Humankind has been fascinated with the concept of Heaven for centuries. In every culture, people have a vivid idea of what they think the afterlife isgoing to be like. And today, it’s a very hot topic. Just go to any…
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I used to think Jesus was unknowable, like a politician or a rock star. And then I encountered Him in a new way. Let’s ask four common questions and get to know Jesus the way we’d get to know a new friend, asking questions that uncover their story. It’s through these answers that we’ll be able to piece together the truth, answering “Who is Jesus?”
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Your early experiences, your family of origin issues, and your religious training (or lack thereof) have left you with a picture of God in your mind. The problem is that our view of Him is distorted, and that impacts every single decision you make in life. Have you ever considered to what extent? How would your life change if your view of God was clear and true?
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A lot of Christians are apprehensive about heaven. Part of this is a typical human reaction to the unknown. What is going to happen to me? What will it be like? How will I feel? What will I do? Our…
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If there’s one thing I’m certain of when it comes to Heaven, it’s this: It’s not going to be what you think. It’s going to be better. You probably have some mental pictures of Heaven, right? Sistine Chapel-like harps and…
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How can we possibly explain Christians who… Forgive ISIS as they’re about to be beheaded Exude joy in the midst of life confined in a wheelchair Trust again after their mate has been sexually unfaithful March into the Coliseum in…
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In this article, Chip explains what really happens to us in Heaven and its implications for our lives today.
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Have you ever started prioritizing your time, relationships, and money in a God-honoring way, only to have those new priorities begin to slip away years,months, and even weeks later? For many of us, our priorities seem to have a way…
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In America today, we have the highest percentage of people who say they have no spiritual affiliation. There is a growing generation that is disillusioned with organized religion, especially Christianity. I believe the main reason for this is because when…
Read » In the past month, how often have you thought about Heaven? How about in the past week? If you’re like most Christians, it’s been a while since you’ve thought about Heaven, much less looked forward to going there. Why? Most…
Read » My Dad came to Christ in his 50s, but as he was entering the last days of his life, he confided to me, “I’m afraid to die. I know I have a relationship with God and my sins are forgiven,…
Read » We are all in an invisible, spiritual battle – a cosmic conflict that has eternal implications – in which souls of people of all over the planet are at stake. Yet, most of us as Christians don’t really know our…
Read » Have you ever formed an opinion about someone, only to discover months or even years later that you were completely off base? I think a lot of us have. In my own experience, I’ve learned that if my perception matched…
Read » The fundamental message of the New Testament is that anyone who accepts Christ becomes a NEW creature. 2 Corinthians 5:17 states: Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold all things…
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The Reliability of the Bible Do you think you have to throw your brains in the trash to believe in the Bible? Many people are skeptics when it comes to believing in the truthfulness and accuracy of the Bible as…
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Imagine this: one Christian reaches one person for Jesus over the course of six months, and then that cycle continues with each believer reaching another person for Christ every six months — in about 35 years we could reach the entire population of the earth with the gospel! But this is only possible if the church pivots from an “addition” method of evangelism and instead models Jesus’ method of spiritual multiplication.
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Some of us live freely because of His love and others find themselves tip-toeing to avoid sin and live a pretty good life. But God wants more for His followers! He KNOWS you and has a dream for YOUR life. Want to learn more? I can’t wait to share it with you.
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Like the rebellious sheep, we foolishly run away when our shepherd is chasing after us. We misunderstand His pursuit and have a hard time believing that He really wants to help us. But instead of punishing the sheep, he gives up everything for the rebellious sheep to be found. Be encouraged by this truth!
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The relationship between stress and anger isn’t unusual. The more pressured, burned out, overwhelmed, or busy we become, the more anger will lie in wait, ready to explode at any moment. In this article, I share 12 biblical methods I’ve found helpful for reducing stress and increasing the peace in my life.
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It’s easy to give ourselves a pass on the commandments that forbid idol worship. In our culture, we don’t carve images to be served and most of us never physically bow to anything. And yet, if we explore what idol worship means, we’d be surprised by its pervasiveness in our everyday lives.
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God’s highest and best is achieved and accomplished in us when we choose to live a balanced life with healthy priorities. The question is: how do we achieve that in the current era of chronic busyness when our time is filled with good and necessary things?
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You don’t have to look far to notice the world is changing rapidly. What are your thoughts and attitudes and actions about what’s happening all around us? With these three practices, you can declare God’s sovereignty and seek Him for answers so you can faithfully thrive in this world.
