Randy Alcorn's Blog, page 78

You Have Permission to Lead an Ordinary Life

From Randy Alcorn: Years ago my wife Nanci and I wrote a book together called Help for Women Under Stress. We talked about the extraordinary pressures and stresses that women often face, including the pressure to pursue excellence in every area of life. We wrote then (and still believe it’s true), “Christ has called us not to excellence in all things but to faithfulness in all things.”

That’s why the message of this article by Melissa Kruger about the power of a quiet, ordinary, faithful, and Christ-honoring life resonated with me. Although Melissa’s original audience was women, her wisdom is applicable for every reader. Hope this encourages you as it did me.

Sisters, You Have Permission to Lead an Ordinary Life

By Melissa Kruger

You’re special. Don’t let anyone limit your potential. You’re made for more. Your life is up to you. Exercise more. Eat better. Make time for yourself. Cheer others on. Give more. Do more. Try harder. Run faster. 

And, while you’re at it, change the world. Solve injustice. Start a nonprofit. Lead a Bible study.  Read all the new books (maybe write one, too). Read the classics. Make sure to vote. Wash your face. Live untamed.

No wonder you haven’t thought about what’s for dinner. (But, whatever you do, make sure it’s an all-organic, free-range, and locally sourced nutritious meal.)

Do you feel the pressure too? Some days it’s exhausting to be a woman. Internally, we feel the reality of not measuring up to our own hopes of being the friend, employee, daughter, wife, or mother we think we should be. Externally, we have so many influencers telling us to make an amazing, groundbreaking difference in the world. Words meant to inspire often exhaust.

Can I borrow a moment of your time to give you (and me) permission to lead a quiet, ordinary life? When I’m overwhelmed by all the messages coming at me each day, I remind myself of 1 Thessalonians 4:11: “Aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands.” The quiet, godly life described here is within our reach. And I’ve seen it lived out firsthand.

One Ordinary Life

I recently treasured final moments with my friend Polly. You probably don’t know her. She’s not an Instagram influencer or New York Times–bestselling author. Polly is a wife and mom of two college-aged children. 

She’s worked at a seminary for years, managing accreditation for the entire institution. She hasn’t moved overseas as a missionary, opened an orphanage, or taught the Bible to thousands. Yet her faithful work has supported people who have served in all those ways and more. 

I want to live a life like Polly’s. Three passages from Scripture keep me grounded in pursuing this different type of ambition.

1. Love the Lord

Our primary calling is this: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment” (Matt. 22:37–38). 

The command to love him is linked repeatedly in Scripture with wholeheartedly embracing and delighting in his law (Deut. 11:1; Josh. 22:5; Ps. 19:7–10; John 15:9–10). It is not wrong to have ambition. It just needs to be centered on the right aim.

This calling to love the Lord is not a one-time, walk-the-aisle-and-accept-Jesus type of relationship. It’s a daily walking with him, talking to him, knowing him, and serving him. Our love for Jesus needs careful tending because it’s apt to grow indifferent or lukewarm (Rev. 3:16). As Joshua reminded the people of Israel: “Be very careful, therefore, to love the LORD your God” (Josh. 23:11). 

With all there is to do, this is the one thing that must be done. Don’t neglect the Lord. This ordinary faithfulness, after all, is only possible because of his extraordinary work. So be in his Word. Spend time in prayer. Worship him at church. Live in light of his commands. 

2. Fulfill Your Calling

At the end of Colossians, Paul writes, “And say to Archippus, ‘See that you fulfill the ministry that you have received in the Lord’” (Col. 4:17). The simplicity of Paul’s reminder silences the voices telling me I have to dream bigger, live boldly, work harder, and do more. 

I’m not able to solve all of the world’s problems. But I can fulfill the ministry the Lord has given me. I’m a small part in his big story—and what an amazing privilege to be given a role!

What’s before you today? If you have a husband or children, love them well (Titus 2:4). As you work at your job—whether loads of laundry, piles of emails, or hours of meetings—work heartily, as for the Lord (Col. 3:23). 

Don’t concern yourself with what he’s called someone else to do. Encourage and support others, but don’t believe that just because they’re doing something means you must, too. Whatever God has called you to, faithfully fulfill the ministry you’ve received from him. Ordinary lives can produce extraordinary fruit.

3. Hope in Eternity

Hope is a precious thing. We too easily put our hope in earthly comforts, success, and people. When they fail us (and they ultimately will), we may question if God has failed us. But Peter reminds us: “set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Pet. 1:13). 

A hope anchored in heaven secures our faithfulness on earth. This life is simply a journey; it doesn’t really matter if it’s ordinary. Don’t buy the lie that your life only matters if your name is known, you have lots of followers, or you do amazing things. 

Your life matters because you’re made in the image of God (Gen. 1:27). Christian woman, you can rejoice—not because of all you’ve accomplished, but because your name is written in heaven (Luke 10:20). You are beloved by the King. 

Well Done, Good and Faithful Servant

A few weeks ago we got the call. Polly’s cancer treatments had stopped working. Friend after friend came and sat with her on her back porch. Some flew in from Texas, others drove from Mississippi. One evening we stood in her yard and sang hymns while she listened from the porch. 

On Sunday morning, we gathered at her home to worship. Her husband, Bob, was at her side every minute. Her children listened and laughed at stories they told together. They read the Bible. They prayed. Soon after, she went to be with Jesus. 

Yes, you could say her life was ordinary. But as I watched the people of her life gather, all I could think is: How beautiful and extraordinary is my friend. She loved the Lord. She fulfilled her calling. She hoped for eternity.

What an amazing life.

This article originally appeared on The Gospel Coalition and is used with the author’s permission.

Photo by Marcos Paulo Prado on Unsplash

When Christians Disagree about Beliefs and Actions

Jesus commanded Christians to love one another and told us our love for each other is the greatest proof that we love Him and follow Him (John 13). The unity and oneness of the church is a primary evidence that the Good News is true.

But unfortunately, the church has never had more issues to divide us and make us outraged at each other. There’s a pandemic of accusation and blame, and the result is Christians publicly attacking and berating each other, then remaining unrepentant for doing so. We have an unswerving certainty that we are right about everything, even secondary issues.

