christian

… be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — His good, pleasing, and perfect will. — Romans 12:2Twenty-eight years ago today I started my first job out of college as a parole and probation officer. It seemed an oddball fit for me; a guy who got picked on while I was growing up – yet here I was arresting hardened criminals or ordering their arrest; interrogating them, going off to gun school, and doing my best to keep my part of the world safe from burglars,…

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. — Romans 8:18In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. — 1 Peter 1:6There are two kinds of grace for the Christian: present and future grace. Future grace allows us to acknowledge the pain of the present without getting lost in it. Yes, the boss may yell, the spouse may be difficult to live with, injury may be present, suffering may occur, but, for the believer,…

AMMAN, JORDAN (ANS) — “Christian” is not just a political party in Lebanon. Many true evangelical believers live in that war-torn nation, and they are not all in the “safe” areas, away from the rockets, bombs and troops.Many Christians are among the hundreds of thousands of Lebanese already displaced by the escalating conflict. They have taken refuge in open parks and playgrounds. Others have fled into Syria and Jordan. Read more.

After GOD had finished addressing Job, He turned to Eliphaz the Temanite and said, "I’ve had it with you and your two friends. I’m fed up! You haven’t been honest either with me or about me — not the way my friend Job has." — Job 42:7 from The MessageI like this rendering of this verse because it reminds us that God invites our struggle with Him. Job engaged God honestly. No, he didn’t have a clue about many things and neither do we. But Job didn’t settle for pat answers and comfortable theology. He led the way to authenticity.If…

Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones. — Mark 5:5Here is a man who was in torment. He had no rest day or night. He was driven away from people and had no one to share his suffering with. He was lonely and in terrible pain.Yesterday we looked at the storm from the perspective of the disciples. God brought them through the storm so they might see a clearer picture of who Jesus is.Today I’d like to look at the storm from the perspective of this desperate, demonized…

"Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?" — Mark 4:38I’d like to focus in on the word "care." We all know the story. The storm is out of control. Jesus is asleep. The waves are swamping the boat. The disciples are terrified.Where was God’s care? In a sense, that’s an unfair question, because we have a big advantage. We are looking at this storm 2000 years later. We know that God’s care was there all along. The disciples didn’t know how to stop the storm. So they did the only thing they knew how to do, they found Jesus inside…

You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife. — Exodus 20:17Why would we think that a gift from the devil is better than a gift from God? The whole point of this commandment is this: God gives good gifts.There have been times in my marriage when I couldn’t figure out what drug induced me to say, "I do." This is usually the time when the devil brings out the dessert tray and whispers, "See what you’re missing!"We all know, I hope, that there’s nothing but candy-coated poison on that tray.But what is God getting at here, when he tells us to…

After spending 30 years in the wilderness the "Christian left" is making its voice heard. From Washington, D.C., to Dallas, large conferences have been held in an attempt to politically mobilize these "progressive" Christians. Much can be said about this burgeoning movement, and much will be said in the coming months. Read more.

A new book, "American Gospel: God, the Founding Fathers, and the Making of a Nation," explores our religious heritage. Its author, Jon Meacham, managing editor of Newsweek magazine, follows the path from the compromises and decisions made more than 200 years ago to the divide between the Christian right and liberal secularism today. Read More.

by DOUG ERICKSON At Madison Christian Community, 10 percent of the building’s energy comes from solar panels, and the garden tractor is being converted to run on vegetable oil from nearby Pasqual’s restaurant. Wisconsin State Journal story.