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The number one source of marital conflict and divorce in America is around the subject of money. It’s no surprise considering the infinite number of differing perspectives on the subject. In this article, Chip Ingram outlines 4 steps for fixing money problems in marriage.
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Where is God when we hit rock bottom? What does He think of us when He finds us there? And what does He really think of irreligious, immoral people? By sharing three parables, Jesus gave us the answers. Learn the five significant parts of every redemption story, whether it’s your story or mine.
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In a recent sermon series, Chip Ingram explores the way our true identity in Christ begins with first understanding what He thinks about us. Do you know what He says about YOU? To jump ahead to each of the 10…
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Every parent has a dream for his or her child, and God is no different. You are His child, and He has a dream for you. Read ahead and uncover that dream, and the way God will help you achieve it with true spirituality.
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What if God is orchestrating a perfect situation in your life, but you’re missing it? You can’t see His wisdom because the circumstances are a mess and seem unbearable, and yet they’re His perfect means to accomplish His perfect plan in you? In this article, we’ll uncover why you can be assured that His plans are good, loving and wise.
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Though love is a universal need, there’s also a tragic disconnect between those who are starved for love and yet haven’t received it. Some people have no idea God even cares for them. Others are aware and have drunk from the ocean of His love.
Still others can see the sparkling, thirst-quenching water and yet they choose not to drink. There’s a huge set of people who’ve tasted the water and then get distracted and live their own way, finding water substitutes.
Is there anything harder than relationships? Marriage brings countless opportunities for strife and dissension; same with raising kids. What about your unresolved issues with parents or old friends? Or co-workers and neighbors? Disagreements and friction are a given with we’re living alongside others, and yet God tells us to live peacefully with others.
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What does it look like to put your trust in God every day in a post-truth, divided world? When our world gets shaky and we’re faced with uncertainty, our reaction to those circumstances says a lot about the object of our hope. Is it possible to trust God and cling to hope in a divided, post-truth world?
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When life is impossible, we pray to God for help. Jesus’ followers in the Early Church have lessons to teach us about bringing God’s supernatural power into our desperate situations. To jump ahead in the article, you can use these…
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Be encouraged today when you reflect on these 10 reminders from the Bible to pray faithfully, simply and confidently. We can approach God confidently. God wants to refine us through confession. Jesus wants us to remain in Him. Give thanks…
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After the resurrection, Jesus spent 40 days investing in His followers: praying, teaching and living alongside them. He was preparing them for their next assignment. It’s our assignment, too. God uses regular people like you and me to change the world. Experience it for yourself when you follow these 6 steps.
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Consider 4 inspired portraits that reveal the unique responsibilities and roles of a faithful father. Leader Priest Teacher Lover Over the decades I have spent parenting our children, I have done a lot of pondering over the roles of a…
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Deep down inside, every person who has ever lived wants to be loved and to be good at loving. But even a cursory look at history — and at our current world — makes it clear that humans aren’t always…
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We’re in a tough period in our culture’s history. With the pandemic, job losses and economic decline, racial protests, contentious politics, schools forced to move to remote learning, and churches not being able to gather in person—it’s understandable if we…
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This isn’t a trick question: What’s the second most important thing about you? To get to that answer, let me share a truth that’s made a huge difference in my life and the lives of my family members. A preacher…
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Feel like you need a makeover? An extreme makeover, perhaps? Go to Wikipedia and type in “makeover TV shows.” You might be amazed. The original “Extreme Makeover” has over the last decade spawned countless spinoffs and copy-cats—some you probably don’t…
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There are few things that grab our attention like a daring rescue. Think about hearing stories like firefighters, trapped by wildfire, getting picked up by a helicopter in smoke so thick the pilot had to fly blind. Or remember the…
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The world is messed up right now, but Jesus came into a world much like ours. A brutal, corrupt, greedy place. Where women were marginalized, children didn’t matter, and slavery was pervasive. Where power was cruel and oppressive. Entertainment was…
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One of the most destructive strategies that the fallen angel known as Satan has accomplished is this: convincing people that he and his demons don’t exist. As if the very idea of the devil is a superstitious holdover from the…
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The worldwide pandemic has undermined the economy and shaken our confidence in the future. In such an age of uncertainty, it’s understandable that for many of us, it’s hard to even think about having an attitude of generosity. Why should…
Read » What do you see when you look in the mirror? I will never forget, as a senior in college, having coffee with a beautiful cheerleader. No, honestly, the unforgettable part wasn’t her beauty and quick mind. It was that beyond…
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Easter has come and gone, and we’re starting week four of sheltering in place with a beautiful, sun-shiny day. I’ve been focusing on taking one day at a time during this coronavirus pandemic, but last Sunday (Easter) was probably my…
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Have you ever been betrayed? When I was in college, I broke up with my girlfriend of two years because it became clear she didn’t want the same committed walk with God that I did. I was heartbroken about it…
