What do you call a person who freely gives up their Queen in chess? You call them the same thing that you call a Christian who doesn't pray. Crazy! That's because prayer is the Christian's advantage in this world. To give that up is to give up a fruitful, joyful, and exhilarating life. To give up prayer is to give up the catalyst to align oneself with the will of God.

Merry Christmas! As you celebrate the coming of Christ through giving gifts, eating lavishly, and resting joyously, give Him thanks for salvation. In order to spark your heart towards gratitude, here is an excerpt from John Piper's book, Good News of Great Joy.

The world may hate you for stomping on their easy solution to guilt or even introducing a means by which guilt is absolved. Yet, we are called to be bold and courageous, not backing down, for we have a hope that rests on the absolution of transgressions.

The role of a king is somewhat lost on our modern Western minds. When people think of a king, they think of a wealthy, fat, finely clothed man with access to every luxury of the kingdom. They might also picture one who sits above everyone else, who is there to be served, and who makes demands. Some might imagine a tyrant who has let absolute power corrupt absolutely. As Americans, we rebel against monarchial rule, for the power belongs to the republic, not one man. After all, we won the war for independence!

The smells of chestnuts roasting and frittelle frying around this time of year signals that Christmas is just around the corner. The season's beauty, wonder, and glimmer inject a spark into society. A sentimental feeling swells as people are friendlier, busier, and looking forward to December 25th. Of course, as believers in Jesus Christ, Christmas holds more than warm fuzzies but a sense of climatic worship.

The story goes of a beautiful girl with fair skin, rosy lips, and dark hair. She held a beauty that none could compare. Likewise, her step-mom had a beauty that many envied. However, instead of being virtuous, she was quite the opposite. This tale of Snow White is familiar to many. However, this is also another story. It’s the story of many churches today. Read more about The Pragmatic Produce.

Will this Thanksgiving be the best of Thanksgivings? How is this even judged? Is it the amount of food? Is it the company you are with or not with? Is it if your football team wins? Or maybe it's how you wake up feeling that day? The world says all these things are the standard of a good Thanksgiving Day. However, Christians can see the Scriptures say something different.

The Rolling Stones recently published an article on the new speaker of the House of Representatives, Mike Johnson. Johnson has openly proclaimed his biblical worldview, and even has described his governing as sourced from the Scriptures. He has not been shy about vocalizing his beliefs in the Bible and Jesus Christ. In doing this, he has incurred much wrath from those who hate Christianity. Read more about Hope in A Hopeless Culture.

Due to this pile of rubbish, our culture has come to a boiling point in which relativism has given way to a form of self-absolutism. The air of the culture is no longer filled with an acceptance of all beliefs (though even that was a farce) but now is described by the term "cancel culture". People can’t find joy and peace among the trash of human philosophy. People can’t find grace in our culture. Though the world tries to earn it, all of its efforts are vanity. Our presence begins to clean the filth of the culture as truth and grace go forth.

When we look at Ancient Rome, one of the characteristics that define it is pride. You can go down to Rome today and see the remains of their pride. All Roman men's statues depict handsome, muscled-up, courageous, and dignified men. The figure of Caesar Augustus doesn't simply proclaim pride, but it makes a declaration of his supposed deity. They sought glory and prided themselves upon their own perceived strength.

The Bible is not optional for the Christian. It’s as vital as oxygen! The command to shepherd also involves not feeding the sheep to the wolves, but protecting the flock. Recently, a well-known pastor has demonstrated what it looks like to feed the sheep to the wolves. Andy Stanley recently hosted a conference at his church entitled “The Unconditional Conference.”

The war rages in Israel. As report after report comes out from the horrors and atrocities of Hamas and their surprise attack began on October 7th, the levels of depravity towards the Jewish people have not been seen on this scale since the Holocaust. In the age of smart phones, almost every person has a camera at hand ready to record every evil act committed. The depraved human heart shines forth as Hamas clearly does not care about Just War Theory or the Geneva Conventions. Read more about the The Raging War of Absolute Truth.

We get a glimpse of Paul’s sufferings in the Scriptures. He was not naïve, he knew the Christian’s call was to suffer as our Lord has suffered. He also recognized that a minister of the Word will suffer greater, for ministers suffer also for the sake of the church. But then he makes an interesting statement by writing, “…in filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions.” Is he saying something is missing from what Christ suffered?

The representative spoke at a prayer breakfast. In her introduction, she bragged about being on time to the prayer because she turned down sex with her fiancée. She then stated that it would happen that night. Later, she posted on the tweet machine that she goes to church because she is a sinner and not a saint while also noting that this was a joke. Many problems surround this now infamous speech.

Every culture bows its knee to a religion. Every religion influences customs and activities in culture. Holidays, traditions, acceptable speech, the clothing of a society, and many more outward elements point to the inward truths that society functions under. Because religion and culture are married, each society has a select group of priests and priestesses that point people to the religion.

Leaders lead, rulers rule, and governors govern. While the nation, circumstance, and situation clarifies what exercising authority looks like, the Christian doesn’t blindly live to the Kingship of Jesus. His authority is real, tangible, and applicable. Not to mention, Scripture interfuses Jesus’ Kingship throughout its pages.

It takes guts to walk with the Lord. I wish guts and backbones were issued at conversion, but sadly, they aren’t. They have to be grown through the difficult process of learning to see the holiness of God from a new perspective. Here’s what I mean:

Even though Christmas time has passed, certain Christmas songs continue to be sung around our house. One such song joyfully sung is Joy to the World! I don’t mind too much though, because this song ought to be sung all year. The beauty and truth wrapped together lead us to worship the Lord! Have you ever considered this song before?

Each year allows us to reflect on our marriage to one another but also causes us to praise God for what he has done through us. God is the designer of marriage and is the one that has defined it.

Moving every 2-3 years takes a toll on an individual, a couple, and a family. It drains the tank quickly, and if that tank is not filled with the fuel of worship towards the Triune God, then you are burning the ethanol of self, corroding away the engine of your body and soul through each transition.