Mark 16: 9-20 Is For Real!

And (Jesus) said to them, "Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new …

The Darwinian Paradox

Another school paper, this one from a Western Civ class around 2003 A number of years ago, I had the privilege of touring the historic Rhea County Courthouse in Dayton, Tennessee. Eighty years ago, this stately, yet unpretentious building was the site of the infamous Scopes "Monkey Trial." History came alive as I stepped into …

Bullfrogs & Butterflies: What Is Meant By The Term “Born Again?”

  A few years ago, I was working in children's church on a Sunday night. Paul, the praise and worship leader, had us sing a catchy little song with a very profound message. The song was called Bullfrogs and Butterflies. The theme of the song is that both bullfrogs and butterflies undergo a dramatic transformation. …

The Ten Commandments and Religious Liberty

This was a paper I wrote for a Political Science class I took back in the early 2000s. While the issues today are different, the underlying issues are very much the same. The inscription on our nation’s beloved Liberty Bell in Philadelphia, gives us a stirring exhortation to "Proclaim Liberty throughout the land, to all …

“Slain in the Spirit?”

"Slain in the Spirit" is a modern term for being overcome by the presence of God in such an intense manner that a person falls to the ground. Although it is generally associated with the Charismatic movement, being slain in the Spirit is by no means an exclusively Charismatic phenomenon. For example, Catholic contemplative prayer …

Speaking In Tongues: Frequently Asked Questions 1

As we begin our study, I encourage you to ask yourself this question: How intimate with Jesus do you want to be? Consider for a moment the wonderful possibility that we can communicate with our Heavenly Father in a way that is totally unlimited by our finite minds. A way that we can receive from …

Speaking In Tongues FAQ 2: Are Tongues For All?

My first experience speaking in tongues came on April 27, 1988. I was 20 years old, and still a member of a denominational church, but out of curiosity, I had also been visiting a Pentecostal church on occasion. One day, I responded to an invitation to receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit. I had …

What Is a Full Gospel Christian?

" One of the disturbing things about Christianity is that very few Christians ever advance beyond their first revelation."Lester Sumrall¹ Walking with God is (or at least, should be) an unfolding process in which we get to know Him better and better. As we discussed before, one of the exciting things about the Christian life …

Jesus and the Scriptures

There is a well known quote from CS Lewis that says "It is Christ Himself, not the Bible, who is the true word of God." Yes and no. Lewis was right to point out that Jesus is the Logos, the incarnate Word of God. But he was also very wrong to downplay the fact that …

Resurrection Realities: The Miracle of Easter

(The angel said) "Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen."-Luke 24:5-6 "Christianity has died many times and risen again; for it has a God who knows the way out of the grave."-G.K. Chesterton (1) Whether adorning a majestic church spire or dangling from a necklace, the Cross …