True love and unity are never achieved at the expense of primary biblical truths. But they are achieved at the expense of personal pride and preferences on second and third level issues. It isn’t our secondary beliefs that are most important, but our hearts of love instead of resentment, humility instead of pride, and thanksgiving instead of ingratitude.

Romans 12:9 says, “Let love be genuine.” God calls us to not pretend to love each other. It’s not “I love you in the Lord (but I really hate you!).” Love welcomes differences; it doesn’t resent them. Our goal should be conformity to Jesus, not to each other.

In this 46-minute message I recorded for my home church, I share more on Romans 14 and 1 Corinthians 8, and what they tell us about how Christians should approach second and third level issues:

See Randy's book The Grace and Truth Paradox for more on reflecting Jesus in our relationships.

Photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash

Is It Judgmental and Unloving to Believe That Abortion Is Child-Killing?

Unfortunately, despite the clear teaching of Scripture that the preborn are fully human and created by God, the Bible’s message of love is often misused when it comes to abortion. This comment on my Facebook page expresses a common sentiment: “God wants union, understanding, compassion, love, no judgment. …people saying that women shouldn’t have abortions is like saying, ‘I’m judging you and criticizing you.’”

To many people, Jesus’ words “Do not judge” mean never questioning someone’s choice of abortion, and love and compassion mean never trying to deter someone from considering abortion. In fact, many consider it “judgmental” even to say abortion is wrong.  But is it judgmental and unloving to say slapping or abandoning a baby is wrong? When people hear of infants found in trash cans, are they being judgmental and unloving to believe that was a terrible thing for someone to do?

True, God is love (1 John 4:16), and His followers are to love their neighbors as themselves (Mark 12:31). They are to be full of compassion and humility (1 Peter 3:8), and not be self-righteous or unfairly judge or condemn others (Luke 6:37).

But believers are also called to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15, 25). Love does not mean saying all choices are valid. (If it did, a God of love would never condemn sin, which He repeatedly does in Scripture, nor would there be such a thing as sin or any need to be forgiven.) If abortion truly does harm women and kill children, then we owe it to women to gently and lovingly point out the truth, while offering grace and help.

A young woman who said she believed that abortion takes the life of an innocent child told me that because she loved her friend, she was going to drive her to the clinic to get an abortion. She said, “That’s what you do when you love someone, even if you disagree.”

I asked, “If your friend wanted to kill her parents or brother or sister and had a shotgun in hand, and asked you to drive her to their house, would you do it?”

“Of course not!”

But other than legality, what’s the difference? It is never loving to help others kill, not only because of the harm to the victims, but also because of the harm to themselves. It’s never in a mother’s best interest to kill her child, so we should never tell her it’s fine to do so, and never assist her in taking a life and thereby heaping guilt and a lifetime of regret upon her. Real compassion is full of both grace and truth, like Jesus (John 1:14).

Download the PDF of Randy’s new book Pro-Choice or Pro-Life: Examining 15 Pro-Choice Claims—What Do Facts & Common Sense Tell Us? 

In this thoroughly researched and easy-to-read book, author Randy Alcorn examines fifteen major claims of the pro-choice position and shares fact-based, rational responses. If you have mixed feelings about abortion, as many people do, this book can be part of your quest for truth. If you’re pro-choice or pro-life, it can help you think through your position.

If we have any hope of understanding and engaging with each other, let’s move our dialogue beyond bumper stickers, memes, and tweets. Randy encourages readers to listen carefully to arguments on both sides of the abortion debate, and to look at the evidence and weigh it on its own merit.

The print book is available from our ministry for an extremely low cost ($1.00 per single copy; 90 cents per copy on orders of 100 or more; 80 cents per copy on orders of 1,000 or more, plus shipping).

Photo by Hannah Busing on Unsplash

Letter to a Dying Believer

I recently wrote this to a dying friend, but I’m replacing her name with “dying believer.” The reality is, I am dying and every person reading this is too. Perhaps you have reason to believe that death will come very soon. Or perhaps you have a loved one or friend who is close to death and would benefit from the Scripture and quotes I share. I hope these words will encourage your heart and help you fix your eyes on Jesus.

Dear dying believer,

In your darkest hours, may you sense the arms of Jesus around you and hear Him whisper, “I love you; and soon we will celebrate our love forever in a far better world.” When it comes to both loving us and understanding our suffering, His nail-scarred hands give Him credibility, don’t they?

Soon you’ll be with Jesus and with your family who loves you so much, those already there who you will be joining, and also those who will join you before long. You are leaving some family only for the moment, but you are not leaving home—you are going home. You have not passed your peak. You never will! The best is yet to be, and every day with Him will be richer than the one before. Your family here will miss you, but they will not be losing you, because they will know where you are. And they will know that by the power of the death and resurrection of Jesus, they will follow you there!

“[God has] raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:6-7). This verse tells us that forever God will be revealing to us surpassing riches in Christ. What magnificent wonders of the New Creation we’ll behold, and how great it will be to grasp the attributes of our God with much deeper understanding! And we’ll all do that together. What glorious meals and celebration and worship and story-telling and laughter await us!

Lean on our King Jesus. He has great and eternal plans for you. They are already unfolding. And they will be wonderful beyond all imagination.

