Piercing and convicting, this book is a must read for anyone who’s been in church life for more than a few years. This book explores the dark side of doing good, something seldom discussed yet distractingly dangerous for the committed Christian. Peter Greer is president of Hope International, a charity that provides microfinancing for the poor in developing parts of the world. He’s literally on the front lines of being the hands and feet of Jesus. And yet, serving Jesus... Read more
A few days ago I had the privilege of marrying Stephen and Mandi here in Mississippi. I thought I’d share the wedding sermon I shared with them. I hope it reminds you of the beauty and purpose of marriage. Stephen and Mandi, I’m going to give you now a charge about the challenges and joys of marriage. You’re not going to remember it. You’re not going to remember anything about this day. Someone will have to remind you. This charge... Read more
The front porch is disappearing from American life. A hundred years ago, nearly every home had a front porch, where the family would gather after supper to enjoy the evening together. Parents would rock on the porch and catch up with those passing by. Kids would play in the yard or with the neighbors. Tales would be told, advice would be garnered, and time would be spent simply being. Today you’re more likely to find a garage facing the street... Read more
My small group at church is going through Sacred Marriage, by Gary Thomas. In it he makes a startling statement: Marriage isn’t about making you happy; it’s about making you holy. He makes the case that happiness, although a great side benefit, is a poor lynchpin for marriage. With today’s uber-romantic views of marriage, culture screams at us that marriage is about finding ‘the one,’ the special someone who will fulfill us and bring us the joy and happiness that... Read more
In the 1960s, sociology professor and expert Rodney Stark went to watch the spread of the Moonie cult in San Francisco. From the viewpoint of social science, he wanted to observe how a new and fledgling religion spread in a hostile environment, to better gain an idea about how early Christianity might have spread in the first century Roman world. His findings were startling. During her first year, Miss Kim (the Moonie missionary to America) tried to spread her message... Read more
Maybe it’s your past. Maybe it’s your addictions. Maybe it’s the mess you find yourself in now. Whatever it is, there’s always a temptation to disqualify ourselves from being used by God, before God even has a chance to disqualify us. For those struggling with whether God could ever really use you or not, take heart in Scripture. Matthew 1 is by all intents and purposes a boring chapter in the Bible. It seems like a tedious way to start... Read more
Over the weekend, a horrific bus accident killed three adults and an unborn child. The youth group from Colonial Hills Baptist Church in Indianapolis was merely a mile from home after spending the week at a youth camp up in Michigan. While navigating the off ramp, the brakes failed on the bus, sending it into the median and causing it to flip over. The youth pastor, the youth pastor’s wife, her unborn child, and a mother of five were all... Read more
Believe me, this is worth thirteen minutes of your time. Watch this incredible story of life change, and be reminded of God’s relentless love towards us. Read more
In Monday’s post, I talked about four signs that you may be entitled in your faith. If you’re looking to give your faith a little kickstart, here are four great ways: 1. Remember that you’re not entitled to anything. That’s why grace is grace. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). God saved us because of His goodness, not our goodness. In reality, we’re not entitled to anything. 2.... Read more
Our country is having a national discourse on entitlements: what are we entitled to by our government, and what should we have to pay for them? As much as we can rail against entitlements in our society, many Christians suffer from entitlement in their faith. Here are four signs that you suffer from the mission creep of entitlement: 1. You don’t feel the urge to grow in your faith or share it with others since you know you’re already going to... Read more
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