As a writer, I seek input from others on my writing and take it seriously. I hate having a book published and only then learning some of what I said was inaccurate, misleading, unfair, or confusing. Those who I invite to criticize my writing before it’s published thereby do me the greatest possible service. Among other things they help me have less to be held accountable for at the judgment seat of our gracious and holy King, who said to His disciples, “I tell... Read more
I’ve often heard it said in evangelical messages, books, and articles that God’s Word teaches three kinds of love—love for God, love for others, and love for self. The supposed proof is Matthew 22:39, where “Love your God with all your heart” is called the first and greatest commandment. Number two is its corollary: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Clearly, we are taught to love God above all and love our neighbor above all but God. So where does that leave... Read more
This has been another year of challenges related to Nanci’s cancer and treatments. However, paradoxically yet providentially, to us it has been a very good year. We are filled with thanksgiving. I asked Nanci to share some thoughts. She wrote, “We have felt the presence of God throughout this journey. His goodness and mercy have been seen in so many details along the way. He has filled our hearts with hope, not fear. Our trust in His sovereign plan is... Read more
Some of you have heard about “Giving Tuesday,” which this year is Tuesday, November 30. It’s a response to the consumerism of Black Friday and Cyber Monday and is designed to provide people with a charitable day to consider giving as they go into the holiday season. (Learn more at www.givingtuesday.org.) I’m sharing this early so you and your family can consider how it might fit into your Christmas celebration this year. You can give to any ministry you choose. (In fact, we don’t turn... Read more
Recently, I was interviewed on The Thinking Out Loud Podcast with Kevin and Kyle. In our conversation, which centered around my book If God Is Good, we discussed evil and suffering, faith, healing, and much more. The last year and a half have been tough on many people in many ways, (including for us as Nanci battles cancer), so the subject of suffering feels especially pertinent right now. Here are the questions we covered. You can listen to the whole interview here, or you can... Read more
Of all the misconceptions we have about Heaven, which is the most destructive? That’s a difficult and important question to tackle. Once, while preaching about the New Earth, I cited passages about feasting together in our resurrection bodies. Afterward, a veteran Bible student asked if I really believed we would eat and drink in the afterlife. I told him yes, since Jesus said so. Visibly shaken, he replied, “Engaging in physical activities in heaven sounds terribly unspiritual.” Standing there with a... Read more
In a recent blog, I shared an article by Scott Klusendorf: “Saving Some, Standing for All: A Defense of Pro-Life Incrementalism (And the Problem with ‘Abortion Abolitionism’).” As we expected, many who call themselves “abortion abolitionists” took issue with Scott’s article and my posting it. I have heard from many of these people in the past and have tried to look at their arguments objectively. That’s not easy to do, partly because they consistently and strongly portray “prolife” Christians—including many... Read more
This amazing four-minute slow motion video, excerpted from a TED Talk, shows what happens in God’s world that we normally don’t get to see at all, and virtually never in this way. It includes bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and creatures that will remain anonymous until you see them. Watching this causes me to worship our Creator God, the maker of beauty. (The bigger the screen the better.) “The earth is Yahweh’s, and all it contains, the world, and those who dwell in... Read more
30 I think the most important principle is you can’t effectively help needy people you don’t know. Now, there are exceptions. You might say, “I know the people who work with them, and I financially support their ministry.” But the principle still stands that someone has to actually know the people being ministered to. We’ll never have a heart for people we don’t see and spend time with. If we don’t know anyone who’s poor—if we don’t go out in our... Read more
Augustine said, “By hearing Thee I am happy; because of Thy voice I am happy.” There’s no place we can go to hear God speak authoritatively, to hear His voice with complete confidence, other than the Bible itself. We need to hear from God before we hear from everybody else. That’s a good reason not to start the day by looking at email or text messages, but rather to first look at the messages God has placed in your primary... Read more
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