In pastoral counseling, I have learned that people can be very complex. As I learned to navigate through such matters, I would often say, “Questions prick the conscience, statements harden the heart.” That has served me well as I walk alongside people in their struggle with sin! “The purpose of a man’s heart are deep waters, but a man of understanding draws them out” (Prov 20:5). Scripture indicates that we can draw out the deep, heart-level issue by soul searching. Charles Spurgeon … [Read more...]
Praying to get things done
Do you pray to get things done? Do you believe some things will only occur if you pray, or that God can refuse to act until someone prays? How Jesus sees prayer An event in the life of Jesus clarified the relationship between prayer and God’s activity. Mark’s gospel tells the story of Jesus and three of His disciples who, along with Moses and Elijah, gathered on the Mt. of Transfiguration (Mark 9:2-8). In His absence, the other disciples at the base of the mountain were overwhelmed by a … [Read more...]
All who are in graves …
This is another in a series of excerpts from What Every Christian Should Know About the Return of Jesus, released by High Street Press and available at Amazon.com. No matter how people consider death, we can’t escape the truth that one day we breathe our last. But what then? Everyone who’s thought seriously about this question has an answer – or at least an opinion. Those who embrace a naturalistic worldview say death is the end of our existence. We may live on in the memories of loved … [Read more...]
Live untangled
I’m about to set you a little free. Get ready. Here it is: That drawer with all the random cords? You can let that whole thing go. The whole drawer-full. Do you even still have the devices, appliances, and various machineries that go with those cords? I didn’t think so. If you happened to actually need one of them, you know what you’d do. You would search on the internet, not in the drawer. You would order a new one, right? Most of us would do just about anything to not have to sort … [Read more...]
Albert Mohler delivers Spurgeon lectures on biblical preaching at Midwestern Seminary
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (MBTS) – Midwestern Seminary welcomed R. Albert Mohler Jr. to campus, Oct. 29-30, to deliver the annual Spurgeon Lectures on Biblical Preaching. Mohler, who serves as president of Southern Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, preached from two Old Testament passages, drawing out their applications for expositional preaching. President Jason Allen expressed his gratitude for Mohler’s friendship over the years and his service to the Church, saying, “Dr. Mohler is one who … [Read more...]
Your kingdom come
This is another in a series of excerpts from What Every Christian Should Know About the Return of Jesus, released by High Street Press and available at Amazon.com. In previous columns, we looked at the nature of Christ’s return. He’s coming personally, physically, victoriously, powerfully, and suddenly. Now, we turn our attention to the reasons for his return. First, Christ returns to establish his kingdom in fullness. So, what is the kingdom of God? Simply stated, the kingdom is God’s … [Read more...]
Across the seasons
Anyone smell a sweet fall blustery-breezing its way in yet? Little hint, it’ll smell a lot like pumpkin spice. I love the signs and smells of a new season. When it comes to seasons, people can get a little weird about some parts. I once met a lady who only drank coffee in the winter. I want to tell her (with entirely too much blustering on my part) that it’s a cup of coffee. Not a wool scarf. Coffee is not a “white shoes after Labor Day” kind of thing. Which I’ve heard is also no longer … [Read more...]
Scriptural warnings of Christ’s return
This is another in a series of excerpts from What Every Christian Should Know About the Return of Jesus, released by High Street Press and available at Amazon.com. Paul, James, and Peter all record warnings about the suddenness of Christ’s return. In each case, the authors stress the need for followers of Jesus to live ethically and expectantly. Consider a few examples: 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 Paul borrows from the language of Jesus in warning that the Lord is returning “just like a … [Read more...]
Religious pluralism fails, only Jesus saves
Not for the first time, the head of the Roman Catholic Church sparked debate earlier this month after apparently preaching religious pluralism to crowds gathered in the southeast Asian nation of Singapore. “All religions are a path to God,” Pope Francis said, according to a Sept. 13th report from The Catholic Herald. He added, “They are like different languages in order to arrive at God.” According to the news report, the pope used “similar language at an interfaith meeting during a 2022 … [Read more...]
The case for early morning prayer
Does your morning schedule affect your prayer life? Is the time you pray important? Someone once said that there are two kinds of Christians: One wakes up and says, “Good morning, Lord!” The other says, “Good Lord…morning.” Should this difference affect your prayer life? The morning difference In the Harvard Business Review, Dr. Christoph Randler, a neuroscientist from the University of Tübingen, writes about the advantages of early rising. His research finds that early risers, “…get … [Read more...]
Prayer, fasting, the power of God
John Wesley took a dim view of pre-revival America, but he had a plan to change it. Wesley spent time in the colonies and reported, “I desired as many as could to join together in fasting and prayer, that God would restore the spirit of love and of a sound mind to the poor deluded rebels in America.” Even a side glance at the current cultural moment demonstrates that prayer and fasting are just as urgently needed for the “poor deluded rebels in America” today as they were when the nation … [Read more...]
Haven’t the foggiest idea?
Did you ever put a hot pan under cold water in the sink and suddenly feel like you could shoe a horse? Or maybe press a dress shirt to crispy professional perfection? Or at least make a nice cappuccino? Even before you get to the coffee (or shirt-pressing, or any and all black-smithery), a lot happens in a steam. When I find that one last dirty spoon and the dishwasher is already running, for instance, I open the dishwasher door and…instant facial. It’s especially interesting when I’m … [Read more...]
- 1
- 2
- 3
- …
- 33
- Next Page »