How we think about God and our world is critical for living in the story He has for us. These articles by Ron Tewson will challenge you to consider and reconsider your understanding of God,  deepen your faith, and build your confidence.

I’ve heard the narrative for years that most who come to faith in Jesus do so by the age of 20. One respected organization reports that  u nbelieving adults, 19 and over, have just a 6% probability of ever becoming Christians. This has led to a plethora of activity by churches and parachurch organizations to reach those in grade school through college before it’s too late. While this is good, it raises a question: with nearly 90% of all evangelistic training, resources, and e

There’s something in all of us that wants to be right: to win! We’re competitive, and good-natured bantering can be great sport: Which team will win the Super Bowl? Who makes the best pizza? What is the best pickup truck? But when the emotion meter rises, we can find ourselves in an all-out argument that is more about winning  than enjoying those we’re with. I’m sure we all know, by experience, that this can lead to hurt feelings and damaged relationships. When it comes to th

I was at a table with a few Christian guys the other day, and when the topic of engaging with non-Christians about Jesus came up, one of them said, “I never talk with anyone about Jesus: I’m a silent witness.” I’d heard that before, but this time it got me thinking.   This idea of being a silent witness has become common among Christians, with the support coming from a statement attributed to St. Francis of Assisi in the 13th century: “Preach the gospel at all times. Use word

In the 1993 film What’s Eating Gilbert Grape , Gilbert (Johnny Depp) feels a heavy burden of responsibility for his single-parent mother and three siblings. When he gets distracted and fails to see that his mentally impaired younger brother, Arnie (Leonardo DiCaprio) is put to bed, his mother scolds, “Gilbert, you gotta do better.” This is a recurring tension throughout the movie: you gotta do better.         The core of every religion is that you “gotta do better” if you wan

Many of our nation's values are deeply rooted in Christianity and the teachings of Jesus. Christians seeking religious freedom were among the early arrivals to America, and their influence played a big part in the formation of social and civil practices. Its influence was so great that the United States came to be known as a Christian nation.      Much has changed over the years, yet family background and social environment continue to influence many in their support of Chris

When we read of humanity's creation in the opening chapters of Genesis, we find it was God's masterpiece. The hands, feet, eyes, ears, and other parts of His brilliant design walked and worked in unity with Him. Unlike divinity, humanity had limitations: it required sleep, food, care, security, and interaction with other humans. But this wasn't a problem because it lived in complete harmony with God.      But the story took a turn when evil entered the world and that harmony

A couple of years ago, my wife and I were thinking about making some changes to our kitchen—relocating a few of the cabinets, replacing some drawer fronts, creating more counter space, and painting. Things were going well, but when we "differed" on the layout of one of the corners, I found myself thinking, "What would Jesus do?" I was sure He'd side with me since we'd both been carpenters, but as my mind quickly scrolled through the Gospels, I couldn't think of a single examp

Giving back has gained popularity in America over the past few decades . Businesses create opportunities for their employees—regardless of title or position—to engage in serving  their communities through things like picking up street trash, cleaning city parks, or serving food to the under-resourced. After a few hours of much-appreciated service, shoes and shirts are changed and everyone heads back to their regular jobs.   Candidates running for public office are often film

The man who had a profound influence on my life as a young follower of Jesus introduced me to the Five M's. I share them here with the hope it will challenge you as it has me for the past 40 years. It goes like this:   When God has something He wants done, he starts by choosing a M an (person): man, woman, or even child. How He goes about His choosing is not always clear, but everything starts with a person.   Next, God gives that M an a M essage: there's something important

Growing up as a child, it seemed I was always being told NOT to do something, and the real zinger was when my parents would add, " Because the Bible says so ." While today I understand the wisdom of many of those don'ts , back then it felt like the Bible was a giant book of rules bent on sucking the fun from my life.     As I got older, I learned to manipulate the system by asking, "What's wrong with it?" I wanted chapter and verse, and if there was none to be found, I'd fe

The effect of Christianity on American culture has made it one of the most humanitarian-conscious countries in the world. While Hindu cultures view suffering as a way to atone for past wrongs and should be allowed to continue, those influenced by the teachings of Jesus emphasize compassion for human life. That's why you see churches and Christian organizations at the forefront of disaster relief, orphan care, and medical aid for the poor and disadvantaged. It's the way of J

This morning I was reading Matthew 23, and by the time I got to the end I found myself saying, "I don't want to be a Pharisee!" And for good reason: Jesus reserved some of His choicest words for this group of religious elitists, calling them out for: loving titles and places of honor more than loving God (vs 6-7) leading people to hell in the name of religion (v15) focusing on the mundane while missing the things that really matter (v24) being consumed with outward appearance

The other day I read an article that opened with these words: "Churches must work to restore healthy marriages and fatherhood to combat a growing decline in Christianity, according to a survey released by a faith-based group." The article went on to detail how the decline in resident fatherhood and the collapse of marriage are the likely explanations for the increase in religious non-affiliation throughout the United States. While this is certainly bad news, it also reflects

Two thousand years ago, Jesus threw down the gauntlet and issued a challenge: Let no one be left unreached. Go, therefore, and make followers of Me in all the nations… Matthew 28:18 This commission…this GREAT commission…reflects God's heart for people in every corner of the planet. It’s what drives churches and mission organizations to take the message of Jesus around the globe. People groups is a term used to distinguish various peoples of the world. A people group i

It's common these days to find a plethora of books, podcasts, and seminars on the subject of defending the faith. The world's a tough place, and we'd better be armed to the teeth if we're going to engage in conversations about Jesus. Right? But all too often, we find ourselves doing a lot more defending than advancing . "Things are harder today than they used to be ," we say. "We've got the internet, advancements in science, and people trusting human reasoning more than God.

If you’re alive in the 21st century, you know it’s open season on framing Christians as judgmental, bigoted, and homophobic because of their positions on hot-button issues. And it's not just a gentle disagreement; it's an all-out vitriol of demonization. So is it true? Is disagreeing the same as judging? The other day, I saw someone toss a fast-food bag from a moving car and immediately thought, “That’s wrong.” And while I didn’t like it, its wrongness had nothing to do with

From earliest childhood we find ourselves searching for an affirmation of value. “Look at me” we cry. “See how high I can jump!” We all want to matter.   Organizations have surfaced over the years to raise the value of people groups by the changing and enforcing of laws, which can be good. But it can also be a slippery slope because when human value is measured by the metrics of ever-changing cultures, it is only as secure as the next election cycle, military coup, or rising

Miller Brewing Company launched an advertising campaign in 1973 that introduced a new product to the beverage market: light beer. It had fewer calories and carbs, but would it taste as good? The advertising featured athletes and celebrities bantering over whether it was the new beer’s taste or caloric lightness that made it so good. It became one of the most successful advertising campaigns in history, making “Great taste…Less filling” an iconic slogan. Discipleship has bec

The other day I watched the Jesus Revolution movie and found it affecting me far more than I had expected. I was living in the San Francisco area when it all started, and the ripples of that movement changed me forever. So regardless of how many stars you give the film, one thing stands out: it was a conversation-fueled revolution. Most churches find themselves on an endless quest to discover the latest methods for drawing people to Jesus. I spent hundreds of hours as a pa

I've read plenty of Shakespeare over the years, and there’s a phrase you’ve probably heard that comes from a monologue in his play, As You Like It: "All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players." The character is saying everyone is playing a part in the unfolding drama of life. They enter through birth and exit through death. So if we're all players on the stage of life, the obvious question is simple, yet profound: Who is the audience? One of the thing