Martyrdom Today
Persecution. Jesus said that His followers should expect it (John 15:20; 2 Tim. 3:12) and that those who experience it are blessed (Matt. 5:10–12). In our First World society, persecution may mean mocking, slander, or alienation from friends and family. However, the church extends far beyond our circles to include dozens of countries around the world. In much of the Majority World, Christians are experiencing persecution in the form of harassment, beatings, and even martyrdom. The Risk of Belief Over the past fifteen years, my work has been primarily focused on evangelism, disciple-making, and church planting in places where those
Just Move Along: Nothing New to See Here
I considered not turning in a blog this time. The topic just did not ring out to me. Church planting. Yeah, ok. What’s there to say? I looked for help. I asked my daughter what she would write about this. “Uh…that it’s good?” I asked my husband what he would write, he said, “That it’s not a plant (ha ha).” You can tell this is not a frequent topic of deep conversation in our house. I’m a North Waker. I believe in planting churches. I think most, if not all, North Wakers do. North Wake itself is a church
Meditation for Preparation (Oct 2nd)
Read the Book of Colossians When I meet someone new, I typically try to have a conversation that gets straight at their roots. Sometimes it’s because I’m trying to find a good angle for sharing the gospel, but sometimes it’s just fun to see how someone ticks! You see, everyone is like a plant or a tree. When we interact with each other, we tend to present our best fruit and flowers and leave the thorns or dead branches out of the picture. But at the bottom of most plants is a root system that dives down into the
Band of Brothers and Sisters
Read: Colossians 4:7-18 We began our study of the book of Colossians on July 17th and this Sunday (11 weeks later), we will conclude Paul's letter. If the antiquity of the setting or the loftiness of the theology have made the letter feel a bit impersonal, these final 11 verses bring this divinely inspired book back down to reality. The list of names and description of relationships within these verses remind us that these books of the Bible we read and study every day were written, transcribed, transported, hand-delivered, and read aloud by real people. Sure, they had crazy names like Aristarchus and
Singing Is Not An Option
Fifteen years ago, I graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University with a bachelor’s degree in instrumental music education and went out to pursue a career as a music teacher. Part of the curriculum for my major involved us taking several methods classes that gave a basic introduction to the different types of musical instruments - brass, woodwinds, percussion, strings, voice, guitar - so we could then turn around and teach those instruments in an elementary, middle, or high school classroom (i.e., choir, band, orchestra, etc.). We didn’t have to be proficient at each instrument, just knowledgeable enough to teach it,
Buying Up Time
Colossians 4:2-6 (ESV) Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak. Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time [literally: buying up the time]. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person. Paul encourages
Christ in Our Homes
Read: Colossians 3:18-4:1 These past few weeks have been so full! Can anyone relate? Work has been crazy; Jerry has been traveling; school is back in session, and on and on it goes. Just when I think I can’t do one more thing, ten more end up on my plate. That is how I was feeling about the Meditation for Preparation this week. I told Jerry I am dried up; I have nothing to write. To which he responded, “Didn’t you write an entire study?” Oh yeah, I did! So I started out by thinking I would tweak a
Colossians and Forgiveness
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms,
Camp, A New You, And A New Way
Read Colossians 3:1-11 When I was a child, it seemed like every kid that went to summer camp came back different. It was a rite of passage. It wasn’t until college that I got away for an extended amount of time with other kids my age, but I always envied the other kids who went. Summer camp seemed to do something to kids, to enliven them with a special glow that only the shared camp experience could imbue. For just one week or one month or whatever short amount of time in the summer or fall, camp is this
Saying No Is Never Enough
Fighting Sin With a Better Pleasure Article by Matt Bradner in Desiring God. The northeast portion of the United States went eerily dark on the evening of August 14, 2003. When lights should have been on, there were none to be seen. Instead, all was dark, and movement was at a standstill. There was no power. What became known as the “Northeast blackout of 2003” resulted in nearly a sixth of the United States without power. In the days that followed, a satellite image began circulating due to its shocking appearance. Whether the photo is real or manufactured has little relevance
