Blog Archives

Dec 06, 2019 08:00am

Evangelism Begins With Grace

If you’re like me, the word evangelism is a like a guilt switch in my soul. You say “evangelism” and immediately three […]

1945 Views
Dec 05, 2019 08:00am

Confessions of a Church Addict

My name is John and I am a recovering church addict. Those are words that seem inappropriate. After all, church […]

1550 Views
Dec 04, 2019 08:00am

What Christians Can Learn From Hanukkah

            You may have seen a menorah, maybe heard a song about a dreidel, seen golden chocolate coins for sale in […]

1874 Views
Dec 03, 2019 08:00am

“Prone to Wander, Lord, I Feel it”

In 1757 Robert Robinson, a self-proclaimed “wanderer,” wrote the penitent words of a poem we know today as the hymn […]

1819 Views
Dec 02, 2019 08:00am

When Culture Defines a Family

What happens when society redefines family? Our teenagers are sorting through the wounds of a generation’s idea that family is whatever […]

1194 Views
Dec 01, 2019 08:00am

When it Comes to Loving People, Christians Have a Higher Standard

“Let us not become weary in doing good . . . Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good […]

1574 Views
Nov 30, 2019 08:00am

If You Want a Life of Victory, Fix Your Focus

One of my good friends, Alejandro, will sometimes text me out of the blue to just see how life is. […]

2019 Views
Nov 29, 2019 08:00am

When You’re Disappointed With God

Philip Yancey in his book, Disappointment with God, tells of a letter he received from a woman who was struggling with […]

1465 Views
Nov 28, 2019 08:00am

3 Reasons Patriotism is on the Decline in America

Since the turning of the century there has been a 23% decrease in people who are extremely proud to be […]

1832 Views
Nov 27, 2019 08:00am

Is it Happiness You’re After? Or is it Joy?

As I stare at my bag of double chocolate donuts, I ponder the question, where does happiness come from? I […]

1599 Views
Nov 26, 2019 08:00am

OUR COMMON ENEMY

It’s a heated environment these days. Politically. Racially. Religiously. Opinions abound.  Listening is lacking.  Fingers are pointed.  It’s an environment […]

2188 Views
Nov 25, 2019 08:00am

When Your “House” is on Fire

I have always struggled with my tongue. From arguing to sarcasm to sharp, cutting words. I have memorized and meditated […]

1580 Views
Nov 24, 2019 08:00am

How to Find the God Who Delights in Us

With all three of my children, I experienced nearly the same special moment playing hide-and-seek. I would hide. They would […]

1520 Views
Nov 23, 2019 08:00am

Inside Look at a Pastor’s Preaching Prep

Every week I have the incredible opportunity of standing before a group of people to proclaim the truths of God’s […]

1180 Views
Nov 22, 2019 08:00am

The Secret to Keeping Friends

Friendships are often fickle. What’s the secret to keeping friends? I got a story for ya: On an epic day […]

1033 Views
Nov 21, 2019 08:00am

How Many Generations Does it Take to Bless a Child?

With an autumn breeze grazing our skin, carrying the backyard-laughs into the neighbor’s yard, we played and played . . . […]

914 Views
Nov 21, 2019 08:00am

Yes, Son, There are Two Genders

What do you do when your child asks an honest (yet culturally unpopular!) question? One that, if answered biblically, will […]

3747 Views
Nov 20, 2019 08:00am

Considering Celebrity Conversions

In recent news, a fair number of celebrity conversions have been taking place in the public eye. Justin Bieber has […]

1094 Views
Nov 19, 2019 08:00am

What Should I Say to Fear?

Peanuts characters Linus and Charlie Brown were discussing how to deal with the difficulties of life. Linus tells Charlie Brown […]

1303 Views
Nov 18, 2019 08:00am

Does Jesus Want Me to Be Happy?

Jesus, in the Sermon on the Mount, gave us a pathway to happiness called the beatitudes. God blesses those who are […]

1229 Views
Nov 17, 2019 08:00am

Our Messy Relationship With This World

Jesus stayed on the streets and searched the corners to encounter the very people most religious folk snubbed. Jesus comes […]

983 Views
Nov 16, 2019 08:00am

Happiness Depends on Whose You Are

“Happiness is in the eye of the beholder.” Have you heard that phrase? Usually with “Beauty” instead of “Happiness”? Sure, […]

1419 Views
Nov 15, 2019 08:00am

All People are Made in the Image of God

The Bible clearly states that God is the creator of all human life. (Find a list of some of those […]

9958 Views
Nov 14, 2019 08:00am

4 “Non-Spiritual” Things That Transformed My Prayer Life

I’m embarrassed about my prayer life. And I have yet to find someone who isn’t! It’s (usually) not our theology that […]

2285 Views
Nov 13, 2019 08:00am

Five Dangers of Not Asking For Prayer

The Christian life is about community. It’s about fellowship. It’s about being one Body. To do this you have to […]

1866 Views
Nov 12, 2019 08:00am

Five Ways to Prepare for a Bear Attack

Are you prepared for a bear attack? Our family recently took a vacation to the picturesque Grand Teton Mountains. The […]

1377 Views
Nov 11, 2019 08:00am

Three Ways to Parent Your Child’s Heart

I’m just a dad.  I don’t have a PhD in parenting. I haven’t studied personality theory nor have I researched […]

1301 Views
Nov 10, 2019 08:00am

YOUR SMART PHONE IS LYING TO YOU, BY THE WAY

Here’s a riddle for you: What do we look at, on average, 63 times a day, for up to 4 […]

916 Views
Nov 09, 2019 08:00am

People Are Not Your Enemy

People are not the real enemies. Paul made that clear when he said, “For our struggle is not against flesh […]

4339 Views
Nov 08, 2019 13:00pm

Four Ways to be Grateful During This Season of Thankfulness

If only my children would be more grateful . . .  As a young mom, I was sure that was […]

1165 Views
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 […]

934 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 […]

1081 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 […]

1635 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 […]

1626 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 […]

1494 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 […]

1175 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, […]

1698 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 […]

1823 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, “. . […]

1065 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 […]

1459 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 […]

1502 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 […]

1510 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 […]

1427 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? […]

1705 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.” […]

1964 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 […]

1964 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 […]

1358 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?” […]

1962 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 […]

868 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 […]

1506 Views