Peggy Noonan on Abortion
September 5, 2012This is a memorable quote from the always eloquent Peggy Noonan: The Democratic Party is the party of abortion; it supports the widest possible interpretation of choice, and is heavily funded, literally, by the abortion industry. Abortion involves the killing of children. Sometimes Democrats speak of it, publicly, in such a way that it sounds like a small thing, a tooth extraction; sometimes they speak of it in a way that suggests it is a holy right, a high value, a good thing. Read more here: Noonans Blog: The Democrats Rally – Peggy Noonans Blog – WSJ.
Continue Reading5 Ways Pastors Can Encourage Working Men and Women
September 4, 2012Yesterday America celebrated Labor Day, the holiday reserved as a tribute to American workers. This is a good time to discuss ways pastors and vocational ministry leaders can encourage working men and women in their congregations. This is an oft-neglected, but essential part of ministry, because most Christians who attend church on Sunday don’t draw a paycheck from a Christian organization. They have to get up on Monday morning and perform in the so-called “secular” workforce. Those of us privileged to do so-called Christian work for a living don’t always understand the pressures of the American workforce. So here are…
Continue Reading5 Attitudes Toward Someone With Whom You Disagree
August 28, 2012We live in a generally uncivil world (because we are fallen creatures) and we are in the midst of an uncivil season (Campaign 2012). I don’t buy the idea that this is the “most negative campaign we’ve ever had.” One only needs to read biographies of the American founders (unless written by David Barton) to realize the human capacity to savage one another was alive and well in the golden years of America’s founding. Still, technologies, the proliferation of campaign spending, and the insidious, but effective tool of dishonest 30-second TV ads all add to a very uncivil culture. For…
Continue ReadingThe Echo Chamber of Leadership
August 22, 2012Unless you were living under a rock (in which case I envy you, actually), you read, heard, or watched the brouhaha surrounding Missouri Senate candidate Todd Akin, a staunchly prolife candidate who conflated issues of rape with abortion. What he said on TV was not only horrific, it offended a lot of people and essentially the entire conservative movement has abandoned him. There’s a lot of lessons to be learned in Mr. Akin’s fall. One is that it matters not simply that we have the right positions, but that we articulate them well in the public square. Words do matter.…
Continue ReadingWanted: 10 Book Bloggers
August 21, 2012I’m continually working to get the word out about my book, Real, Owning Your Christian Faith. I really believe in the message of this book: that those who grew up in the faith are as desperate for God as those who haven’t. So, I’m looking for ten bloggers willing to blog about my book this way: 1) Write a substantive review and/or 2) Conduct an interview with me 3) Send at least two-three messages on social networks like Facebook and Twitter Now, I have some qualifications to ensure the message gets out in a timely fashion and to a wide swath of…
Continue Reading5 Things Love Isn’t
August 20, 2012Perhaps there is nothing the human heart craves more than true love. We are wired to love and be loved. The problem is that we don’t actually understand what love really is. We get all kinds of definitions from the culture and from our own feelings. In fact, I think it’s helpful to think a little bit, not about what love is but what love isn’t. So here are five things love isn’t: 1) Love Isn’t Having Someone Fulfill All My Fanciful Dreams When we think about the love between a husband and wife, we often think of that “soulmate”, that person who just…
Continue ReadingMax Lucado on the Presidential Election
August 15, 2012I so enjoyed Max Lucado’s recent message on the election. To sum it up: don’t freak out, God is in charge. This is a biblical challenge to all of us. Take time to view it:
Continue ReadingWhat Is Your Thing?
August 14, 2012As a pastor I meet a lot of interesting Christians. I have people who attend my church, people who call or stop by to promote their ministry in our church, and/or people who send me information via email or mail. The common theme is that every Christian seems to have a “thing.” That is to say the one theme of their life and their advocacy. For instance, there are those whose specialty is defending Genesis. For others it’s Christian political activism. There are outreaches and emphases on Jewish ministry, men’s ministry, Christian education, eschatology, and a host of other specific…
Continue ReadingFriday Five: Charles Drew
August 10, 2012Charles D. Drew, M.Div. has pastored for thirty years in Virginia, Long Island, and New York, all in university settings. He presently serves as the senior minister of Emmanuel Presbyterian Church, which he founded in 2000 near Columbia University. He speaks frequently to university and churches and is the author of An Ancient Love Song and A Journey Worth Taking. He and his wife Jean have two married children and two grandchildren. It is his most recent book, however, that arrested my attention. Body Broken discusses the impact of political partisanship on the Church. Charles was kind enough to stop by…
Continue ReadingChick-fil-A and the Mosque
August 8, 2012There has been so much written, said, posted, and preached about Chick-fil-A, most of which occurred while I was out of the country, missing the entire phenomenon. As I watched the pictures of people lining up to support Chick-fil-A and as I read the way the media slanted the story, I was struck by two things: the loyalty many Americans have to this very good, well-run, admirable American business and the tendency on the left to demonize those with whom they disagree. The charge of bigotry is too loosely employed. But, for Christians, I think this is an important moment.…
Continue ReadingReflections on Europe
