Tuesday morning dawned, bright and clear. The smell of cinnamon and nutmeg mingled with freshly cooked eggs while a soft, gentle breeze wafted through the open windows. I sat at the dining room table, savoring my freshly cooked scrambled eggs and warm coffee cake. I was home on summer break, very close to returning to… Continue reading Where were you?
Does the presence of evil negate the power of God?
"If there is a God, why do bad things happen?" "If God is so powerful, then why was this ruler able to murder all these people?" "God doesn't work in the world today. If He did, He wouldn't have allowed my child to die." People from every race, color, and time have asked questions like these. Humanity is perpetually baffled by suffering. Grief or pain cause some to lash out at God or abandon Him altogether. How do we reconcile a loving, all-powerful God with a world overrun with destruction?
Does Everything Happen for a Reason? (part 1)
In our fast-paced, sound-byte world, people want (and give) quick answers with no real thought to the complexities of the question. Consider, for instance, the following question: "Does everything happen for a reason?" For the past several weeks, I have been rolling this topic around in my mind after reading an article that a few of my… Continue reading Does Everything Happen for a Reason? (part 1)
Why we need to pray for GenNext (Part 2)
This is the final article in the series “Raising GenNext.” You can read the previous post by clicking here. Yesterday, we looked at why prayer is so critical in the effort to raise GenNext. Remember, GenNext is not just children; GenNext also includes new converts and current Christians. Like Jesus, we long for the growth of those who… Continue reading Why we need to pray for GenNext (Part 2)
Why we need to pray for GenNext (Part 1).
This article is part of the series “Raising GenNext.” You can read the previous post by clicking here. What do you believe about prayer? Do you think praying is a rote activity? Is prayer an active or passive endeavor? Does it have value? Is it helpful? Does it actually work? It is my opinion and observation… Continue reading Why we need to pray for GenNext (Part 1).
Back to School Prayers
Clogged up parking lots. Fresh, clean backpacks. Crisp new clothes. Sharp pencils. Eager young faces... Yup, it's back-to-school time! No matter what form of education you choose for your child---homeschool, private school, or public school---we need to pray diligently through this season of life. The education process is indeed challenging. I realize that many children are… Continue reading Back to School Prayers
Edify: Building a Strong Generation
This article is part of the series “Raising GenNext.” You can read the previous post by clicking here. Edify comes from the Greek "oikodomḗ" meaning 'the act of building.' We often use this word as a reference to spiritual encouragement. Edification is more than perfunctory praise; it is the endeavor to construct something strong. To date, we have covered the first… Continue reading Edify: Building a Strong Generation
A Christian Blogger’s Prayer
Heavenly Father, Thank you for giving me the opportunity to reach out to believers and non-believers through this medium. Grant me wisdom to respond properly to those with whom I interact both here and in other places that you may be glorified. Remind me daily to cultivate a spirit of humility. Crush my pride and… Continue reading A Christian Blogger’s Prayer
Expanding the Core of Workers
This article is part of the series “Building GenNext.” You can read the previous post by clicking here. The preacher looked wearily at the building as he shifted into park. When he had begun the work here, he'd had such high hopes of helping the tiny church grow into a massive group of believers. Over… Continue reading Expanding the Core of Workers
Entrust: Involving Children in the Important within the church (part 2)
This article is part of the series “Building GenNext.” You can read the previous post by clicking here. Somewhere in the past, someone concluded the primary reason children were leaving the church was somehow related to it's boringness. There was a slow movement toward making entertainment more important than education and edification. And yet, in spite of the hyped up… Continue reading Entrust: Involving Children in the Important within the church (part 2)
