Posts by Forrest McPhail
Come Alive by Listening to the Dead
Can we communicate with the dead? A lot of people seem to think so. They go to graves, make social media posts to deceased loved ones, perform rituals, and worship ancestors. Christians should know that direct communication with the dead is impossible. Trying to do so is sin against God (Lev. 20:6; Deut. 18:10-11; 1 Sam. 28:3).…
Read MoreSurrendering Our Rights for the Sake of the Gospel
The Apostle Paul urged us as disciples of Jesus Christ to lay down our rights. He argued that a lifestyle that assumed self-sacrifice was fundamental to making disciples. ln 1 Corinthians 9, Paul provides an extended section of instruction for ministry workers and the churches that support them. A major emphasis in the chapter is…
Read MoreRediscovering Depth in Authentic Friendships
I don’t know what you are hearing, but I feel like I am constantly hearing two complaints from young adults today: 1) Loneliness is a huge problem; 2) Young adults greatly desire serious friendships and mentors. One would think that, if so many young men and women are lonely and desirous of friendships with depth…
Read MoreLimited in Strength? Learn from the Angels
The elderly prophet Daniel confessed to the angel before him that he was utterly spent. He had no strength to receive the vision the angel came to give him in answer to his prayers. He was in pain, overwhelmed, maybe very troubled in his spirit. And he was strengthened. We read of this account in Daniel…
Read MoreGlobe-trekkers and the Elusiveness of Peace and Contentment
One year off for vacation? Really? Yes. The young couple next to me on the van taxi from Cambodia’s capital to our provincial city was on a one-year vacation. They had already been all over South America and were now touring through Asia. We have met quite a few Europeans vacationing in Cambodia (Tourism continues…
Read MoreHow Dedicated to Jesus Christ Am I, Really?
What images come to your mind when you hear or see the word “dedication?” What people immediately come to mind? Athletes? Military special forces? Perhaps godly parents. Certain missionaries past or present might be in your mind’s eye. Why did these people come to mind? What is it about them that describes them as dedicated?…
Read MoreThe Powerful & Permanent Tool of Language
From Creation until the Tower of Babel incident recorded in Genesis 11 (around 2200 B.C.), mankind had one language and culture. When God confused mankind’s language, it meant that He created the beginnings of the major language families. Some studies list 14 major language families.1 Others identify between 75 and 150 language families as the…
Read MoreChristians Who Feel They Don’t Need Church Anymore
I have met Christians that conclude that they don’t need the local church anymore. They might watch services online, listen to sermon podcasts, or read Christian books, and/or worship alone or as a family, but when it comes to being a part of local church life, they avoid it. You might be one of these.…
Read MoreSending You Good Vibes
Social media can provide serious insight into people’s lives. Obviously, social media has a very selective approach to communication, as we post only what we want others to see, but even with all its limitations, social media still provides a window into the soul of its users. Those of us who post on social media…
Read MoreLove Me, Love My Food
As a cross-cultural missionary, I have travelled to a lot of churches. I am usually there to present our burden to take part in what God is doing in a place far less-reached with the Gospel, as well as reporting on past and present ministry there. Churches often ask us to stand in the foyer…
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