One of my biggest priorities growing up was to be liked. I needed to be liked. I didn’t like myself and thought if others did, it would cancel my own opinion. That rarely worked. I think that’s why there is so much emphasis in Scripture against focusing on the approval of men: humans are fickle…
Tag: Truth
Hope in the Hurt
Saddened to read of the fear this recent act of hate in Atlanta has created in the Asian-American community and the added struggle the pandemic has caused over the last year. Cellist Soo Bae reminds us that in all circumstances, God is on the Throne and is worthy of all blessing and honor and glory.
Portrait of a Savior, Part 11 video
Portrait of a Savior, Part 11 from The Gathering on Vimeo. According to John, Jesus has the authority to both give life to whomever He pleases and to judge the living and the dead. What does it mean to truly live the life given by Christ? Is it possible to have eternal life and yet…
Relentless, Part 2: Tough Love – Video from Sunday at The Gathering, Chattanooga
Series on Hosea – Relentless. Part 2: Tough Love
T-Shirt Theology
I’m often amazed at how easy it is to become so focused on a thought we want to convey that we lose sight of truth, often derailing the very point we set out to make. Here’s an example of what I mean: This morning, I heard a guy on the radio make the following statement:…
Idols of the Heart
Rarely do I teach a class or deliver a message that hasn’t already penetrated my soul and taught me first. I think that the only way a message is really exceptional is if the Holy Spirit has brought the hammer down first in the teacher/preacher’s life so that the passion can come from a place…
This is perhaps the most incredible video I have ever seen. I cannot encourage you enough to watch it. It’s well-worth the 33:03 you will invest…and watch it to the end! You are encouraged to share this with as many people as possible. There are some scenes that are graphic in nature so be advised….
Deception
Do you have a pet peeve? Is there that one thing that just sets you off quicker than anything else? I heard one person whose pet peeve was people who have pet peeves. Hmm. I think one of my greatest pet peeves is deception. I hate when people try and deceive me…especially when I know…
Eight-Foot Ceilings
I don’t have the resources. I don’t have the money. I don’t have the time. I don’t have the talent. I’m scared of what will happen if it fails. I don’t know how people will react to it. Man, am I used to hearing these sentences. Who am I kidding…I’m used to saying these things. …
A New Kind of Test – 1 John 4:1-5
Up to now, the tests in 1 John have been for us. We have been given tests to demonstrate whether or not Christ really lives in us and if we are really following after Him. Now, the tables are turned. Testing the spirits is a vital operation that we must carry out constantly. In an…
The Great Misconception of Christianity
If Christianity truly is about relationship…real relationship with Christ based on faith, then there must be troubles that push us into Him; there must be times of trial so that we know that we can trust Him and know that our faith is real. Unless we break the cycle of religion based on litmus tests and rules of conduct and get back to Scripture that reveals the Truth about real life with real problems, we’ll simply end up with more guilt-laden religious people, carrying the burden of their sins and reflecting none of the glory of Christ’s righteousness which leaves them complete in God’s eyes and finding that Christ is enough for their lives.
