The following is told from the lips of Lazarus, the man whom Jesus raised from the dead. The story presents several different ways in which people respond to Christians when they are sick or suffering. — I could not sleep most of the night. Tossing miserably, my mind refused to shut down. Neither would the pain vibrating throughout my body. If I die, what will happen to my sisters … and my father? With the silversmith shop closed, who will... Read more

EUGENE PETERSON’S passing reminded me of the monumental importance of passing the torch (and those looking for someone from which to receive it). Dallas Willard passed it before he left this earth. I hope the same is true for Eugene. Here’s the article I wrote about it earlier this year. — The phrase “passing the torch” is a commonly used metaphor to depict the act of passing on a charge or responsibility to another individual. The metaphor comes from the... Read more

In our book, Pagan Christianity, George Barna and I wrote an entire chapter on the history of tithing from the Old Testament era, through the New Testament, and onward into church history. What we establish will shock most Christians. Namely, Christians didn’t begin the practice of tithing until hundreds of years after the death of the apostles. They certainly gave money to various needs. But they didn’t tithe as they do today. On another subject, have you ever asked yourself... Read more

In the 102nd episode of the “Christ is All” podcast, I talk about my unforgettable meeting with A.W. Tozer. The best books by Tozer can be found in my Best 100 Christian Books Ever Written list. You can listen to the episode in the following ways: iTunes Podbean (Stream) RSS Feed   PODCAST ARCHIVES – click here to see the complete list of episodes on one page. Read more

It’s been some time since I’ve posted on humor. But this short video is priceless as it underscores — with a creative dose of humor — what many behavioral experts have been saying for years: Women want a guy to just listen and understand while men only want to fix the problem.     Read more

Throughout the New Testament, Jesus Christ presents Himself to us as food and drink. And so do so many of the shadows of Christ contained in the Old Testament. Coca-Cola’s new “friendly twist” bottle cannot be opened by one person. It requires another who also has the bottle. In the same way, we can never partake of the fullness of the riches of Jesus Christ by ourselves, as a solo Christian. We need the other members of the body. For... Read more

Rethinking Discipleship was delivered by Frank Viola at the 2015 Christian Festival in Urbana, IL. Some have dubbed it “The Stairway to Heaven Message” because of the way it’s structured. Here are testimonies from those who heard it live. “This message is one of the high points of Frank’s speaking ministry. An escalating, epic, spiritual odyssey which increases in tempo until it’s brilliant, stunning end. Delivered at the peak of Viola’s creative powers. An incredible look at discipleship, tremendously powerful.”... Read more

I vividly remember when AIDS was all the rage . . .  and the fear, among Americans. It was first discovered in 1981, and to date, the disease has killed over 25 million people. In 2009, over 33 million people were living with HIV including over 2 million children. In the 80s and early 90s, AIDS was a pandemic. USA celebrities died from it. I remember some Christian leaders said AIDS was God’s judgment on homosexuals. Others prayed for a... Read more

Our New YouTube Channel is taking off, thanks to all of you viewing and sharing them. But we need to know, what kinds of videos do you want more of? A. Conference messages? B. Interviews? C. Audiobook Excerpts? D. Other (explain what types) Thanks!   Read more

One of the reasons why people have difficulty in relationships . . . be it marriages, friendships, business partnerships, and even church relationships . . . has to do with the different way we are wired and not understanding one another. While this component isn’t the only reason for such difficulties, it’s one that’s often overlooked. An important book on this topic is called Understanding How Others Misunderstand You: A Unique and Proven Plan for Strengthening Relationships published by Moody... Read more