Over the last two posts, we talked about a couple different purposes of the Pentecostal outpouring: the sharing of the gospel and the unity of the diverse body of believers. Today, we reflect on a third purpose: the release of power for signs, wonders, and miracles. Acts 3:1-8One day Peter and John were going up […]
Pentecost? Why? 3 Reasons (pt. 2) – Unity
Let’s look at the miracles that happened as a result of the Acts 2 outpouring. Pentecost doesn’t only bring preaching; it brought incredible unity. Perhaps the first miracle was getting religious people to get along in peace and harmony! Acts 2:42-47They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread […]
Pentecost? Why? 3 Reasons (pt. 1) – Proclaim
The Prelude Luke 24:46-49He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you […]
How to Pray Away Fear and Timidity (from my book, Your Will Be Done)
I looked around the restaurant, and my attention was drawn to a South Asian man with a cushioned neck brace. Somehow, I immediately knew that I was to pray for him, and no, it was not from the comfort of my own seat…
Guest Post from Dad: “420 OK Mountain Getaway”
Yesterday was April 20, or 4/20. It almost slipped by me without me realizing this was a day celebrated by many people as a Worldwide Weed Day. As I noted the date on my computer’s calendar, I contemplated the significance of the day. I smiled as I remembered an adventure before the adventure just a […]
Isolated? Great! Six Ways to Thrive while Social Distancing
Guess where I’m writing this piece from? Home. I’ve written and journaled from the tops of buildings, from subways, from Pakistani restaurants, beaches, airplanes, African desert tribes, and more, but all those juicy locales have been snatched away recently. My country issued a round-the-clock stay-at-home order several days ago. The regular challenges of doing life […]
Facebook, Google, God, & Gates
Name the five biggest tech companies in America. Most of you can probably do it. Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Google, and, at least at this point, Netflix. What do they all have in common? What makes them so influential, powerful, and, for many of us, indispensable? What can we learn from these millennial trends? It’s not […]
Billy Humphrey’s 4 Meditation Keys (pt. 2)
In our fast-paced, consumerist, interconnected, microwaveable, express-delivery primed culture, slowing down to rest feels like the most /un/natural thing in the world. It puts me in mind of a mile-long freight train just putting on its breaks. Have you ever heard the diabolical screeching? That’s that’s how strongly my mind resists coming to rest!
What’s that? You would still like to try? OK! It’s difficult but not impossible.
Billy Humphrey’s 4 Meditation Keys (pt. 1)
February 12, 2006. I’m posting on the 14th anniversary of this date. Why do I bring it up? Not because I was a fashion-challenged, hopelessly nerdy high school junior at the time! It’s the day that International House of Prayer-Atlanta began its 24/7 worship. Since then, thousands of musicians and prayer warriors alike have joined […]
20 Bold & Politically Incorrect Forecasts for the Roaring 2020s (& 30s and 40s)
This is response to my father’s blog, “The Roaring 20s 2.0: Thoughts….” People are living more and more of their lives in the digital realm. Now, my inner old soul/hiker wants badly to lament this trend, but instead, I must submit, why not embrace it and use it to spread God’s kingdom? If you know […]
The Roaring 20s 2.0: Thoughts about 2020 and a New Decade (Guest post by Stephen Garner)
Almost 100 years ago, the world, and especially America, experienced an exciting economic boom. Everything seemed possible through the new modern technologies, such as the automobile, movies, radio, the telephone, TVs and airplanes. Society broke with many long-held traditions and embraced great change. The popular TV show and movie, Downton Abbey, helped many of us […]
Day 5. Faith. [Excerpt from my new book]
Hebrews 11:1, 6 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see… And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. A chair. That’s the image I […]