Here are some Scriptures that I hope encourage you:

For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)

All these people died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive what was promised, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed it. They agreed that they were foreigners and nomads here on earth. Obviously people who say such things are looking forward to a country they can call their own. If they had longed for the country they came from, they could have gone back. But they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. (Hebrews 11:13-16, NLT)

They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his place of rest will be glorious. (Isaiah 11:9-10)

On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples
    a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine,
    of rich food full of marrow, of aged wine well refined.
And he will swallow up on this mountain
    the covering that is cast over all peoples,
    the veil that is spread over all nations.
    He will swallow up death forever;
and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces,
    and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth,
    for the Lord has spoken. (Isaiah 25:6-8)

And here are some quotations I collected for my Heaven book:

Their souls being on fire with holy love, shall not be like a fire pent up, but like a flame uncovered and at liberty. Their spirits, being winged with love, shall have no weight upon them to hinder their flight. There shall be no lack of strength or activity, nor any lack of words with which to praise the Object of their affection. Nothing shall hinder them from communing with God, and praising and serving Him just as their love inclines them to do. Love naturally desires to express itself; and in heaven the love of the saints shall be at full liberty to express itself as it desires, whether it be towards God or to created beings. —Jonathan Edwards, Heaven: A World of Love 

I do live expecting great things in the life that is ripening for me and all mine—when we shall have all the universe for our own, and be good merry helpful children in the great house of our father…When we are all just as loving and unselfish as Jesus; when like him, our one thought of delight is that God is, and is what he is…then, darling, you and I and all will have grand liberty wherewith Christ makes free—opening his hand to send us out like white doves to range the universe. —George MacDonald, letter to his dying daughter

I haven’t been cheated out of being a complete person—I’m just going through a forty-year delay, and God is with me even through that. Being “glorified”—I know the meaning of that now. It’s the time, after my death here, when I’ll be on my feet dancing.  —Joni Eareckson Tada, What About Heaven and Hell

If Jesus’ resurrected body is a clue, along with accounts of angels appearing to a host of other biblical worthies, I surmise that we will transport ourselves not only across but also through space—and with what by earth standards would seem incredible speed. Anyone who has envied a hawk’s ability to soar or a whale’s to dive can get enthusiastic about heavenly release from present limitations of mobility. —Arthur Roberts, Exploring Heaven

These small and perishable bodies we now have were given to us as ponies are given to schoolboys. We must learn to manage:  not that we may someday be free of horses altogether but that someday we may ride bare-back, confident and rejoicing, those greater mounts, those winged, shining and world-shaking horses which perhaps even now expect us with impatience, pawing and snorting in the King’s stables. Not that the gallop would be of any value unless it were a gallop with the King; but how else—since He has retained His own charger—should we accompany Him? —C.S. Lewis, Miracles

Throughout eternity we will live full, truly human lives, exploring and managing God’s creation to his glory. Fascinating vistas will unfold before us as we learn to serve God in a renewed universe. —Edward Donnelly, Biblical Teaching on the Doctrines of Heaven and Hell

I suspect that every saved soul in heaven is a great wonder, and that heaven is a vast museum of wonders of grace and mercy—a palace of miracles, in which everything will surprise everyone who gets there. —Charles Spurgeon, “Feeble Faith Appealing To A Strong Savior”

Then Aslan turned to them and said, “You do not yet look so happy as I mean you to be.”

Lucy said, “We’re so afraid of being sent away, Aslan. And you have sent us back into our own world so often.”

“No fear of that,” said Aslan. “Have you not guessed?”

Their hearts leaped and a wild hope rose within them.

“There was a real railway accident,” said Aslan softly. “Your father and mother and all of you are-as you used to call it in the ShadowLands—dead. The term is over: the holidays have begun. The dream is ended: this is the morning.”

And as he spoke he no longer looked to them like a lion; but the things that began to happen after that were so great and beautiful that I cannot write them. And for us this is the end of all the stories, and we can most truly say that they all lived happily ever after. But for them it was only the beginning of the real story. All their life in this world and all their adventures in Narnia had only been the cover and the title page; now at last they were beginning Chapter One of the Great Story, which no one on earth has read; which goes on forever; in which every chapter is better than the one before.  —C.S. Lewis, The Last Battle

Everyone raised his hand to pick the fruit he best liked the look of, and then everyone paused for a second. This fruit was so beautiful that each felt, “It can’t be meant for me . . . surely we’re not allowed to pluck it.”

“It’s all right,” said Peter. “. . . I’ve a feeling we’ve got to the country where everything is allowed.” —C. S. Lewis, The Last Battle

What will these glorified human beings be able to do in their transfigured universe, on their transfigured earth? The simplest answer seems to be: whatever they wish. For according to an old theological dictum heaven will mean the satisfaction of every rational desire. And their transfigured cosmos will obviously be an ‘extension of heaven,’ wide open to whatever use the glorified men will wish to put it. It will be theirs to use and develop into an even better and better universe. There will be no conflicts, no enmities, no hatred, no wars, no property bounds, no segregation, no discrimination. There will be abundant space and abundant opportunity for everyone to do whatever he wishes and wherever he wishes. —E. J. Fortman, Everlasting Life After Death

There will be new planets to develop, new principles to discover, new joys to experience. Every moment of eternity will be an adventure of discovery. —Ray C. Stedman, “The City of Glory”

I once scorned ev’ry fearful thought of death,

When it was but the end of pulse and breath,

But now my eyes have seen that past the pain

There is a world that’s waiting to be claimed.

Earthmaker, Holy, let me now depart,

For living’s such a temporary art.

And dying is but getting dressed for God,

Our graves are merely doorways cut in sod. —Calvin Miller

I feel within me that future life. I am like a forest that has been razed; the new shoots are stronger and brighter. I shall most certainly rise toward the heavens the nearer my approach to the end, the plainer is the sound of immortal symphonies of worlds which invite me. For half a century I have been translating my thoughts into prose and verse: history, drama, philosophy, romance, tradition, satire, ode, and song; all of these I have tried. But I feel I haven’t given utterance to the thousandth part of what lies within me. When I go to the grave I can say, as others have said, “My day’s work is done.” But I cannot say, “My life is done.” My work will recommence the next morning. The tomb is not a blind alley; it is a thoroughfare. It closes upon the twilight, but opens upon the dawn.  —Victor Hugo, The Future Life

 To come to Thee is to come home from exile, to come to land out of the raging storm, to come to rest after long labour, to come to the goal of my desires and the summit of my wishes. —Charles Spurgeon, Morning and Evening

I said of this poor body [Spurgeon had many health problems and underwent much suffering], “You have not yet been newly created. The venom of the old serpent still taints you. But you shall yet be delivered. You shall rise again if you die and are buried, or you shall be changed if the Lord should suddenly come today. You, poor body, which drags me down to the dust in pain and sorrow, even you shall rise and be made remade in the redemption of the body. For the new creation has begun in me, with God’s down payment of his Spirit.”

