Conviction vs. Guilt: Is there a difference?

Conviction and guilt often get placed into the same basket, along with shame. But do they belong together? I don't think they do. Guilt is a method of control, no matter what form it may take. It is used by people to convince or drive people into doing, being, or saying what they think is...

Normal Jesus. Strange People.

Normal Jesus. I've always been struck by the fact that Jesus is a normal guy, like me and you. He isn't always this shining, full of radiance and glory entity that many of us imagine him to be. In fact, I'm willing to say that more times than not, he's like a buddy watching the...

Guilt, Shame, and Panic: Are they justified?

“How dangerous a master human emotion is!”  ― Watchman Nee We've all been there: you wake on Saturday after sleeping in a bit from a hard week at work. You wake up, grab some coffee, maybe spend some time with Jesus for awhile, and realize you have nothing to do for the day (or you just...

A Statement of Our True Identity (and the flu of the church)

"You aren't, but I am." If you have been a Christian for any length of time you may have felt the Lord saying this to you one way or another. Now, this is a very true statement, and I know for me, He has said it many times. He seems to say it to me...

Denominations: Division in the Body of Christ

Have you ever drove around your city or town and discovered how many different "flavors" of Christianity there are? Have you ever counted the number of churches you pass by driving down the road? Or wondered why there are different churches right across the street from one another, sometimes even three or four? Have you...