The Blazing Center

The One Thing That Matters In the Information Age

4 August 2010

50044 Comments2010-08-04+22%3A00%3A40Stephen+Altrogge

According to a recent article in Newsweek, in 2010 there were: 141 million active blogs. 2 billion daily Google searches. 1,052,803 books published. 247 billion emails sent. 4.5 billion text messages sent. 10 billion songs downloaded on iTunes. In the midst of this avalanche of information I can’t help but think of Jesus’ words to [...]

The Worst Advice Ever

3 August 2010

502622 CommentsThe+Worst+Advice+Ever2010-08-04+00%3A09%3A45Mark+Altrogge

I’m going to give you the worst advice anyone could give anyone. Ready? Here it is: FOLLOW YOUR HEART In other words, make decisions based solely on whether you feel “peace” about them. To “follow your heart” is a prescription for disaster. Here’s why: The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who [...]

Unopened Mail

11 July 2010

485011 CommentsUnopened+Mail2010-07-11+20%3A07%3A09Mark+Altrogge

Tom’s father had been gone for a long time. He wondered how his father was and what his father was thinking. Every day when he collected his mail, there was another letter to him from his father. And every day he tossed the letter unopened onto an ever-growing pile on his coffee table. “I wonder [...]

When Comforts Are Taken Away

13 February 2010

40799 CommentsWhen+Comforts+Are+Taken+Away2010-02-13+10%3A00%3A15Stephen+Altrogge

Sometimes God gives us great experiences of Him. Every sentence of scripture is bursting with life and our prayers are vigorous and we feel very passionate for God. Other times God takes away our spiritual feelings so that we learn to rely on His word and His promises more than feelings. William Gurnall says: God [...]

I’ll Be Glad For Snow In August

10 February 2010

40588 CommentsI%27ll+Be+Glad+For+Snow+In+August2010-02-10+10%3A00%3A40Mark+Altrogge

For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but [...]

Massachusetts Woman Sees Image Of Jesus On Her Iron

30 November 2009

351214 Comments2009-11-30+10%3A00%3A52Mark+Altrogge

METHUEN, Mass. — A Massachusetts woman who recently separated from her husband, had her hours at work cut, and moved into an apartment, says an image of Jesus Christ she sees on her iron has reassured her that “life is going to be good.” Mary Jo Coady first noticed the image on Sunday when she [...]

We Always Need An Adjustment

16 September 2009

31395 CommentsWe+Always+Need+An+Adjustment2009-09-16+10%3A00%3A22Mark+Altrogge

Maybe body surfing was not such a good idea. Tropical storm Danny had just passed by and the waves were approximately the size of bulldozers. But being the adventurer that I am, I found myself atop a boiling wave accelerating toward the beach. Suddenly the wave flipped me over and did a Hulk Hogan atomic [...]

Discovering God’s Deep, Dark, Mysterious Will

20 July 2009

28029 Comments2009-07-20+10%3A00%3A13Mark+Altrogge

“I don’t know what God wants me to do with my life.” “I’m not sure I’m in the center of God’s will.” “What if I miss what God has for me?” Christians often talk about God’s will like it’s the rare and elusive Blue-Tailed Eastern Moon Moth that might suddenly flit out of the forest [...]

Think Theologically

13 July 2009

27629 CommentsThink+Theologically2009-07-13+10%3A00%3A23Mark+Altrogge

Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So may the gods do to me and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by this time tomorrow.” [...]

What The “F” Chord Taught Me

30 March 2009

21456 CommentsWhat+The+%22F%22+Chord+Taught+Me2009-03-30+10%3A00%3A49Mark+Altrogge

In February of ’64, watching the Beatles’ American debut on the Ed Sullivan show, I sat transfixed, as if I were seeing live footage of a newly-discovered mastodon. I decided to learn guitar, perform to screaming throngs of teenage girls, and run through the streets of Liverpool trying to escape said girls. With great excitement [...]