What happens after death? Jonathan Roumie, who plays Jesus on The Chosen,  shared a video concerning a vision he had about what happens after death. Death is not the end . According to Jonathan’s vision, the spirits of the deceased immediately encounter Jesus within a few seconds of their passing. Jesus asks everyone the same four-word question: “Do you know me?” Some of them had been active in their churches and confidently believed they were saved by grace through faith in

Arrogant people resist correction. How dare the driver in the car behind them beep for them to turn right on a red light while they are...

Am I a Christian? Is Jesus in my life? Will I go to heaven when I die? Doubts plagued my teen years. I had no assurance that I was right...

I raised financial support as a staff member of Campus Crusade for Christ in the mid-1970s. I shared my ministry at a church that is part of my denomination. At the end of the presentation, the pastor asked, “What is the least we can give?” My answer was exactly what the church decided to give—"Nothing.” It seems to me that behind the question “Do I have to attend church to be a Christian?” lies another question: “What is the least I can do and still be a Christian?” A far be

Here is the dilemma: The Bible insists we aren’t saved by or without good works. What is the relationship between the two? Does faith plus works save us, or faith that works?   If we must produce good works to be saved, faith plus works conflicts with salvation as the gift of God (Ephesians 2:8-9). Faith that works explains what God’s grace and our gratitude empower us to do after receiving God’s gift of salvation.   Good Works Can’t Earn Salvation   Bill O’Brien donated sixt

What Kind of Evidence Do We See? Our law courts depend on direct and circumstantial evidence. Savannah Guthrie interviewing God on Today  would be direct evidence of God’s existence. To date, Today  has been unable to schedule that interview! God deems it unnecessary. God reveals Himself through His creation, reason, conscience, Jesus Christ, the Bible, and visions and dreams, all interpreted through the eyes of faith (Hebrews 11:6). Those who believe God exists and sincerely

Anger, jealousy, and pride in Proverbs, Bible, portray the tornado-like destructiveness of different elements of the sinful nature that are not to control the way we live as Christians (Romans 6:12). Let’s explore why.   Uncontrolled Anger Hurts Us and Others   Uncontrolled anger hurts us and others. We have all done foolish things because we were mad. We have broken both things and relationships.   Getting angry lowers our IQ instantly. Our good judgment evaporates after we

Healthy relationships supply less stress, better healing, healthier behaviors, a greater sense of purpose, and a longer life. 1  All five reflect in the human sphere the benefits of a healthy relationship with God. Trusting that God is in control is a stress relief valve. God is described as “Sovereign LORD” 285 times in the Bible (NLT). “But as for me, how good it is to be near God! I have made the Sovereign Lord my shelter, and I will tell everyone about the wonderful thing

Understanding Our Role in God's Plan How do we fit into God’s master plan? This question often feels like a mystery. We engage in the good works He has ordained for us (Ephesians 2:10), yet we sometimes find ourselves scratching our heads afterward, wondering why He wanted us to do them. I have scratched my head more than most. Not much hair is left on top of that old head! My ministry often felt like plunging my fist into a bucket of water and then withdrawing it. The water,

God’s commands test our faith and challenge our natural reactions. Let’s consider some specific examples, such as be joyful always, the pray without ceasing verse, and in everything give thanks: “Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NLT). Does that sound like you during a traffic jam, or when someone cuts you off while you are driving? I confess that it isn’t

Perception Isn’t Reality Perception is reality. Is it? Not even close. These three words don’t define Reality, which I describe as an accurate depiction of all that is and how everything relates to everything else. Reality isn’t relative and individualistic. Only God can accurately define it. Jesus is the final judge of what is true and what isn’t (John 14:6). I Get What This Statement Says I get what those who state that perception is reality are saying. For example, our per

All squares are rectangles, but not all rectangles are squares. As we shall see, all believers are part of the human family, but not all those in the human family are part of God’s family. Surprisingly, the term “sons of God” doesn’t only apply to human beings. Spirit beings are also referred to as the sons of God (Job 1:6; 2:1; 38:7; Psalm 29:1; 82:6; 89:6; Gen 1:26; 3:22; 6:1-4; 11:7). They are like God in that they are spiritual beings, but they are dependent on Him and no

It is Monday, and my wife is frustrated. The same could be said for Tuesday through Friday, with a weekend hangover. The frustrater is her job. Her company assigns cases for her to review without adequate training. Some of her fellow workers have recently quit because every gram of enjoyment had been squeezed from their jobs. The performance expectations are high, while the empowering resources are meager. Many Christians are also daily frustrated. The Earth has made many orb

Understanding the Need for Prayer "Pray for me!" This request often fills my inbox. Many of those reaching out live in Africa, India, or the Philippines. I have never met them and know little about their lives. So, how do I pray for them? This question deserves thoughtful consideration. In the churches I have served, members often share specific prayer requests. For example, “My husband had a heart attack and is in intensive care.” These requests highlight a common theme: man

Self-image is how we see ourselves. For example, I am a husband, father, grandfather, uncle, coach, pastor, and creator of digital content, among other things.   Self-esteem is how we value our worth, competence, and importance. Often, our conclusion emerges from comparing ourselves with others. Regardless of our abilities, such comparisons are the food on which an inferiority complex feeds and grows. Moses demonstrated such a complex in the wilderness when God assigned him t

Guilt comes in two flavors, objective and subjective. Objective guilt is legal guilt. If we break traffic laws, we are objectively guilty, whether we feel guilty (subjective guilt) or not. Guilt is more than a feeling we get of remorse or self-condemnation. The Bible describes objective guilt as universal for humanity, with the whole world being guilty before God (Romans 3:19). We have all broken God’s laws.  Whether we feel like lawbreakers is irrelevant. We are guilty befor

What do people need for life in the twenty-first century? Abby Watkins lists the necessities. They include an adequate food supply, water free from pollutants and diseases; facilities to dispose of human waste, adequate healthcare, shelter, education, and access to information. 1  As you will soon see, these things are clearly insufficient to provide complete satisfaction and contentment. Forty-four percent of Americans say they are “very satisfied” with the way things are go

How will we spend eternity? It depends. Have you noticed that when we are having fun, time passes quickly? It hitches a ride on a snail’s back when we are in pain. Perhaps that is an eternal principle for the blessed and cursed.   How we spend eternity is connected to our choice to worship and serve God or resist and rebel against Him. God “set eternity in the human heart” (Ecclesiastes 3:11 NIV), and we will spend it somewhere. But where?   All people have one of two eternal

Bill Nye, the Science Guy, believes the finish line is the end. At death, he believes, you cease to exist. It is over. You are finished. There is no afterlife. There is nothing beyond the finish line.   He says, "You had your kids; your genes are passed on, and you expire.” “You lose your faculties as you run out of steam, and that is just how it is." 1 He does not expect to give an account of his life to God or anyone else. Surprises will abound in the afterlife!   Adam Silv