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Scripture gives us this command: “Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). “All” includes exercise—so I ride my bike to God’s glory, and worship Him while joyfully playing tennis and snorkeling. My thanks to David Mathis, author of A Little Theology of Exercise: Enjoying Christ in Body and Soul, for giving us five helpful reminders in this new year about how to glorify God through our exercise.

The Heaven that now exists, called the present Heaven, is where God dwells with His people and angels and the living creatures. It is where His throne is located, and hence, it is the location from which He governs the universe. The present Heaven is a place free from the curse, without sin, death, and suffering.

How many of us Christians hope God will guard us from calamity and misery, while every day we make small, seemingly inconsequential immoral choices that inch us toward bigger immoralities?

One of the greatest books I’ve ever read is J. I. Packer’s Knowing God. Knowing God came out in 1973, when Nanci and I were in our first year at Bible college. We read it right away.  It was an instant classic. (Nanci reread it when she had cancer and got even more out of it then.)

Almost three years ago, I did a blog on Robert Wolgemuth’s insightful book Finish Line: Dispelling Fear, Finding Peace, and Preparing for the End of Your Life. Now Robert has lived out what he wrote about, having entered the presence of Jesus on January 10.

Thousands of people around the world die for Christ each year, and God knows the story of each one. We are to “Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body” (Hebrews 13:3).

I find that any day I haven’t contemplated Scripture and worshiped my Lord, my happiness invariably diminishes. I tend to be impatient, critical, self-centered, and unhappy. Something’s wrong—and that something is the lack of God’s fresh infusion of grace through His Word.

Like many, I was heartbroken over the news that highly respected Christian author Philip Yancey, now 76 years old, was involved in an 8-year adulterous relationship. Every time this happens it stings, but it stings worse with the many I have known personally.

When unbelievers witnessed the generosity and joy of the early believers, they saw how they loved one another, and many came to faith. Their open hands and genuine happiness demonstrated the life-changing power of the gospel.

There is only one objective point of origin for any human being, only one point at which there was not a person a moment ago, and there is now. That point is conception—which science clearly shows is the moment when a new, utterly unique human being—a person—comes into existence.

Our ministry is often contacted by those who are grieving, looking for guidance after a loved one’s death. One reader shared that a family member had given her a modified version of the poem “Immortality.” Unfortunately, the poem dismisses not only the full reality of death, but also the God-given human emotions associated with it. 

“In all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). Faith is like a forward memory, allowing us to believe as if what is promised has already happened. One day we will see how Romans 8:28 was true all along.

This article from Taylor Combs, lead pastor of King’s Cross Church in Nashville, Tennessee, encourages us to process our thoughts in a healthy way that honors Jesus, rather than getting stuck in over-processing or rumination. There’s lot of wisdom here to consider.

Last month I spoke on generosity, happiness, and Heaven at my home church, Good Shepherd Community Church. This is a message that’s close to my heart.