The Value of Ten-Second Prayers
At the church where I grew up in Amarillo, TX, there was a man by the name of Larry Cooper. Larry was passionate about song-leading — so much so, that he usually walked up to the edge of the platform near the podium and leaned up on his toes to hit the high notes in […]
Abraham Believed God
Among the names of great men and women of the Bible who displayed such marvelous faith, Abraham is one of the most remarkable. Hebrews 11:8-12 speaks of his faith and how he was pleasing to God in his obedience. James 2:14-26 uses Abraham as an example of one who demonstrated his faith through his actions. […]
The Unity of the Spirit
“I, therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beseech you to walk worthily of the calling wherewith ye were called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love, giving the diligence to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:1-4). In the first three chapters of this […]
The 9/11 Anniversary
After thinking a few days about the upcoming anniversary of 9/11, I was wondering if anyone remembers the unity the country had after those devastating attacks so long ago. The country pulled together and there was a more spiritual feeling in the nation. Many signs and banners mentioned God and I remember preachers who stayed […]
The Rule of the Peace of Christ
“And let the peace of Christ rule in y our hearts to the which also ye were called in one body, and be ye thankful” (Col. 3:15). Jesus is called the “Prince of Peace” in Isaiah 9:6. He was a man of peace and so must be His disciples. We are commanded “Be at peace […]
“Christians Are Hypocrites”
Generation Z was born between 1999 and 2015, and they are the first truly “post-Christian” generation. More than any other generation before them, Generation Z does not assert a religious identity. They might be drawn to spirituality, but with a vastly different starting point from previous generations, many of whom received a basic education on […]
“A Good God Wouldn’t Allow Suffering”
It may come as no surprise that the influence of Christianity in the United States is waning. Rates of church attendance, religious affiliation, belief in God, prayer, and Bible-reading have been dropping for decades. Americans’ beliefs are becoming more post-Christian and, concurrently, religious identity is changing. But why? I’ll discuss these reasons in several articles, […]
Do You Need “Mommy Juice”?
Since at least 2008, the term “mommy juice” has been used in popular culture for wine drinking as a “relief” from the stress and demands of parenting, work, and running a household. What’s amazing is that a “humorous” and “cute” term is being used for something that has the potential to become a serious problem […]
What is Sin?
John wrote, “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.” By inspiration, we know the definition of sin. The word “sin” was used to describe the transgression of the law, the breaking of God’s commandments. “Transgression” defined sin as rebellion against God and was connected with Satan’s rebellion […]
“That’s Their Business”
Discipline might be the hardest task a congregation is given by God. We know it’s necessary to preserve the sanctity of the church and to prevent the sinning Christian from being eternally condemned. There’s two distinct processes in discipline. The first involves a church deciding that they will withdraw themselves from a sinning Christian. There […]