Words of Life

Eugene Peterson’s translation of the apostle Paul’s instruction to his protégé Timothy regarding the agenda for Christian worship is helpful. “The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know. Pray especially for rulers and their governments to rule well…

A new website www.stream.org has launched and I’d like you to be one of the first to experience it. Ravi Zacharias caught the vision and responded: Anyone who looks at the spread of the Gospel in the early days underscores two indispensable realities: the Roman road and the Greek language. It was…

Instead of your shame you will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace you will rejoice in your inheritance. And so you will inherit a double portion in your land, and everlasting joy will be yours. (Isaiah 61:7) Between the ages of five and nine I was abused by…

This week, Beth begins a series on the hand of God and what it looks like in our lives. “This ought to become one of the foremost things on your tongue that you request from God,” she says. Most people are familiar with the prayer of Jabez from Bruce Wilkinson’s…

"The Lord gives freedom to the prisoners." (Psalm 146:7, NKJV)  Have you ever felt insecure? Been afraid to fail? Felt plain and ordinary when others around you seem to be shining stars?  Do you think you have to be "good" for God to love you? You have to "do" in…

When I was a young child, my family did not have much financially. I remember making a decision to do whatever I could to bring my family out of lack and poverty. That decision opened the door to what my life is today. Many people look at the success and…

The New Testament often refers to the resurrection. Obviously, we tend to think of this in physical terms; that is, life after death. But there is more to the concept than that. In fact, it can apply to each of us today, whatever situation we find ourselves facing. Jesus said,…

Christmas will always be a glorious celebration for “Unto us a Savior is born and He is Christ the Lord.” Yes, and He is indeed our Lord and Savior. Betty and I love Him with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength.  We will always remember our excitement about…

I was not supposed to have woken up. Waking up on the day after I planned to commit suicide was not part of my plan. I remember the moment my eyes opened to the new morning. I could see.  There was a clarity that hadn't been there for as long…

In recent years, it’s become a tradition for Christians to push back against our secularized culture by calling for society to “put Christ back in Christmas.” The irony is that most Americans, Christian or not, have been told that many of our Christmas traditions were originally pre-Christian pagan traditions from…