What is the definition of a “successful” church? Is it one that has just built a brand-new, 400 plus capacity auditorium? After all, if a church is in need of something like that, then obviously they must be doing something right, right? Maybe the right preacher? “Your church really is fortunate to have such a …

Even if I wasn’t a Christian, it would be very hard to deny the hand of some kind of Designer behind this glorious world of ours. It is ingeniously designed, complete with a threefold harmony of mind, body and spirit. There’s no escaping the moral fabric that weaves through our lives, that virtually anyone, on …

“I can’t believe he just did that, but I’ll give him ten bucks to do it again!” “That was someone else, but I was in the background cheering him on!”  “Of course it’s wrong, but really funny!”             Raise your hand if one or more of those statements has come out of your mouth. Raise …

My Father, I shouldn’t have the family I do, but I do because you are with me. I shouldn’t have the friends I do, but I do because you are with me. I shouldn’t have the job that I do, but I do because you are with me. I shouldn’t have the life I do, …

On the night of September 6, 1860, the steamship Lady Elgin collided with the schooner Augusta on the chilly waters of Lake Michigan. The next morning, as people were walking along the shore, there were several that noticed large amounts of debris floating within the chilly waters. It wasn’t long after hearing the cries that …

I love hiking. I don’t really get to do it very much because of the lack of hills and available lung capacity, but getting outdoors and being with nature is always exhilarating. Your hike can take a completely different direction in just a few moments; one second you’re walking through a thick forest, the next …

John 12:44-50 is an interesting passage for many reasons. Jesus makes this speech immediately after seeing men cower in fear from the Pharisees, so as not to be thrown out of the temple. Law-making was not one of their abilities, as the only One that could realistically install ordinances and rules was God. Nevertheless, they …

Often times, if we look closely at a passage in the Bible, we notice things not just about the material, but the author himself. Scripture comes alive as we see the context surrounding the Word, and the reasons that these words were written to these specific people. One such example of this is in 1 …

God is our Lord; Satan is our enemy. Righteousness is of God; lawlessness is of Satan. Perseverance is of God; falling to temptation is of Satan. It seems like a very simple, easy equation. “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above” (Colossians 3:1). Sounds even simpler. If we want …

Suffering through hard times are about as much fun as jabbing a pencil into your eye; nobody likes it, and, baring any need for said pain, events like that are often best left inexperienced. In the same way, ask anyone on the street if they would like for them to lose someone they love, and …