Category: Spiritual Life

What the Bible Teaches About Fasting

Starting last night and continuing into this evening a group of Biola students has gathered together to fast and pray. These precious students wanted to fast and call out to God to do a work of the Holy Spirit on Biola’s campus during the coming year. But they wanted to know what the Bible taught … Continue reading What the Bible Teaches About Fasting

Why Translators Shouldn’t Translate “Walk” as “Live” in Ephesians 4-5

Recent Bible translations have increasingly opted to translate the Greek word peripateo, whenever it is used metaphorically to describe one’s way of life, with the English word “live.”  The other option at translators’ disposal is to retain the metaphor and translate it into English as “walk.”  The motivation for the decision to translate with the … Continue reading Why Translators Shouldn’t Translate “Walk” as “Live” in Ephesians 4-5

If You Could Do It Differently: Tim Keller and Sinclair Ferguson Respond

“If you could go back in time to when you were in your 30s, is there anything you would do differently with the wisdom you have now?”  This question-from-the-floor was addressed to Tim Keller and Sinclair Ferguson (moderated by Peter Lillback) at a Q&A session held this past Spring at Westminster Theological Seminary.  It was … Continue reading If You Could Do It Differently: Tim Keller and Sinclair Ferguson Respond

Listening and Instructing in Counseling: How Much of Each?

I’m not writing this post as a counselor, but rather as a student of the Bible.  Today I’m less interested in what is effective in counseling, though that is certainly a worthwhile inquiry (even if it should be pursued by someone more qualified than I).  Today I want to investigate whether the Bible has anything … Continue reading Listening and Instructing in Counseling: How Much of Each?

Revival Without the Bible Won’t Last

In 1859 and then again in 1904 a deep and penetrating work of the Holy Spirit engulfed the country of Wales. Wales had already seen many other periods when God had moved in revival—perhaps more than any geographical location in the history of Christianity. But these two spiritual awakenings were two of the most significant. … Continue reading Revival Without the Bible Won’t Last

How God Awakened my Friend to the Grace of God and the Transformative Power of the Bible

Here is a powerful testimony from my friend, Dale Schneeberger, of how God worked a personal revival in his own life through a dream and his subsequent immersion in the Word of God.  I'm confident that you will find Dale's testimony inspiring, soul-searching, and, perhaps for some of you, life-changing.  I print it here with … Continue reading How God Awakened my Friend to the Grace of God and the Transformative Power of the Bible

Spiritual Tools for Car Trouble on Vacations

“It wouldn’t be a Berding vacation without car trouble!”  So remarked one of my adult daughters two days ago just after her tire shredded on the California freeway on our way to a family vacation at Lake Arrowhead.  Unbelievably, this is family vacation seven (yes, #7!) in which we’ve found ourselves in an auto shop.  … Continue reading Spiritual Tools for Car Trouble on Vacations

Hidden Agendas in Worship Leading

I recently led a seminar for students at Biola who are studying to become church worship leaders entitled:  “Hidden Agendas in Worship Leading.”  I had them break into groups and discuss what sorts of hidden motivations sometimes lie under the surface in the process of planning and implementing times of worship.  When we came back … Continue reading Hidden Agendas in Worship Leading

Psychiatric Diagnoses and Psychoactive Medications: A Short Book Review

What do you do when someone in your church tells you that he or she has been diagnosed with _____________ (fill-in-the-blank) psychiatric disorder?  How do you respond when you learn that he or she has already begun taking a psychoactive medication to alleviate the problem?  How should a regular Christian evaluate psychiatric diagnoses and appraise … Continue reading Psychiatric Diagnoses and Psychoactive Medications: A Short Book Review