Author: S&P

The words. Those words.  I’m sure you’ve heard…the ones that have ignited such debate…from President Obama at the National Prayer Breakfast. I’m sure he had no idea the scrutiny his speech would soon muster. And did someone write these words for him to say or did he think of them himself?  Seemingly careless words for such troubled times we live under. “Unles...

A little while ago Veronica Partridge wrote a piece about why she has decided to no longer wear yoga pants. It was not a prescriptive piece. She was simply sharing her thoughts on modesty and her decision to no longer wear spandex in public. I highly doubt that Ms. Partridge wrote her post on leggings thinking it would go viral or that her and her husband would end up on Good Morning America. I al...

Years ago, I stared into the empty eyes of my mom—a woman who had never stopped praying for her four wayward sons—and saw no recognition, no love, no anything. Mental illness temporarily took her life from her and made her forget she had a youngest child. To her, I was a lie. So, you could say that when it comes to Christians dealing with the ravages of mental disorders, I have a vested interest. ...

There is a great misunderstanding in churches of the purpose of music in Christian worship. Churches routinely advertise their “life-changing” or “dynamic” worship that will “bring you closer to God” or “change your life.” Certain worship CD’s promise that the music will “enable you to enter the presence of God.” Even a flyer for a recent conference for worship leaders boasted: “Join us for ...

“Islam is a religion of peace. Islam does not tolerate wanton murder,” said Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in a recent interview on Meet the Press. With all due respect to Mr. Abdul-Jabbar, he was a far better basketball player than he is an apologist. To be fair, Abdul-Jabbar is far from alone in his defense of Islam. After every attack in the name of Allah, many people hasten to disavow the connection betw...

Few films have stormed the box office – and surprised the pundits in the process of doing so – more than Clint Eastwood’s “American Sniper.” The movie is based on the autobiography of Chris Kyle, a Navy Seal who did four tours in Iraq. He is credited for being the most lethal sniper in American history with 255 kills, of which 160 were documented (witnessed). At the time of this writing, it has to...

Whose side is God on for Superbowl XLIX? The San Francisco 49ers, of course. At least that’s the team I had hoped would win this year, and yet they ended up lightyears from it. But should my team’s disappointing season make me question God’s power and His goodness to me, or change the way that I worship Him? Absolutely not, and neither should the outcome of the Superbowl for you Patriots and Seaha...

I’ve always considered myself to be a one-season girl. I only enjoyed summer with its hot sun, warm breezes, and cold popsicles. Summer is for swimming and vacationing, it’s for listening to the cicadas, sipping ice teas, and smelling the blossoms of the lilac trees. What is not to love about summer? Summer is when praising God for the weather is easy and heartfelt, at least for me. But then come ...

Maybe it’s because I am weak. Maybe it’s because I’ve never successfully done it. For whatever reason, anytime people start talking up or talking about reading the Bible in a year, I get queasy, like when there is a strange odor in a room. My mind also immediately wanders to the Aesop fable of the tortoise and the hare. Yes, I know reading the Bible in a year is ambitious. I know it is a huge acco...

While visiting family in Alaska this past summer, I asked our cousins about the best places to go hiking. Then I asked my most important question: “What about the bears?” I asked. “Attacks usually happen when people go by themselves,” she responded. “That’s what happened to a woman last week. She was running alone and got caught between a cub and a momma bear.&#...

“Pastor, why is racial reconciliation important for our church?” This is a question I often faced as a pastor, posed by sincere church members who wanted to grow and learn. Here are three reasons why I believe racial reconciliation should be a church priority. 1. Racial reconciliation is important because every single person was created in the image of God. The Bible is clear that there is no othe...