Latest Articles
The Gospel According to an Old Hoodie by Patrick Carden
I have an old blue hoodie that should have been thrown away years ago. It has, in fact, seen better days. I bought it because I liked the color. That's it. There wasn't some deep, emotional connection. I wasn't trying to make a fashion statement. I simply saw the color, thought, "Yep, that'll work," and took it home. What I didn't know was that it would become one of the most comfortable pieces of clothing I've worn. Apparently, somewhere during the manufacturing process, angels, grandmothers, and clouds all signed off on the fabric.
How God Treats His Friends by Karrie Hahn
When we suffer, it can be hard to look around at the blessings that some Christians enjoy and wonder what happened with our lives. Social media does not help, as it gives us front-row seats to the blessings of hundreds of people we know (and millions of people we don't know). While even the average person in relatively pleasant circumstances can struggle in this way, the experience is greatly compounded for those enduring comprehensive and/or chronic suffering. It's one thing to envy the prosperity of the wicked. Asaph describes his own experience of that in Psalm 73, and the psalm is instructive for believers who envy the blessings of unbelievers.
The Inheritance & Kingdom Partnership by Randy Gladden
One of the greatest misunderstandings in the Christian life is the assumption that God's promises depend entirely upon our effort. Yet God consistently reveals a different pattern. The Father gives, His children receive, and together they establish His purposes in the earth. Jesus declared, "Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." That single statement reveals the entire dynamic of Kingdom living. Grace gives. Faith possesses. Partnership governs. Everything begins with the goodness of God. The Kingdom is not earned. It is not purchased by perfect behavior or exceptional spirituality. It is an inheritance.
