Jesus speaks to his disciples and explains that if they really want to follow him, it’s going to be hard. It’s going to be harder than they could imagine. He explains in verse Mark 8:34, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow... [More]

Will you take a short survey and tell me what issues/topics you would like to hear about from the Bible? Our approach to sermon selection comes primarily through an attempt to preach exegetically through books at a time. We also try and balance between the Old and New Testaments... [More]

I was recently contacted by a doctoral candidate at the University of Texas who is looking for willing participants to take part in a survey he plans to use to show the affect of faith on mental health. I took the survey and it took me about 20 minutes. If you would like to participate,... [More]

Someone recently sent me an email that told the story of an old man who frequently went out onto a pier by the water to feed seagulls. People saw and thought of him as an odd old man, perhaps even sad, doing that as often as he did. But as the story unfolded we learn that this... [More]

Jesus commissions his disciples into service. He commissions us to work alongside him in the work that he himself is doing. Sometimes it doesn’t end up exactly as we think it should. I’m sure it would be much easier for God to do the work himself. Instead, he chooses to include... [More]

And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. - Jesus (Lk 11:9-10) In the context of teaching his disciples... [More]

The journey of Christian faith often costs a lot. But we find at the end more than we expect; more than we might hope for or imagine. As we look at these two case studies – the synagogue ruler, Jairus, and the bleeding woman – we get a picture of what the path of faith looks... [More]

In order to do some “hands-on” application of looking through a Biblical worldview, please send me (via reply, comment, or direct email) current movies, TV shows, books, and/or music that you or friends are currently watching/reading/listening to. We’ll use... [More]

Got an email from Ben Homan (Food for the Hungry) and wanted to pass it along that you might be encouraged and pray with specifics regarding Haiti. Hi there Carter, Hope you are well. Typing here at 30,000+ feet, en route to Haiti.  I will try to send this on one of my layovers.... [More]

The more fear we have, the less faith we have. The less fear we have, the more faith we have. That being the case, it only makes sense that we would strive to have a great faith. Nobody wants fear to rule over them. But what happens when the thing in which your faith rests shows... [More]