Most Christians understand that salvation changes our eternity. We know we're forgiven, justified, and reconciled to God through faith in Christ. Yet many of us struggle to understand how the gospel speaks to Wednesday morning temptations, recurring sins, discouragements, and doubts. We believe Christ saved us, but we often live as though growth in holiness depends primarily on our own effort. When we fail, we become discouraged. When we succeed, we become self-reliant. We know the facts of...

Peace |pes| noun. a freedom from disturbance; tranquility This week, I was far from undisturbed. My daughter is taking a lifeguarding course in the city and my dad had graciously offered to take her. There were storm watches in place all day, but only as they drove these supercells took shape. They arrived safely, but my dad remained in the parking lot, watching dark clouds move toward them, even as they rotated (a tornado had already been sighted 40 miles away). As I cared for patients at...

"For Christ’s love compels us, since we have reached this conclusion: If One died for all, then all died. And He died for all so that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for the One who died for them and was raised" (2 Cor. 5:14-15). We sat around the tables, ready to begin our morning worship time. He came around handing us each a piece of paper. In the center was a small paragraph in old style typerwriter print, titled, "Article III. The Doctrinal Basis of the...