Since the beginning of time, millions of people have denied the existence of God. They are called different names: unbelievers, atheists, maybe agnostic. Many of them have quite a bit to say about it, and have even become famous doing so. God also has something to say about it. A fascinating verse in the Bible speaks directly to this question of the existence of God, and it also speaks to our discussion this week. Ecclesiastes 3:11 says, “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also...
Feb 22, 2021•2 min•Season 1Ep. 711
From earliest times, God has commanded His people to see their national home through His holy eyes. In other words, countries around the world are to follow the Lord. Of course, many don’t. Jeremiah 30:22 says, “So you will be my people, and I will be your God.” Many great civilizations have risen, but few last beyond a couple hundred years. Although history is debated, the foundations of America see a people who wanted to live holy unto the Lord. Modern America is still an ongoing experiment, b...
Feb 19, 2021•2 min•Season 1Ep. 710
The Bible has a lot to say about how we are to treat each other on our life’s journey. One story in particular in Genesis shows us how to resist peer pressure, especially when someone’s life is in danger. In fact, this story really captures the essence of what we’re talking about this week. John 15:13 says, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends." Jacob had sons, but one was his favorite. Joseph was younger than his brothers and for various reasons, most of ...
Feb 18, 2021•2 min•Season 1Ep. 709
Charles McGee is one of those improbable heroes. Part of the reason is because he started life with obstacles to overcome — just because of the color of his skin. He is now the last surviving member of the famous Tuskegee Airmen. This was an incredible group of pilots made up of African Americans during World War 2. He pushed to achieve great things, and God was with him every step. Today, Retired General Charles McGee is 100 and thriving. 1 John 5:4 says, “For everyone born of God overcomes the...
Feb 17, 2021•2 min•Season 1Ep. 708
Honestly, sometimes as Christians we think things are going to be easy. After all, when Jesus saves you, it doesn’t get any better than that! The joy we feel is genuine, and lasting. But that doesn’t mean we escape this world. Bad things can and do happen. This week we’re talking about having enough grit to get to the glory. Romans 5:3–4 says, “Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” Pa...
Feb 16, 2021•2 min•Season 1Ep. 707
It’s interesting watching the outcomes of people who refuse to give in to fear. Many years ago, while America was going through a severe economic depression and a world war, President Roosevelt told Americans that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself. Those listening over the radio said later that they felt a great sense of relief just from his words! Psalm 23:4 tells us, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod an...
Feb 15, 2021•2 min•Season 1Ep. 706
We “love” all sorts of things. We love a friend’s new hairdo. We love pistachio ice cream and travel to exotic places. Many times, the word itself loses all real meaning. It’s like homemade chicken soup without the chicken and without the soup. 1 John 3:16–18 “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God ...
Feb 12, 2021•2 min•Season 1Ep. 705
Love is in the air, as they say, and that is our topic this week. Love can be a broad term, but we want to refine it for our time together—at the same time, we are preoccupied with cards, gifts, and candy hearts. 1 Corinthians 13:4–5 says, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.” If we’re honest, that definition—God’s definition, really—is pre...
Feb 11, 2021•2 min•Season 1Ep. 704
Have you ever been hurt in a relationship? If you’ve been alive very long at all, the answer is an obvious “Yes!” Reality has shown us that love can be the most wonderful feeling ever…or it can be ugly and brutal. It can feel like your heart has been run over by a truck. We’re talking about Loving Like Jesus, and as usual, His Word unlocks the secrets of our hearts, and shows us the way to healing. 1 Corinthians 13:4–5 says, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it...
Feb 10, 2021•2 min•Season 1Ep. 703
When it comes to love, the secular world has plenty to say. Turn on the television, radio, or explore the internet, and you’ll find advice on every type of relationship, from friendships to getting along with your parents, and of course — advice on romantic relationships. People are clamoring to figure love out…but what does the Bible say about love? 1 Corinthians 13:4–5 says, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is...
Feb 09, 2021•2 min•Season 1Ep. 702
In an age of technology booms and information-sharing, it’s amazing how lonely we have become. Everything and everyone is connected, but does all that online connection ever leave you feeling disconnected in real life? Do you feel alone? If you do, you are listening at the right time this week as we are reminded that God’s timing is always perfect. Ecclesiastes 3:11 says, “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God ha...
