Sometimes God Says No When I was a kid growing up in New York, I dreamed of playing for the Yankees. Unlike many kids who shared that dream, I worked extra hard to turn my lofty goal into a reality. I played baseball year-round, went to camps, and even met some coaches and scouts who …
You Can’t Halfheartedly Serve God “And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he …
Embracing Pain To say my friend “fell” from the ministry would be an understatement. If I told you what he did, you might want to quit reading. It was bad — really bad. When you and I sin, most people never know about it. If a friend or family member is hurt, we can usually smooth it …
Abba, Father “Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, ‘Abba, Father.’”(Galatians 4:6) Because bad dads get a lot of press these days, it’s difficult for many to view God as a father. In our society of fractured families, far too many grow …
Names of God: El Kanna (Jealous God) “You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God.”Exodus 20:5, NIV Who wants to be thought of as jealous? This unflattering description brings to mind the petty schoolgirl who bitterly resents the spotlight that a peer is enjoying, …
Following Jesus: The Bible – God’s Message to Us “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare …
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The Hope of the Resurrection “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day …
Following Jesus: Worship – A 24/7 Experience “Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.”—Psalm 95:6 (NIV) Worship is more than singing songs about God. It’s more than a religious service at the church building up the street. Our English word worship comes from the archaic word worthship (the state of having …
Was Jesus Born on December 25? In recent years, many bloggers have complained that the church under Rome adopted the holidays and customs of pagans as their own holidays. While often true, the context of these decisions explains the rationale and can remove some of the negative connotations associated with these decisions. BackgroundAlthough Rome had …
Did the NIV Delete 64,575 Words? I rarely get involved in debates on Bible translation. In fact, I don’t weigh in a lot of debates, as I believe my mission is to challenge people to simply read, engage, and apply the Bible. As long as people are reading God’s Word, I’m not concerned about varying …
