How we can bring Heaven down this Christmas
Because Jesus was born over 2,000 years ago, the world has never been the same. As you wrap up 2022 and make plans for 2023, I encourage you to ask God how He wants to use you to partner with Him!
Miles G. McPherson
Exclusive Columnist
Miles McPherson is the Senior Pastor of the Rock Church in San Diego. He is also a motivational speaker and author. McPherson's latest book “The Third Option” speaks out about the pervasive racial divisions in today’s culture and argues that we must learn to see people not by the color of their skin, but as God sees them—humans created in the image of God.
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In this big US city, 1 out of 4 people have food insecurity
Food insecurity may be a looming threat at the moment, but there is no way it can stand up to a united Church who knows its role in the world. We are called to make a difference, and through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can see our cities look more like Heaven.
What it means to have a heart for God's house
You can study the Bible all you want, but if you do not do what God says, you are not living out true faith. True faith is not just about information; it is about action!
For the sake of the Kingdom, we will be doers of the Word
God has sent the Church into a world that is in critical condition, but how often do we ask ourselves if the Church is actually helping? How often do we stand there with our Bibles and our theology and not actually do something to serve the world in practical ways?
This July Fourth, remember the victims of sex trafficking
As we contemplate and celebrate our spiritual and physical freedom over the month of July, take a moment to pray and ask God what He would like you to do with that freedom. Christ set us free for something — so that we would use our freedom to serve each other out of love and grow in deeper levels of freedom each day through the Holy Spirit.
Choosing to be in community, even if you've been hurt
Being made in God’s image has many implications, one of which is that human beings are uniquely designed to have dominion over the earth. But note that the passage states, “Let Us make man in Our image.”
How Martin Luther King Jr. inspired this boy growing up with racial wounds
This quote from Martin Luther King Jr. has truly marked my life. As a young boy, I incurred all kinds of wounds related to racism. Because I grew up in a racially diverse family, I never fell comfortably into any one racial category in the eyes of others.
Christmas spirit: I can't shake this boy's selflessness
As I reflected on this story after the event, I was so moved by this little boy’s self-sacrifice that I couldn’t shake it.
Finding sincere gratitude amid a hard year
The Bible makes it really clear that there is a direct correlation between gratitude and generosity. Before Jesus fed the multitude, he gave thanks for the five loaves of bread and two fish that he had in his possession (John 6:11). He modeled what it looks like to give thanks to the Father and give generously from a place of faith.
Racism and police: What a father of a black officer has to say
Both of my grandfathers were black, while one of my grandmothers was white and the other was black and Chinese. I also grew up in two very racially distinct neighborhoods. The area that I lived in was 95% black, but the neighborhood in which I attended school was 100% white. I was criticized for both being black and for not being black enough.
Back to school amid trauma and division
Our world is flooded with trauma, injustice and division, and sending our kids back to school in the midst of this polarized cultural moment can feel a bit like we are sending them to the front lines of war. Will our kids be able to withstand the cultural pressures they face in the classroom?
From iconic strip club to Freedom Center
Through God’s grace, the help of several investors, and too many miracle stories to count, our church was recently able to acquire and permanently shut down one of San Diego’s most iconic and long-standing strip clubs that was for sale.
If 424,000 kids were roaming the streets, would you help?
If 424,000 children were wandering our neighborhoods and streets in need of food and shelter, I imagine that many of us would respond immediately. We would open our homes for the night and provide a temporary shelter for these children.
Chauvin verdict and racial reconciliation as God's agenda
Personally, God has led me on a journey of healing my own pain due to racism. As I received clarity on the underlying causes of racial division and chose forgiveness and honor even when it felt recklessly selfless to do so, I have felt liberated and empowered. And I have become more and more deeply convinced of something I already knew. Racial reconciliation is God’s agenda.
The question I keep asking myself
This is why I keep asking myself the question, “How do you tell a story that has been told for over two thousand years?” Not because this story needs any more fluff or impressive details, and not because it needs a cool new set design or stage effects. We don’t need a better story; we as Christians need to be better listeners.
Crossing the road of racial divide
Importantly, Black History Month is about more than just a month, and it is about more than just history. Black History Month is about our future.
What do Dior Air Jordans have to do with being a peacemaker?
What do Air Jordans and the NBA have to do with being a peacemaker, you ask? During this intensely divided political moment, it is more important than ever that Christians recognize the power of introducing a different set of rules to the game.
Why Christmas?
So, how should we react to a difficult year? What if our response wasn’t merely attempting to cover up the pain, but to view God in light of who He is in all His goodness and then respond accordingly?
Your candidate won or lost. Now what?
But it’s time for believers to show our true “color,” and it’s not red or blue. It’s the color of the Kingdom.
Red or blue, what would Jesus do?
What would His reaction be to this election season? He would model how to love those who vote differently. He would demonstrate love with those who have opposing beliefs.
