Every 10 minutes—somewhere in the world—a Mission Aviation Fellowship airplane takes off or lands.” This is how Mission Aviation Fellowship describes its reach. Mission Aviation Fellowship or MAF is an organization of pilots serving missionaries and other nonprofits around the globe. Focused on aviation, technology and training, MAF works in the hardest-to-reach locations. MAF has […]
BLESSED TO BE A BLESSING
On giving, gratitude and God
Proverbs 22:6 says “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” As parents, we want our children to trust that we are doing our best to provide for them. They are to focus on school and enjoying their youth. We want them […]
MY ENEMY, THE DEVIL
Why Satan is our enemy
There are friends I would rather no one know I have. In the past, I’ve introduced you to two of these friends, World and Flesh. One surrounds me; the other is part of me. These should be my enemies. They distance me from God and dampen my love for Christ. However, I find myself drawing […]
FAVOR
Christian lingo explained
Favor is usually given because of something we can offer or some innate quality we possess. Maybe someone gives you favor at work and you get a promotion or a raise. Maybe a restaurant manager shows you favor in order to win more of your business. It seems mysterious when you take into account […]
IN PURSUIT OF INTIMACY: SPIRITUAL PRACTICES THAT CAN GROW US CLOSER TO GOD
Cultivating our relationship with God
“It’s not a religion, it’s a relationship.” I’ve lost track of the number of times that I’ve heard this phrase uttered in reference to Christianity. The idea of being in a relationship with God is one of the things that sets Christians apart from other belief systems. We are not bound by the obligation to […]
SPIRIT EMPOWERED COMMUNICATION WITH GOD
The gift of tongues as prayer, praise, and thanksgiving
Perhaps the most controversial of the spiritual gifts listed in the New Testament is the “gift of tongues.” People seem to either insist that everyone should speak in tongues or that no one should speak in tongues! My friend Matt jokingly told me that the only time he prayed for the gift of tongues was […]
PRIMED FOR A PURPOSE
A testimony of how God is still with us even in our most difficult times
One night in 2008, I happened upon a website called Christian pen pals. Out of curiosity I made a pen pal ad. I wanted to be friends with other Christian women who held my values and beliefs. As soon as I saw the picture of Sarah, I knew she was different. We began emailing back […]
THE LIGHT OF GOD’S LOVE
Letting God's goodness change you
The Christian life of faith is very comparable to a new relationship. This new life in Christ is exciting and freeing. It is different than anything you have ever experienced. There is so much to learn about God, his word, and even this new quirky family we call the Church. However, much like natural relationships, […]
@#$%&?! I SWEAR
Christian perspectives on the use of profanity
Profanity, defined in the Oxford English dictionary as blasphemous or obscene language (commonly known as swearing or cursing), is unavoidable and pervasive in the modern world. From movies and song lyrics, to schoolyards and offices, profanity is all around us. As modern Christians, what stance should we take on the issue? Are we to ignore […]
CAN HOBBIES BE A SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE?
Connecting with God through Rest and Relaxation
I used to work for a guy known for saying, “I’ll rest when I’m dead!” He ran a ministry and believed there were too many people who needed to hear about Jesus to take much time for himself. I thought this was admirable. But I noticed he also got sick a lot. For awhile, I […]