9/11 A Story of Faith and Survival

Thirty-four year old Michael landed at Newark International Airport on September 10, 2001. He came to conduct business for his company that specialized in Internet technology and mergers and acquisitions. He checked into a room on the 24th floor of the Marriott World Trade Center, midway between the two towers. He set the wake-up call for…

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Oh Death, Where Is Your Sting?

(1 Cor 15:55b)   Share Forward Share Pin   I lived in Wisconsin as a girl, and on exceptionally cold winter nights, thick frost covered the inside of my bedroom window. I carved stick figures with a spoon, and moonlight filtering through tree branches created a host of dancing figures on the wall behind me.…

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Jesus, the Devils, and the Christian Life

Christians understand that God’s love and power come from above, for the Kingdom of God is not of this world (Jn 18:36). God the Father and Son send the Holy Spirit to unite believers in holy love as he advances his Kingdom on earth. Unsurprisingly, the Enemy of God takes aim at believers’ love and…

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Worship Jesus

As the deer pants for streams of water,So my soul pants for you, my God.My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.When can I go and meet with God? (Ps 42:1-2). God created us to worship him, and we are most at peace when drinking from the fount of holy God. In worship Jesus,…

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TESTS

Honing Skills in Discernment Christians affirm that God communicates with his people through Word and Spirit. He inspired men to write the Bible. He spoke directly to particular people, and also communicated through prophets, theophanies, angels, dreams, and visions. God ordains events, and the pinnacle of God’s revelation of himself was the Son Jesus Christ…

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Yoga and the Christian

Years ago, I began each day with yoga. I stepped barefoot onto a mat and moved from pose to pose for a half hour. I ended with the prayer pose in which I stood erect with my elbows against my sides, palms pressed together near my heart, and fingers pointed skyward. I bowed slightly to…

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The Christian and Energy Therapies

For many years, wholistic health journals, spas, and practitioners of alternative medicine have advocated the use of reflexology, Reiki, therapeutic touch, acupressure, and a variety of bioenergetic works. Christian practitioners begin with prayer and testimonials travel through informal networks and social media. Believers generally feel safe when the therapist expresses sincere faith; they see no…

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Discipleship and Deliverance

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life (Jn 3:16). The gospel is profound. Jesus was born to die so that his people could be born anew. God meets us where we are and changes us to reflect holy, righteous Jesus.…

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Stand With Jesus

Nineteen-year-old Jamie finally acknowledged that the negative voice in her mind was not hers. Her condemning thoughts had recently morphed into a man’s voice holding court in her mind. He mocked her appearance and demeaned her for the slightest mistake. At first, she mentally defended herself, but soon learned that her responses emboldened him. She…

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Mystics and Evangelicals

A white church with a steeple and a cross on top.

I am not the first to address the influences of Roman Catholic mysticism, Eastern religions, and the New Age on evangelical churches. Bloggers and writers have cautioned evangelical Christians about blurring theological boundaries and adopting practices incompatible with Reformed faith.1 I join the conversation with a series of blogs that begin with Catholic mysticism. Read…

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