A poll conducted by sociologists at the University of Lethbridge in Alberta seeks to answer if people really need God to be good. The outcome: forgiveness, generosity, concern, and patience are more important to people who believe in God than atheists. And the spread between the two groups is substantial. Forgiveness is “very important.” 84% of theists say yes, only 52% of atheists agree. Patience is “very important.” 72% of theists say yes, only 39% of atheists agree. Generosity is “very Read more [...]

As many of you know, I blog for Outreach Magazine. As noted in the disclaimer on the “About Sam” tab, my opinions are my own. But it was the great people at Outreach that originally contacted me about starting this blog. They need our prayers right now. As you may not know, the Outreach offices are located in Vista, CA, which is halfway between San Diego and L.A. Many of them have evacuated the area due to the fires in the region. Please pray for the safety of everyone affected by this disaster, Read more [...]

LifeWay Research reports that 64% of young adults who continue attending church between the ages of 18-22 consistently give financially to their church. Church leaders and researches have discussed at length the declining spiritual health of the younger generation. But it is clear that those students who stay and grow spiritually in the church end up supporting their church financially. What do you think? Should we teach tithing to students? Or should we allow them to get more connected with the Read more [...]

I’m a night owl. And sometimes late at night I go for the fourth meal. I am usually not hungry. But the glow of the refrigerator light beckons. So I open the door and look. My wife is a health teacher. So the fridge houses little in the junk food category. Apples, carrots, and celery…drats! Then I remember we’ve got light whip cream in the freezer. It’s cold like ice cream, but it just doesn’t taste the same. Most of us are guilty – we open the refrigerator and stare. Hunger is not striking Read more [...]

John 15:12-13 “This is My command: love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, that someone would lay down his life for his friends.” A true story from Idaho: A vacuum cleaner salesman knocks on a door. He is denied a sale because the homeowner can’t afford it. He inquires why. He learns the man of the house has kidney failure and is undergoing costly medical procedures. He also learns that there is little hope of a transplant due to the 500-person-long waiting Read more [...]