Feb 08, 2021•2 min•Season 1Ep. 701
We’ve heard of heat-seeking missiles. They are weapons so sophisticated that they appear to have a mind of their own. The missile is launched and finds its target and destruction happens. Well, what if a heat-seeking missile could be used for good? What if one has been launched…in your direction? Matthew 7:7, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” If you open your heart to God—even if you aren’t a believer—then it’s as if Jesus is now...
Feb 05, 2021•1 min•Season 1Ep. 700
At an address in Columbus Ohio in 1900, former slave Booker T. Washington kept the room spellbound. This man, who had built Tuskegee Institute to lift blacks out of economic bondage, was revered around the world. But he said something that surprised more than a few in the audience. He said that one of his main priorities for the Institute was hiring more Bible teachers! Washington, who had been forced to work in an evil system, once felt powerless. Yes, an American president legally freed the sl...
Feb 04, 2021•2 min•Season 1Ep. 699
Do you find it hard to trust some people? Do you find it hard to trust... anyone? Our society is full to the brim of people who have been hurt, wounded, devastated. It puts up a wall and we live behind it in silence and fear. After the fall of Saddam Hussein in Iraq, the people of that captive country were free for the first time to tell their stories. One woman said that she had been driven nearly insane by the dictator’s torture chambers, but when he was gone, someone shared the love of Christ...
Feb 03, 2021•2 min•Season 1Ep. 698
Everyone loves the beauty of nature’s gems. The greens, blues, and reds of natural gemstones have set apart jewelry since the beginning of time. These precious jewels are relatively rare, and desired by people from all walks of life. None more than the ruby. The second-hardest gemstone, rubies have always been striking for their deep reds that flash in the light. They have been used in the crowns of monarchs for centuries, and for the rings and necklaces we can find in jewelry stores today. Jewe...
Feb 02, 2021•2 min•Season 1Ep. 697
Have you ever had a power outage and pulled out your favorite flashlight, only to discover the batteries are dead? Bummer, am I right? How about light bulbs? For some reason, they all seem to go at the same time, leaving you in the shadows and looking for that flashlight — you know, the one with the dead batteries! Light bulbs burn out, tires go flat, umbrellas turn inside out on a windy day, and batteries die. Many of the things we use on a frequent basis are designed to be temporary — and some...
Feb 01, 2021•2 min•Season 1Ep. 696
Sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ means that we don’t just sit in our houses and shut away the world. Scripture is an action item. Isaiah 60:1 says, “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.” If the Bible is true—if God’s story intersects with our story—then a hurting world is in need of a Savior. The pain many are enduring will have no end until they meet the God-Man, Jesus. He is our healer and His glory fills the earth. We all have different persona...
Jan 29, 2021•1 min•Season 1Ep. 695
Are you eager to share Christ? If so, good for you! Your boldness is seen by God our Father, and it pleases him. Often though, we get a little frustrated, if we’re honest. It seems like not enough people are getting it. We want to see everyone find new life in Jesus! When we think about sharing the Good News, it’s important to remember that God is responsible for the harvest. We just have to be willing to be sent as his ambassadors. John 8:12 says, “When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said,...
Jan 28, 2021•3 min•Season 1Ep. 694
Do you ever feel that you aren’t suited for sharing your faith in Christ? Maybe you’re not comfortable around people. Maybe you’ve encountered some who are hostile to faith. If so, then we are speaking to you this week as we talk about sharing your light in a dark world. Philippians 2:15 says, “Shine...like the stars in the sky.” Have you seen the movie, “The Ten Commandments?” It’s doubtful the real Moses looked and talked like Charlton Heston. And do we really think God looks for His witnesses...
Jan 27, 2021•2 min•Season 1Ep. 693
Are you comfortable in your life? This is a little different than asking if you are always happy, or living in some sort of paradise. Comfortable just means you are relatively peaceful and content with your situation. There’s nothing wrong with that, but it can be dangerous in a spiritual sense. Jesus calls us to something more. Mark 16:15 says, “He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” Of the 200 or so nations in the world today, a good portion of them hav...
