I grew up with a dad who slept at home, but generally wasn’t there for me or my brother. He was a good provider, and I was proud of his extraordinary physical strength, but he didn’t come to my games or any school activities. I never had the experience of playing catch or going camping or fishing with him. He was a skilled mechanic, but didn’t take the time to teach me how to work with my hands. He was... Read more
Years ago, when prolife speaker Gianna Jessen shared at our church, she said many memorable things. The one that has stuck with me is that to be a follower of Christ you need to be willing to be hated. I agree, and that’s what I want to talk about. Of course, this does NOT mean being hateful. Nor does it mean seeking to be hated. Or having a persecution complex, so you think people don’t like you because you’re following... Read more
One day in Heaven, we will see Christ in His glory. The most exhilarating experiences on Earth, such as white-water rafting, skydiving, or extreme sports, will seem tame compared to the thrill of seeing Jesus. Being with Him. Gazing at Him. Talking with Him. Worshiping Him. Embracing Him. Eating with Him. Walking with Him. Laughing with Him. Imagine it! In my novel Dominion, I picture one of the characters, Dani, seeing Christ as she enters Heaven: At the doorway into life... Read more
But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. —2 Peter 3:8-9 For many, the most difficult problem with evil is its persistence. God “has set a day when he will judge the... Read more
In his book The Seven Deadly Virtues, Gerald Mann tells of his first exposure to Christianity at a revival he attended as a teenager. He writes of a man who gave “a blow-by-blow account of his former life on the ‘wild side.’ Graphically, he portrayed scenes of gang fights, heroin sales, and sexual liaisons with wanton sirens. . . . Then he told us of how Jesus had reached into the midst of all that muck and plucked him out... Read more
When I anticipate my first glimpse of Heaven, I think of the first time I went snorkeling. It was absolutely breathtaking. There were thousands of fish of every shape and size and color, and just when you think you’ve seen the most beautiful creation, here comes another one. It’s endless. I remember after days of snorkeling walking way out and jumping off the rocks into water that was sixty feet deep. The water was so clear I had the sensation... Read more
According to David, the greatest thing we can ask of God is to gaze upon His beauty: “One thing I have asked from Yahweh, that I shall seek: that I may dwell in the house of Yahweh all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of Yahweh and to inquire in His temple” (Psalm 27:4, LSB). The new heavens and earth will provide the eternal answer to David’s prayer. There will be no temple there, because we will... Read more
In the greatest message ever preached, Jesus addresses the believer’s proper relationship to money and possessions: Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. The eye is the lamp of the body.... Read more
On Super Bowl Sunday, LifeNews.com posted this incredible caption and photo: Seattle Seahawks LB Derick Hall was born at 23 weeks. He had no heartbeat and doctors gave him a 1% chance of survival. But his mom refused to take him off life support. Today he’s playing in the Super Bowl. Wow. The New York Post reported that when Derick lifted the Lombardi Trophy, it weighed more than twice what he did at birth!“ What it took for me to get... Read more
A thief on the cross asked Jesus to save him (Luke 23:40-43). He had nothing to offer Christ, no way to pay Him back. He could not make restitution or be baptized. He couldn’t give to the temple, care for the poor, tell people about Jesus, or take communion. All he could do is ask Jesus to remember him, to think of him, to give him a chance to be part of his kingdom. And then come those incredible, life-changing,... Read more
Select your answer to see how you score.
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In