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Do you yearn to know the God of the universe deeply? Do you want to know Jesus and communicate with him as a close personal friend? The process for doing so is simpler than you might think. There is a…
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Do you keep up with the news? What we read online, hear on the radio, and see on television can be depressing, can’t it? News gives us a daily reminder of this truth: the world is messed up, and evil…
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Do you have a tough situation in your life? Want to see God change it? Maybe you doubt that He can, or that He will. Maybe you say you’ve prayed a lot and nothing has happened. It’s true: sometimes God…
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One of the distinct memories I have as a kid was waking up super early and seeing my mom sitting on the couch, spending time with God. She’d be up every morning before the sun came up, holding a cup…
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Ever wonder what the Bible really means when it says, “Do not take the Lord’s name in vain?” I didn’t grow up in the church. So, when I first read the third of the Ten Commandments, part of me said, what’s the big deal? Does it really matter if you say God’s…
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What is the greatest fear you’re facing right now? What gets your stomach in knots? When you’re driving in your car and everything is quiet and your mind drifts, what makes your heart rate increase and you suddenly realize you’re…
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There are those who are rule followers. They don’t cut in line. They eat all their vegetables. They make their bed every morning. And then there are those who aren’t. They eat their dessert first. They cross the warning line…
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I am all about smells. An amazing smell can quickly take me to my happy place. When I’m driving down the road and the savory aroma from the large bakery in our town waffles through my car, I immediately take…
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Ever wonder what role the church is supposed to play in politics? For example, what – if anything – should pastors say about politics from the pulpit, all over America and all around the world? Does the Bible tell us…
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I grew up not knowing I was truly loved. My parents were the children of immigrants. Hard work and status dominated their upbringings. Although these tenets are not necessarily harmful, without the love of Christ on display alongside them, their…
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We have lots of kids in our home, and with lots of kids comes lots of curiosity and fun projects. We’ve created clay volcanoes and watched the baking soda and vinegar concoction spew out. We’ve piled books high on eggshells…
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Why our lives get complicated. “In the coming year, I want to add more complexity to my life, increase my stress, and lose sight of what’s truly important,” says no one—ever. Most of our goals are attempts to do the…
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It was so quiet at 2 a.m. that it took no more than a slight change in her husband’s breathing to awaken Chris. Sensing there was little time left, she got up and put on some of his favorite Christian…
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Seeing a friend suffer is hard, but sometimes that suffering gives us a new perspective. I remember when one of my closest friends lost his son and asked me to do his memorial service. After years of being clean after rehab…
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It was 3:29 a.m. and I was wide-awake. The interruption from my deep and wonderful sleep began at about 2:58 a.m. Normally when this happens, I am bombarded by a long list of to-dos, a concern about a relationship, a…
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Do you struggle with sharing Christ with others? Does the thought of leading someone to Christ make you feel intimidated, overwhelmed, or just plain inadequate? If so, I’d like to offer you some encouragement. Sharing Christ doesn’t require you to…
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How much money do you make? How many hours a week do you work? Do you volunteer? Are you making enough of a difference in your church … in the world? These are the measuring sticks we humans use to…
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“The Force is what gives a Jedi his power. It’s an energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us and penetrates us. It binds the galaxy together.” – Obi-Wan Kenobi, Star Wars: A New Hope Star Wars is a…
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At some point in our spiritual journey we all wonder, “What does God want from me?” For me, it was the night I graduated from high school. After being with some friends at a party, I realized that I had…
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Every parent has dreams for their children. When we’re young, immature parents of little kids, our dreams go something like, “I hope he’s a baseball player” or “I hope she’s musical” or “it’d be great if she’s athletic or artistic.”…
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You’ve experienced pain you brought on yourself. We all have. You made decisions that hurt others, hurt yourself, offended God, and the guilt you felt caused you to repent. This is not the same. No, the struggle you’re in now was…
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What is your greatest struggle in life right now? You may not want to think about it. It may be scary, but let yourself confront it for a moment. Whatever it is – trouble in your marriage, at your job,…
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Are you going through a difficult or painful circumstance? If you are, you’re not alone. Life is hard for so many right now. Recently, I’ve been reminded about the importance of encouragement—particularly spiritual. The very definition of encourage is: to infuse…
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God has an agenda for every nation on this planet, for every man, woman, and child. It’s an agenda of unstoppable grace, of compassion, and love, and restoration. But did you know that Satan also has an agenda for this…
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How often do you pray for your children? The sink is full of dishes. The laundry is piled on the floor. The baby is crying, and dinner has to be made. Whether you are a new mom or a seasoned…
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Single parenting is an incredibly difficult job. If you’re a single parent (or know of one) and you’re faced with pain and consequences that are overwhelming, consider these six steps of faith.
