A.W. Tozer says, “The Bible is not an end in itself, but a means to bring men to an intimate and satisfying knowledge of God, that they may enter into Him, that they may delight in His Presence, may taste and know the inner sweetness of the very God Himself in the core and center of their hearts.”

The Bible claims to be the very Word of God and Living and Active. If you believe that, then why wouldn’t you want to read it everyday?

Seriously! We should let nothing hold us back from God’s presence.

This post is intentionally short, why not spend the extra time reading the Bible? Need direction? Try starting one of my favorite books: John.

What is your favorite book of the Bible? We look forward to your answers in the comments…

I’m not sure there is a book that has inspired and challenged me more deeply than the biography of Dietrich Bonhoeffer written by Eric Metaxas.  The life of this German theologian and pastor is better than the movies, and I am still holding tightly to the rumor that a film will be coming in the future.

As I heard one university professor say, there has recently been a “Bonhoeffer awakening.”  Many Christians, young and old, are taking a fresh interest in his life, devouring his books (i.e. The Cost of Discipleship, Life Together), and even forming groups to practice the communal disciplines he prescribed.

Of course his life was fascinating. One can’t help but be curious about a Christian pastor who also happened to be a double agent in a plot to assassinate Adolph Hitler. Regardless of one’s religious convictions, you have to respect a man that ultimately died for his specific spiritual devotion.

Despite the epic nature of Bonhoeffer’s life, I do not think these are the primary reasons for the “awakening” that has occurred over the last few years.  I believe God himself is stoking this fire because today’s Jesus followers have specific things to learn from it. Here are just three  of many things we can take away.

Three ways we can learn from Bonhoeffer’s life today:

1. Be Radically devoted to daily study and practice of God’s Word – he worked right through the Scriptures, consistently. Nothing fancy, no “just-open-and-see-where-your-finger-lands”- He was committed to a methodical, consistent study through books of the Bible. Bonhoeffer’s commitment to spiritual disciplines challenges Christians to not settle for a “pie-in-the-sky” faith that doesn’t translate into real action in the real world. Continue Reading…

Theologian Abraham Kuyper said, “There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry, “Mine!” This quote communicates the heart of the #LiveFully conviction that “the redemption of Jesus transforms every area of personal life and positively impacts every channel of cultural life.”

To simply define “personal life” and “cultural life,” here are the 7 broad categories for each.  We believe the “full life” (John 10:10) that Jesus invites people into is an integrated spirituality that fills all seven areas of one’s personal life.  Then, together as a community, Christians are called to impact the 7 different channels of cultural life.

These 7 categories are displayed as a “dresser” (or at least my failed attempt at a dresser) because our lives often feel fragmented and disconnected like various drawers in a dresser.  Yet this holistic approach understands biblical spirituality not as just one of many drawers to manage but rather the dresser itself – a life with God that fills every area (or drawer) of life.

As Christians discover and live this kind of life, I believe they will begin to also gain clarity about their unique calling to impact the world in which they live.  The seven different channels of culture are not meant to be an all encompassing list of vocations and professions, but they provide a starting point for imagining where and how God is calling one to impact the world. Continue Reading…

My first semester of college was miserable.  I couldn’t sleep. Literally, I did not fall asleep before 5 a.m. my entire fall term. I tossed and turned and tossed and turned, unable to shake a mysterious inner anxiety.  The only thing worse than not sleeping was not knowing WHY I was so discontent.

There was a diverse group of guys on my hall.  Some smoked pot daily inside their dorm rooms.  Others went downtown to get drunk and meet girls just about every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. A few others stayed intensely focused on school and lived in the library.

As different as these hall mates were, they all shared one important quality: they were way happier than me! I was emotionally depressed- full of anxiety, insecurity, and sleepless nights.  I envied their carefree attitude and confidence that they were living the best life. All I could do was doubt. “Maybe following Jesus isn’t really the best way to live?” “Maybe it’s not worth it?” Continue Reading…

We really want to see our readers enjoy a more full and satisfying life. If that isn’t happening, we’ve failed. While ultimately, the Full Life boils down to doing one thing, there are many practical outcomes of living in relationship with Christ. Here are 9 simple ways you can enjoy a more satisfying life.

1) Get Outdoors More

I love technology, but it can be so stinking distracting. Getting outside, whether for thirty minutes in the park or 3 days in the mountains, really helps clear my mind to focus on what is important. It also reminds me how huge God is and how tiny I am. Fresh air does good things for the soul, so get outside!

2) Actually Call People

Texting, e-mail, and facebook are all great. They help us stay connected better than ever before. But none of them can replace an actual conversation. Try scrolling through your phone contacts list and calling someone you haven’t spoken to in a few months. If you’re afraid of drowning in small talk, call them with some questions in mind. For instance, “Have you done any travelling lately?” or “What are you learning at school/working on at work?” It is remarkably easy, and far more satisfying than poking someone on facebook. Continue Reading…