God Can Use You

Some people shy away from speaking about Jesus or doing anything in His name because they’re convinced God can’t use them. In their minds, they have nothing special to offer, or they feel discredited by their pasts. 

But Rahab, a prostitute living in the ancient city of Jericho, didn’t allow even her present sins to prevent her from doing what God had (more…)

The Beauty of Restoration

My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you his greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. (You have received instructions about him; if he comes to you, welcome him.)—Colossians 4:10 (NIV)

In Acts 13, we meet John Mark, the cousin of Barnabas, Paul’s friend and partner in spreading the gospel. But our first impression of Mark isn’t a good one.

From Paphos, Paul and (more…)

The Look of Love

Jesus looked at him and loved him.—Mark 10:21 (NIV)

As Jesus was wrapping up a visit to Judea, a young man commonly dubbed “the rich young ruler” ran up and knelt before Him to ask for the key to eternal life. Jesus cited some of the most common commandments—don’t murder, commit adultery, lie, cheat, or dishonor your parents—leaving the man feeling pretty (more…)

The Road to Death

There is a way that appears to be right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.—Proverbs 14:12

Every now and then, you hear news reports about people who have been killed in head-on crashes because they drive into oncoming traffic. Sometimes people are impaired. Other times, they don’t realize they’ve gone the wrong way until it’s too late. (more…)

Grace Greater Than Our Sin

A quirky story caught my attention as I listened to the news. John Hinckley Jr., the man who tried to assassinate President Ronald Reagan, has begun posting love songs on YouTube. The songs are amateurish, but they’re a big improvement over attempting an assassination. 

Then the anchor said something that struck me to the core, something to the effect of, “He can’t (more…)