Hymn of Thanksgiving For the fields of ripened grain, for scarlet leaves and gentle rain; For rays of sunlight beaming bright, for soft moonbeams to gleam at night— Lord, I lift my voice and sing as to You my thanks I bring. For the family that is mine, parents, children — gifts divine; […]
In thousands of Christian writings and sermons, the church of the first century has been used as a paradigm for our contemporary church, and we are correct in doing so. The early church is in many ways the criterion and fundamental principle for what we believe and do. Characteristics The early church received God’s special […]
Camels have an Achilles’ heel. But their vulnerability is hidden by their legendary resilience. These ships of the desert, known for going weeks without water, have been crossing dune seas since before the time of Abraham. They can carry heavy loads and travel thousands of miles across burning sands with seemingly endless endurance. But they […]
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:34, 35). Although familiar with Jesus’ command, I balked when it applied to a sister in Christ. Elaine and I […]
I was a young teenager when I first heard the saying “It is a choice, not a child.” Young and rather innocent, I had no clue what abortion is. Then there was this ethereal news item about a court case called Roe v. Wade, which said abortion was not only legal in the United States […]
My wife and I recently attended a wedding on the bank of a lake overshadowed by steep mountain slopes. The sky, water, and trees provided a gorgeous backdrop. God’s handiwork was the primary decoration, and He did a fabulous job! As we waited to sign the guest book, we were directed to another line where […]
“For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). The bright glare of the church overhead lights prompted my youth missions’ teammate, Lauren, to slip on her sunglasses once we found our seats before the morning service began. As the worship […]
Meekness and warhorse seem to be such contradictory terms. Warhorses are fearless, ready to charge into battle, while meekness is often equated with milquetoast, doormats, and weakness. In fact, Merriam-Webster defines meek as “deficient in spirit and courage, not violent or strong.” It lists such synonyms as lowly, modest, unassuming, and unpretentious. And yet, these […]
Greetings BA Readers, Special thanks to the new GC Communications Director, Jamin Teran, for cutting this video promotion with me for the new adult quarterly: Part 2 of the This We Believe Series. We’re looking forward to more video promos to come. Watch and enjoy. Jason Overman, Editor
The story of the prodigal son is one of the most powerful and endearing of the Lord’s parables. The wayward prodigal, patient father, and disgruntled older son are all characters who have resonated with readers down through the ages. Interestingly, this parable has something of a parallel version in the Old Testament book of Zephaniah, […]
