Netanyahu’s allusion to the Amalekites sparks discussion of how to responsibly apply Scripture stories to current events like Israel’s war in Gaza. When Benjamin Netanyahu announced the launch of ground operations in Gaza on October 28, weeks after Hamas terrorists murdered 1,200 civilians and abducted 240 hostages on October 7, he summoned the memory of…
Christians have to look beyond the typical Christmas carol lineup for music that captures the deeper themes of the Magnificat. Without question, the most popular contemporary Christian song about the figure of Mary is “Mary, Did You Know?” Mark Lowry and Buddy Greene’s 1991 hit has come to occupy a singular position in the Christmas…
The looming new year can be anxiety-inducing—but God has all the mercy, grace, and rest we need. The glitz and glamour of the Christmas season are here, but you and I both know there’s a ball waiting to drop at midnight on December 31 that has us more uncomfortable than we care to admit. And…
The book of Ruth’s narrative reminds us that God’s salvation is not simply accomplished through “heroic” men, but that women, too, play a vital role. I grew up in Japan in a household where my mother was a follower of Jesus but my father was not a believer. My mother took my siblings and me…
… for American Christians to take climate change seriously. At the COP28 climate summit, fellow Christians wait too. The 28th annual meeting of the United Nations Climate Change Conference—commonly called COP28—is winding down in Dubai. I’ve been here with the Christian Climate Observers Program (CCOP), which brings 30 emerging leaders from around the world to…
The International House of Prayer founder speaks out for the first time as the ministry launches a third-party inquiry. International House of Prayer Kansas City (IHOPKC) founder Mike Bickle has admitted to “inappropriate behavior” and “moral failures” that took place more than 20 years ago—but he says the claims of sexual abuse that emerged against…
Margaret Sullivan’s “reality-based” approach to journalism overlooks the reality of legitimate division in American society. Veteran journalist Margaret Sullivan’s Newsroom Confidential: Lessons (and Worries) from an Ink-Stained Life first appeared in hardcover a year ago. It was released in paperback this month, generally the sign of a successful run and a reason for new critical…
Jam out this season to highlife, Afrobeats, jazz, a cappella, R & B, rap, dance, and hip-hop artists from Nigeria, South Africa, and more. Having listened to hours of African Christmas music, I can safely say that these albums and songs will put your heart in a worshipful mood and set your feet tapping and…
This verse can be misconstrued as a justification for systemic poverty. But what does it really mean? In some Christian circles, whenever an argument is made in favor of eliminating poverty, someone is bound to retort, “Have you never read Matthew 26:11? The poor will always be among us!” Thus saith the Lord—case closed. When…
I learned how to mourn when my mom lost her mind, and then her life, to dementia. When my mother passed away last winter, I discovered the gift of grief. In the span of a single year, my mother went from a vibrant, constant presence in my life—through phone calls, texts, and when we could,…
