Blog Archives

Nov 08, 2019 08:00am

Ten Reasons I’m Happy and How You Can Get There

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with […]

829 Views
Nov 07, 2019 08:00am

Twenty Seconds

There are only a handful of times in my life I have thought, “I could die in the next few […]

999 Views
Nov 06, 2019 08:00am

Rescue From Rebellion

A salvation story doesn’t have to be R-rated to be powerful. We may not all be saved from a life […]

1520 Views
Nov 05, 2019 08:00am

The Hard, Narrow Road to Biblical Literacy

We desire the silver platter of biblical literacy – that we might somehow put in the littlest effort yet receive […]

1528 Views
Nov 04, 2019 08:00am

Are You Spiritually Dehydrated?

Sometimes life can be completely and utterly exhausting. I’m talking stress from work, family, or money issues to being mentally […]

1396 Views
Nov 03, 2019 08:00am

Grateful: Not Just a Word on a Sign at Hobby Lobby

Hard to believe it’s already November, and it doesn’t seem possible, but it’s the month that officially begins the holiday […]

1105 Views
Nov 02, 2019 08:00am

Mike and Laura Beth: From Brokenness to Mending by the Potter

Mike: Sin and Brokenness “…Looking back,  I see there was no actual desire to pursue the things of God…  Nonetheless, […]

1584 Views
Nov 01, 2019 08:00am

5 Promises to You, My Daughter

Often when I put my daughter to bed I will not only pray with her, but I’ll catch myself repeating […]

1671 Views
Oct 31, 2019 08:00am

3 Reasons Your Work Matters and 4 Parts of the Performance Scorecard

(The following is adapted from a devotional by the BMA’s Director of Operations John Meriweather.) Colossians 3:22-24 says, “. . […]

1001 Views
Oct 30, 2019 08:00am

One Thousand Little Compromises

OUR PRIVATE CHOICES AFFECT EVERYONE WE KNOW Every moral decision that we make is like a brick in a wall […]

1377 Views
Oct 29, 2019 08:00am

When You’ve Lost All Hope

The solution to keeping your heart ablaze with hope is redirecting your eyes to Christ.  When your eyes remain fixed […]

1420 Views
Oct 28, 2019 08:00am

Misrepresenting Christianity in America

(Originally posted February 2015) The not-so-popular news magazine, Newsweek, has started 2015 with cover article entitled “The Bible: So Misunderstood It’s […]

1442 Views
Oct 27, 2019 08:00am

25 Things Husbands Should Start Doing TODAY

The following list is a great way… …to start loving your wife… …in a way that makes her flourish! Have […]

1351 Views
Oct 26, 2019 08:00am

Are You Consumed With Anxiety or Consumed With Peace?

In Christ I can be anxious for nothing, prayerful in everything and thankful for anything. Why is that, you ask? […]

1630 Views
Oct 25, 2019 08:00am

The War Against Christianity

(Originally posted February 2015) Newsweek has started 2015 with a cover article entitled “The Bible: So Misunderstood It’s a Sin.” […]

1875 Views
Oct 24, 2019 08:00am

13 Red Letter Teachings of Jesus

No person in history has ever improved the moral teachings of Jesus. His words of morality were elevated to the […]

1610 Views
Oct 23, 2019 08:00am

4 Ways to Defend Your Faith

If theism (God exists.) is a blue pair of glasses, atheism (There is no God.) is a red pair, and […]

1266 Views
Oct 22, 2019 08:00am

15 Things Your Pastor Does Every Week

It’s funny. I’m asked (as a pastor) at least once a month, “So, like, what do pastors do when it’s not Sunday?” […]

1843 Views
Oct 21, 2019 08:00am

Growing from “Ought To” to “Can Do” Living

You ought to go to church. You ought to read your Bible, eat right, quit smoking, pay your tithes, and be a better mom […]

799 Views
Oct 20, 2019 08:00am

Three Musts for Holy Desperation

“Holy Desperation” has been defined as when a congregation humbles themselves before God and realizes they can no longer keep […]

1365 Views
Oct 19, 2019 08:00am

A Tattoo of the Cross

I had a conversation with a friend this week about tattoos. It got me thinking. She said… “I really want […]

1683 Views
Oct 18, 2019 08:00am

To Halloween or Not To Halloween

(Originally published as an editorial in the Central Baptist College student newspaper Tower Times) More than a thousand years ago, […]

1238 Views
Oct 17, 2019 08:00am

Six Ways, Single Mom, to Embrace Your Story

We’ve all done it. Stayed up late folding laundry or baking cookies or otherwise serving our kids.   We’ve also not done it. We’ve been […]

1274 Views
Oct 16, 2019 08:00am

Heather’s Story: God Brought Me out of the Pit

Heather Pantoja has recently accepted a position in which to serve at the BMA’s Global Ministry in Conway, Arkansas. I […]

