Savedthroughfaith.com

I have an honest question about elders (or pastors, if you prefer). (“Honest” means that I’m actually asking for answers…) For most of my life (including today), I have heard something like this: “Elders (pastors) are responsible for the teaching/preaching ministry of the church.” Sometimes, I hear it this way: “The senior pastor is responsible for the teaching/preaching ministry of the church.” Now...

I read a great article online at relevant.com entitled “When Christians Get It Wrong” by Adam Hamiltion. Here’s a portion of what he wrote… If Pharisees are religious people who struggle with wrong motives, with being critical and judgmental of others, with missing the point and with being two-faced, then I’ve got to confess, I am a recovering Pharisee who often falls off the wagon. Everyone I know, ...

As most of my readers know, I am going to Ethiopia with Dave and BeckyLynn Black in July. Actually, the Ethiopia trip started yesterday for Dave Black, and it starts today for the largest part of the group going to Ethiopia. Dave left yesterday because he could get a better rate on airfare. Over twenty people leave today. They are all meeting up in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, then traveling over sixteen hours by bus to the southern part of the country...

I don't blog on anything other than theology and daily Christian living but let me just take a moment to celebrate the fact that my South Carolina Gamecocks are the 2010 NCAA Division I baseball national champions!  In the long history of the University of South Carolina, we have 1 national championship in women's track and field.  Now we have two national titles and the first in any major sport. The baseball program, led by Ray Tanner,...

I don’t like the taste of Powerade. To me it’s just a disagreeably sicky sweet salty taste. I’ll drink water, or diet drinks (yes I know they’re not good for me), or even a chocolate frappacino once in a while. But I never drink Powerade. That all changed one Sunday morning. A few miles into my half-marathon, I approached the first drink station. They were handing out cups of both water and Powerade. Normally, I would hav...

And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.- Revelation 12:11I miss testimony services.  When I was a boy I can remember the preacher would take the platform and would say, "Let's hear some testimonies."  People would stand up one after another and would give a testimony generally dealing with God's faithfulness in their lives.  My dad woul...

Perhaps it’s just me, but I’ve found that when I think about “the nations,” I tend to push the responsibility of making disciples onto others. But, when I think about “neighbors,” it is much more difficult to push the responsibility of making disciples onto others. It’s interesting… when a “missionary” moves to another location, “the nations” become his or her “neighbor...

You won’t find many story-tellers better than “Strider” at “Tales from Middle Earth.” His latest story is called “Picking Up Stones.” In this true story (with names changed), Strider tells of gospel proclamation through showing the “Jesus” film as well as personal interaction, and gospel demonstration through digging wells. I love the way he weaves the theme of “picking up stones” ...

According to dietitians and nutritionists, a balanced meal consists of a mix of meats, vegetables, fruit, grains, and dairy. They may disagree on the exact mix that makes up a balanced meal, but they generally agree that a person should consume something for all of the different groups. Now, we know that vegetarians don’t eat meat, but they replace the proteins in others ways. Naturally, a person may eat more of one group at one meal, and m...

You won’t want to miss the Catalyst Conference this year, happening October 6-8, 2010 in Atlanta.  It’s a powerful event where 13,000 young leaders will converge for the leadership experience of the year, including high-octane speakers, powerful worship, innovative programming, and an experience unlike any other. Hear from leadership authorities including Andy Stanley, Seth Godin, TD Jakes, Craig Groeschel, Francis Chan...