Blog Archives
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 […]
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 […]
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. ~ […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
“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 […]
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 […]
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! […]
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 […]
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 […]
Jesus and Racism
Last year two black men were arrested in a Philadelphia Starbucks after the white manager contacted police. When a video […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Getting Rid of FOMO
FOMO (the fear of missing out) ain’t dead is it? Like, here I am age 28 and I still scroll […]
Five Steps to Understanding the Bible
At one point in my life, I wanted to be an archeologist. I thought it would be amazing to dig […]
Where We Are, Where We Should Be
(Originally published March 2016) I haven’t weighed in much on the current political environment. Don’t get me wrong I believe this […]
Reflecting Our Owners’ Character
In an article in the New Yorkermagazine, author Malcolm Gladwell writes that vicious dogs are often not inherently vicious, but are […]
Technology in Ministry: Balance is the Key
When I was a kid, I was not motivated to learn how to ride a bike. It just wasn’t something […]
Living When You Feel Like Dying
It was one year ago today that my baby girl stepped out of this world and into eternity. “For to […]
The Relationship-Focused Church
Church planting is relational because the gospel is relational. When Jesus commissioned the disciples to “go and make disciples,” it […]
Purpose in Pain
Divorce. It’s an ugly word, isn’t it? And yet in American society, it has become the norm. In fact, the […]
Doubts Come Like a Thief in the Night
In 1972 the rapture movie A Thief in the Night was released, but I didn’t see it in a theater. I saw […]
What is the Purpose of Life?
The Bible Confirms Our Struggle The author of Ecclesiastes says that life is “meaningless” almost forty times over the twelve […]
What Daniel Says to Our Time
Is it possible to have a thriving relationship with God even in the middle of a culture gone crazy? Absolutely! And […]
Don’t Put God in a Box
On March 3, 2003 (3/3/3), my cousin Kevin and his wife Beth became parents for the first time when their […]
Movie Review: Overcomer
Overcomer is a feel-good, faith-based movie that challenges you to think about your true identity. In the aptly named Christian […]
Forgiving Like God Does
Have you ever watched a reality TV show where they are all trying to live together in a house or […]
Dr. King, the Cross and Unity
by Brandon Cox Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. has been an inspiration to me for a number of years because […]
Satan’s Four Favorite Tactics
Satan has been sowing seeds of deceit in my family. This is not surprising or unique because Satan is a […]
God’s Answer to the Problem of Loneliness
In Genesis chapter one, the Bible describes the creation of the world. As God paused to contemplate His work at […]
Giving God Control
The day my oldest daughter gave birth is a day forever imprinted in my memory. Since he was the first […]
A Solitary Firefighter
Every summer, I enjoy my precious bit of free time by reading a few books merely for enjoyment or my […]
Our 3 Excuses for Not Reading the Bible
I make excuses for not reading the Bible every day. And this is coming from a pastor. A formally-trained-in-biblical-theology pastor. […]
High School: How to Survive and Thrive
Seriously, high school is tough. If it’s not the AP classes and the pressure for more college credits, it’s the […]
Whose Truth is True?
Truth. It’s a subject that has evolved and changed. A topic that has been stretched, questioned and misused over time. Where […]
Tending the Gardens of Our Lives
It’s too nice of a day to stay indoors! The flowers that the kids and I planted are doing GREAT, […]
Six Ways to Prepare for Worship
Last Sunday was an incredible day of worship at our church! The music, fellowship, serving, and community that took place […]
Comparison-itis and Christ
by Joyce Parker When I get in a room of other women that I don’t know very well, I’m not immediately uncomfortable. […]
Go Ahead: Burst Your Bubble
By Larry Barker, Director of North American Church Planting Our family was living in Romania in 2000 and we had […]
Ten Ways to Survive & Thrive in College
by Yalanda Merrell Thinking back to my college years, I’m reminded of . . . long nights staying up late […]
Hungry & You Fed Me
by Larry Barker, Director of North American Church Planting Lately, whenever I go into a gas station someone is always […]
Three Reasons Your Prayers Should Always Include Praise
My wife and I are old school. We try really hard to teach our three daughters their manners. We believe […]
Greatest Wedding Story Ever Told
We should be making ourselves ready to be found without spot or blemish for our perfect groom, Jesus Christ.
God of the Mountains and Valleys
“For you, O God, have tested us; you have tried us as silver is tried. You brought us into the […]