August 7, 2012Last Thursday I returned from an eleven-day trip to Eastern Europe. The main purpose of my trip was to attend the wedding of my brother, Tim, and his lovely bride, Anetta. But I also had a second purpose, to visit with the Rice Family, our missionaries to Slovakia. It was a magnificent trip, one whose memories will stay with me for a lifetime. And so, having finally cleared all the jetlagged fog from my brain, I’d like to share some reflections: Some Serious Reflections: There is a wide sweep of history in Europe that you just can’t get in America.…
Continue Reading5 Ways We Lie in Advancing the Truth
August 1, 2012Christians are supposed be about the truth. We are to proclaim the truth, live the truth, and love the truth. But sometimes, in advancing the truth, we tell ourselves lies. In other words, there is a way to actually hold a biblical position on an issue and sin in the way we make the argument. Here are five common ways: 1) We conflate principled activism with vitriolic words. How often have you prolonged an argument with your wife, knowing you are right in substance? How has that worked out for you? Likely you did serious damage to your relationship. This…
Continue ReadingFriday Five: Jenny Smith
July 28, 2012Jenny Smith is a gifted teacher, author, and speaker. Recently, she published her first book, Seriously God? I’m Doing Everything I Know To Do and It’s NOT Working! She lives in Adairsville, GA with her husband, Chad and their three teen daughters. You can find out more about Jenny at her website or by following her on Twitter at @keepinstride As a first time author, what led you to write “Seriously God? I’m Doing Everything I Know To Do And It’s Not Working”? During the past couple of years, we lost everything we thought defined who we were. Our home…
Continue ReadingIt seems there are three, quick, easy, cheap ways to score points if you’re a hip, up-and-coming evangelical. Say something negative about Christian bookstores, Christian publishers, and/or Southern Baptists. If you hit on a criticism of all three, you’ll really get a lot of back pats and your blog will probably have a lot of new unique visitors. You might even get a book deal. You’ll definitely want to buy those cool, new “Rob Bell” glasses. At the risk of sounding old-fashioned, I’m going to defend this seeming unholy trifecta, the supposed enemies of Christian awesomeness. A few weeks ago…
Continue ReadingOff to Europe
July 23, 2012Today I’m headed for a ten-day trip to Europe to attend the wedding of my brother, Tim and his wife, Aneta, whose family lives in Krakow, Poland. I will be flying from Chicago, stopping in Helsinki, Finland, then flying to Budapest. Then I will get on another plane and fly from Budapest to Warsaw to Krakow. After spending a few days in Krakow, I will fly back to Budapest (via Vienna) and then drive into Slovakia where I will spend time with Jason and Adele Rice, our missionaries to Slovakia. Jason and Adele are close friends. Jason pastored at Gages…
Continue ReadingWhat We Should Wake Up Every Morning Saying:
July 21, 2012Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 1 Peter 1:3-5 (ESV) I’m preaching on this passage tomorrow at Gages Lake Bible Church. Pray I make much of Jesus.
Continue ReadingFriday Five: Tyler Braun
July 20, 2012Tyler Braun is a pastor from Portland, Oregon, where he lives with his wife Rose. His first book, Why Holiness Mattters releases August 1st. You can find Tyler on Twitter, Facebook, or his blog, manofdepravity.com. The title of your book is Why Holiness Matters, so in a nutshell, can you tell us why it matters? So many of us have whittled down following Jesus to set of beliefs rather than a God who desires to apprehend us through his affection for us. First off, holiness matters because God calls us to be holy. Secondly, it matters because the full and abundant life promised to us in Christ…
Continue ReadingThe Church and Health Care
July 18, 2012This election cycle, health care has dominated the news. We’ve had the nomination of former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, whose state health care plan was considered a liability in the GOP primary. We’ve had the conservative opposition to President Obama’s health care plan (now universally labeled Obamacare, even by supporters). And then we recently had the very surprising verdict of the Supreme Court to uphold Obamacare, with the majority opinion written by conservative justice, John Roberts. How should Christians think about this issue? I’ve been a bit conflicted. On the one hand, most evangelicals are against Obamacare, mainly because it…
Continue ReadingFriday Five: Greg Smalley
July 13, 2012Today on the blog we have author and marriage counselor, Dr. Greg Smalley. Greg serves as executive director of Marriage and Family Formation at Focus on the Family. Prior to joining Focus, Smalley worked for the Center for Relationship Enrichment at John Brown University and as President of the National Institute of Marriage. He is the author of eleven books including The DNA of Relationships, The DNA of Parent and Teen Relationships and The Wholehearted Marriage. You grew up the son of one of the most popular family counselors in the world, Gary Smalley. And yet you have embraced the same calling as your father.…
Continue Reading5 Reasons to Rejoice in an Election Season
July 11, 2012Yes, you read that right. There are actually reasons to rejoice in a presidential campaign season filled with rumor, innuendo, nastiness, and vitriol from both sides. Like you, I’m a bit tired already and the campaign has hardly begun. But, I’ve been thinking that there are many silver linings in an election season. Here are five: 1) You can rejoice because you live in America and not Cuba. Think about it, nations governed by totalitarian regimes don’t feature nasty political campaigns. Nobody in Cuba or North Korea is complaining about dinner-time robo calls, nasty mailers, or grainy, fear-inducing half-true TV ads. There…
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