50 Shades of Wrong
After weeks on best-seller lists around the world, and months of publicity surrounding the movie, the erotic drama, 50 Shades Of Grey, finally opened at the box office week before last. It set a new record for the highest grossing President’s Day Weekend opener of all time and ranks among the biggest R-rated debuts in […]
A Journey Back to Egypt
As the children of Israel left Egypt in hopes of reaching the land God had promised them, they crossed the Red Sea, received the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai, and continued their journey toward the promised land. Not long after they left Mount Sinai, they started to complain. They complained to the point where they […]
22-Year-Old Auctions Off Virginity
A couple of weeks ago, a story developed that a 22-year-old, who uses the pseudonym “Natalie Dylan,” intends to auction off her virginity at Nevada’s Moonlight Bunny Ranch, after being turned down by eBay, to pay off her student loans. “I don’t think auctioning my virginity will solve all my problems, but it will create […]
Two Cautionary Tales of Sexual Misconduct
In 2022 two events occurred that should serve as a stark reminder to preachers everywhere. The first was the Hillsong megachurch leadership implosion. Hillsong first came under public scrutiny in 2020 after then-Hillsong New York City pastor Carl Lentz was fired for “leadership issues and breaches of trust, plus a recent revelation of moral failures”. Lentz was […]
Joy in Christ: Conclusion
Over the last several weeks, we have examined different ways in which one can have joy in Christ. Paul wrote, “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice” (Philippians 4:4). Joy in Christ is not an escape from sorrow. Pain and hardship still come, but they are unable to drive out the happiness […]
Joy in Christ: Stay Busy
The saying, “An idle mind is the devil’s workshop,” has been around for years. Idleness is a recipe for displeasure, restlessness and despondency. Paul wrote in 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12, “For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. For we hear that there […]
“Awake Not My Love”
Three times in the Song of Solomon, the Shulammite warns to “stir not up, nor awake my love, till he please” (2:7, 3:5, 8:4). This thrice-repeated phrase emphasizes that there is a need for patience when feelings of romantic love are kindled. Our world pushes our children to engage in the physical aspects of love […]
Managing Multiple Priorities
Even in the simplest life, there are still many things to be done. Those who would grow strong spiritually must learn to work energetically and productively without being eaten up by the time pressure that characterizes so many of our lifestyles. We must discover how to manage multiple priorities without sacrificing our highest priority: the […]
Long-Winded or Short-Spirited?
Within the last week I have had several different church members to tell me about “long-winded” preachers. One was telling about a preacher who had been too “long-winded” in a recent meeting. Another was declaring to me how a certain preacher was “ruining” a congregation because he was too “long-winded.” Now when a preacher is […]
Looking Forward to Bible Study
Kids like to go to Bible class. They come into the building and head straight for their classrooms. When they come out they can’t wait to show Mom and Dad what they did. I’ve seen considerable disappointment on some little faces, and at times even tears, when on Sunday evenings they march off to class, […]