The Orphan Sunday Kit: Helping Pastors Preach about the Adoption Journey

May 23, 2013 By Leave a Comment
The Orphan Sunday Kit Adoption Journey

When was the last time you heard a sermon about adoption? I know that for me, it's been awhile. Maybe never, now that I think of it. And I've lived my entire life in Evangelical churches. I've heard a lot of sermons about going to the mission fields overseas, but few about the adoption process that can bring that mission field to us and that displays the gospel firsthand in a way few things can. But things are changing, thank God. Over the last decade, adoption has moved more into the … [Read more...]

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The Salvation Box: Should Life Calling Produce Abundant Living?

May 22, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Ugh. For far too many Christians, "ugh" accurately captures their take on how they spend most of their time. It's as if they keep the freeing impact of the gospel on their life calling locked away somewhere -- in The Salvation Box -- so that they never truly know abundant living. Call it work, call it career, call it a job -- whatever you call it, many people would prefer not to answer the call at all. Instead, they endure existence reluctantly, longing for the weekend or some escape … [Read more...]

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Manhood Restored: A Review of Eric Mason’s New Book

May 21, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Real Men Mason Book Quote

It sounds like the beginning of a politically incorrect joke. A Black Nationalist, a psychologist, and a preacher walk into a bar.... In this case, however, they are all the same person. His name is Eric Mason. And he has written a book, Manhood Restored: How the Gospel Makes Men Whole, drawn from that eclectic background that delivers a much-needed message to men in Christ's church today: Rise up, men. The world is waiting. Eric Mason is a former Black Nationalist and holds a … [Read more...]

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So Why Did God Answer My Prayer? The Story of a Circle Maker

May 20, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Circle-Maker

It was far in the sameness of the woods. I've always wanted to write that line from one of Robert Frost's more mysterious poems "The Demiurge's Laugh." Now seemed like a good time as I reflect on the question of why did God answer my prayer to sell our house -- and how He did it. I suppose I could call it "The Story of a Circle Maker." Last September  we decided to move to Atlanta, Georgia, because we thought it would best positions us to answer God's call on my life. … [Read more...]

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More or Less: How Much is Enough?

May 16, 2013 By 1 Comment

When was the last time you heard someone say that they wanted less? I'm guessing that if you live in the US, or anywhere greatly influenced by the consumerism of modern Western culture, it's been awhile. Hence the need for Jeff Shinabarger's challenging tome More or Less: Choosing a Lifestyle of Excessive Generosity. The founder of such efforts as Plywood People and GiftCardGiver.com, co-founder of the Q event, and creative director for Catalyst, Jeff has a history of thinking outside … [Read more...]

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Do You Ever Wish You Could Just Get Over Your Bad Self?

May 14, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Paris_Tuileries_Garden_Facepalm_statue

Have you ever failed to walk by faith? Have you ever fallen and felt as if you would never get back up? If not, please click off this page. There's nothing for you to see here. And you'll make the rest of us feel bad. Not long ago, I confessed that a healthy sense of self-loathing can be a good thing when we fail to overcome the Resistance in our walk of faith. [ See my post To All Those Who Just Want to Quit ] Our anger at ourselves in those times of frustrated failure … [Read more...]

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Grace-based Parenting: A Review of “Connecting Church and Home”

May 13, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Family Land

It's about time! That's what I thought as I read the wisdom-packed pages of Tim Kimmel's latest book Connecting Church & Home.  Tim Kimmel is the founder of Family Matters and long-time cheerleader for grace-based parenting. You can check out the Family Matters site here for a lot of valuable parenting resources. Connecting Church & Home is a quick, easy read that should be required for any family ministry leader. For that matter, any pastor who claims to care about … [Read more...]

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A Psalm for Kermit Gosnell

May 10, 2013 By 2 Comments

I've steered clear of commenting on the horrific trial of abortion doctor Kermit Gosnell. I've known about the story for some time, but just couldn't bring myself to focus on the horrors in which he was engaged. Much has been made of the lack of media coverage. My friends here at Patheos Evangelical have done much to change that. Rightly so. For those not familiar with the case, I point you here, somewhat reluctantly, because the crimes he allegedly committed against helpless infants is … [Read more...]

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See How Peer Pressure Can Increase Your Faith

May 6, 2013 By 3 Comments
eggs_broken

Peer pressure can be a wonderful thing. Especially when it can increase your faith. That's not to say it always works the way we want it to. Often throughout my dozen years as a school administrator,  I dealt with the negative side of peer pressure --w hen kids were led astray by hanging out with others who influenced them in the wrong direction. I got used to citing verse like the following: He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm. … [Read more...]

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To All Those Who Just Want to Quit

May 3, 2013 By 10 Comments
funeral-burial

I returned from my mission to Guam the other day full of energy, ideas, and the faith to make them happen. Within a day, I had lost it all and just wanted to quit. Fear grabbed me by the hair, gripped me firmly in a headlock, and proceeded to pummel my confidence with repeated blows. Within hours, I was a bloody and faithless mess. Finally, when fear had finished for the day, it dumped me and left my future as good as dead and buried. It was all I could do to clutch the side of the … [Read more...]

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