Gospel.com Blog

The Answers in Genesis website has gotten a major facelift, which coincides with their new print & television campaign. Read the details of the redesign here, or just stop by the main site to have a look at what’s new.

Should you have a TV in the house? If so, where’s the line between an acceptable amount of TV-watching, and too much? Does exposure to TV and other media have a negative influence on us?

You’ve probably had to confront these questions in your own life–but when you’re a parent, these issues become especially important. Recent studies claim that entertainment media can have a major influence on kids’ attitudes and behaviors. What’s a parent to do?

There may not be a set-in-stone rule about how much TV you should let your kids watch, but an article at the Mothers of Preschoolers ministry offers some guidelines for making wise decisions about your kids’ television privileges.

Have you ever had a “close call” in your life–a time that somebody came through for you unexpectedly in a time of need, or when events conspired to keep you from harm or guide a decision you were trying to make? Did you dismiss those moments as coincidences… or did you suspect God’s protective hand in them? In his latest Nehemiah Notes column, Blaine Smith talks about the ways that God protects and guides us–sometimes when we don’t even realize He’s doing so.

The Bible League just launched a new website–The Russia We Saw, where over the next several weeks they’ll be sharing a unique glimpse of Russia as seen through the eyes of a ministry team that traveled all across the country.

The first chapter of the journal is online now, providing the travelers’ initial impressions in Russia–both of its rich history and of the spiritual need that exists there. Check back regularly, as they’ll be updating the site with new journal entries and photos throughout coming weeks.

What do our iPods say about us? In a new article over the Online Pulpit, Craig Loscalzo muses about what he sees as the “iPodization” of our culture. Specifically, he wonders if gadgets like the iPod–and other “do it yourself” services and items–can subtly cause us to withdraw into our own self-made circles without making an effort to participate in the society around us.

With our increasingly do-it-yourself lifestyles, do we risk retreating into our own private worlds and away from the people around us? Or is he reading too much into these trends? Read Loscalzo’s article and see what you think.

A year ago, millions of lives were thrown into turmoil when Hurricane Katrina struck, driving people from their homes and wreaking havoc on New Orleans. InterVarsity staff were in the area at the time doing ministry work–and one year later, their ministry continues, and has even been revitalized by the tremendous challenges posed by the hurricane’s aftermath:

“It’s actually opening up good opportunities for us to do ministry in a different way,” [IV staffer Myron Crockett] says. “And to be more intricately involved in campus activities and reach out to more people.” […] As a native New Orleanian, Myron identifies with the loss and emptiness of the students. “Every area that I grew up in has been devastated,” he says. He’s heard professors comment “students are here physically, but they are vacant on the inside.”

Read the full account of the work that Crockett and others are doing to reach out to people still reeling from last year’s devastation.

Over at Uplook Ministries, Jabe Nicholson has a new post discussing the evangelism implications of recent immigration numbers. With the rise in immigration to the United States (up 16% since 2000, according to one study) comes an increased opportunity and responsibility for Christians to respond with the Gospel. Nicholson challenges us to raise our churches’ awareness of the spiritual needs of immigrants living in our own communities.

You’re not likely to hear many sermons about the importance of protecting church property and safeguarding the congregation. But the days are over when you could leave the church building unlocked overnight–with many churches sporting high-end equipment like computers and organs, your church can’t afford to ignore issues of safety and protection.

So suggests Jeff Hanna in an article at the Church Emergency Network. Hanna lays out a plan for protecting your church and (more importantly) the staff and congregation members who gather there. He suggests appointing a ministry team to take responsibility for safety questions. Read the article and consider whether your church is doing everything it can to keep its people and equipment safe.

Christians place a great deal of importance on evangelism and missionary work. But have you ever stopped to ask yourself why we evangelize?

In a recent article at byFaith Online, Sam Logan of Westminster Theological Seminary takes a look at that question, and suggests that the reason why we do something can have a serious impact on how we go about doing it. So why does Logan think we should evangelize?

An easy answer is, “Because God requires it.” While this is a true answer, it is rarely the one given or suggested by missions committees or by missionaries on furlough or by those who challenge us, in Christ’s name, to be more active in the work of evangelism. We are often asked probing questions about the extent of our love for our neighbors or our family members or even distant men, women, and children who will go to hell without the gospel. But these challenges, well-intentioned though they may be, do not lead us to the best answer to the question, “Why?”

A better answer for the “Why” question can be found in church history and in our understanding of who God is. Read the full article for Logan’s observations.

Kim Davidson’s eating disorder had gotten completely out of control. It wasn’t just an unpleasant habit–it was a monster controlling her life. But when she accepted Christ and became a Christian, she learned that she couldn’t give full control of her life to Christ while also letting bulimia control her mind and body.

What lay ahead for Kim wasn’t pleasant; it was a harrowing struggle to break free of her eating disorder. But in the process of that battle, she learned that God was greater than her eating disorder, and that Christ offers hope even in the face of overpowering addiction. If you struggle with an eating disorder or another unhealthy habit, read about the spiritual steps Kim followed to break free, and consider applying the same approach to your own life.