Did you know that the term spiritual warfare never appears in Scripture? It is a pastoral-theological term describing the conflict occurring at the heart of the Christian life. For good, biblical, and practical reasons, Christians have always understood that we face a three-fold moral enemy: the world, the flesh, and the devil. Over this unholy trinity hangs the specter of our last enemy—the...
Valentine’s Day is upon us again. Commercials abound with sweethearts holding hands and staring into each others’ eyes. Husbands and boyfriends rush to Harris Teeter for a last-minute pickup of chocolate and flowers. And of course, a special dinner with a special someone. Yet, you are alone . . . again. Consider three possibilities for Valentine’s Day: Option 1: To feel better...
Let’s compare what the Bible requires of Christians with what Frank Viola uncovers in his blog post, “Warning: The World Is Watching How We Christians Treat One Another.” In his article, Frank used Google to identify the most frequent way searchers complete the question, Why are Christians so…? Among the top results were the words mean, hypocritical, and judgmental...
In the midst of major transition, I’ve reflected on what it means to live missionally in everyday life. After over a decade in East Africa, I recently returned to the United States to pursue a graduate degree in psychology. My days are now filled with tests and papers, counseling practicums and supervision meetings. Last year, I was working at a Kenyan international school and my job title...
Want to know how to ruin a good novel? I can tell you: read the end first. I suppose any reader is free to do this, but knowing the ending removes one of the great joys and one of the essential experiences of reading: how we get there. The joy, the significance in the task of reading, is in the process of getting from the first page to the last. The process is the thing. This principle is an oft...
