Category - Top articles

“You will show me the way of life,    granting me the joy of your presence    and the pleasures of living with you forever.” Psalm 16:11 I’ll never forget the shock when I stepped of the plane, into the airport and on the street in India. The though went through my mind, “this is what a nation without God looks like.” The streets were filled with trash and cows meandering around, and in the faces of the people there was a darkness. As we waited outside the terminal for a van to pick us up and take us to the mission we would be[…]

“So beginning with this same Scripture, Philip told him the Good News about Jesus.” Act 8:36 The Gospel was starting to spread like wildfire, but it wasn’t necessarily by choice. The early Church was coming under great persecution by the religious leaders, so they began to spread out, leaving Jerusalem. But everywhere they went, they took the Gospel with them. Judea, Samaria, and towns along the way were hearing the Good News for the first time, and “Great Joy” was filling the cities and villages.  You would think that after a while our adversary would finally get it. You would think[…]

He fell to his knees, shouting, “Lord, don’t charge them with this sin!” And with that, he died. Acts 7:60 Forgiveness so often is given to those least deserving, which is what makes it so hard. It’s not easy to forgive, especially to the one who isn’t seeking or asking for forgiveness. When someone isn’t sorrowful for what they’ve done, it makes it so much harder to forgive that person, especially when it’s personal. When you’ve been personally wronged, mistreated, or misrepresented it makes forgiveness a lot more difficult.  As Stephen was being stoned by his accusers, his last words[…]

“At this point everyone in the high council stared at Stephen, because his face became as bright as an angel’s.”  Acts 6:15 Electric light is one of the all-time greatest inventions, but who does the credit actually go to; Benjamin Franklin or Thomas Edison? Certainly, Thomas Edison could not have invented the light bulb had it not been for Ben Franklin’s discovery of the fact that electrical power could be transferred through current.  Regardless of who should get the credit, one thing is for sure, light has been a game changer. Can you imagine what your life would be like without[…]

  “See, I am sending an angel before you to protect you on your journey and lead you safely to the place I have prepared for you.”  Exodus 23:20  As the news became public about little 3-year-old Casey Hathaway, folks throughout Eastern North Carolina and beyond began to pray. He had wandered away from the backyard while out playing with young relatives and headed into the deeply wooded area of Ernul, a rural/farming community in north western Craven County.  A massive search party formed, and as nighttime temperatures plunged into the twenties, everyone was worried that Casey may not survive. By[…]

“The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus.” Acts 4:13 A couple of definitions for the word “associate” are: to connect or bring into relation, as thought, feeling, memory, etc.: and to join as a companion, partner, or ally. That’s exactly what Peter and John had done. For three and a half years, they had “associated” themselves with Jesus and it showed. In fact, it showed in such a way that the leading priest and council were “amazed!”  They had associated with Jesus to the point[…]

Acts 3:10 “When they realized he was the lame beggar they had seen so often at the Beautiful Gate, they were absolutely astounded!” The key to modern day marketing is found in the testimonials. From late night infomercials, to emails and website pop-ups, marketers are trying to get us to buy their product or service. After they go through the process of showing us the product, they want to seal the deal in our mind by using testimonies from “people just like you and me.” Whether the person has lost 50 pounds in 3 months or grown all their hair[…]

“Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting.” Acts 2:2 Terror had gripped the hearts of the Hebrews as Pharaoh and the whole Egyptian army was bearing down on them. They had nowhere to go, as they cried out to Moses, who cried out to God. God told Moses to stretch out his staff over the waters and then God sent a mighty wind to blow a great divide in the middle of the sea. As water towered on the left and right, every last[…]

Exodus 12:13 “But the blood on your doorposts will serve as a sign, marking the houses where you are staying. When I see the blood, I will pass over you. This plague of death will not touch you when I strike the land of Egypt.” Each one was handpicked, and as they brought the lamb into their homes, they followed the instructions the Lord had given through Moses to take special care of it. Over the next four days, that precious little lamb became a part of the family.  So it was without joy, but rather with broken hearts, that the[…]

Exodus 10:2 “I’ve also done it, so you can tell your children and grandchildren about how I made a mockery of the Egyptians and about the signs I displayed among them—and so you will know that I am the Lord.” Whenever the big train rolled into the city and the Big Top was erected, thousands would flock to see the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, which was hailed by many as “The Greatest Show on Earth.” I’m sure it was a sight to see, but nothing has ever compared to the show God Himself put on in Egypt, as the[…]