Simple Tips to Study the Bible

There are lots of stories in the Bible, but all stories are telling one Big Story. It is the Story of how God loves his children and comes to rescue them. It takes the whole

Learning How to Follow Jesus on an Airplane

The flight attendant giving emergency instructions must be one of the most ignored persons in human history. It’s not that people are necessarily uninterested; they’ve just heard it all before. I decided to listen last

Kanye, Christians, and Conversion

 Photo Illustration by The Daily Beast / Photos via Twitter/Getty The only take I have on Kanye West’s profession of faith in Christ and his new album Jesus is King is that I rejoice in

Love is the Antidote to Fear

This is the thought that crossed my mind in the wee hours of the morning. I woke up way too early and was having trouble falling back to sleep and this is where my thoughts

Stop Comparing Yourself to Well-Known Pastors

Preacher, you can preach better than John MacArthur, John Piper, David Platt, and H.B. Charles. I wonder if that surprises you? It should not. You can preach better to your flock than any of those

Glorious Limitations and Sweet Surrender

“I have surrendered to your design.” The words of a popular Christian song struck me as I was driving home from a long trip. I had heard this song many times, but for some reason

What Steals Your Joy in Marriage and Parenting?

Marriage and parenting are not easy. They are beautiful gospel realities and blessings. And yet, they are both very hard. They will not always make us happy, but they should not steal our joy. Christian

Sticktoitiveness and the Christian Life

At some point in my childhood, someone encouraged me to develop a character trait that I was apparently missing. I don’t remember the exact context for the advice or even who presented the case, but

The Gospel Errand of Well-Done VBS Decorations

$4,000 in material costs, 1500+ man-hours of labor, and 6 weeks of construction duration. These are the typical resources we pour in to Vacation Bible School (VBS) decorations each year at Ashland Avenue Baptist