Oh beloved, can’t you rejoice in this? I encourage you to do so. Rejoice in what God is doing in this new creation! Let your whole spirit be glad! Leap down, you waterfalls of joy! Overflow with gladness! Let loose the torrents of praise! —Charles Spurgeon, “God Rejoicing in the New Creation,” Sermon #2211, from We Shall See God

Death may bend his bow and fit the arrow to the string. But we laugh at you, oh death! And you, oh Hell, we will despise! For over both of you enemies of mankind we shall be more than conquerors through him who loved us (Romans 8:37). We shall stand invulnerable and invincible, defying and laughing to scorn our every foe. And all this because we are washed from sin and covered with a spotless righteousness…

Brothers and sisters, lift up your heads. Contending with sin and cast down with doubts, lift up your heads and wipe the tears from your eyes. There are days coming, the likes of which angels have not seen, but you shall see them. —Charles Spurgeon, from We Shall See God

I shall rise from the dead. . . . I shall see the Son of God, the Sun of Glory, and shine myself as that sun shines. I shall be united to the Ancient of Days, to God Himself, who had no morning, never began. . . . No man ever saw God and lived. And yet, I shall not live till I see God; and when I have seen him, I shall never die. —John Donne, The Works of John Donne

See also Why We Don’t Need to Fear the Moment of Our Death. Browse more resources on the topic of Heaven, and see Randy’s related books, including Heaven.

Photo by Timothy Eberly on Unsplash

Introducing My New Book “Pro-Choice or Pro-Life?”

I’m excited to introduce my book Pro-Choice or Pro-Life: Examining 15 Pro-Choice Claims—What Do Facts & Common Sense Tell Us? It tackles the predominant pro-choice claims head-on but does so in a thoughtful and non-aggressive way in order to reach pro-life and at least some pro-choice readers. This book is carefully written and edited, and I believe is a high-quality pro-life resource.

Here’s the book’s description:

There are few issues as consequential for our personal lives and communities as abortion. It divides people not only on the streets and in workplaces, but also in homes and churches. After all, this issue involves personal decisions about sex, pregnancy, parenting, and our health. So while abortion is difficult to talk about, it’s important to provide accurate information and a context in which that information can be discussed.

In this thoroughly researched and easy-to-read book, author Randy Alcorn examines fifteen major claims of the pro-choice position and shares fact-based, rational responses. If you have mixed feelings about abortion, as many people do, this book can be part of your quest for truth. If you’re pro-choice or pro-life, it can help you think through your position.

If we have any hope of understanding and engaging with each other, let’s move our dialogue beyond bumper stickers, memes, and tweets. Randy encourages readers to listen carefully to arguments on both sides of the abortion debate, and to look at the evidence and weigh it on its own merit.

The PDF is free, and we also offer a free discussion guide. The print version of the book is available from our ministry for an extremely low cost ($1.00 per single copy; 90 cents per copy on orders of 100 or more; 80 cents per copy on orders of 1,000 or more, plus shipping). A single pro-life donor could purchase enough copies for their entire church.

Some might wonder how Pro-Choice or Pro-Life? is different than my books Why Pro-Life? and Pro-Life Answers to Pro-Choice Arguments. Size is the first and most obvious difference. Pro-Life Answers to Pro-Choice Arguments is over 143,000 words, and Why Pro-Life? is over 52,000 words, while Pro-Choice or Pro-Life? comes in at 32,000 words.

It is designed to be highly readable and welcoming, a book to hand someone you’re talking to without overwhelming them. Someone could ask a friend or family member, “Would you be willing to read this and let me know what you think?” It’s a very discussable book for one on one, or a small group where a leader could assign one or more chapter per week, and within a few months a group could receive a decent pro-life education.

Its smaller size will likely be a help, while the encyclopedic volume Pro-Life Answers contains more in-depth and thoroughly documented answers and will continue to be widely used by students for research papers, speeches, and debates.

Pro-Choice or Pro-Life? reflects the heart and soul of Pro-Life Answers to Pro-choice Arguments but distills the main arguments from thirty-nine down to fifteen major claims. It provides a more concise (though still substantial) response to each one. Pro-Choice or Pro-Life? focuses on the actual facts and logic that refute the claims, but being much smaller, it can have a broader reach.

Pro-Choice or Pro-Life? is also different in approach from Why Pro-Life?, which is less argument-intensive and addresses topics by chapters in order to lay out the pro-life case. Major pro-choice arguments are certainly included in Why Pro-Life?, but the chapters aren’t centered on directly responding to them.

Our prayer is that people around the world with a firm pro-life understanding and significant translation skills would be involved in rendering the book into other languages. There will be no royalties or licensing fees. Groups can print and give it away or sell it as they wish. Our goal is simply to get the truth out. (If you’re interested in translating it, please contact us.)

Join me in praying that God will use this book to make an impact!

What Is the Purpose of Spiritual Gifts, and How Do You Discover Yours?

I was asked to share some thoughts on 1 Peter 4:10-11 for a study series for my church. Here’s the video, and below is an edited transcript:

First Peter 4:10-11 (NIV) says,

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

Verse 10 is preceded by, “Show hospitality to each other without grumbling.” I think that writing about hospitality, which is a major gift, might have gotten Paul thinking about spiritual gifts in general. And then he says in verse 10, “As each has received...”

Every Christian has received a spiritual gift, so you don’t have to wonder, “Do I have one?” You certainly might wonder what it is. There are ways you can discover it, and I’ll talk about that a little later.

Here’s what the gifts are to be used for: “to serve one another as good stewards of God’s grace” (ESV). We’re to think, God has entrusted this gift to me, and I’m to steward it. He has entrusted time to us, and we’re to steward it; He’s entrusted money to us, and we’re to steward it. Likewise, He’s entrusted a spiritual gift to each of us—perhaps more, as some people have more than one spiritual gift.

This passage is a little different from the other gifts passages (1 Corinthians 12, Romans 12, Ephesians 4). All of those passages list a number of specific gifts. This one does talk about serving gifts and speaking gifts, but even the speaking gifts are to be used to serve the body of Christ.

