With a successful history dating over 2,000 years, more and more people are turning to the unique medical system of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to help alleviate their illnesses, chronic conditions and pain. Though seeking out TCM is becoming increasingly popular with those dissatisfied or skeptical of conventional medicine, some people are still unfamiliar with all of the aspects of this medical system. For starters, TCM, like allopathic or conventional medicine, is a complete medical system. Where conventional medicine will use surgery, pharmaceutical drugs and physical therapy on patients, TCM will use acupuncture, herbs, tui na (a form of Chinese […]

In addition to Christmas, Halloween is one of the oldest and most popular holidays our culture celebrates. Every year Christians, families and churches face the following question – “Should we celebrate Halloween or not?” There are great differences of opinion on this subject in the Christian community. Halloween can be the source of controversy and even division in churches. One thing we know for sure is that Halloween is not going to go away anytime soon. A major reason for this is money; Halloween will bring in 3.3 billion dollars to merchants. One thing we should not allow Halloween to […]

Now more than ever before, confusion and controversy about marriage abounds. Gone are the days where you grow up, date, marry and live together with the woman [man] of your youth until death you do part. In our culture, how are we to view marriage, and should our culture determine how we view marriage?  What is the foundation for what we believe about marriage and the commitment we make to marriage? If we are all honest with ourselves we would agree that we fall into two camps. We either believe entering into marriage is a lifelong commitment. Or we believe […]

Have you ever felt so passionate about a subject or cause that you felt you had to stand up and fight – that you could no longer be silent? One prominent figure who felt strong convictions and displayed his passion publicly for injustices that were taking place in our world was Martin Luther King. While it is apparent that King wasn’t afraid to take a stand for what he believed in, can we say the same about ourselves? Whatever the subject matter, everyone gravitates towards some type of cause – something that stirs passion within their hearts. One such matter […]

As I write this, it has been about 24 hours since my mother passed from this life and went home to be with the Lord.  Not long after she passed, I had also learned the News that my grandmother had passed as well.  But as difficult a season as this has been, the Lord has been gracious to provide peace and work out His eternal purposes in the midst of such loss. I got to thinking about what I’ve done with the time God has given me.  My senior pastor has wisely remarked that between the day of our birth […]

Today’s family has lost something and it’s a huge loss.  Not to worry though; it can be found.  The members of today’s typical family have lost their connection to each other.  They have little in common other than the same address.  Unfortunately today’s family members have unplugged from each other. To meet a natural need to be plugged in somewhere, today’s children are plugging into the outside world and working desperately to stay connected.  I don’t even think they know why.  The answer, however,  is that it’s the only connection they have. Texting, Twitter, Facebook … all were meant to […]

Far too many in the church today believe Jesus saved them to make them “good”. They’re missing altogether the deeper message of our salvation.  They have reduced the Bible to a book of rules and shrunk their faith to a “things-to-do” list.  For those who may be trapped in this gross misunderstanding of the Christian faith, let me say this, “Jesus did not save you to make you good; He saved you to make you His!” And out of the Gospel-truth of being His, good behavior and good works naturally flow! Titus 2:14 states that Jesus “gave himself for us […]

As a college student in Texas, Kevin Durham was unaware of the journey that God was going to lead him on just a few years later. Finishing up his degree in Religion and Christian Life, Durham met Emily Copeland (a professional wakeboarder) and the pair got married in 2003. Shortly after, the two moved away from Texas and began to pursue Life together – both in and out of the wakeboarding industry. “One thing that we began doing together was having a church service at all of the professional events in the U.S. Pro Wakeboarding Tour,” tells Durham. While they […]

Have you ever dealt with a demon-possessed person? This is a question that I have been asked on occasion. My answer is no, not that I know of. I have dealt with many people who have acted like the devil. I have met people in other countries whose pastor said they had been demon possessed. But I cannot recall an encounter with anyone that I could definitely say was demon possessed. I have never cast a demon out of anyone – however – this does not mean that I don’t believe in the reality of demons and their role in […]