Jan 26, 2021•2 min•Season 1Ep. 692
In the Christian life, there is a necessity to be a witness. We are to be witnesses for Christ. His majesty and power are meant to blanket our world. He is also intimately aware of you and where you are in life. Isaiah 60:1 says, “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.” When we trust Christ – when we believe the simple Gospel – we are called to get in the game. Sitting on such good news doesn’t make much sense, does it? Are you guilty of failing to shine...
Jan 25, 2021•1 min•Season 1Ep. 691
Do you tend to be a fair-weather friend? Do you stay strong when times are good, but run away if things are difficult? Nothing will ruin a relationship more than that. Let’s be honest here: There is someone in your life who needs your help and strength. Maybe you need to step it up in that area. Jesus is a perfect example of loyalty to others; by following His lead, we can learn what genuine loyalty looks like. John 14:6 says, “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one com...
Jan 22, 2021•2 min•Season 1Ep. 690
It’s been said that in the Fruit of the Spirit list, all of them collectively practically define the nature of Christ. Even David the shepherd knew his Messiah was coming. Remember what he said about his loving God? He said, “Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life.” We instinctively know what goodness is. It’s a kind touch, a gentle word, a gift that was unexpected. Micah 6:8 says, “He has told you, o man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you but to act j...
Jan 21, 2021•2 min•Season 1Ep. 689
You may have heard someone say before that they’ve put down deep roots, right? Usually, they’re not talking about gardening, but about the roots of their lives. Family. Friends. A career. A church home. We all want to belong. We want to be planted deep in the soil of community. Colossians 2:6–7 says, "So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness."...
Jan 20, 2021•2 min•Season 1Ep. 688
Have you ever wondered what it would have been like to be one of the original settlers in America? As a person leaving the safety of England to come to the New World and start over? Those people came here for religious freedom and risked it all. When they landed in New England, they literally put down roots as they built and planted the beginnings of an amazing experiment that is still ongoing. Colossians 2:6–7 says, "So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your live...
Jan 19, 2021•2 min•Season 1Ep. 687
During the summer in Oklahoma, the heat can be oppressive. When Martin Luther King, Jr. walked into Calvary Baptist Church in Oklahoma City in 1953, few knew who he was. The congregants just fanned themselves and tried not to think about sweating. The 24-year-old seminary grad preached and then left. He had been looking for a job, honestly, but no offer came. Years later, a deacon was asked how in the world they let MLK getaway. He said, “He didn’t have enough gravy.” In other words, the future ...
Jan 18, 2021•1 min•Season 1Ep. 686
The giant redwoods of the American Pacific Northwest are among nature’s most beautiful scenes. As tall as skyscrapers, and big enough to drive a truck through. It is said that the redwoods are so powerful and strong in part because even these plants have a sense of community. Separated, or as a single tree, the root system is more vulnerable. But planted with partners all around, the picture changes completely. The redwood becomes tall and strong. Colossians 2:6–7 says, "So then, just as you rec...
Jan 15, 2021•2 min•Season 1Ep. 685
One of the things that mark a healthy society is the consistency between generations. In other words, adults who care about the future of their children will invest the time to make sure tomorrow is bright. God the Father is the ultimate parent, and we would do well to model His love for us. Luke 18:1 says, “One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up.” Passing the torch, or training up the next generation involves taking the time to do it prop...
Jan 14, 2021•2 min•Season 1Ep. 684
A huge benefit of being a believer is the knowledge that we can help others after going through the valley ourselves. It’s one thing to endure and overcome and find your joy, but it’s maybe even better when you see a friend emerge into the light because you were there for them. Romans 12:12 says, “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” When you’re in the middle of something difficult, it’s hard to even think. Scripture tells us the way out, but it helps to have someone in...
Jan 13, 2021•1 min•Season 1Ep. 683
Even though most U.S. homes have at least one copy of the Bible, few know what’s in it. There are all sorts of things: wisdom for living, history, spiritual food. It’s the Bible’s practical value that hooks most people who read it. The Bible says a lot about money, how to raise kids, and even how to strengthen your marriage. It also says a lot about forgiveness. Forgiveness is mentioned dozens of times in the Bible. In Genesis 33, Esau forgives his brother Isaac’s treachery in stealing his birth...
Jan 12, 2021•3 min•Season 1Ep. 682