The Point of Our Gifts Is to Glorify God

“Whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies” (ESV). That clarification is critical! God gives us strength to do the tasks He has for us. He’s given us gifts, but He also empowers us, and we are to be dependent on Him. Jesus said, “Apart from me, you can do nothing” (John 15:5). How effective will we be in exercising our spiritual gifts? As effective as the degree of our dependence upon God. We’re to pray to Him and ask Him to help us serve our brothers and sisters.

And it’s all to be to the glory of God: “that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion, forever and ever. Amen” (ESV). You can’t read this passage without being reminded that it’s not about you, and it’s not about me. It’s about our Lord Jesus!

Sometimes when we talk about things like gifts, people can start being proud of a gift they have. It’s as if they feel it came through some merit of their own. But God has given us these gifts, and while we do develop them and hone them as we do natural talents, God gets the praise and the glory because even in the exercise of the gifts, we are dependent upon Him. Spiritual gifts come from His hand, and we are to utilize them to His glory.

All of Us Are to Exercise Our Gifts

Note that it says “each of you.” There are no exceptions. This isn’t just something for pastors or church leaders—this is a calling for every single member of the body. Nor are the gifts just for our self-fulfillment or glory. We are to use them to serve one another in the body of Christ. There’s interdependence here. When the church is without some of its people, it’s without some of the vital gifts that God has given to the body for everyone’s good.

Ephesians 4:12 says that the gifts are given so that Christ’s body may be built up. Not just that we as individuals would be built up, but that the body of Christ would be built. That’s how we serve one another.

There are different gifts listed in the other passages I mentioned. The ultimate goal of using the gifts is that God may be praised, but the gifts are unique. God gives you a gift in a certain circumstance, and how you use that gift may be quite different than how someone with a different gift uses it, and that’s great. Scripture makes clear in 1 Corinthians 12:17 that “If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell?”

God has distributed the gifts to us as He wills for the good of the body. God chooses our gifts and gives them to us, but we’re to use them to His glory.

We’re to Actively Discover Our Gifts

So how do you discover what gift you have? One of the ways is by asking other people who know you well what you do that they consider particularly significant. What do you do that helps and encourages others, and contributes to the body of Christ? What do you do that people say, “Thanks for that! That really met a need!” I think of some men in our church who cut wood and bring it to people who need of it, and other guys who help widows and others by repairing their cars. That’s a gift of service.

I’d also add this: what do you find the most happiness in? What really fulfills you? God has wired you to use your gift in a way that not only touches others, but also brings enrichment to your own life. God is glorified, others are helped, and you receive the pleasure of serving others.

How does a duck know it has the gift of swimming? It has to get out into the water and swim. Let me give an example that I think will help illustrate this. Over forty-five years ago, I had the joy of leading my mom to Christ. She’s been with Jesus since 1981, but when she first came to the Lord, several years before she died, she was asked to speak or teach at an event. She said, “I don’t like to do that. I don’t have the ability to speak.” Then she was asked to teach a Sunday school class for 4th grade girls, and she was terrified. I told her, “Mom, the Lord says He has given you gifts.” She said, “But I don’t know what they are!” I said, “Just try it and serve Him. Do what He has called you to do and see what happens.”

The rest of the story is that my mom became what to me will always be the gold standard of Sunday school teachers. She studied fifteen hours a week in her Bible study to prepare a lesson for the girls in her class. Every week, she got on the phone and called the girls or their moms, and she wrote letters to them. To this day, I still have women who come up to me—some at our church, and some at other churches—and say, “Your mom had an incredible role in my life.”

There is great joy and purpose in serving God by using our gifts, and ultimately He is glorified. So find your gift, and use it! You’ll do that as you get out into the water like the duck does and swims, and now knows it has the gift of swimming. And if you don’t yet know what your gift is, don’t worry about it. You do have a calling to serve. God will show you in time what that gift is, and everybody will benefit as a result—including you. And God will get the glory.

Photo by chay tessari on Unsplash

Sean McDowell Shares Three Lessons for Parents and Church Leaders in the Wake of a Christian Rockstar Losing His Faith

Note from Randy: In May, Jon Steingard, lead singer of the Christian band Hawk Nelson, shared a lengthy Instagram post outlining why he no longer believers in God. It’s heartbreaking to read and expresses so much confusion.

I’m currently reading a book by someone who talks about growing up with a Christian faith that never addressed the big issues, and made him feel it was always telling him to check off the boxes and be right and superior and look down on people. It wasn’t about genuine relationships with Jesus or each other. God help us.

I see this from many who grew up in Christian homes. I did not grow up in a Christian home, so Jesus was brand new and radically life changing, and it never felt like my faith was about performance but the reality of Jesus, who He is, and what He did and said, and how wonderful and happy-making that was. I had many questions about the Bible, sure, but overall, it was a breath of fresh air and had the ring of truth.

So many who no longer believe in Jesus cite reasons that relate to church and Christianity and lack of love and credible answers. I see the failings of the church, of course, but when I compare it all to my utter hopelessness before God revealed Jesus to me in the pages of Scripture, I think of where I would be without Him now and how utterly life-changing and real He has been to me. It makes me weep not just for those who are walking away, but also for the many who aren’t talking about it but lost their faith years ago.

I don’t think we realize how many things we’ve assumed people know and how often their faith is not real. They hear our words but attach to them different meanings or no meanings at all. When I hear someone who grew up in evangelical churches say they never knew about God’s love until they read The Shack I think, Weren’t we always talking about the love of God, and weren’t a lot of us experiencing it every day and praising Him for it and sharing with our kids and others? (See my reflections on the book here.)

In my book If God Is Good, I challenge Christians to raise questions about evil and suffering and consider that every worldview must face that question. We should teach our children it’s okay to ask hard questions! Don’t have your kids wait until they get to a secular high school or off to college to hear them. Bring them up. Say, “Let’s talk about the fact that there’s a lot of evil and suffering in this world. Why do you think God allows all that? God could make that stuff not happen, right? He’s all powerful. Why does He allow these things to happen? Why does He bring some of these things into people’s lives?”

In my opinion, the Christian worldview gives the best answers. But honest inquiry and open conversation should always be welcome among the people of God. Those who don’t share their intellectual struggles with believers will share them with unbelievers and start reading books by atheists such as Bart Ehrman. (See my review of his book Heaven and Hell, and my chapter about him in If God Is Good.)

