It wasn’t the first time I’d heard it. In fact, it was something I’d been told quite a bit as a pastor. “I feel dead on the inside.” It’s voiced by new Christians and seasoned Christians alike. I’ve said it a surprising amount of times. You don’t see it coming typically. It seems to just happen. The energy-intellectual, emotional, …
Jesus and the Fiery Furnace
Growing up with the Sunday School felt board Bible stories we’ve all heard of the three faithful Hebrews in the book of Daniel–Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego–who trusted in the Lord and refused to bow down to King Nebuchadnezzar’s statute. As a result, the king had them thrown into the fiery furnace. Far from being an isolated story, this account …
Immanuel: Embrace the Longing
Maybe it’s just me, but this Christmas seems heavy. My own family is still working through the pain of loss, a lot of families in my church are hurting, and every time I turn on the TV I see and feel the pain and suffering in the world. This pain of life leaves the fundamental question I’ve heard my …
Preaching Christ at Christmas…and the rest of the year too!
Every night of December my wife and I gather around the Christmas tree with our toddlers to read Old Testament passages of Scripture and then to proclaim Christ from them. We put a new ornament on our tree every night as a symbol of the Old Testament promises fulfilled in Jesus. Our children can look to the ornament with …
Home For Christmas
I love the holiday season for many reasons, maybe most of all because it reminds me of home. It brings back memories of decorating the house with the family and Amy Grant playing in the background, of driving around at night to look at the city’s lights, of joyful anticipation of Christmas morning. In short, the holidays remind me …
Resources from Baptist Leaders Past and Present
On Thanksgiving Day we put out a post asking for you to reply back with the Baptist leaders who helped change your life. The responses held names of monumental leaders, both past and present. To follow up we though we would compile post with quick links to resources by some of these leaders so that their influence will continue …
Who Is My Neighbor – The Refugee/Immigrant Edition
With all of the heated conversations I’ve heard concerning immigration and the refugee crisis (often brought to the forefront by this election cycle), I’ve been constantly reminded of the parable of the Good Samaritan Jesus tells in Luke 10:25–37. As Christians we have to be careful to think about these issues biblically, first and foremost not as an American or Republican/Democrat, …
Advice to Young Christian Politicos
As the 2016 election is coming fast, we wanted to extend this guest post by Andrew T. Walker, the Director of Policy Studies at the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission. In it he offers really helpful advice for how we can practically engage politically in a deeper and helpful way. We’re thankful for the work he and the ERLC does and are …
Election 2016 Thoughts – Part Two: Trump Support Could Hurt Our Gospel Witness
I graduated from Murray State University with a degree in Political Science. I used to be obsessed and easily rattled by the results of elections. In almost all of those elections, I thought there was a clear candidate who should be elected for the good of the American people. Then along comes this election! In light of what I …
Prayer for Revival, America, and Context
“If I close the sky so there is no rain, or if I command the grasshopper to consume the land, or if I send pestilence on My people, and My people who are called by My name humble themselves, pray and seek My face, and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and …