Posts

Time to Move On

Image
During my childhood, I was frequently bullied by classmates. By the time I became a Christian at the age of 27, I had largely forgotten those painful experiences, but I still needed inner healing. Over the next few years, the Holy Spirit worked on my soul as I verbally forgave those who had hurt me. It can be deeply hurtful when we encounter wrongdoing from fellow Christians, particularly preachers. Recently, a renowned pastor named Robert Morris was released from jail after serving six months for old child sex abuse charges. Morris had engaged in multiple sexual encounters with an underage girl in Oklahoma during the 1980s while he was a young traveling evangelist. After Cindy Clemishire told her parents about it, Morris left the ministry for two years and received counseling. He later founded Gateway Church in the Dallas area. I wasn’t familiar with Robert Morris before his past sins made national headlines (I’ve since listened to a sermon of his on evangelism that was really goo...
Post a Comment
Read more

“A Great Awakening” - A Review

Image
Since the United States is celebrating its 250th birthday this year, more movies are coming out about America’s founding era. A historical drama film called “Young Washington” is scheduled for release on July 3rd. Last Thursday night, a pastor and his wife invited me to go see “A Great Awakening.” I had seen a trailer for this a few months ago, but I wasn’t aware it was released for Easter weekend. “A Great Awakening” delves into the unlikely friendship between American founding father Benjamin Franklin and English preacher George Whitefield (pronounced “whit field”). Franklin resists his father’s wish for him to pursue a career in preaching. Instead, he embarks on a successful venture in establishing a renowned print shop. Years later, Franklin’s grandson stumbles upon old journals belonging to George Whitefield. This discovery triggers a flashback that takes the audience on a journey through the preacher’s life. Whitefield, initially aspiring to be an actor, pursued his dream at ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Apple Myths Debunked

Image
This Wednesday, Apple Computer Company celebrates its golden anniversary. It was founded on April 1, 1976, by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne. Today, Apple’s product range encompasses smartphones, tablets, and various electronic devices, alongside laptops and desktop computers. Some Christians have raised concerns about certain aspects of Apple Inc. Their first computer was priced at $666.66. While I can understand how a believer might feel uneasy purchasing a product with all sixes in the price, it’s not the Mark of the Beast . Buyers didn’t have that stamped on their right hand or forehead. Wozniak himself claims that he was unaware of the connection between the number and the beast mentioned in the book of Revelation. He came up with the price because he liked “repeating digits.” The Apple logo has also been a source of controversy. Some Christians believe the bite was inspired by the forbidden fruit consumed in the Garden of Eden. However, the Bible doesn’t explicitl...
Post a Comment
Read more

Witnessing to a Gnostic

Image
This past Monday night at Union Station in Washington, DC, I noticed a woman wearing a T-shirt that stated “Faith Can Move Mountains”, plus made reference to Matthew 17:20. She later approached me asking about electric outlets available. I pointed to one I was using to charge up my iPhone. She then plugged in her phone in the extra open socket. I went on to compliment the woman’s shirt and asked if she knew Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior. She mentioned liking the artwork and then asked what denomination I was.   This woman eventually revealed her Jewish heritage and later attended a Methodist church, but she found it unfulfilling. She now identifies as a gnostic and claims to have gained a deeper understanding of spiritual matters. I referred to 2 Corinthians 10:5 which talks about “casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.” She made statements about Jesus tha...
Post a Comment
Read more

Church Hurt Can Be Healed

Image
This past Tuesday night after a church dinner a friend invited me to, I heard a sermon titled “Church Hurt.” The minister, using pseudonyms, shared real-life examples of individuals who were abused by clergy and congregation members. It reminded me of this quote from Brennan Manning: “The single greatest cause of atheism in the world today is Christians who acknowledge Jesus with their lips and walk out the door and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable.”  On her website, a Christian therapist named Dr. Alison Cook listed these examples of church hurt: A single mom whose church promised to stand by her, then disappeared after she got a divorce from her abusive husband A kind-hearted woman who was told that she would “burn in hell” if she made friends with the “wrong” kind of people A young couple forced out of their church after they stood up to a narcissistic pastor A man who opened up about his struggles only to be told his...
Post a Comment
Read more

Third Time a Charm? Another Review of the Amtrak USA Rail Pass

Image
For the third time in the past four years, I’ve utilized an Amtrak USA Rail Pass . This pass grants a passenger the privilege of embarking on ten train journeys within a 30-day timeframe at an affordable price. Typically, the pass costs $499. However, during the past four Januarys, the pass was on sale. This year, it was briefly reduced to half-price at $250, likely in celebration of the United States Semiquincentennial. I promptly purchased one and meticulously booked segments weeks in advance to minimize the risk of being stranded. A limited number of seats are available for rail pass users. My latest train pass was activated on February 7th in Tampa. From there, I embarked on a journey along the Floridian route to Richmond, Virginia. The conductor initially assigned me an aisle seat. Fortunately, the man occupying the window seat next to mine offered to switch seats. That made it easier for me to catch some sleep during the lengthy train ride. However, the train arrived in Richmond...
Post a Comment
Read more

Ministering to a Gay Youth

Image
While I grew up in Moorhead, Minnesota, homosexuality was something my classmates in school joked about. Back then, I couldn’t believe anyone would seriously want a sexual relationship with a person of the same gender. Since becoming an evangelist, I’ve been mindful to  speak the truth in love  when  encountering individuals who identify as LGBT. This past Tuesday while sightseeing in Tucson, Arizona, I noticed a young couple goofing around at the streetcar station where I waited for a ride. The boy kept singing the old Bee Gees song “Stayin’ Alive.” I told him that was a favorite of mine, and I was around his age when that song was a hit. (This young man happened to be 14 years old - I was 14 when “Stayin’ Alive” was the #1 song in the nation). Toby and Lily eventually prayed with me to receive salvation. After giving them gospels of John, I played on my iPhone an ApologetiX parody of “Stayin’ Alive” called “ Stay in the Light .” Just before the streetcar arrived, Tob...
Post a Comment
Read more