God

Has Your Family Altar Altered Your Family?

Members of our congregation often ask me about how to have family times of prayer, Bible study, and worship in the home. What they are inquiring about comes under the heading of “family altar,” which is a “spiritual” way of referring to family devotions—Bible study, prayer and worship in the home. As a pastor I would like to tell you that this is a daily practice and routine in our home . . . but I cannot. Oh, we were quite regular when we had our first child all alone for 20 months. When our second child joined the mix, […]

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The Gauntt Family: A Story of Love and Faith

“God doesn’t call the qualified; he qualifies the called.” When we think of doing something as difficult and as life-changing as foster care or adoption, often our immediate reaction is to dissociate — to conceive that only a special type of person could do it, that the qualification is necessarily near perfection and having everything in order. Basically, it takes a saint. But what does it really take, and what does it really mean? Meet the Gauntt family. John Gauntt is a pastor at Calvary Chapel with the Eikon Ministry. His wife, Kate, is a stay-at-home mom. Together, with Kate’s […]

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Finding Hope in the Faithfulness of God

There are times in the lives of all believers when they may face doubts and discouragement. No matter what the reason for one’s disappointment, the Bible offers guidance as well as examples of others who have experienced the same. But today, we can find considerable encouragement not just in the biblical stories of the Israelites of old, but in the story of God’s faithfulness to their descendants today. The faith of our fathers The Puritans were so encouraged by the story of the ancient Israelites that they took from it direction for themselves. They yearned for freedom from their “bondage” […]

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Finding Wisdom in Calamity

 Easter is a reminder for us all that even when darkness seems to be winning, light will prevail. When we make a big mistake or we see our leaders losing their personal battles, we are reminded that God is ever-present and bigger than our mistakes, misgivings or moral failures.  In John 16:33, after sharing with his disciples that he would soon be leaving them, Jesus said, “I have told you these things so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows, but take heart, because I have overcome the world” (NLT). […]

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God’s Warrior Princess

At 21 years old I heard God speak to me in my dreams. He came to my rescue. It was the night I planned to take my own life. I was ready to end it all. And then, God shouted to me “I love you! I love you!” I was consumed. His love rendered me speechless, and he put a new song in my heart. He replaced the lies my father told me about myself. I was completely redeemed the night I planned to take my life. My addictions, the men, the drugs and alcohol were now replaced with a […]

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Want To Get Into Full-time Ministry?

Every week no matter where I go, I hear business men and women that want to make the jump from full-time work to full-time ministry. What does that really mean? What is full-time ministry? Doesn’t Jesus want us all in full-time ministry? Some say, “I feel called to devote my whole life to telling others about Jesus and can’t wait till I can do it full time.” Others say, “I feel called to be a pastor so I can help others know Christ more.” And the best is “I just want to work at my church. I’ll do anything.” Here […]

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Encountering the Homeless

People frequently ask me, “How should I respond to the homeless I encounter?” If you live in or around South Florida, interacting with a homeless person is almost unavoidable. Gas stations, grocery stores, street corners and medians — just to name a few — are all common places many of us encounter persons experiencing homelessness. Some hold up signs asking for work, money, or food; others appear at park benches, bus stops or outside the doors of your church or business — all looking for some type of help. Do I talk with them? Do I lock my doors? Should […]

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One of God’s Best, Like Peter, Fell.

Why did Peter, of all people, deny Christ? Peter was the leader of the early disciple movement…always at the front. Bring it forward 1975 years later? Why did Bob Coy have a moral failure? More people have come to Christ in South Florida by this man’s ministry than by any other person in South Florida. There is a connection here. It shows us one simple thing, that there are none righteous not even one. So, before you point the finger at brother Bob, realize that all of us are moral failures at one point or another. The tragic thing is […]

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Had A Great Fall: The Recurring Story Of Mega-Pastors And Mega-Sinners

I first met Bob Coy 25 years ago when I was home from seminary on a summer break. He was the guest on my dad’s TV talk show, “FeedBack.” He made quite an impression. The subject was evangelism and this young, fiery, hilarious, transplant from Las Vegas stole the show. In his jeans and T-shirt, he stood out on the panel of clergy wearing their Sunday best. He was whimsical and passionate, and it was no surprise to me how in a few short years he would build the largest congregation in Fort Lauderdale, a city infamous for church plant […]

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