With the lights dimmed and the table set for a quiet Christmas Eve dinner in-between watching our favorite holiday movies, we set our eyes on the true meaning of Christmas. Above the fun, laughter, entertainment, and gifts is a promise as old as the universe, fulfilled in the birth of a perfect, knowable, and eternal King who is for everyone, everywhere.
Continue reading “The Promise of Christmas”
Tom (not his real name), sat up from his position on the couch opposite me, exhaled deeply, and asked the group, “So, what should we do about it?”
Continue reading “How Should Christians Respond To The Challenging Issues Of Our Day?”
Exhaustion, fatigue, and apathy are worn today like it’s poorly in style and there’s a good chance you are wearing it too. We all are, and it’s a tell-tale sign we as a humanity are hurting and unhealthy. It’s about time for an overdue wardrobe change. Continue reading “Rest for the Soul”
Writing in the 1940’s during the height of World War II from inside Germany while defending the defenseless, speaking against the tyranny of Hitler and the Nazi regime, and protecting the integrity of the Gospel under threat from the state that eventually led to his arrest and execution, Dietrich Bonhoeffer has earned a rightful position in history. He has joined the ranks of many that have gone before him, and through his writings, those who would desire to identify with Christ today are confronted with a life-changing question, “Am I sure I want to do this?” Continue reading “Count the Cost”
We are an anxious generation and statistics are painting a somber picture of this reality. Among college students today, anxiety has surpassed depression as the most common reason for seeking counseling services, and this is combined with the doubling of hospital admissions in the last decade among suicidal teenagers.[1] The statistics help reveal the growing epidemic and point to probable causes, but fail to provide a satisfying solution that our society is in desperate need of. The liberating truth we need to hear today is this: Freedom from our worries and anxiety is found in three little words, “God is enough”. Continue reading “God is Enough”
In light of the news coming out of Willow Creek Community Church this week, it would be easy for us to throw stones, point fingers, and condemn in moments like this. Regrettably, this is what Evangelicalism has become known for — our judgement of others and raging hypocrisy to a watching world. There is a better way. Continue reading “Praying for Willow Creek and the Church”
We’re living in an off-the-map world … there’s an uncertainty I can’t shake, and am frankly not sure I ever will, or that my generation ever will. The world is just too weird now.[1]
I read these words in an article a friend of mine recently shared on Facebook and I couldn’t help but relate, especially as it pertains to our church planting journey. Continue reading “A New Church in the Unknown World”