1383 Views
Oct 15, 2019 08:00am

Disagreeing Without Being Disagreeable in Today’s Culture

Disagreement usually sparks hatred. But when did disagreeing equate to hating? We, as a whole, have forgotten how to respectfully disagree. […]

1339 Views
Oct 14, 2019 08:00am

11 Depression Dos and Don’ts

It’s a subject no one really wants to talk about. We whisper about it. We know it exists, but no […]

1449 Views
Oct 13, 2019 08:00am

Football: The Struggle and the Victory

In school you are taught that there are four seasons in every year. However, for the Swart household, there are […]

875 Views
Oct 12, 2019 08:00am

4 Reasons You Should Prepare to Defend Your Faith

“Why do you believe in Jesus,” says the unbeliever, maybe a friend or a coworker who knows you go to […]

6219 Views
Oct 11, 2019 08:00am

4 Dangers of Neglecting the Bible

Neglecting the Bible is nothing new in this world. But what we’re facing today in the West involves proclaiming Christians moving away […]

2019 Views
Oct 10, 2019 08:00am

The Bible is Not a Book

“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” (Jesus in Matthew 24:35 NLT) The Christian Bible […]

1659 Views
Oct 09, 2019 08:00am

The Weirdo, The Fear and The Church

Be weird. Be random. Be who you are. Because you never know who would love the person you hide. ~ […]

1323 Views
Oct 08, 2019 08:00am

Sports, Competition and Four Rules on Perspective

It was probably there inside me just waiting to get out, something about myself I didn’t know was possible. When […]

973 Views
Oct 07, 2019 08:00am

Why Your Kid is Obsessed With Video Games

Video games offer a world for your kids where they are the ones with power. The lure is easy to […]

1257 Views
Oct 06, 2019 08:00am

Blessings That Can’t Be Bought

A father took his family on a vacation to Washington, D.C. so that his two children would have the opportunity […]

1008 Views
Oct 05, 2019 08:00am

Three Prayers for Effective Evangelism

“Devote yourselves to prayer; stay alert in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us that God […]

3419 Views
Oct 03, 2019 08:00am

Ministry and the Celebrity Culture

Everyone likes a pat on the back or for someone to say, “Great Job!”  The reality is that pride is […]

975 Views
Oct 02, 2019 08:00am

What Can Chickens and Scary Moms Teach Us About Jesus?

If you’ve done much reading through the Gospels, you know that Jesus has a long history of picking the most […]

1290 Views
Oct 01, 2019 08:00am

Wine at the Wedding and A Future Miracle

John 2:1-10 chronologically records the first miracle recorded in the Bible that Jesus performed: Turning water into wine at a […]

1619 Views
Sep 30, 2019 08:00am

The Kingdom of Self: 3 Ways to Conquer It

Why has it taken me so long to “get it”? It’s been 45 years, and I still don’t understand that […]

1772 Views
Sep 29, 2019 08:00am

Three Kinds of Worship

One Sunday morning a small boy was sitting by his mother during the morning worship service. Like most small children, […]

1580 Views
Sep 28, 2019 08:00am

“You Heard Her”: The Power of a Praying Mom

I recently wrote that Augustine, though raised by his Christian mother to love Jesus, was not a Christian for a […]

2763 Views
Sep 27, 2019 08:00am

Augustine: Pride, Sex and the Power of Jesus

Through my seminary studies, I recently read about the conversion of Augustine, one of the giants of Christian leadership and thought […]

1479 Views
Sep 26, 2019 08:00am

The Question Is NOT, “When Do Boys Become Men?

Shaping our boys is a daunting challenge. It’s one that lies heavy on every parent’s heart. I know it burdens […]

1062 Views
Sep 25, 2019 08:00am

Put Your Clothes On!

I have a love/hate relationship with my morning routine. There are things I absolutely LOVE! There are things I absolutely hate! […]

1217 Views
Sep 24, 2019 08:00am

The Birth of a Lioness

My whole life changed when I realized something as a young mama: Church was not enough. I know, I know […]

1999 Views
Sep 23, 2019 08:00am

9 Reasons You Should Study the Bible (Right Now)

Why should you study the Bible? It’s old. It’s long. There are a lot of weird names in it. And […]

1618 Views
Sep 22, 2019 08:00am

Jesus and Racism

Last year two black men were arrested in a Philadelphia Starbucks after the white manager contacted police. When a video […]

1330 Views
Sep 21, 2019 08:00am

Three Aspects of the Unchanging God

Sadness wrenched through my heart like a knife stabbing into my chest. A lump swelled in my throat and I […]

1761 Views
Sep 20, 2019 08:00am

The Gospel is Your Redo Button

Have you ever wished for a “Redo” button? Have you ever had a day that started off so completely on […]

3836 Views
Sep 19, 2019 08:00am

Want to Feel Full? Pray This Prayer.

Around 9:00 every night, my dog Duke stares longingly up at the cabinet above my husband’s recliner. He knows exactly […]

1252 Views