Ash Wednesday isn’t in the Bible, so why do Christians observe it?

Since the Apostolic period of the Christian church—the years immediately following the death and resurrection of Jesus—believers have engaged in a period of focus on their sin and God’s forgiveness of that sin. This period of reflection is called Lent or Fortieth and is a period of 40 days leading up to Good Friday and […]

What does it mean to believe?

Merriam-Webster’s dictionary defines belief as “to accept something as true, genuine, or real.” Another of its definitions is “to have a firm or wholehearted religious conviction or persuasion: to regard the existence of God as a fact.” When we, as Christians, use the word believe, we think of the second definition, the idea that we […]

Must a Christian accept all of the Apostles’ Creed?

The Apostles’ Creed is among the oldest statements of the beliefs of Christians. It may have been used during baptisms of Christians in Rome. Through the centuries it has been clarified and translated into every known language used by Christians worldwide. It served as the basis for future creeds, such as the Nicene Creed which […]

Is Thanksgiving a Christian Holiday?

Yes and No. As with many traditions, secularism and consumerism have hijacked what had traditionally been a day for America to reflect on the blessings God had bestowed on Americans and their nation. In 1619, as a requirement of their charter, English settlers at Berkley Plantation in Virginia observed the first official Thanksgiving in the […]

What does the Bible say about conflict resolution?

This life is tough and the hardest things are relationships, especially when they aren’t healthy. For the most part, we can control ourselves and our actions; we can’t (or shouldn’t) control others. People offend us and we will get hurt. There’s no hiding from that. Sometimes, it’s intentional and other times it’s not; sometimes they […]

What is a Worldly Christian?

The question is sort of an enigma or even an oxymoron. We wonder how this could be true, but it is sadly to say frequently true. Too often it is difficult to distinguish Christian believers from non-Christians. Why? Values and behaviors seem similar. Church groups are plagued with the same problems as secular groups. Christians […]

How does one acquire wisdom from God?

First we must believe in God and trust in Him before we can acquire wisdom from God. To know God, we must have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and have accepted Him as Lord and Savior. In the Bible, in Colossians 2:3 we are told that in Christ are hidden all the treasures of […]

What Does it Mean to Have Your Sins Forgiven?

Sin is an intentional or unintentional thought or act that separates us from our relationship with God or our oneness with God. It can be generally characterized as any serious failure in thought or deed that could have been avoided. At a minimum, it is a failure to live up to God’s standards starting with […]

Is the War in Israel a sign of the End Times?

When we are confronted with the terror of war either personally or vicariously through the media and stories told by others, we begin to wonder if these are the last days described in the Bible. They could be. Certainly, for those killed by the terrorists and those who have died and will die during the […]

How do I give thanks in the tough times?

At one time or another, we all face difficulties. We get so caught up in our problems we fail to realize that there are many things for which we can be thankful, starting with our very existence. Almost 30 years ago Capi, a young teenager in Rwanda, ran from her home as her parents and […]