve never known true, life-threatening hunger. There have been occasions where my stomach gnawed for food and where I felt the ragged edge of hunger pains. I’ve never known, however, the kind of hunger you see when you visit slums in Sierra Leone or refugee camps in the Sudan. That hunger is palpable in a place where people are barely…
you choose Q: how do I deal with the guilt of my past?
Q: How do I deal with the guilt of my past? —Shellie
A: You’ve asked how you can deal with the guilt of your past, presumably due to some sin—something you regret. Perhaps you feel entrapped by these memories.
Jesus assured us that “every sin can be forgiven” (Matthew 12:31). If you have confessed and repented, God will forgive you (1…
tangible creativity
A friend named Erik Lokkesmoe, a successful audience mobilization agency founder and principal, recently shared on Facebook: “Here’s something I am trying with my kids: collecting unfinished artwork that shows the creative process, not the finished product. The handwritten notes that led to a new song. The pencil sketch of a painting. And, recently, a personalized drawing of Scar from…
you choose Q: is it permissable for women to be pastors?
Q: Is it correct to have women as pastors? I thought the Bible says no—correct? —Karl
A: The main Scriptural evidence referred to by people who don’t believe that women should be pastors is 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 and 1 Timothy 2:12. First Timothy 2:12 seems to place an especially strong limitation on the service of women in the church, “I permit…
murderous intent
At its best, anger alerts us to injustice. At its worst, anger becomes murderous in intent. Beyond wanting to see a wrong righted, we find ourselves wishing the destruction of a person—through the use of words if not a gun.
Many years ago, I experienced a dark and prolonged feud with a co-worker. “It troubles me to say this,” I…
August 13, 2012
What are your lasting impressions of the 2012 Olympic Games? How was God glorified through them?
common ground
The Good Book: A Humanist Bible was recently published by atheist author A. C. Grayling. The philosopher put together a literary work that—from his perspective—presents the best wisdom of people like Confucius, Seneca, Cicero, and others. Grayling imitated the Bible, but chose alternative authors and texts. The book has 12 sections, including Genesis, Parables, Proverbs, and Acts—but features no biblical references.…
i am a branch
A young boy was planting an apple tree in the backyard. As soon as it was planted, he exclaimed to his grandfather, “Pop-pop, we just planted an apple tree. Now we’re going to put apples on it!”
The boy’s attitude reflects the way we sometimes view fruitfulness in our life. We often behave as if we can bear fruit by…
