The Difficult Yet Necessary Work of Forgiveness. . . .
There’s a theological reality that is inescapable. We know it because the Bible tells us so. It’s the reason Jesus came in the first place. The reality is this: We are horribly broken people. But we could come to the…
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A Little Advice. . . To Young, Old, and Me. . .
A car ride with someone I don’t really know is one of my favorite things. I realize that may sound a little bit creepy and it goes against one of the most basic of childhood warnings issued by my mother.…
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Youth Workers. . . Help Students to Use Their Heads. . . And $1000 For College!
Fifty years ago, Harry Blamires – a student of C.S. Lewis – wrote these seven words at the beginning of his book The Christian Mind: “There is no longer a Christian mind.” Blamires was lamenting our growing willingness and inability…
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God Grant Me A Heart For This Girl. . . And The Heart Of This Girl. . .
Last night I watched the Nightly News on NBC. Once again, from the heated, padded, and peaceful confines of our family room, the screen took us on a two-minute journey into a place where comforts like heat, padding, and peace are…
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Trafficking Duck Dynasty. . . What’s The Real Message? . . .
I walked into a “Christian” bookstore this morning. . . a big one. And just like every other time when I walk into a “Christian” bookstore, I checked out the layout of the merchandise and the merchandise that populated the…
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Five Books I Read Last Year. . . That You Should Read in 2014! . . .
I’m convinced that my dad knows a lot because be reads a lot. Over the course of his 82 years (celebrating his 82nd birthday today!) the man has read more books than you can imagine. As a result, he’s been…
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Focus. . . On What It Is We Celebrate. . .
A prayer from The Valley of Vision. . . ponder it and may it bless you as you celebrate the birth of the Savior. . . O Source of all Good,What shall I render to Thee for the gift of…
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Some Thoughts on Phil Robertson, Duck Dynasty, and All The Hubbub. . . .
I’ve deliberately waited a couple of days to gather my thoughts and respond to all the craziness surrounding the suspension of Phil Robertson by A&E from his massively popular reality show, Duck Dynasty. To be honest, I’ve only read a…
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“Great” Gift Ideas For The Kids. . . .
Attention all parents who are concerned for the safety and welfare of their kids – Looking for great Christmas gift ideas for your babies? How about a real gun, a few sticks of dynamite, a box of matches, a genuine…
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Youth Ministry Dilemmas. . . Tim Keller on Young People and Community. . . .
I ran across this great little two-minute interview that Jefferson Bethke did with Tim Keller. In the clip, Keller shares what he thinks are some of the best and worst marks of the emerging generation. An astute cultural observer who…
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10 Things To Tell Your Students About Pornography. . . .
It appears that there might be a long-overdue shift taking place regarding our culture’s stance on pornography. Yes, the church has been speaking out against pornography and it’s horrible distortion of God’s good gift of sexuality for years. Parents, pastors,…
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Tis The Season For Ridiculously Silly Songs. . .But. . .
I’m sitting in Washington Dulles Airport waiting for a flight. Should have been home last night. I’m aware of the fact that I’m not where I’m supposed to be. I want to be home right now and I should have…
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