I love Sean McDowell’s article below related to this, and pray parents and Christian leaders will take his advice to heart.

Christian Rockstar Loses His Faith. 3 Big Lessons for the Church

By Sean McDowell

Starting in the early 2000s, Jon Steingard became a household name in Christian circles as the singer and guitarist for the band Hawk Nelson. Now he says, “I no longer believe in God.” What happened? And what can we learn from his experience?

In a recent 2,200-word post on Instagram, Steingard tells the story of slowly fading from his Christian faith, which he compares to “pulling on the threads of a sweater.” I would encourage people to read his post, but be prepared, because it is heart-wrenching as he describes being in a “very dark place”:

“What do you do when the rug is pulled out from under your feet? When you find yourself no longer believing the thing at the core of how you see yourself and see the world? What do I teach my children? If I’m honest about this, will all my Christian friends abandon me? Will this alienate me from my family? Will this leave me with nothing?”

As someone who grew up with a “celebrity Christian dad,” I understand the kind of pressures he describes in his post. And even though we have never met, my heart goes out to him. I am glad he now feels the freedom to be “transparent and open.” I am heartbroken to hear this has been such a difficult journey for him. And I wish him the best moving forward.

Doing Better Moving Forward

The point of this post is not to criticize him. What would that accomplish anyways? Nor is it to answer the apologetic questions he raises. I have addressed these questions elsewhere. Rather, it is simply to point out lessons for the church moving forward. I hope we can all pause, reflect on his story, and do better as a result.

Here’s three lessons to consider:

First, We Must Make Room for Doubt

Jon describes being “terrified” at expressing his loss of belief and what it would mean for him professionally and personally. If I read his story correctly, he seemed never to feel the freedom to raises doubts about his faith except for in a few private conversations. And when he did, he has experienced “absolute shock that [his doubts] are shared by nearly every close friend [his] age who also grew up in the church.” If this is true, then there may be many more people struggling with doubt in the church. How can we ignore this?

I also went through a period of significant doubt in my life. While I was certainly not a rockstar (my kids can attest to my lack of musical abilities) my father has been one of the most influential apologists over the past half century. When I told him as a 19-year old that I wasn’t sure I believed “this Christian stuff,” he simply encouraged me to seek truth and wanted to be sure I knew his love for me was unconditional. He didn’t freak out. He wasn’t threatened. He simply gave me space to work through my doubts.

In their book Sticky Faith, Kara Powell and Chap Clark show that young people do not often abandon their faith solely because of doubt. Rather, it is unexpressed doubt that is corrosive to faith. Believe it or not, but I still have some doubts today. I am not certain Christianity is true. I am confident, but not certain. My doubts drive me to find answers and also to rest in God’s grace.

As a church, we must make space for people to doubt. In fact, we should invite it.

Second, Help People Develop a Faith Rooted in Truth

Like me, Jon grew up in a Christian home with a father in full-time professional ministry. Yet his church experience was quite different than mine. Church was not something he did but the “life” of his family. He writes:

“When you grow up in a community that holds a shared belief, and that shared belief is so incredibly central to everything, you simply adopt it. Everyone I was close to believed in God, accepted Jesus into their hearts, prayed for signs and wonders, and participated in church, youth groups, conferences, and ministry. So, I did too.”

Yet there were things about Christian culture that made him uncomfortable–and understandably so! His doubts began when he went to a youth conference that encouraged every teen to “sign a pledge that they would ‘date Jesus’ for a year.” It felt manipulative to him, and so he didn’t sign. Good for him. But he pressed on because everyone he knew believed in the Christian God. So, he felt it must be true.

I can remember similar church experiences that rubbed me the wrong way too. But here is one difference in our experience: these experiences never made me question my faith. My faith was not––and is not––in the church. I am a Christian because I believe it is true. My dad once told me that if Christianity were not true, I should give it up (see 1 Corinthians 15:14, 17).

If we socialize people into believing in God through church, without offering bigger reasons for the truth of Christianity, then should we be surprised when they start to doubt at experiencing failures in the church?

Ultimately, I am a Christian because I believe Jesus rose from the dead. The resurrection of Jesus is existentially powerful and historically credible. In contrast, when Jon no longer believed that the Bible was the “perfect Word of God,” he gave up his faith. For the record, I think there are good answers to the challenge of contradictions, but even if there were contradictions in the Bible, I would not abandon my faith. It might make me rethink inspiration, inerrancy, and how the Bible was put together, but it would not cause me to walk away from Jesus. The resurrection is the heart of the Christian faith, and it can be historically demonstrated even with an imperfect Bible (again, for the record, I do think the Bible is both inspired and inerrant).

My point is simply that we need to keep the main thing the main thing. The only good reason someone should be a Christian is if it is true. And we can know it’s true by direct testimony of the Holy Spirit and by examining the historical evidence for the resurrection.

Third, start apologetics training early.

Jon’s journey from faith was professional, personal, and intellectual. He raises some tough questions that troubled him:

“If God is all loving, and all powerful, why is there evil in the world? Can he not do anything about it. Does he choose not to? Is the evil in the world the result of his desire to give us free will? Ok then, what about famine and disease and floods and all the suffering that isn’t caused by humans and our free will? If God is loving, why does he send people to hell?”

He also raises common questions about the God of the Old Testament being vindictive, judgmental, and cruel. These are important questions that should not be brushed under the rug. They demand a thoughtful response by Christians.

But here is a point we must not miss: None of these are new questions. They may have been new to Jon during his period of questioning, but Jews and Christians have been thoughtfully wrestling with these questions for thousands of years. And some of the greatest minds in world history­––people like Saint Augustine in the 4th-5thcentury and philosopher Alvin Plantinga today––have found the answers convincing.

Christianity has a long history of addressing these difficult questions. I am saddened that Jon grew up in a church that did not seem to appreciate the rich Christian tradition of loving God with the mind.

Much more could be said. If Jon happens to read this, I hope he finds that I have been charitable to him. Stories like this break my heart. But they also encourage me to think deeply about how I can do better as a parent, speaker, writer, and professor.

