Apprentice 2 Jesus

spiritual warfare

  • Enemies of the American Church

    There are some huge gorillas in the room we don’t like to talk about when it comes to enemies of the Church in the U.S. These gorillas actually make us our own worst enemies. Tony Campolo has some insight on one: I have heard a lot of teachers condemn the secular humanism of our world. … Read more

  • The Difference Between Knowing God and Knowing ABOUT God

    I am preparing for my Acts class this week and find myself in Acts 19, one of my favorite chapters in the Bible. The sons of Sceva always intrigue me. They are the picture of spiritual formulas. This is the picture we get when we are so caught up in the design of a program… Read more

  • Intimidation

    Malala Yousafzai is 14 years old. At age 11 she stood up to the Taliban in her part of Pakistan. How? By going to school. The Taliban forbid girls to be educated. She has spoken out for girls to be educated, she has written about it, and she has gone to school. This week she… Read more

  • Why Does the Church Suffer?

    We don’t suffer in America, or the Western world. Yet, the Church suffers. Revelation is vital to the suffering Church. This is a letter we need to read and understand. It’s not about escape from suffering. It is the understanding of why the Church goes through hard times. It is understanding the presence of Christ in that suffering. Why does the… Read more

  • Don’t Settle for Status Quo Bondage

    One of the notes I made on the passage in Mark 5 where Jesus heals the demoniac: “Don’t settle for letting people stay in bondage.” Sometimes it is hard work seeing people set free. It might be pray. It might be fasting. It might be counseling. It might be a huge combination of many things. Don’t give… Read more

  • The Song We THINK We Hear

    This is the longest I’ve spent in New Orleans. One of the thoughts I’ve had about the city is this: New Orleans sings its story. It is a city of incredible music. I heard a street musician playing some incredibl classical pieces on his cello. I’ve heard some great jazz. There is a “cajun” style… Read more

  • Can We Pray for the End of Bondage?

    10 On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, 11 and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. 12 When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, “Woman, you are… Read more

  • The Mistake of NOT Believing in Human Depravity

    David Brooks is one of my favorite commentators today. He is concise, insightful, and almost always right. His column for May 18 is once again on target. I found it interesting that as he was discussing governmental systems I was comparing that with church structures, especially denominational or other organizational structures. But his main point… Read more

  • Isn’t It Time to Get in the Game?

    17 No weapon fashioned against you will succeed, and you may condemn every tongue that disputes with you. This is the heritage of the Lord’s servants, whose righteousness comes from me, says the Lord. (Isa. 54:17, CEB) It’s time to “come home.” It’s time to put aside the shame. No more humiliation. Isn’t it time to let go… Read more

  • Just Keep Still

    The hard stuff usually comes right after a nice victory. There will be some incredible moment of great news that touches our lives… and then we get blindsided by some bad news, or a tough battle. Panic may even set in. We were walking in victory one minute… then… WHAM! We’re on the ground looking… Read more