We are in a season where it seems there have never been more strong opinions about a variety of topics, and more opportunities to offend others. To some degree, disagreement and conflict with those we care about is inevitable in a fallen world. And certainly, disagreement isn’t inherently sinful. But sin can easily be involved in our communication and responses. So how do we navigate that with grace, and work towards reconciliation when we do offend one another? Here are... Read more
A reader commented on one of my blogs about sexual purity and Christian leaders: I have appreciated your thoughtful response. I do wish you could do an article on how to protect yourself from ungodly leaders claiming to be spiritual… I am dumbfounded when I read about a wife texting a “godly” leader and she hasn’t shared her texts with her husband from the beginning. …she should be communicating with a husband-wife team and possibly have another woman she trusts reading the... Read more
Interview by Stephanie Anderson, EPM staff (with special thanks to Ron Norquist for contributing the introduction) It’s just a small, unassuming medical building nestled in an older residential part of Portland, Oregon. Commuters who stopped for seconds at the blinking light on the corner of NE 25th and Lovejoy Street barely noticed the sparsely landscaped Lovejoy SurgiCenter. But over the years, tens of thousands of women approached the front steps to the clinic, where a pregnant woman could become “un-pregnant.” In... Read more
Years ago, I spoke at a large event where the vocalist sang one of my favorite songs, “Amazing Grace.” But I was taken aback when I heard the first line: “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a soul like me.” The word soul was substituted for the word wretch. Why? Because the word wretch is considered by some to be demeaning to human beings. I couldn’t help but think of John Newton, the writer of the song. He was an immoral slave trader... Read more
A. W. Tozer said, “Jesus Christ is the center of the human race. With Him there are no favored races. …He is the Son of Man—not a Son of the Jewish race only. He is the Son of all races no matter what the color or tongue.” Every racial barrier is broken down in Christ. Because of His work on the cross, we’re all part of the same family. We share the same Father, and the same brother Jesus, and... Read more
Someone asked me if I could address the relationship between salvation and baptism in Scripture, because they have a friend who believes that you cannot be saved unless you are baptized. In this person’s view (and they are part of a denomination that believes this), the physical act of baptism washes you from your sin. They cite Acts 2:38: “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and... Read more
Writing in the New York Times, Arthur Brooks summarizes modern happiness research: “It turns out that choosing to pursue four basic values of faith, family, community and work is the surest path to happiness.” It’s possible to maximize our happiness in whatever work God gives us by doing it with excellence. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He... Read more
If you asked any group of people what they want out of life, chances are that most, if not all, would give some form of the same answer: “To be happy.” This inborn longing for happiness has been observed for thousands of years by theologians, philosophers, atheists, and agnostics. Augustine (354–430), perhaps the most influential theologian in church history, wrote 1,600 years ago, “Every man, whatsoever his condition, desires to be happy.” Nearly 1,300 years after Augustine, the French philosopher... Read more
As you read these quotes from God’s Word and His people about the importance of Christ’s resurrection (excerpted from my book It’s All About Jesus) may your heart overflow with gratitude to Jesus for living as He did and dying as He did and rising as He did, so we can live forever with Him and Him people in a world where He will, once and for all, make all things right. What I received I passed on to you as... Read more
Select your answer to see how you score.
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In
My Favorite One-Star Reviews of My Book Heaven
I asked one of our EPM staff members to look through the one-star reviews on Amazon for my book Heaven and compile them for me. There are about 4,000 ratings and over 2,500 reviews of the book. Of the reviews, fortunately only 66 are one star (there are 1,760 five-star reviews, so I’m grateful!). People are entitled to not like any book, of course, and I always welcome criticism of my books, and while they’re not fun, I usually manage not to... Read more