How to Guard Your Heart
The heart is the wellspring of life. What a great word: “wellspring.” I get this image of a fresh, gurgling spring bubbling up with a continual supply of clean, refreshing water, giving life to everything around it! The author of Proverbs, King Solomon, recognized 3,000 years ago that this was a metaphor of our spiritual heart. Everything else we do is impacted by the condition of our heart. So, what exactly does it mean to “guard” this heart of ours?
What a 16th-century mystic can teach us about decision-making
Among the many decision-making methods, one stands out. It’s from an early 16th-century soldier-turned-mystic, St. Ignatius of Loyola. Anyone can apply his method to make more informed decisions.
How To Live Your Life to the Full
The path of spiritual growth in the riches of Christ is not a passive one. Grace is not opposed to effort. It’s opposed to earning. People are more active than when they have been set on fire by the grace of God.
You Might Need To Repent
Repenting isn’t about piety per se. It’s about being a healthy, self-aware human being. It simply means we possess the common sense to recognize we’re imperfect. It means that when we miss a target we don’t deny it; instead, we meet our failures head-on, look for better ways of being and change course as needed.
‘Sound Of Hope’ — A Worthy Faith Message
‘Sound of Hope’ is the latest film distributed in theaters by Angel Studios — and the first in partnership with conservative media company The Daily Wire — produced by Letitia Wright. The film tells the true life story of the town of Possum Trot, who, inspired by the town’s pastor and his wife, adopts over 70 children in foster care.
A Primer on Maverick City Music: Beacon of Unity and Worship
Founded in 2018 by Tony Brown and Jonathan Jay, Maverick City Music has emerged as a powerful force in the faith-based musical landscape. The collective seeks to break down the barriers between different musical genres, races, and cultures, forging a new path for worship music that is both inclusive and innovative.
A Primer on BibleProject: Gateway to Understanding Scripture
BibleProject is known for its visually compelling animated videos that explore the books of the Bible, biblical themes, and critical theological concepts with high-quality animations and clear, concise explanations, making complex biblical themes understandable and engaging for viewers of all ages. The videos have a massive following, with millions of views on YouTube and other platforms.
A Primer on The Bible App: A Digital Tool for the Modern Believer
In our digital age, with countless apps vying for attention, one stands out for its potential for transformative impact: the YouVersion Bible App. This powerful tool, created by Life.Church, has become indispensable to millions of Christians globally.
A Primer on “The Pursuit of God” — A Timeless Classic
In Christian literature, A.W. Tozer’s “The Pursuit of God” is a profound and enduring classic. Revered for its spiritual depth and clarity, it continues to inspire believers worldwide in their quest for a deeper relationship with God.
A Primer on “Mere Christianity”— Discovering the Essence of Faith
In the vast tapestry of Christian literature, few works have achieved the timeless impact of C. S. Lewis's "Mere Christianity." This seminal book, born from a series of BBC radio talks during World War II, has guided countless seekers on their journey to understanding the core tenets of the Christian faith.
Historic All-Sign-Language Movie About Jesus
This film is for Deaf, by Deaf. That part is clear. But I just want to encourage the hearing community to come and be a part and watch the film. We want them to come and share this unique experience, understand our culture just a little better and celebrate this historical moment in time — of the first-ever full-feature film about Jesus in sign language.
Relaxing Into God’s Presence
If you want to connect deeply with God, you first have to connect deeply with yourself. Do you find that idea jolting? I did the first time I encountered it. It challenges the way I’m wired.
The Slow, Sacred Work of Lament
Lament is a profoundly spiritual act because grief and loss are just as sacred as trust and celebration. It is freedom to express pain and allow love into our sorrows with us. It metabolizes grief, honoring our experiences as beings with bodies, souls and spirits.
The Gospel and Humor
Does the gospel have an effect on our sense of humor? The answer has to be yes—but why and how? The gospel creates a gentle sense of irony. Our doctrine of sin keeps us from being over-awed by anyone (especially ourselves) or shocked by any behavior.
Contemplative Prayer
In contemplation, also known as meditation, I make the decision to center my life on God. Contemplation is a time to explore my relationship with God and to begin to live out of the deepest part of my nature.
Why Balance Is Essential In All Things
In my observation, core spiritual truths are applicable to nearly every arena of life, not just to religion but also to business, education or politics. They’re as beneficial to those who don’t believe in God as to those who go to church three times a week. They’re woven into the world we inhabit as surely as the law of gravity. One of these universal truths is the principle of balance.
New: ‘Cops, Criminals and Christ’ podcast
For 12 years, Dale Sutherland spent his mornings at church working as a youth pastor and his afternoons wandering the streets of northwest Washington, D.C., as an undercover narcotics officer, searching for drugs. Sometimes, his two lifestyles would collide, like when he received calls while at church from drug cartel members and calls from church members while he was buying drugs.
The Pentecostal Renewal
The Pentecostal/Charismatic revival is the fastest-growing religious phenomenon on the planet, bar none. Reliable statistics for it are hard to pin down, but estimates range from a half-billion to as many as one billion. What we know for sure is that more and more adherents worldwide are gathering together to worship in home churches and tiny storefront churches, all the way to massive megachurches.
Discerning and Using Spiritual Gifts
The Holy Spirit gives each one of us a particular spiritual gift or set of gifts, which can be used in a range of ministries that serve others in the Christian community and beyond. Do you know yours?
Building an Altar To Remember
When the fathers of the faith encountered God, they would build an altar so they would remember — remember their encounter with God, remember the place where everything changed.