“You have heard it said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:43-4).   A man by the name of Michael Sattler, a devoted Anabaptist in the 16th century, was captured by the Roman Catholic authorities and martyred for his faith in Christ Jesus. He told his friends that while he was being burned at the ...  Read More

“For our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens” (Ephesians 6:12).   America was the shining land across the sea. That’s how many people who came over from the “old world” thought of the nation. It was a shining beacon of hope—a lighthouse in a dim world. ...  Read More

“Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them” (Romans 12:14).   Can you imagine your parent, your friend, your spouse, anyone, leading you into the woods and leaving you there just as the sound of howling wolves echoes through the trees? They bring you into the forest and leave you alone while a pack of wolves is on the hunt.  This is often what it feels like when we think of facing...  Read More

“According to the grace given to us, we have different gifts: If prophecy, use it according to the standard of one’s faith; if service, in service; if teaching, in teaching; if exhorting, in exhortation; giving, with generosity; leading, with diligence; showing mercy, with cheerfulness” (Romans 12:6-8).   What do you love to do? What is it that gets you excited about life? God has gifted you with ...  Read More

“Now as we have many parts in one body, and all the parts do not have the same function, in the same way we who are many are one body in Christ and individually members of one another” (Romans 12:4-5).   Can you imagine what it would’ve looked like to see Jesus walking from town to town with His disciples? A fisherman, a tax collector, shepherds, and misfits—they must have been quite the crew to s...  Read More

“For by the grace given to me, I tell everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he should think. Instead, think sensibly, as God has distributed a measure of faith to each one” (Romans 12:3).   If you could choose one person, or even a group of people, who has helped you become who you are today, could you pick them out? Can you think of the people who have been the most influent...  Read More