How do you usually react when trials and troubles come your way? What is your response when your soul grows weary and the burden you carry seems almost unbearable? For me, trials often initially cause a particular response to bubble-up within my soul. An attitude of self-pity and a no-one-around-me-could-possibly-understand-what-I'm-going-through mindset are usually my first …
Thoughts on the First Presidential Debate
Earlier this week we witnessed the first of three presidential debates between the upcoming election’s two leading candidates, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. Thankfully, Monday’s event didn’t produce the chaotic stage many of us have come to expect during recent political debates. While there were plenty of attacks and interruptions during the 90-minute program, overall, …
Legalism or Holy Living?
Anyone who hangs around evangelical circles long enough will most likely hear the “dirty” word legalism. There are three ways in which this term is typically defined: Some people use it to indicate works-based righteousness (meriting salvation), others use it to refer to the addition of extra-biblical commands, and still others use it to allude …
Heaven Without Christ?
If you knew, as a Christian, that when you died and went to heaven everything would be wonderful (no sickness, no death, no mourning, and no sin), but Christ wouldn't be there, would you be content with that? This question was posed in a recent sermon I heard, and - wow! - did it cause …
Stop Asking Jesus Into Your Heart
Throughout the course of my childhood and teenage years I "asked Jesus into my heart" probably at least a thousand times. I know that may seem outrageous to you and, believe me, I desired more than anything for my soul to experience peace and rest in Christ. Instead, however, I lived with a terrible fear …
Bringing All Things to Light
As we quickly approach another presidential election, the disapproval and criticism surrounding both of our nation’s leading candidates is at the forefront of every media outlet. There are reports that Donald Trump is angry, erratic, unfair in business dealings, greedy, a loose cannon, and an adulterer. Hillary Clinton, on the other hand, is broadcast as …
Prone to Wander
I don't know about you, but many times I come to a sudden realization that distractions have completely overtaken me. Diversions tend to creep in unnoticed when I least expect them, and before I even recognize what's hit me, I'm spiritually parched and in need of refreshment - refreshment that can only be found by …
Pom Poms, Hair Bows, & Finding Our Identity in Christ
Not long ago, I took on the role of coaching a junior high cheer squad at a private Christian school in our town. Several years back I taught second grade at the same school, and now I'm coaching a few of my former students. It's so neat to see how those sweet little girls I …
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Religious Liberty for All: A Christian Perspective
Let’s start with an obvious question: What exactly is religious liberty? Well, religious liberty grants Americans the freedom to worship as we please and gives us the right to peaceably assemble as a religious group without interference from the government. It also grants us the right to speak freely about our religion and to persuade …
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Are You One of the Good Guys?
In the past year Americans have seemingly gone to war with one another, as we’ve experienced great disunity between those who claim to side with Black Lives, with Blue Lives, or with All Lives. Unfortunately, extreme hostility has emerged before our eyes as people are killed on every side of the issue. Not only that, …
Proclaim His Name 