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What are we supposed to do with our lives? What has God called each of us to? In this post, Chip outlines two key steps to help you answer these questions and discover your calling.
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Do you struggle with anxiety? Do you long for peace in your relationships, work, or finances? In this blog from our prayer series, discover how to experience God’s supernatural peace and power through supplication.
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As a pastor for over thirty years, I’ve found one thing that all Christians have in common is that we tend to struggle with prayer. Rarely have I met even mature Christian leaders who say that prayer is their strength. But, I think the question we should be asking is: What is prayer?
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What do you put your hope in? Sometimes we don’t know exactly what we put our hope in until that “thing” disappears. It might be a job, our health, or a relationship. So where do we find our real hope? In today’s post we’ll unpack how to find hope when life seems hopeless.
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Does your prayer life feel stagnant? Are you experiencing the peace and power of Christ when you pray? For many Christians, prayer is a drudgery when it should be a delight. Understanding these five common misconceptions about prayer and how to correct them can transform your walk with Christ.
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Human beings are social. God has designed us to have our emotional needs met through close connections with other people. So when relationships get rocky, there’s no avoiding the hurt. How then can we ease the pain?
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There is so much suffering in the world that appears meaningless, isn’t there? When droughts cause starvation, governments commit genocide, children are shot at school, or loved ones face disease, we may wonder if God really is good and just. This side of heaven, you won’t get any nice and easy, cookie-cutter answers to why God allows suffering. But the Bible does share some reasons why bad things happen.
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How does God want us to respond when our hopes get dashed, our plans putter out, or our schemes are sidelined?
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Did you know that your money is the clearest barometer of your soul, more than anything else going on in your life? Imagine your wallet or your 401k, or your purse. Now imagine a chain connecting it to your heart, so that wherever your money goes your heart goes too. Our money reveals our priorities, our values, and where our heart is.
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Theologians teach that God’s wisdom takes the long view. The very long view! It is God bringing about the best possible ends, by the best possible means, for the most possible people, for the longest possible time.
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A theologian named J.I. Packer wrote that at the heart of God’s goodness is generosity. He wants us to have what we need to be happy. But do you think of God as generous? Does He want you to be happy? Or do you think of Him with crossed arms, inventorying all the things He disapproves of about you?
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We are designed to seek God. How we picture Him affects how we seek Him — and whether we find Him. And that affects every aspect of our lives.
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The most amazing, most powerful, and most stunning rescue story of all – not just in all time but also in all history – is what we call “the Christmas story.”
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Being generous has everything to do with understanding that God has given us all things: time, energy, money, talent – and that all these things belong to Him.
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Before Christ, we used to be objects of wrath. After Christ, we have a new standing with God, we’re righteous and cleansed. We also have a new purpose, a new family, new privileges, and most importantly, a new inheritance. That’s an amazing transformation!
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As believers, we have the power and resources to resist Satan and his demonic attacks. We need not be afraid because the power that is residing in us is the same power that raised Jesus from the dead.
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It was 3:29 a.m. and I was wide-awake. The interruption from my deep and wonderful sleep began at about 2:58 a.m. Normally when this happens, I am bombarded by a long list of to-dos, a concern about a relationship, a…
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As parents, we love to give gifts to our kids at Christmas, don’t we? And while some of the gifts we give them are not so fun and more practical, there are those other gifts we give that are thrilling because it’s the thing they really wanted.
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Do you feel frustrated, confused, and possibly angry about our current political situation? If you do, you are not alone. Never has America, the world’s most powerful country, been given two options for President that has such low approval among the populace. Rarely has the rhetoric been so divisive and so negative.
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There are few issues as divisive, that anger so many, and that have more Christians at odds with one another than the issue of the Church and politics. When you dive into the subject, you find some people – the “separatists” – who think that the church and politics should never be talked about together. You’ll also find other people – the “activists” – who think that the Church should have complete involvement in politics.
