No matter who our therapist is, which philosophy we believe, whether our government is liberal or conservative or fascist or democratic, we all keep failing to do the right thing, to live the right way. We know what we should do. But we don't do it.
How can we explain that?
The Bible's explanation is that human hearts are sinful. But more than that, the Bible tells us that we have become slaves to sin. |
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"For the word of God is alive and active." — Hebrews 4:12 God's Word is alive no matter where it's read, even inside a prison cell. Think of the hope that floods in as an incarcerated man or woman reads about God's grace, forgiveness, and love. That's the life-changing moment you can create. Partner with Prison Fellowship to send a Bible to a prisoner and spark a transformational encounter with Jesus. |
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Bible News The latest Bible-related and Bible-adjacent news |
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October 15 — NASA's James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has revealed a vast and intricate universe, capturing tens of thousands of galaxies in a single image. While its discoveries may instill humility in regard to humanity's smallness in the cosmos, they also testify to the wonder expressed in biblical passages such as Psalm 8:3-8. The paradox of an infinite Creator caring for finite beings underscores the miracle of divine grace, which reaches the pinnacle of its expression in the incarnation of Christ (Phil. 2:5-8). (BioLogos) |
| October 15 — Archaeologists in Turkey discovered 1,300-year-old carbonized communion bread stamped with an image of Jesus as a sower and a Greek inscription reading, "With gratitude to the blessed Jesus." Found in the ancient city of Eirenopolis, the bread's preservation was due to rare conditions, and its agrarian motif reflects the faith and labor of local Byzantine communities. Likely used liturgically, the bread offers insights into early Christian worship and daily life. (Aleteia) |
| October 15 — The State of the Bible report's latest chapter reveals divided perceptions of the Bible among U.S. adults. For instance, while 36% believe it is "totally accurate," 24% say it's "just another book." Although 18% think the Bible was written just to manipulate people, 58% (or 148 million people) say the Bible has transformed their lives. The study also highlights that Scripture-engaged individuals exhibit higher levels of trust in other people, families, and religious institutions. (Baptist Press and American Bible Society) |
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If we're honest, a lot of our attempts at trust look like mental gymnastics with occasional "Lord, help me" thrown in for good measure. We're trying to feel confident about our circumstances while our hearts are racing and our minds are cataloging everything that could go wrong.
Here's what's happening in those moments: We're trying to trust God with our circumstances without first remembering who God actually is. We're white-knuckling our way through trust as if it were something we could manufacture through sheer spiritual willpower.
But trust doesn't work that way. We keep asking, "Can I trust God with this?" when perhaps the better question is: "Who is God, really?" |
| Three years ago, I got news from my doctor that punched me in the gut. "I believe you have a degenerative neurological disorder," he said. "Somewhere in the family of Parkinson's."
My wife Jill and I walked out of the doctor's office, sat in my truck, and cried for what felt like forever.
By the time I got home, I was done. I didn't want to see anyone, hear from anyone, or receive any encouraging texts from friends. I just wanted to sit on my back patio and be alone.
I gave up on trusting God. I gave up on my future dreams. And I gave up on community.
Maybe you know how that feels. When life knocks you down, getting back up can seem impossible. Those are the moments we need our friends and family the most. However, unfortunately, they also tend to be the moments we run away from our community instead of running toward it. |
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