Life

Are we really saved by 'faith alone'?
Are we really saved by 'faith alone'?

'Sola fide' is one of the 'five solas' of the reformed faith. The others are sola Scriptura (Scripture alone), sola gratia (grace alone), solus Christus (Christ alone), and soli Deo gloria (to the glory of God alone).

Christian who converted from New Age philosophy explains the creepy link between psychedelic drugs and witchcraft
Christian who converted from New Age philosophy explains the creepy link between psychedelic drugs and witchcraft

Psychedelic drugs have the power to open up spiritual darkness, explained Steven Bancarz, who was once a popular New Age blogger until he converted to Christianity.

WhatsApp blocked in China, ban might be only temporary
WhatsApp blocked in China, ban might be only temporary

The messaging app has been blocked in China and experts have weighed in.

How to pray in your darkest ever moments
How to pray in your darkest ever moments

Prayer is not about putting money in a slot machine and getting chocolate out of the bottom. It's about a relationship with a God who may well take us through pain to accomplish things well beyond our mental horizon.

Skeptical scientist's life changes forever after experiencing Jesus and Heaven as she was drowning
Skeptical scientist's life changes forever after experiencing Jesus and Heaven as she was drowning

Dr. Mary Neal used to have a nominal faith in Christianity but not much more than that. That is, until she had a profound experience of Jesus and Heaven when her kayak capsized.

Seeking Aliveness: Reading the Bible with Brian McLaren
Seeking Aliveness: Reading the Bible with Brian McLaren

His book breaks up the text of 'We Make the Road by Walking' into daily devotions, along with the original suggested Bible readings and with a prayer, thought or action point for each day.

George Whitefield: How John Wesley's friend and rival found peace with God
George Whitefield: How John Wesley's friend and rival found peace with God

Born in a Gloucester pub, George Whitefield, the pot boy from the West Country, would go on to conquer America with his energy, his preaching, his enthusiasm and his faith in the Christian gospel.

Four bad reasons to be kind to other people
Four bad reasons to be kind to other people

Why are you kind? Why do you serve and demonstrate love to other people? Of course, the 'right' answer – certainly if you're a Christian – is that as follower of Christ you simply want to replicate his example.

Hurricane Maria path, track update: Category 5 storm makes landfall at St. Croix; expected to hit Puerto Rico in matter of hours
Hurricane Maria path, track update: Category 5 storm makes landfall at St. Croix; expected to hit Puerto Rico in matter of hours

The hurricane is currently hitting St. Croix and is expected to move away after several hours.

How a key that could have saved the Titanic is still funding a Christian charity's work at sea
How a key that could have saved the Titanic is still funding a Christian charity's work at sea

Proceeds from the sale a decade ago of a small iron key that is believed to have secured the binoculars for the Titanic's crow's nest are still helping to fund the education programme for the international Christian maritime charity Sailors' Society.

Standing at the threshold: Facing the future with prayer, righteousness and repentance
Standing at the threshold: Facing the future with prayer, righteousness and repentance

Moses is now 120 years old, knows he is approaching death and that he will not be entering the Promised Land.

'Reaching the unreached' – and other phrases guaranteed to alienate your community
'Reaching the unreached' – and other phrases guaranteed to alienate your community

A newly-refurbished church near where I live has just had new signage done, in an effort to engage and draw in passers-by.

Evangelist and best-selling author Nabeel Qureshi dies of cancer at the age of just 34
Evangelist and best-selling author Nabeel Qureshi dies of cancer at the age of just 34

Nabeel Qureshi, the best-selling author and Christian apologist, was diagnosed a year ago when he was given a very low chance of survival. His faith remained steadfast throughout the ordeal that followed.

Learning from lizards about church growth
Learning from lizards about church growth

Churches are very impressed by size – over-impressed, really. We like reading stories of dramatic growth.

After the fire: In praise of slow reading
After the fire: In praise of slow reading

Back when I was a student, I was jolted by a throwaway comment by a senior and much-admired lecturer.

Building on solid ground: 9 Bible verses about construction – and faith
Building on solid ground: 9 Bible verses about construction – and faith

After the deadly destruction of the hurricanes Harvey and Irma, the reconstruction begins. Natural disasters are not new – they appear in the Bible, with Luke referring to Jesus' parable about the man who built his house on solid ground, on a 'rock' so that the floods could not tear it down. But what else does the Bible say about rebuilding, or specifically building?