There is a growing trend among evangelical Christians where some feel they should declare or decree things over their lives. This is particularly true among those who are influenced by the Pentecostal-Charismatic movement and, more specifically, the prosperity gospel. For example, one prominent independent Pentecostal preacher encourages the readers of his bestselling book to declare […]
Some pray, “I apply the blood of Jesus over my family,” or “I apply the blood of Jesus over my marriage,” or “I apply the blood of Jesus over my car.” Such prayers (are they really prayers?) can sound very pious. But, you will not find such prayers in the Bible. Why? Because you […]
The lid began coming off last Fall: #metoo. We heard numerous, painful stories from seemingly all walks of life. We Pentecostal women waited for the response of our leaders. It seemed to me to be low-hanging fruit; I mean, how hard is it to name the sin of rape? But….crickets. […]
When we bought the wreath, I wasn’t too sure what to do with it, since I come from a church tradition that doesn’t typically incorporate this into its services. I searched for advent readings, but I was frustrated to find that nothing seemed appropriate for my family, which includes children. You can download […]
Not every Christian thinks the same way about Halloween. And Christians appeal to different biblical texts to support their view. Since everyone quotes the Bible, everyone thinks they are right. What are we to do in such situations?[…]
Much of our understanding of fasting is based on tradition (namely – we fast to gain some benefit, like an answered prayer). The selfless biblical understanding of fasting, however, seems to be completely lost. I don’t know for sure, but perhaps we’re in this position, at least in part, because we seem to ignore this act of piety […]
I recognize that Joel Osteen is a great communicator (even Forbes does), and there are numerous things I appreciate about him and his ministry. Nevertheless, there is a repetitive theme in his ministry that I find troubling. And it is particularly troubling given the millions of people who listen to his sermons and assume that […]
As leaders, we are often told that we need to “lead like Jesus,” we need “to behave like Jesus.” But here is a sobering truth: If you do not have and are not […]
After nearly forty years of marriage to my sweet bride, it occurs to me that part of our secret is our uniqueness. You might say our secret sauce is the weirdness we bring to the relationship. Those things that once drove me crazy about her (though they still mildly irritate me at times!) are fond […]
Does having anxiety/depression mean that you are not good with God? (asked by a student) Very unlikely. First, if the answer were “yes,” this would mean that mental health is only a spiritual issue, which it is not. Rather, our mental health is shaped by “a complex interplay of genetic, biological, personality and environmental factors” […]