Right now, you and I are experiencing the effects of sin, even if we are not conscious of it. When Adam fell and sin entered this world, it wreaked all kinds of havoc. One of sin’s most detrimental effects is that it causes separation, specifically, four types of separation. Francis Schaeffer once laid these out in his book, Genesis … Continue reading The Four Separations of Sin
It has been a while since I have posted a CCM Backbeat. As some of you know, I was raised listening to Christian music in the 80s and 90s. It was the soundtrack for my growth in the faith, and it still holds a special place in my life. With that in mind, I thought I would post the … Continue reading CCM Backbeat: Top 10 Christmas Albums
The lights glow softly, the Christmas music plays, and wondrous thoughts of the birth of our Savior fill our minds. What a blessing it is for the believer who still finds childlike joy at this time of year. Being “grown-up” is a bit over-rated because being “grown-up,” according to the world, usually entails a constant stiff upper lip … Continue reading Sin, Sorrow, and the Joy of Christmas
We must always be making choices in this world. We cannot take up everything that lies in our path, and we ought to choose the best things. Even among right things there is room for choice, for some right things are better than others. There are many Christians, however, who do not habitually choose the … Continue reading Don’t Choose Second-Rate Good Things
It is that time again. Thanksgiving has come and gone, and many have already frantically begun to prepare for Christmas. The sales are plentiful, the shoppers are swarming, and the decorations and music add warmth everywhere you visit. However, even with all of these things, we can still miss Christmas. To help prepare our hearts, please take … Continue reading Preparing Our Hearts for Christmas
Many people live with leanness of soul. It is a spiritual condition related to gratitude, and we get a glimpse of it in Psalm 106. The psalm begins by calling the people of God to praise and thanksgiving. The following 12 verses continue by reminding them of God’s great and merciful works. How He showed His power and set … Continue reading Thanksgiving, Gratitude, and Leanness of Soul
It seems the chief end of some local churches is to exist. Maintaining the building, meeting budgets, and preserving attendance by making sure the congregants have a pleasant experience so they will not leave is what drives the decisions of many church leaders. There is nothing wrong with working toward these goals. They are fine as long as those … Continue reading Great Churches are Willing to Go Out of Business
G. Campbell Morgan tells of a friend of his who had a little daughter that he dearly loved. They were great friends, the father and daughter, and were always together. But there seemed to come an estrangement on the child's part. The father could not get her company as formerly. She seemed to shun him. … Continue reading God Wants You, Not Your Work
The letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. (2 Cor. 3:6) The law of God is holy and just and good; it is inexorable, and we have fallen under its just condemnation. That is at the bottom of what Paul means by the “the letter kills.’ He does not mean that attention to pedantic details shrivels … Continue reading The Letter Kills, but the Spirit Gives Life
Kahinoor "Mountain of Light" Diamond worth $10 to $12 Billion One of the most wonderful diamonds in the world is the 'Mountain of Light'. It now belongs to England, but originally came from India. The gem was put into the hands of Lord John Lawrence for safe keeping. Half unconsciously, Lord John thrust the diamond, … Continue reading The Neglected Value of the Soul
The Fight of Faith 