Research has demonstrated that the number one fear for people is speaking in public. Interestingly, the fear of death ranks number 2. (Which indicates that some folks would rather die than give a speech!)
Read More
Lee Strobel writes of a woman named Maggie who began to attend to his church. For a long time she sat in the back, fearful of being exposed, ashamed of her lifestyle, yet strangely drawn to the place.
Read More
One of the most gripping texts in the entire Old Testament is recorded in Genesis 22. In that account we read: Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied. Then God said, “Take your son…
Read More
It’s not surprising that down through the years, religious hypocrisy has been one of the greatest barriers to faith. Why become a Christian when the church is filled with so many hypocrites who act as living contradictions to their confession?
Read More
Have you ever heard the story of long-distance American swimmer Florence Chadwick? In 1950, she swam 21 miles across the English Channel from France to England in13 hours and 20 minutes, breaking the women’s world record for traversing that body of water.
Read More
Have you ever heard of an omakase restaurant? It’s a unique Japanese tradition where the customer leaves it up to the chef to choose his/her meal. Omakase is a Japanese word that translates, “I’ll leave it up to you.” It comes from the root, “to entrust.”
Read More
When I first came across the story, I found it hard to believe. It reported how a pride of African lions had rescued a young girl. Yes, you read it correctly. A group of lions rescued a young girl.
Read More
As a fisherman, I’m drawn to the accounts recorded in the gospels where Jesus is out on the water. Interestingly, when it comes to having a successful catch, He always tips the scales. Not so for me.
Read More
All four of the gospel accounts record the resurrection of Jesus. Like a multifaceted diamond, each of them highlights different aspects of it. One of my favorite versions is that which is found in Matthew.
Read More
Many of us are familiar with the Palm Sunday account when Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey. According to Matthew 21:1, Jesus began his ride in Bethphage, a town directly to the east of Jerusalem on the other side of the Mount of Olives.
Read More
One of the subtle, crippling effects of an Internet world is that we are aware of every atrocity, every tragedy within moments of its occurrence in any place in the world.
Read More
Perhaps you’ve heard the saying, “You get what you deserve.” It’s not true. You actually get what you expect. Jesus was clear about this and, in one particular instance, He underscored this in a big way.
Read More
Most of us are familiar with the Parable of the Good Samaritan. But in reading it recently, my attention wasn’t drawn to him as much as to the other two men who came across the one who was attacked. We’re told that one was a priest and the other was a Levite. That is to say, these were religious individuals who didn’t lack for knowledge regarding the importance of extending mercy to those in need.
Read More
The Apostle John’s description of the incarnation is one of the greatest pieces of theology ever penned. The eternal Son of God, at a point in time, left the halls of heaven where He had reigned in glory and became a human being.
Read More
Quite a few years ago, NFL legend Mike Ditka, while giving a news conference after being fired as the coach of the Chicago Bears, decided to quote the Bible. "Scripture tells you that all things shall pass," a choked-up Ditka said after leading his team to only five wins during the previous season. "This, too, shall pass."
Read More
A number of studies have shown that social media tends to depress people. Really! While we may say that we use it to keep in touch with friends and family, all too often there’s a dark side to it.
Read More
In light of the recent shootings in schools, malls, and movie theaters, an old term has taken on new meaning. “Situational awareness,” once used by flight instructors to their students is now being used by self-defense instructors to their clients and even parents to their children.
Read More
In his excellent book, The Rest of God, Mark Buchanan tells the story of his wife’s grandmother who lived during the Canadian gold rush. These were the days when men and women would pan the rivers and bore into the hills in an attempt to strike it rich. “Gold fever” literally filled the air back then.
Read More
Do you know what the earliest Christian symbol was? You might guess the cross. That would certainly be the most popular answer. Yet that’s not case. Early on, believers were hesitant to display it publicly lest they be persecuted for their faith, so the cross was downplayed.
Read More