Blog, Podcast, YouTube, and Books by Ray Burns
Approximate Reading Time: 4 minutes Would you consider yourself a good person? I think for most of us, when we are asked the above question a natural inclination to justify our goodness begins flashing through our minds. We think of our good actions and the good things we have accomplished. We think about the times we have sacrificed for the […]
Am I a Good Person? Read More »
Approximate Reading Time: 4 minutesYou are dying. I am dying. We are dying. No matter how uncomfortable it is to think about death, the reality is that we are all dying. This is why Benjamin Franklin went on record saying, “In this world nothing can be said to be certain except death and taxes.” Even the Scriptures tell us
Death: Hope of Resurrection Read More »
Approximate Reading Time: 3 minutesDeath hurts. I’m not talking about the act of dying but the loss of someone you love when they die. It hurts when you lose someone. There is a swirling of emotions that we often describe as emptiness, loss, sadness, grief, etc. These feelings often impact us so much that it feels as if our
Death: Why Does It Hurt So Much? Read More »
Approximate Reading Time: 4 minutes(This article also includes a podcast discussion. Click the play button below, or subscribe and listen on your Apple or Android podcast app.) There is little else sure to divide people than the issue of abortion. There are those who insist that every life is worth protecting, even the unborn. Others believe that the thing
Scientifically Human (Is a Baby Just a Fetus? Part 1) Read More »
Approximate Reading Time: 3 minutesI write this after an interesting experience with my 2 year old, Anna. Her older sister has a bracelet-making kit shaped like a briefcase that Anna wanted to play with, but was told not to open. I knew she would disobey, but watching her sin nature reveal itself displayed a lot about our own sinfulness.
3 Things My Toddler Taught Me About Sin Read More »
Approximate Reading Time: 11 minutesAfter discussing Islam last week, it’s probably a good idea to pause before venturing into other religions to discuss our own. It’s beneficial to know what others believe, but we need to be able to hold other beliefs against our own to see where, and why, we differ. So let’s take a brief look at
What Do Protestants Believe? Read More »
Approximate Reading Time: 3 minutes50 image. 5 questions. 1 meaningful discussion. Soularium (iOS, Android) is an app that allows groups to use images to promote discussion about how we view ourselves, God, and our life with Him. It’s simple to use, yet from that simplicity, we can get to know one another on a deeper, more intimate level. How
Soularium (app recommendation) Read More »
Approximate Reading Time: 4 minutes(This article also includes a podcast discussion. Click the play button below, or subscribe and listen on your Apple or Google podcast app.) When we don’t fully understand how God revealed Himself in the Old Testament, we can get a very warped view of Him. He’s often painted as an almighty dictator waiting to pour
You Can’t Make God Love You Less Read More »
Approximate Reading Time: 5 minutesWhen faced with the reality of our sin, we become overwhelmed with how depraved we really are. The more we see God’s holiness, the greater we feel the weight of our own wickedness. There are some, whether saved or on the brink of salvation, who feel that their sin is just too much for God
Are You Too Sinful for God to Forgive? Read More »
Approximate Reading Time: 11 minutesThis is the first article in our series that explores the beliefs of different religions. The goal here is not to fully explain Islam, but to give readers enough understanding of its origins and beliefs to present the gospel to a Muslim. Let’s start with a general overview of the religion, see how they answer
What Do Muslims Believe? Read More »