Why would God create dinosaurs? Some Christians argue dinosaurs could not have existed because God would not create such creatures that could wreak havoc upon human civilization. Enormous amounts of archeological evidence deter this argument, but we should also note the Bible mentions God created several other ferocious animals. For instance, he created a fish large enough to swallow the prophet Jonah. Although no one would want to be ripped apart by a T-Rex, spending several days digesting in the belly of a sea creature doesn’t sound like a great way to go either (Jonah 1:17). Daniel found himself face-to-face with a pack of lions in an enclosed den (Daniel 6). Even though God chose to shut the mouths of the lions so they wouldn’t consume this prophet, in most instances, lions don’t go ea...

True Satisfaction Isaiah 14:12-15 records the fall of Satan.  Created as God’s archangel, we read about the dissatisfaction that got him in trouble, “How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations!  For you have said in your heart:  ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’  Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, to the lowest depths of the Pit.” Clearly his problem was pride.  “I will, I will, I will…I am going to be like God.”  He wasn’t s...

Author’s Statement Concerning Inspiration and Truthfulness of the Bible As you read this you may question my position on the inspiration and truthfulness of the Bible. So let me state up front that I am a firm believer in the divine inspiration of the Bible. I also hold firmly to the truthfulness of the Bible. And that includes this first chapter of Genesis. The Ancient Culture of Genesis 1 The culture of the Ancient Near East (ANE), including the early Hebrews, was very different from ours today. So much of what we take for granted today was unknown then. Science, technology, communications, modern healthcare and sanitation, education, 40-hour work weeks. None of that existed. Life was hard and uncertain. Travel was slow and uncommon. Your world was generally limited to your immediate sur...

I was once asked by another pastor how he should feel about all of the sheep swapping going around in his city. In the Bible, those in Christ are often referred to as “sheep” and pastors as “shepherds.” From this, there have come all kinds of catchphrases in regard to church life, most notably “sheep swapping,” which is when people move from one local church to another.  More to the point, it should probably be called “sheep shopping.” So, is that ever a good thing?  Always a bad thing?  Something in between? Yes. Five good reasons to shop around: The teaching veers away from historic orthodoxy. The leadership consistently lacks integrity. Habitual disunity has infected the community. The mission has no focus or clarity. The church’s finances lack necessary accountability. &...

We received a letter from an inmate in a TN prison who read “An Anchor for the Soul” when the prison was on lockdown.This is part of what she wrote:  I just want to let you know how much your book impacted me. I’ve been locked up for 10 months, and this incarceration has been the very best time of my life!! I am getting to know God and Jesus on an intimate level. But it was your book that caused the breakthrough I needed to trust Jesus wholly, completely, and fully!! Jesus is building his church behind bars. There are no walls high enough to keep out the Holy Spirit. It’s hard to go to prison, but it can be a good thing if you meet Jesus there. Thank you for your love, your prayers, and your support, because your gifts enable us to keep donating Anchors to prison ministrie...

August 9, 20185 Questions to Know If We’re Hearing From GodLYSA TERKEURST “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13 (NIV) Every day, God speaks to us. Sometimes He invites us to draw close and listen as He reveals Himself, His character and His direction. Other times He calls us to participate in His purposes. Still other times He simply whispers, reminding us of His amazing love for us. I realize this is where some hands might be going up with a few questions. Hearing from God is one of those topics that can easily stir up frustration and confusion. Maybe you’re asking some of these questions today: How do I know if God is speaking to me? How do I discern whether it is His voice speaking or just my own idea? What if I feel God telling me to d...

No one can leaf through Scripture without encountering a prophet in the Old and New Testament. From Ezekiel to John the Baptist, these messengers of God appear in just about every part of the Bible. Why do they play such an important role? What role exactly do they play? And do they still exist in the world today, or did they cease to play a part after the New Testament? What is a prophet? Christians vary in their characterizations of a prophet. This article will abide by this definition: A prophet receives messages from God, mainly concerning events that will take place in the future, and conveys them to a certain group of people or singular person, whom God intends to hear the delivered message. In some ways, a prophet is an advocate or mediator between God and a group of people. Old Tes...

This week our country is jolted with another wave of domestic terror attacks on our country, in El Paso and in Dayton. And, once again, a document posted by one of the terrorists is a typical white nationalist manifesto, taking up all the usual tropes of an “invasion” of migrants into our country, of the “replacement” of white people by minorities. Law enforcement experts have warned for some time of the shocking rise of this sort of ideology and the violence that often comes with it, even as we are watching white nationalist movements cascading all over Europe and the rest of the world. Obviously, any sort of murder ought to shock and alarm any person, and usually does. Few people, except the terrorists themselves, will justify in any situation the killing of innocent bystanders. But we h...

Whose Voice Are You Listening To? By Rick Warren “Start with God — the first step in learning is bowing down to God; only fools thumb their noses at such wisdom and learning” (Proverbs 1:7 The Message). Have you noticed that the moment you establish a goal in your life, you start hearing people say, “Who do you think you are” or “It can’t be done” or “Forget about it”? The antidote to the voices of doubt is to instead listen to the voice of God. Just imagine all the critics that were in Noah’s life. “That guy Noah thinks God speaks to him, but he’s just messing up all of our property values by building that ark in his front yard.” The Bible tells us that Noah listened to God. And what did he hear? He heard God’s warning that the world was going to be destroyed. He believed what he had...

What is CBD? Cannabidiol (CBD) is a chemical that comes from cannabis plants and is found in marijuana.Those who use it have seen various benefits such as a reduction in epileptic seizures, reduction in anxiety, increase in pain relief, and help in quitting addictive behaviors such as smoking – possibly even opioid addiction disorders.   Until recently, CBD oil contained tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)—the most active ingredient in marijuana which creates a “high” in its users. Now, CBD doesn’t contain THC, according to this Mayo Clinic article, or at least it may not contain large enough quantities to alter the mental state of its user. CBD can cause some side effects such as fatigue and dry mouth. In some clinical trials, users experienced liver problems, irritability, nausea, and tiredn...