The Pleasures of Writing

Writing is drudgery. Flannery O'Connor, an incredibly gifted author, once said, "Writing is like giving birth to a piano sideways." Making this point might seem like a peculiar way to begin an article called The Pleasures of Writing, but agony is part of what leads to enjoyment. The fact that writing is not easy is … Continue reading The Pleasures of Writing

A Ritualistic Heart is an Impure Heart

Merely going through the motions is unacceptable in the Christian life. This truth is a key part of what Paul tells Titus when he says, “To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure (Titus 1:15).” This statement presents such a severe dichotomy that it should leave our … Continue reading A Ritualistic Heart is an Impure Heart

Is God Bound by Logic?

Is God bound by logic? This question seems to pose a conundrum for the Christian. If we say “yes,” then we have seemed to have made God subject to something, which would mean he is no longer God. If he must obey something, then whatever he must obey would by necessity be greater than he. … Continue reading Is God Bound by Logic?

7 Tips for A New Academic Year

There is a change in the air. The weather still feels like summer, but the shift is undeniable. We are leaving the slower summer days behind and heading into the more structured, disciplined focus of fall. One of the primary reasons for this shift is the academic calendar. Multitudes of children and adults are back … Continue reading 7 Tips for A New Academic Year

Caught in a Vortex of Human Weakness

Looking back, he was unsure how he ended up here. He was working too many hours in a career he didn’t respect, with people of questionable integrity, but he was one of the privileged few. He had worked his way into the inner sanctum, but now that he had some time to get outside of himself, he began to question why he wanted it in the first place. CLICK TO READ MORE

When Church Becomes an Empty Ritual

In our church services, we go through all the external bodily motions, but as to the prostration of the soul, we are, for the most part, oblivious and unconcerned. We think that we have done our duty to God if we have gone through the appointed external rituals, though our heart has not accorded with … Continue reading When Church Becomes an Empty Ritual

4 Categories of Doctrinal Weight in Christian Theology

Some Christian doctrines are weightier than others. When discussing Christian theology, many of us have heard the helpful quote attributed to Augustine, "In the essentials, unity, in the non-essentials liberty, and in all things charity." There is much to be learned from this quote, but did you know that many Bible teachers identify four different … Continue reading 4 Categories of Doctrinal Weight in Christian Theology

Stay Awake

He sat in church while the pastor delivered eternal truths but could not stay awake. Soul-saving exhortation was coming at him, but he was busy catching his head every time he nodded off. It wasn’t that he had had a busy week or even stayed up too late the night before; it was that he … Continue reading Stay Awake

4 Reasons Possessions Do Not Lead to Contentment

We are consumers at heart. Many people today believe that life's goal is to strive for abundance so they can consume abundantly. The underlying assumption is that this is the way to happiness. However, possessing contentment is better than possessing anything you believe will make you happy. It is common to think, "If I only … Continue reading 4 Reasons Possessions Do Not Lead to Contentment

The Pitfalls of Faith Plus Works

Those who teach that works must be added to faith as a condition for salvation can never tell you when you have done enough. This fact alone exposes why you will never find assurance of salvation in their systems. The problems with believing our right standing before God is a result of Christ’s work, plus … Continue reading The Pitfalls of Faith Plus Works