Christian Living

Christian Living helps you follow Jesus in the everyday moments—at home, at work, and in your relationships. Here you’ll find practical, biblically grounded articles on spiritual growth, prayer, discipleship, character, and making wise decisions in a complicated world. Explore guidance for living with grace and truth, building healthy habits, navigating suffering and joy, and pursuing holiness without losing compassion. Whether you’re new to faith or have walked with Christ for years, these resources are designed to encourage you, challenge you, and equip you to live a life that reflects the gospel in real life.

September 7, 2008

Christian Standard

Worth the Wait: The Power of Patience

By Victor M. Parachin Agitated that the driver of the car in front of her didn”t go when the light turned green, a woman began screaming and making obscene gestures. Finally, after the light turned yellow, the first driver suddenly accelerated through the intersection, leaving the woman to wait for another green light. The woman was still screaming and pounding her steering wheel when a police officer, with gun drawn, arrested her. After she was searched, photographed, fingerprinted, and placed in a cell for an hour, the same officer came to release her. But first he offered an explanation. “I

September 7, 2008

Christian Standard

Getting There Is Worth the Cost

By Gary L. Johnson Did you ever think gasoline would sell for more than $4 a gallon? The increasing cost of fuel is having an impact on driving habits. In particular, many rethought summer travel plans because of fuel costs. Long-distance travel plans were canceled. Maps were put away in favor of staying close to home. The value of a vacation wasn”t as great as the cost of getting there. Regretfully, some churches are making a “change in their travel plans” by not practicing strategic planning. “Moving” the local church strategically to a distant point in the future doesn”t happen

August 24, 2008

Christian Standard

Masculinity, Femininity, and Church Leadership

By Kelvin Jones The rise of secular feminism has made the subject of church leadership a sensitive one. The feminist movement entered the mainstream in the 1960s and rightly criticized the failure of men to respect women. Yet feminism, lacking a biblical worldview, defined sexual equality as the removal of gender distinctions and rejected biblically grounded feminine identity and sexual morality. Searching for spirituality, many feminists have turned to neopaganism, and goddess worship is accepted in several liberal denominations. In contrast to the mainline denominations, the majority of evangelical churches and Christians are complementarian. They believe the Bible teaches that

August 24, 2008

Christian Standard

Life-Influencers

By Sam E. Stone When we read Paul”s list of greetings near the end of his letter to the church in Rome, we may be tempted to skip over the names (Romans 16:3-15; 21-24). Although we don”t know the people, each must have played an important role in the apostle”s life. He saw each one as he wrote the name. Remembering those who made a positive difference in your life can be valuable. Let me tell you about a few Christians who contributed to mine. They may remind you of folk who influenced you over the years, as well as

August 20, 2008

Christian Standard

A Week of Blessing for a Life of Grace

By Mark A. Taylor The words of the hymn filled the Cincinnati convention center on the evening of July 1: Come, thou fount of ev”ry blessing,   tune my heart to sing thy grace.   Several thousand who had gathered for the opening worship service of the 2008 North American Christian Convention sang from the heart. I joined them, moved by the blessing of being in their number.   Streams of mercy, never ceasing, call for songs of loudest praise.   If the hymn was unfamiliar to the younger ones there, older singers compensated. But “loudest praise” washed over us in

August 10, 2008

Christian Standard

I Choose Optimism

By Ken Idleman You”ve probably heard the story of the woman who had twin 10-year-old sons, one an incurable pessimist, the other a cockeyed optimist. One day, at her wit”s end, she asked a counselor for advice. Together they came up with this plan for the boys” birthday: get two refrigerator boxes and fill the pessimist”s box with a wonderful assortment of new toys, and the optimist”s box with manure. On the big day, the woman sent her boys to their separate rooms, where the boxes had been prepared. She shut their doors and then waited outside with the counselor

August 6, 2008

Christian Standard

Simply Challenging

By Mark A. Taylor Seldom does a gift-shop display demand a photo, but the irony in this one begged to be recorded. There, in the center of decorations, dinnerware, and every conceivable starred-and-striped Fourth of July doodad was a framed poster. Available for only $25.49, in hues of red, white, and blue, it sported only two words: “Live Simply.” It seems the American marketing machine can capitalize on any sentiment. This includes offering us ways to spend money promoting a philosophy that advocates spending less money. “What does it really mean to “˜live simply”?” I asked my traveling companion, when

June 29, 2008

Christian Standard

Small Things

By Joy Canning “Mom, what”s a bum?” asked my daughters, beginning one of those ill-timed but precious bedtime conversations. Apparently their music teacher warned them to pay attention in school or they would surely end up “bums” collecting cans from the garbage. We discussed what he might have meant by “bum,” and then it happened. In one of my most cherished moments as a parent, both girls decided the people they see collecting cans from the garbage are too hardworking to deserve the label of “bum.” I live for those moments””moments when the beauty of my daughters” hearts shapes their

June 25, 2008

Christian Standard

What Part of Speech Should “˜Christian” Be?

