Jesus said blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God (Matt 5:8). This is the promise of salvation and the sole point of heaven; one can enjoy the presence of God eternally and uninterrupted. This is a far cry from longing for an all-you-eat heaven that’s like a day at Carowinds with no lines – or simply the desire for anyplace but hell.Preachers were often criticized for using hell-fir...  Read More

One question that gives me pause is, how is my life different because of my relationship with Christ? Sounds like a soft-baller but you can ask most Christians for specifics as to how walking with Christ has transformed how they make decisions, respond to disappointment, determine their priorities, etc. and the average church-attending American will struggle to give clear examples.In fact, most co...  Read More

I recently came across a great word from Pastor Steve Ely of Passion Ministries, concerning how that which is hidden cannot be healed. Most of these insights are his, but I wanted to share how it opened my own eyes to some precious truths as well.In Mark 3 Jesus heals a man with a withered hand. After telling the man to stand up and come forward in front of everyone present, Jesus tells him to str...  Read More

What is Really in My Heart?"Well, you really never know what's in a person's heart" is one of a seemingly infinite number of ideas to which most hold that are directly refuted in scripture. In fact, Jesus tells us that "the mouth speaks of that which fills the heart" Matt 12:34. Then three verses later He declares that the mouth's disclosure of the heart's content is so reliable that it is by our ...  Read More

According to Matthew's account of the Gospel, the first word that Jesus spoke in His very first message to the world was repent 4:17.Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand (NASB).In today's inclusive climate of shallow humancentric theology, one might suppose surely that Jesus' first word would have been something such as coexist or love. Repentance sounds too much like censorship or judgment  ...  Read More

Acts 17:16 says that while Paul was waiting for Silas and Timothy in Athens, his spirit was "provoked". "Provoked" comes from a Greek term for sour wine, which the ancients used to describe anger or hostility. This provocative stirring of Paul's soul was due to the multitude of idols that colored ancient Athens - the world's center for pagan philosophy and a bastion of pride for human accomplishme...  Read More