Martyred by the Nazis in 1945 at the young age of 39, German pastor and theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer impacted lives in his own generation, and through his legacy and his writings has continued to impact lives every since. I am grateful to a friend who encouraged me to read Eric Metaxas' biography of him entitled … Continue reading Lessons Learned from Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Author: Derek Spain
Do you believe that the Lord is good?
The Lord is good. The Lord is very good. The Lord is always good. Even when people do evil things, the Lord is still good. In the midst of tragedy, of brokenness, it may be hard to find any goodness. But there is hope. Because there is God. And He is good. He helps us to pick … Continue reading Do you believe that the Lord is good?
What Does Christmas Mean To You?
Take a quick survey in your city or town, and here are some of the answers you may hear: "Spending time with family and friends" "PRESENTS!!!!" "Traveling hundreds of miles to be with the ones I love" "Missing loved ones who are not here this year" "FOOD!!!" "Christmas parties!!" "Christmas lights" "SNOW!!" "Great Christmas music" … Continue reading What Does Christmas Mean To You?
Emmanuel — “God With Us”
Through YouVersion, one of the devotions I am reading this December is entitled "Carols: A Christmas Devotional." It is produced by LifeChurch.tv. Today's devotion was very good, so I wanted to share it with you: O Come, O Come Emmanuel Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel, Shall come to thee, O Israel. Time after time, the Israelites found themselves … Continue reading Emmanuel — “God With Us”
Christmas: What We Learn from Mary’s Song
Mary was just a teenager when God revealed to her that she would be the mother of the promised Messiah. God sent an angel to deliver this news, and Mary was overwhelmed. She knew that it was physically impossible for her to conceive a child. But the angel assured Mary that nothing is impossible with … Continue reading Christmas: What We Learn from Mary’s Song
One Big Reason to Give Thanks
During this time of year, we often pause to give thanks. But giving thanks is not always easy. For some people, the holiday season can be filled with mixed emotions. For people who have recently lost loved ones, the holidays can be difficult and lonely. For others, this time of year can be challenging for … Continue reading One Big Reason to Give Thanks
Praying for the People of the Middle East
A few years ago, Kim and I had the privilege of traveling to Israel as part of a tour group, visiting the towns, cities, lakes, mountains, rivers, and other sites where important events from the Bible took place. We literally walked on the same streets where Jesus walked. We visited the Sea of Galilee, the … Continue reading Praying for the People of the Middle East
Classics: Andrew Murray “Walk Before Me and Be Perfect”
We can learn a lot from the dead guys. Andrew Murray (1828-1917) was a South African writer, pastor and teacher. He had a passion for missions, a passion for prayer, and a passion for walking with God. He had incredible faith in Christ. If you haven't read any of his writings, check them out. You … Continue reading Classics: Andrew Murray “Walk Before Me and Be Perfect”
Four Thoughts Leading Up To The Election
1. Be informed. Make sure you know what are the policies and values of those who are seeking to be in positions of leadership. I wrote the previous four posts to help you understand what the Bible teaches about some of the most important issues facing our nation today. If you missed one of them, click on … Continue reading Four Thoughts Leading Up To The Election
God and the Government: Financial Matters, Defense & More
It may surprise you to learn that the Bible has much to say about how people are to relate to the government, wherever they may live. The Bible speaks about fiscal responsibility, national defense, and more. The first-century followers of Christ had to really seek the Lord's wisdom on how to relate to their government. … Continue reading God and the Government: Financial Matters, Defense & More