I hope that is your response too.

This article was originally posted on seanmcdowell.org and is used with permission.

See Josh and Sean McDowell's new video series Heroic Truth, which equips parents, pastors, and youth to know why they believe what they believe.

Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash

The Cure for Celebrity Christian Culture: Faithfulness over Fame

In A.D. 400, Jerome warned the church, “Shun, as you would the plague, a cleric who from being poor has become wealthy, or who, from being nobody has become a celebrity.” In the early church, leaders led by a model of sacrifice and generosity, not by privilege and accumulation.

I personally know a number of people who could be called “Christian celebrities” but lead by example and genuinely seek to honor God with the platform He has given them. But unfortunately, the modern evangelical culture—including the publishing and music industries as well as larger churches and speaking circuits—sometimes generates Christian celebrities and lavishes them with wealth and attention they’re not prepared to handle. People who think they are entitled to lots of attention and money also tend to think they’re entitled to sexual immorality and other self-indulgences, and are prone to hypocrisy. Countless fallen Christian leaders have demonstrated that financial indulgences and sexual indulgences tend to go hand in hand.

I have the greatest appreciation for Jackie Hill Perry, who is a poet and hip hop artist, and the author of Gay Girl, Good God: The Story of Who I Was, and Who God Has Always Been (a book I highly recommend). What Jackie said earlier this year on Facebook about the dangers of fame is so great:

I’ve been spending a lot of time processing through all the good and the bad that being “influential” can bring. I truly believe that “Celebrity Christian culture” can be fruitful and indeed it has been but within it is a handful of snares. Ego, greed, hypocrisy, & public leadership without local accountability are a few of the land mines among us and no one is exempt from landing on one, no matter how “Gospel centered” one might assume themselves to be. ⠀
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I came across this quote from a woman named Hannah More who was a popular poet and play[wright] in the 1700s. It’s really helped to reframe how I understand influence, fame, or whatever you want to call it: “For Christian women to look up with a giddy head and a throbbing heart, to honors and remunerations, so little suited to the wants and capacities of an immortal spirit, would be no less ridiculous than if Christian heroes should look back with an envy on the old pagan reward of ovations, oak garlands, parsley crowns, and laurel wreaths. The Christian hope more than reconciles Christian women to these petty privations, by substituting a nobler prize for their ambition, ‘the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.’” ⠀
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In other words, the glory we’ll all share in once Christ takes us home will far exceed whatever praise we might receive on Earth. So one way to guard ourselves and each other from letting a platform rot our souls is to position our hope in Heaven, where God is. His “well done” is truly the only praise that matters. So please, stay near to God Saints. Faithfulness trumps fame any day.

Thanks for those insights, Jackie, I totally agree—faithfulness trumps fame any day! In doing many book signings and media and speaking events over the years, I’ve had a taste of what it’s like to be treated as a celebrity. It’s fine to respect and appreciate someone’s writing, but some people treat me better than I deserve. I do not believe that these people are trying to dishonor God. But I’m as vulnerable as anyone to sliding down the slippery slope of pride, succumbing to flattery, and gradually coming to think that I deserve special attention, recognition, and material indulgences.

That’s the big danger of being in the public eye—you can start to think that you’re above the rules of life. But none of us are. Fame easily becomes detached from character and integrity. And when people admire you, you can believe you’re worthy of admiration, become proud, and let down your moral guard.

The remedy is to stay plugged into Scripture and to remind ourselves we’re no better than anyone else. We’re all under the same rules. God is watching and He cares how we live: “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account” (Hebrews 4:13).

It’s a huge mistake to believe what people think about you. One day you’re a hero; the next day you’re a jerk. That’s why we have to set aside people’s opinions of us. We have to know who we are—and who we aren’t—in God’s eyes.

When someone thinks too little of me I always remind myself that there are other people who think too much of me. And the court of public opinion isn’t what matters—what matters is what God thinks. As Jackie reminded us, “His ‘well done’ is truly the only praise that matters.” He’s the Audience of One. No matter who we are, let’s want to hear Him say, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”

Twenty-five years ago, I spoke at a Green Bay Packers pre-game chapel about “Fame or Character.” The players and coaches there were just like the rest of us, except more famous and wealthy (and somewhat larger!). This is the transcript of the message I shared with them, which I believe is still relevant today.

Also see this great article from Scott Saults, sharing things he’s learned from Tim Keller about God-honoring leadership.

Photo by Volodymyr Hryshchenko on Unsplash

How Do We Shine the Light of Jesus in a Dark World?

Jesus…said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12

The people Jesus spoke to lived without streetlights. If they didn’t have a lamp, they groped in darkness, vulnerable to assailants. They understood what it meant to walk in darkness, desperately needing a light.

Jesus’ claim to be the light would have been startling, especially since it was one of His “I AM” statements asserting His divinity. Notice Jesus didn’t say, “I’ll point you to the light” or “I’ll give you the light.” He said, “I am the light.” The only Light.

John’s Gospel tells us Jesus is the light that “shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:5). And Jesus fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy: “The people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned” (Matthew 4:16).

Yet Jesus also told His followers, “You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14). If we’re lights, what’s our power source? “The Lord is my light” (Psalm 27:1). “Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12). “The LORD will be your everlasting light” (Isaiah 60:20).

Consider the brightest “stars” in the sky—four of which are actually the planets Venus,  Jupiter Mars, and Saturn. Unlike the true stars we see, which are far away and therefore dimmer, these planets don’t shine with their own light; they are bright only because they reflect the sun. Likewise, the moon is a beautiful sight, but it doesn’t generate light on its own. It merely reflects it. Merely makes the reflection sound trivial, but this is actually a magnificent phenomenon. The moon was made to glorify the sun, and when it does, it shares in the sun’s glory. (If the moon were able to talk, wouldn’t we think it foolish if we heard it congratulate itself for how brightly it shines?)

As Christ’s followers, we’re not suns; we’re moons. We shine with a reflected light. Christ’s light is the original; ours is derivative. His light is the primary; ours is the secondary. For the moon to reflect the sun, it needs for nothing to come between it and the sun. Our calling is to stay in the light of Jesus, and not let Him be eclipsed in our lives.