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God’s grace continues to move throughout the world, century after century. From the very beginning when sin first entered the world, Godin His great mercy and grace covered Adam and Eve’s naked bodies. Later, He poured out His grace when…
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When most of us think of spiritual attack or demonic activity, our minds jump to bizarre or frightening images that we’ve seen in the movies or weird stuffhappening in our homes. But the truth is that the majority of the…
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Whether we’re a kid, young adult, in mid-life and beyond, we all experience shattered dreams.
Read » Life is dynamic. It is not static. All living things are either growing and increasing toward maturity, or deteriorating toward decay and death. So how about you — are you growing? Are you growing toward maturity in your relationship with…
Read » In your heart of hearts, do you believe that God loves you? Do you find it difficult to fathom that the God of the universe has positive thoughts toward you moment by moment, and every day? If you do, you’re…
Read » This Christmas, people from all around the world will celebrate the birth of a baby named Jesus who was born in a manger. Yet there’s still a lot of debate about who this Jesus really is. Is he a prophet?…
Read » I remember when my wife and I were expecting our first son together. There were complications with the labor and I was really scared. For 27 hours I had a lot of time to think about all the dreams I…
Read » When I was five years old, I actually believed there was a monster living underneath my bed and I would get very afraid. With my heart pounding, I’d bury my head underneath the covers and wait for it to go…
Read » Many people who win at a lot of sports naturally have a lot of trophies, which they proudly display on the fireplace mantles in their homes. These trophies represent to the world the athletes they are and what they’ve accomplished….
Read » Are you tired of relationships that don’t work? Do you long to find that special person you really connect with and have the kind of sexual intimacy that you’ve always dreamed of? I want you to know that it is…
Read » Most of us give gifts at Christmas time. But do you ever wonder why you give particular gifts? I believe that sometimes we give just to meet a basic need…like when we give our kids socks or underwear. Other gifts…
Read » There are few topics that I’ve ever encountered that cause as much controversy and polarizing opinions as the environment. People argue about global warming, the unequal treatment and rights of all species, and even whether the whole environment debate itself…
Read » Did you know that you’re God’s masterpiece in the making? God didn’t save you just so He could take you to heaven. He has created you for so much more. He created you spiritually and physically different than anyone else…
Read » As Easter approaches, I’d like to challenge you with a question: What does the resurrection of Jesus mean to you? Is it central to your faith? Perhaps you or someone you know claim to be a Christian, but you’re not…
Read » Have you ever experienced one of those funhouses at the fair? You know, the ones where the floors are moving and they have all those mirrors that distort your reflection? You stand in front of one mirror and you’re 8-feet-wide…
Read » Do you long to have a close, intimate relationship with God, similar to that of a best friend? Perhaps you’ve been a Christian for a while and although you’ve learned many disciplines to help you lead a godly lifestyle such…
Read » Have you ever been really excited when you bought the latest and greatest tablet, or when you finally found that perfect pair of shoes — and they were on sale? And then, do you remember how you couldn’t wait to tell someone…
Read » Are you tired of relationships that don’t work? Do you long to find that special person you can really connect with and have that sexual intimacy you’ve always dreamed about? It is possible! God has a plan for relationships and…
Read » When I was a little boy of about five years old, I actually believed that there was a monster living underneath my bed. If I woke up in the middle of the night, I’d get really afraid. But I knew…
Read » Do you realize that the eternal God of the universe has an agenda for your life? Many of us may already know that God has a “master plan” for the world, but often we struggle to discern how our unique…
Read » During World War II, my dad fought in the South Pacific. When the war ended there was a treaty signed to cease all gunfire … yet, the battle still raged. On multiple islands, guerrilla warfare broke out and my dad,…
Read » These days many of us live with tremendous pressure: we feel stressed out, overwhelmed, and exhausted. It’s not uncommon for our lives feel completely out of control because we’re just too busy to keep up with everything. Sound familiar? If…
Read » Fifty-two days ago, I got the worst news of my adult life… “Your wife, Theresa, has cancer.” It was the day before our Living on the Edge board meeting in California and all I can remember is holding Theresa and…
Read » Have you ever heard a child pray in that kind of singsong way of reciting something that they’ve memorized? They know the words but there isn’t a lot of understanding or meaning behind them yet. If you want a great…
Read » Beginning Your Relationship with God The fact that you clicked on this and that you’re asking this question may be the greatest decision you’ve ever made. You know, I didn’t grow up as a Christian. I didn’t understand what…
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