Tribulation Is Part Of God’s Plan For Believers

by Kevin Burton    I just created my 32nd set of memory verses. On a good day I can recite most of the verses on the first try. But today my mind is on one I would rather forget.    Acts 14:22 is the fourth verse in the set I have on index cards with …

What Is Your Spiritual Plus-Minus Today?

by Kevin Burton    Today my reading of an Alistair Begg message has me thinking about basketball?    Basketball, really?    Begg is the speaker on the Truth for Life radio ministry. I get an e-mail from that website every day with some kind of message – a challenge, encouragement, call to joyfulness – all …

The Spirit’s Awesome Work Of Sanctification

by Dane Massey    (Dane Massey is the former Pastor of Mulvane Christian Church. He is now in ministry in Houston, Texas.)      Been thinking on the work of the Spirit in our lives as we “work out our salvation with fear and trembling.”      “Therefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not …

What To Think Of A “Check Please” Christian

by Kevin Burton    God knows this, so you might as well know it too.     Right now, you could call me a “check please” Christian.    You get the reference, right?  In American situation comedies there is this line that writers use. I’ve seen the line delivered over and over in any number of …

Forget Self-Help, Seek God’s Heart Surgery

by Dane Massey    (Dane Massey is the former Pastor of Mulvane Christian Church. He is now in ministry in Houston, Texas.)       Spent this week thinking about the personal words that describe the Gospel.  Words that describe what happens inwardly when one enters into the Gospel of Christ, the power of God unto …

Weighing Philippians 1:21 “To Live Is Christ”

by Kevin Burton    When people think of you, what comes first to their mind? Or asked another way, what should  go into the first paragraph of your obituary?    I’m asking these questions today in the context of devotion to Christ, and Phil. 1:21 where the Apostle Paul writes “For to me to live …

Lessons In Life, Death And A Glorious Hope

by Kevin Burton    In a nursing home there is life and there is death. Both are palpable, as ever before. But in all our salad days, we didn’t notice.    We were young, we were strong, energetic and smart. We were even hip, and sophisticated – well not quite sophisticated – but surely driving …

Jesus Can Heal Your Hurt, Even Church Hurt

by Kevin Burton    I have a friend, more of a Facebook friend really, who I wish would read these words. Chances are, you know someone is her position.    The person I am thinking of could not be any more dynamic, energetic, positive, intelligent. Some people just have that charisma that makes them stand …

Be Thankful To God, Stop Complaining

by Kevin Burton    I caught myself in a lie last week. Christmas music, in a manner of speaking, revealed it to me.    Stay with me here.    I have heard people talk about when it was OK to begin playing Christmas music each year, after Thanksgiving, end of November, whatever. But I haven’t …

Christmas “Reax”: Go Now, With Haste

by Kevin Burton    Christmas is about the birth of Jesus Christ, the long-awaited Savior of the world. We wrap it in things that don’t matter a whit. But Jesus is the whole story.    He’s the whole story all the time by the way, not just at Christmas.     The story of the birth …