My Journey in Christ

I accepted the challenge from the person who says that because I claim God exists, I'm obligated to provide an objective test or evidence for God's existence. He compares belief in God to believing in Harry Potter because seven books were written about Harry Potter and those books mention real places in England. I accepted his challenge, and I'm willing to present the case for God's existence based on evidence and reason. But before getting to that evidence, his Harry Potter comparison needs to be addressed because it is a false equivalence. We know who wrote the Harry Potter books. We know when they were written. We know they were published and marketed as fiction. J.K. Rowling has never claimed that Harry Potter is God, and the books don't claim to be eyewitness testimony about a real person who created the universe. The fact that fictional stories contain real places doesn't make Harry Potter comparable to the question of whether God exists. Now, here'...

One of the most powerful lessons of being a true Christian is discovering that your identity is found in God through Jesus Christ—not in your accomplishments, failures, fears, popularity, possessions, or the opinions of others. It is one of the greatest paradoxes of the Christian faith: the moment we stop trying to define ourselves and instead allow God to define us, we find the freedom we have been searching for all along. Our culture constantly tells us to "find yourself." We are encouraged to build our identity around our careers, our relationships, our achievements, our political views, our social media presence, or even our past experiences. Success becomes our identity when life is going well, and failure becomes our identity when it isn't. We measure our worth by promotions, grades, followers, approval, or the applause of other people. The problem with building an identity on any of these things is that they are temporary. Careers end. Relationships change. Health ...

In a culture that often measures manhood by success, wealth, power, or popularity, the Bible offers a very different picture. A true man of God is not defined by how much he owns, how physically strong he is, or how much influence he has. He is defined by his relationship with God and by the character that flows from it. A man of God seeks God's kingdom first (Matthew 6:33). He recognizes that every other priority—family, career, finances, and personal ambitions—must be submitted to God's will. His faith is not something he practices only on Sundays; it shapes every decision he makes. He fears the Lord, not in the sense of living in terror, but by holding God in reverence and honoring Him above all else (Proverbs 1:7). That reverence produces integrity. Whether anyone is watching or not, he strives to do what is right because he knows God sees every part of his life. He guards his heart and controls his words. Scripture reminds us that our thoughts shape our actions and that ou...

Why a growing number of Christian scientists believe Genesis and geology may not be at odds after all. For generations, Christians have been told that faith belongs in church while science belongs in the laboratory. Noah's Flood is often dismissed as little more than an ancient moral story—a lesson about obedience rather than a real event in human history. Yet a growing number of Christian scientists believe the geological record tells a story remarkably consistent with the book of Genesis. The debate is often portrayed as one between faith and science. In reality, it is more accurately described as a debate over how the same evidence should be interpreted. Mainstream geologists and young-Earth creationists often agree on many of the observations—the existence of widespread sedimentary rock layers, plate tectonics, marine fossils on mountains, and evidence of catastrophic events. Where they differ is in the explanation. Standing on the rim of the Grand Staircase in Ariz...

One thing that has really stood out to me about the book of Esther is that God's name isn't mentioned once. At first, that seems strange. But the more you read it, the more you realize His fingerprints are on every page. Honestly, I think that's how life works a lot of the time. There are seasons when we wonder where God is. We pray. We wait. We don't see miracles. We don't hear an audible voice. We just keep living life one day at a time. But that doesn't mean God isn't working. When you look at Esther's life, everything probably seemed random to her. She lost her parents at a young age. She was raised by her cousin Mordecai. She was taken into the king's palace. None of those events probably made much sense while she was living through them. Then Mordecai said something that changed everything: "For such a time as this." Suddenly, all those painful and confusing moments had purpose. That really made me stop and think about my own life. Ho...

I've prayed the Lord's Prayer countless times over the years. Like many Christians, I could probably recite it from memory without even thinking about it. But when I slow down and really consider the first two phrases—"Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name"—I realize just how much is packed into those few words. Jesus could have taught His disciples to begin their prayers in many different ways. Instead, He chose the words, "Our Father." That still amazes me. Through faith in Jesus Christ, we have the incredible privilege of approaching the Creator of the universe as our Heavenly Father. We don't have to wonder if He hears us or whether we've said the right words. We don't have to earn an audience with Him. Because of Christ, we are welcomed as His children. At the same time, Jesus immediately reminds us that God is holy. "Hallowed be Your name." Those words keep our relationship with God in the proper perspective. He is ou...

Most Christians know the story. Martha is busy preparing everything while her sister Mary is sitting at Jesus' feet. Martha gets frustrated because she's doing all the work, and Jesus gently tells her she's worried and distracted by many things while Mary has chosen what is better. I've always thought of that story as being about choosing Bible study over being busy, but this sermon went a little deeper. It compared that Martha with the Martha we meet later in John 11 after her brother Lazarus dies. The difference is striking. The first Martha is anxious, overwhelmed, distracted, and frustrated. The second Martha is grieving, but she's also full of faith. Instead of complaining, she runs to Jesus and says, "I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God." That got me wondering... What changed? The pastor suggested that somewhere between those two stories, Martha spent time with Jesus. She learned to trust Him instead of trying to control everything hers...