In a dark world, our hearts cheer when we see light. Often light is embodied in a Jesus-follower, in whom we see a secondary reflection of Jesus, the Primary Light of the world. The light of Christ, shining through others, can bring us great joy. I once heard Christian counselor David Powlison say that although God alone is the blazing sun, we can be 3-watt night-lights. In darkness even a tiny light can bring hope.

What does it mean to be a light for Jesus in this world of darkness? I share some thoughts in a message I gave early this year to the staff of Joni and Friends, the ministry founded by Joni Eareckson Tada:

“Don't shine so others can see you. Shine so that through you, others can see Him.” —C.S. Lewis

For more on finding joy in Jesus, see Randy’s devotional 60 Days of Happiness, as well as his books Happiness and Does God Want Us to Be Happy?

Photo by Some Tale on Unsplash

Hoping for Happiness: Turning Life's Most Elusive Feeling into Lasting Reality

Barnabas Piper has a new book called Hoping for Happiness: Turning Life's Most Elusive Feeling into Lasting Reality. Several months ago he asked me to read it and consider writing the foreword, since happiness in Christ is a topic close to my heart. This foreword I wrote is not only an invitation to read that book but also an invitation to pursue a life of happiness in Jesus.

Spoiler alert: I loved his book.

Barnabas hooked me when he said, “One of the main reasons I wrote this book is because I was tired of wrestling with guilt over having fun and enjoying myself. It seemed strange that God would give so many wonderful gifts only for me to feel guilty for enjoying them.”

I grew up in a home with no knowledge of Jesus or the good news. I was often unhappy, spending night after night listening to music that promised happiness but failed to deliver it. Gazing at the night sky through my telescope, I longed for a connection to the wonders of the universe but couldn’t find it.

When I was in high school, Jesus drew me to Himself. Everyone, first my mom, noticed the change. The most obvious difference? I became much happier.

I loved my first-ever church, but it struck me as strange when the pastor said, “God doesn’t want you happy; He wants you holy.” Well, I was holier than I’d ever been, but I was much happier too. Was something wrong with me?

That wonderful pastor often cited Oswald Chambers’ great book My Utmost for His Highest, which I eagerly read. But at the time I didn’t know enough to disagree when Chambers said, “Joy should not be confused with happiness. In fact, it is an insult to Jesus Christ to use the word happiness in connection with Him.”

I certainly didn’t want to insult Jesus by saying He was happy or He made me happy! And I couldn’t for the life of me figure out the difference between joy and happiness. (In fact, they are synonyms for everyone except Christians who’ve been taught otherwise).

After a steady diet of such teaching, I became wary of happiness. Had I seen this book Hoping for Happiness back then, I’d have thought, We shouldn’t hope for what God doesn’t want us to have. I’d never have believed I’d one day write a book titled Does God Want Us to Be Happy? And I would have assumed the answer must be a resounding no!

Like Barnabas, I felt guilty for being happy. The message seemed to be, “You could impress God if you chose a life of miserable holiness.” It took me decades to realize that wasn’t merely a misguided and thoroughly unbiblical idea; it was a lie from the pit of hell. It undermined the “good news of happiness” (Isaiah 52:7, ESV, NASB).

Barnabas writes, “Everyone, whether they believe in God or not, has a deep internal yearning for eternal significance and happiness.” That’s why it’s counterintuitive and counterproductive to pit happiness and holiness against each other. Jesus Himself, the most holy human there’s ever been, got invited to parties and was the life of them. (His first miracle was rescuing a wedding celebration that ran out of wine). Children loved Him. Had he been stern and unhappy, they wouldn’t have.

Instead of, “Don’t seek happiness,”—a command impossible to obey anyway—why not, “Seek your primary happiness in Jesus, and fully enjoy the derivative happiness in His countless gifts, including family, friends, food, work, and play”?

We love and serve one who reveals Himself as a “happy God” (1 Timothy 1:11; 6:15). We are to put our hope in “God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy” (1 Timothy 6:17).  

Barnabas calls on us to see God as “a generous Father, who showers you with good things day by day and invites you to enjoy them freely, daily, for your pleasure. “

The years I devoted to researching and writing various books on happiness were life-changing. I discovered Scripture speaks of exactly what I’d experienced: not a flimsy superficial optimism, but a happiness that’s biblically grounded in the rock of Christ’s blood-bought promises.

Truth is, the good news should leak into every aspect of our lives, even if we’re not consciously talking about God or witnessing to someone. The “good news of happiness” should permeate our lives with, well, happiness. True holiness is happy-making, and all ultimate happiness is holy-making.

Barnabas couldn’t be more right when he says, “A laughing Christian who relishes good things is a compelling, magnetic Christian—the kind who draws people to truth.”

This echoes what J. C. Ryle wrote 150 years ago:

It is a positive misfortune to Christianity when a Christian cannot smile. A merry heart, and a readiness to take part in all innocent mirth, are gifts of inestimable value. They go far to soften prejudices, to take stumbling blocks out of the way, and to make way for Christ and the gospel.

There is no greater draw to the gospel than happy Christians who are full of grace and truth, quick to laugh and quick to weep for and comfort those who suffer.

My wife Nanci and I have been married 43 years. In the last three, as we have faced her cancer together, we have found a deeper happiness in God and each other than ever before. We have known firsthand the “hopeful, grounded realism” Barnabas writes of. Trusting in Jesus has brought us great happiness in Him, even amidst suffering and the threat of death.

In this delightful book, you’ll see that Barnabas loves Jesus, family, sports, food, fun, God’s creation, and life in general. So do I. We don’t pass our peaks in this life. We don’t even begin to reach them. A New Earth awaits us. I envision Christ’s laugh will be the loudest and longest at all those great feasts ahead of us. But why wait? Why not frontload our eternal happiness into our here and now and give ourselves and others a taste of Heaven?

Hoping for Happiness says, “Hang your happiness on the right hooks, hang your hopes on God’s promises, fear him, and obey his commands—and in this you’ll find happiness, now and forever.”

I know how good this book is. I’ve read it. Now it’s your turn!

Here's Barnabas's dad with his book. Love this:

Photo by Brooke Cagle on Unsplash