By Mark A. Taylor What does it mean to write a Christian novel? To do Christian service? To add one”s name to a directory of Christian businesses? Must a work of art or some other endeavor be called Christian to be Christian? And does that mean what we don”t call Christian, isn”t? Lynn Gardner and the writers he quotes this week assert that everything the Christian does should be for the glory of God. (Read “Wholehearted Christians.”) They would surely agree with Rob Bell who told an audience in April he believes Christian “is a bit dodgy as an adjective.

June 22, 2008

Christian Standard

Let There Be Peace

By Victor M. Parachin During one hot, dry summer in Southern California, a brush fire swept through Topanga Canyon, a suburb of Los Angeles, and destroyed 200 homes. Norman Vincent Peale, famed New York City minister and author, learned one of the burned homes belonged to a friend. Peale called him to offer sympathy: “I”m sorry to hear your house burned down.” Peale expected his friend would be traumatized by the fire and his losses, but was astonished that his friend sounded at peace with the tragedy. “Yes, the house did burn down,” he said, “but my wife and children

June 15, 2008

Christian Standard

I Can Still Hear His “˜Hallelujah!”

By Ben Cachiaras I recently heard a man explaining the origin of the word hallelujah, and it instantly triggered a powerful memory of my Grandpa Cachiaras. Hallelujah! That was his word. When I was little I thought he made it up. I thought he owned it. He would say it, shout it, and sing it all the time. He was a character. Anyone who passed through the halls of Minnesota Bible College between the years of 1919 and 1983 will tell you that. They heard him sing “Hallelujah” out loud, frequently””in the halls, in class, across the campus. He was

May 25, 2008

Christian Standard

Reclaiming Joy in Daily Life

By Victor M. Parachin While running errands one day, Kimberly Kirberger passed two teenagers holding a car wash sign. Her car was dirty, so she pulled over. While waiting in line, Kirberger was curious what motivated nearly 50 teenagers to devote an entire Saturday to washing cars. After her car was washed, she handed the teens a 20-dollar bill and asked what they were raising money for. They explained that a friend of theirs””C.T. Schmitz””had recently died of cancer. He was 15 years old, 6-feet-2, and had a lot of friends, all of whom described him as a “boy sweeter

March 23, 2008

Christian Standard

How to Maximize Your Power of Love

By Victor M. Parachin One day in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, a car was stolen. As the thieves began stripping the vehicle they came across papers identifying the owner as Fred Rogers, host of the children”s television program Mr. Rogers” Neighborhood. They quickly reassembled the car, cleaned and vacuumed it, and returned it with this handwritten note of apology under the wiper: “We”re sorry. We didn”t know it was your car.” Who else could have had such an effect on a group of thieves? What was it about Fred Rogers that could make criminals reconsider their actions? What did those thieves see

December 2, 2007

Christian Standard

Older and Wiser: Strutting or Striving7

By Gary Weedman Let”s face it. We live in a culture that exalts youth. Just look at the ads on TV. The only time you see an old person is when he or she is advertising another colored pill that will actually help you “feel young again.” Or, if you use this product, you”ll “look years younger.” Yet, there”s a certain irony, because the population in our nation is aging. The number of Americans 65 and older will double in the next 25 years. By the year 2030 there will be 71 million of us “senior citizens.” That”s one out

September 23, 2007

Doyle Roth

trip to Israel

Answered Prayer in the Holy Land

A Holy Land journey reconnects Scripture to place—from the Sea of Galilee to Jerusalem—while unexpected emergencies and answered prayers deepen the group’s understanding of God’s provision and the urgency of seeking the lost.

June 20, 2007

Mark A. Taylor

faithfulness without the spotlight

Are You Wonderful?

Empty praise wears thin. This reflection contrasts the world’s obsession with being “special” with the quiet call to faithfulness—and reminds us that everyday service, not spotlight status, is wonderful enough.

April 22, 2007

Lisa Jernigan

intentional acts of kindness

The Simplest of Things

A small act—like buying coffee for the car behind you—can spark a ripple of generosity. Lisa Jernigan urges readers to stop waiting, step into the arena, and let God multiply simple, faithful beginnings.

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