The news, media and numerous political blogs have been saturated with discussion and debate on gun control policy the past few months. Heated conversations have swelled with recent tragedies such as the movie theater shooting in Aurora, Colorado and the Sandy Hook shooting in Newtown, Connecticut. We have heard the pleas and rants from politicians and opinionists, but what is the right answer? Is there a right answer? What does the Bible have to say about gun control policy? Freedom Well, actually this is one of those gray areas where the Bible is not clear. So, for starters, let us […]

We have all said dumb things we wished we could take back. Like, asking a woman her due date only to find out she is not even pregnant. My biggest foot-in-mouth incident happened when a friend lost her daughter to an awful shooting. With tears streaming down my cheeks, I reread the Palm Beach Post article and fired off an emotional email that ended with: “Your daughter is in a better place. She’s singing with the angels in heaven.” Months later I learned that many well-meaning individuals told her the same thing, which she confessed hurt her. Aching for one […]

To the churches concerning homosexuals and lesbians: Many of you believe that we do not exist within your walls, your schools, your neighborhoods. You believe that we are few and easily recognized. I tell you we are many. We are your teachers, doctors, accountants, high school athletes. We are all colors, shapes, sizes. We are single, married, mothers, fathers. We are your sons, your daughters, your nieces, your nephews, your grandchildren. We are in your Sunday School classes, pews, choirs, and pulpits. You choose not to see us out of ignorance or because it might upset your congregation. We ARE […]

A boundary is a limit, a marker or border. Boundaries are about protection, security and limits. We live and deal with boundaries every day, but many people have a hard time establishing healthy boundaries for themselves. We are finite beings limited to a human body and a certain number of days on this earth. If we are going to live a healthy and balanced life it is important to set boundaries. This article will explore the how and why of doing this. When it comes to boundaries, there are at least four components that help us know what boundaries to […]

Facing a difficult Monday after Easter Sunday is a great test of whether you actually understand the Easter message. When you are struggling to pay the bills, the kids are still sick, the dryer breaks, and suffering and loss seem more real than Jesus does, how do you respond? You may wonder, “Where did the joy of Easter go? Is the resurrection really all that relevant to my life? How does the message of Easter really change the way I face a job that I hate, a family member who constantly raises objections to my faith and a habit that […]

Being a leader implies that someone is following. If a person is attempting to lead anything and no one is following they must ask, “Why is no one following?” Too often, the tendency is to blame the follower. One word that describes leadership is influence. That being true, certainly every Christian has some level of leadership for we all seek to influence others for God. However, this article will focus primarily on men and their leadership influence in the home. The controversy of male leadership There are primarily two misconceptions that cause this issue to be so controversial. One is […]

Four South Florida Women to climb Mount Everest in April to “Declare Life, Declare Justice, & Declare Freedom.” This April, four South Florida women will join 40 other women from around the globe to take on Mount Everest as a part of the worldwide fight against human trafficking. Local climbers Debbie Dingle and Jill Taylor will join Tina Yeager, Director of the Freedom Climb ministry, and Jennifer Klaassens, Vice President of Programs for the Waise Foundation, on this 16 day journey up to base camp and back on the world’s highest peak. The Freedom Climb is a project of international […]

There is a well-known adage that says, “Preach the gospel always, and if necessary use words.” Obviously it is not possible to literally preach the gospel without using words, but the point is to let your life and actions speak so loudly that they demonstrate the gospel in practice. The problem with words, especially in relationships, is that they must be heard amongst all the noise! The Apostle James gave us some good advice to guard against our propensity to talk too much. “Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, […]

Performance enhancing drugs (PEDs) have once again been thrust into the spotlight in recent months. After a period of relative calm, the headlines have come with a flurry. In mid-January, Lance Armstrong finally admitted to doping his way to Tour de France dominance. In the lead up to the Superbowl, Ray Lewis of the Baltimore Ravens was accused of using deer antler spray, a banned substance, to aid his recovery from a torn tricep early in the season. Almost concurrently came a story involving Alex Rodriguez, Melky Cabrera, and a handful of other baseball players appearing on a list from […]

Have you ever heard the phrase “hate the sin, love the sinner?” If you have been a Christian for any length of time, this phrase is probably familiar to you, and you have probably even used it yourself. After all, it certainly sounds right on the surface. God hates sin, but loves sinners, right? But have you ever stopped to really consider what that phrase means and what it communicates to the “sinner?” Or, quite possibly, has it become another arrow in your Christianese quiver; one that you have learned to draw and fire with seemingly perfect accuracy in situations […]