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Why We Worship

About five years ago I found myself deeply challenged by some questions that a friend raised about the way we did church. “Why do we have to have a sermon? And why does there have to be music? Why are we doing church like this and is there a better way to do it?” I had been leading worship for almost ten years at that point and found this question both disturbing and exciting. Why were we doing congregational worship the way we were doing it? Do we even need music in our gatherings? Are we just giving people a […]

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Stress: Five Fascinating Facts

(Scroll down to leave a comment on stress.) “James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the 12 tribes which are scattered abroad: Greetings” (James 1:1 NKJV). Stress! Perhaps no other word is used as much to describe the culprit, the scapegoat, the excuse of modern man. Many of the problems in our homes and with our health seem to relate to this stress factor. But stress has been around through the ages.  Note, for instance, that James addressed his epistle “to the 12 tribes which are scattered abroad,” to those early Christians who had fled […]

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The Dreaded D Word

*Gasp!* Not the D word! Deconstruction is a big buzzword in the Evangelical world.  We can dance around it, pretend it doesn’t exist, throw stones at it or curse it to obscurity, but it is here. It is present. And it must be addressed. Somewhere between believing that deconstruction is a badge of honor for some great awakening or the big bad wolf in Christian circles, perhaps there is a resolute place of truth and understanding that allows us to see it for what it is.    First, what is it? Within the Christian context and in evangelical circles — […]

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Hiking with Tequila

I love to hike. I could truly say that it’s one of my favorite pastimes. I could honestly do it everyday. I have had some incredible adventures throughout the years hiking. I have hiked alone. I have hiked with my wife, Lisa. I have hiked with friends, and I have hiked with strangers. My hikes have been beautiful. My hikes have been frightening. My hikes have caused injury. My hikes have been long. My hikes have been short. My hikes have been hot, and my hikes have been cold. My hikes have been…oh, you get the idea…my hikes have simply […]

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Reflections on the Meaning of Independence Day

(Scroll down to leave a comment on what Independence Day means to you.) At Palm Beach Atlantic University we’re blessed to have faculty with top-notch academic credentials, practical experience and unwavering dedication to Jesus Christ. Dr. James Todd, associate professor of politics, teaches on American government and politics, constitutional law and political science research methods, among other subjects. He earned his J.D. and Ph.D. from the University of Alabama and spent 10 years in law practice. James regularly gives public talks about the Constitution and the Supreme Court, and he graciously agreed to write this month’s column in celebration of […]

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Don’t Worry; Get Busy Living!

(Scroll down to leave a comment on how you don’t worry and start living.) I love old movies. The reasons I love them is because they were well made, included great story telling, great acting, and no matter how many times I watch them, they always seem so fresh. Some of them have deep moral lessons we can apply to our everyday life. Recently, I was watching one of my old favorites made in 1994, “The Shawshank Redemption.” In the same year, it was overshadowed by the movie “Forrest Gump,” which received many Oscars at The Academy Awards. However, “The […]

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The Blessing of a Little Shabbat Shalom

One of my favorite memories of living in Israel was experiencing Shabbat. Fridays were hectic as everyone finished their shopping, cleaning and cooking in preparation for family gatherings and a day of rest. The stores would close by 4:00 p.m. so that shoppers and workers could catch that last bus home. And just as the sun was setting — as the roads emptied of cars and buses and synagogues filled up for prayer — you could hear off in the distance the Shabbat whistle, alerting the whole city that Shabbat had begun. Because Jerusalem’s population includes such a high percentage […]

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Roe v. Wade Overturned. Now What?

If I’m honest, the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade came as a complete surprise to me. Never in my lifetime did I think this would happen. As I took in the breaking news alert displayed on my phone, I immediately began to ponder the implications of what this meant for the local church — for God’s people — for me. I was raised in a pro-life home, and some of my earliest church memories include my family volunteering at pregnancy centers and witnessing pastoral advocacy for pro-life movements. I am unapologetically pro-life and believe that any reading […]

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Franklin Graham: Triumphing Over Evil

The tragic shooting deaths of 19 young school children and two teachers in the south Texas town of Uvalde left us all heartbroken. The gunman was an 18-year-old troubled teen who shot his own grandmother before entering Robb Elementary School and killing innocent fourth graders who were only two days away from the end of the school year. Not surprisingly, the conversation in the media and in the political realm quickly turned to gun control. Ban certain weapons, is the thinking, and these kinds of tragedies can be averted. Sadly, they’re looking in the wrong place. “The closer we get […]

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Remember

At the end of every year, I commit myself to a time of prayer to discern a word from the Lord to focus on in the coming year. I find that word can sustain and act as a guiding light for me as an individual, Kim and I as a couple, and even for OneHope.  Last year, my word was accelerate. As a visionary, I was looking forward to another energizing word like that. Instead, the Lord surprised me as He began to impress the word remember on my heart. Soon, I began to notice the word everywhere – in […]

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