Last month, 20-year-old Isabella Chow, a student senator at the University of California, Berkeley, became the center of a controversy when she chose to abstain from a pro-LGBTQ vote. She was essentially told, “You have to fully support this bill and fully support the LGBTQ lifestyle, or you’re out.” But Isabella held to her convictions. At the next student senate meeting that followed the vote, she sat for three hours while student after student stepped up to the microphone to... Read more
Over twenty-five years ago, on nine occasions I participated in peaceful, nonviolent civil disobedience, briefly going to jail (my longest incarceration was only two days) for what was an extremely unpopular cause—speaking up for unborn children. I remember how during a one-hour release from the jail cell, I checked over the “bookshelf” and found pathetic offerings. I determined to do what I could to donate some decent books that could get the gospel in there. While in jail I shared... Read more
From childhood I’ve loved astronomy. I grew up in an unbelieving home. Night after night I’d gaze at the stars, clueless about a Creator, but yearning for something greater than myself. One night, as I stared through my telescope at the great galaxy of Andromeda with its trillion stars 2.5 million light years away, I was filled with awe. I longed to explore its wonders and lose myself in its vastness. I read fantasy and science fiction stories of other... Read more
When someone says, as many have, “Happiness isn’t in the Bible,” it’s not even slightly true. Even in versions that don’t frequently use the words happy and happiness, the concept is conspicuously present, not only in its many synonyms (see here and here), but in words such as contentment, peace, delight, and dozens of others in every translation. Consider this verse: “Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights... Read more
Recently prolife advocate Abby Johnson shared the picture below on her Facebook page, along with this caption: “The abortion war against black women is so real. This is on a billboard in Dallas.” Several years ago, John Piper preached on the question of “When Is Abortion Racism?” He said: In the Dred Scott v. Sandford decision of 1857, the Supreme Court held that Black slaves were property without rights as free persons. But today, we rightly view that as unthinkable. My hope is that... Read more
Having turned 64 this year, this post from John Piper got my attention. It concerns what he learned about himself on a leave of absence at age 64. I prayed for him then, and now as I read this I also pray for myself. Since I consider John, and many others, my betters in countless areas, I look at his list of self-diagnosed sins (though with the help of others) and pray that God would point out my sins as... Read more
Do you remember the day, the moment, you met the Son of God for the first time? No matter how long we’ve walked with Christ, there’s always more to discover and learn about Him. To truly know Jesus and follow His example, it’s essential that we continually study and contemplate His words and the incredible aspects of His character. That’s why I’m excited about my new book, Face to Face with Jesus: Seeing Him as He Really Is! It includes 200 mini-chapters... Read more
I love to read Scripture, but I also love to listen to it on audio. There are free apps that offer you audio, including YouVersion, but I’ve used Audible.com to purchase and download the Bible read by actor and Christ-follower David Suchet, whose voice and inflections I love. Whatever audio version you use, there’s nothing like HEARING God’s Word. When you’re driving or doing something mindless, why not listen to God? I was listening to David Suchet reading Galatians, and I kept... Read more
For years people have told me, including some who’ve read my novel Safely Home, that there is no more persecution of Chinese Christians. True, compared to earlier decades, religious persecution in some parts of China has not been as extreme. In some places there may be little or no persecution. Local officials may look the other way, even if they suspect Christians are meeting illegally (as most Christians in China do). In other cases, whereas Christians were once jailed for assembling... Read more
Worry is the product of high stakes and low control, coupled with expecting the worst. There’s no greater enemy of happiness. There’s a subtle aspect to worry: if we care, we think we should worry, as if that will help somehow. In fact, worry has absolutely no redemptive value. When good things are happening, we’re worried that bad things will come. When bad things happen, we worry that worse... Read more
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