Signs of the Second Coming
by Ty Gibson
Dear Friend of Light Bearers,
With this worldwide pandemic, it feels like we're on the precipice of a great disaster.
…
Scarier Than Coronavirus
by Ty Gibson
In Matthew 24, Jesus warned that as the end of human history approaches a number of signs will increase in frequency and intensity. The spread of contagious diseases is in His list. The coronavirus it's pretty scary for a…
Love Matters Most, Part 1
by Ty Gibson
When Martyrdom Doesn't Matter
Shortly after I became a follower of Jesus, somebody in a group Bible study said something that was kind of like theological shock therapy for…
Expectations
by Ty Gibson
Have you ever expected one thing and gotten another?
Once while traveling to Germany, I expected a small, gutless, compact rental car, because that’s what I reserved.…
Covenant Cutting
by Ty Gibson
Get three animals, cut each of them in two, straight down the middle, and lay the pieces across from one another to form a pathway between the three sets of severed pieces.
…
The Accuser and the Advocate
by Ty Gibson
There's a lot going on inside your head.
What shall I have for lunch?
Is my anniversary coming…
Strange, Secret Longings
by Ty Gibson
“What may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by…
You Are Invited… Back to the Beginning!
by Ty Gibson
In ancient times, the people of God considered it vital to their spiritual well-being to spend time in one another’s presence before the Lord. They saw themselves as many individuals that together composed one corporate…
Revolutionize Your Picture of God
by Ty Gibson
We live in a world in desperate need of a revolution.
In cosmology, the word revolution refers to “the rotation of a celestial body on its axis.” From that…
Enmity in the Air
by Ty Gibson
One time when I was in the fifth grade a fight broke out during recess. All the kids were gathered around yelling as two boys were punching and kicking one another. What I remember most is feeling nervous and sick to my stomach. That’s what the…
Three More Keys to a Great Marriage
by Ty Gibson
Just yesterday a friend in his 30s said, “I went to a wedding last week and was blown away to find out that nearly all of my friends from college are already married and divorced.”
Divorce has become so common, we basically expect it to…
Three Keys to a Great Marriage
by Ty Gibson
Someone has said, “Marriage is like flies on a windowsill. Those on the outside want in, and those on the inside want out.”
Well, I've got better news. It's possible to be on the inside of marriage and want to be there. I've been on the…
A Feast In July
by Ty Gibson
Light Bearers Convocation is right around the corner, July 3-7. If you’ve never attended, you’re missing out. "Convocation" is a big, old word. We don’t necessarily like big words, but we do like old words with big meaning. This word basically…
Land of Fire and Warm Hearts
by Ty Gibson
One of the best experiences I’ve ever had as an evangelist was in Malawi. I preached from a wooden platform constructed of an odd mixture of wood, sheet metal, bricks, and colorful cloth. Speakers were hung in trees. There were a few chairs, but…
Unbelievably Diabolical
by Ty Gibson
It's no secret that Christianity is dying in Western countries. There are a number of factors contributing to this trend, but maybe the biggest is the fact that mainstream Christianity is asking the world to believe two doctrines that together…
Looking Back to the Future
by Ty Gibson
“Let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another” (Galatians 6:4, NKJV).
There’s a reason why so many treadmills end up at the thrift store.
New Year's Resolutions are a popular…
Doors Open in India
by Ty Gibson
It was November of 2001—November 5 to be exact. Sixteen years ago!
That was the last time and the only other time that Light Bearers managed to get a container of gospel literature into India. Now God has again prevailed, this time through a…
Infinite Empathy
by Ty Gibson
Emotions are a mysterious phenomenon. Think about it. A person’s smile has the power to make you feel something pleasant inside. A person’s tears can throw you into tears with them even before you know why they’re crying. The mere fact that…
A Day in the Life of Light Bearers
by Ty Gibson
It's 6 AM and already 17 new emails have appeared in my inbox. No, wait, four more just arrived, so make that 21. By 9 o'clock there will be 40 or more. Here’s one from Stephanie, who coordinates literature shipments from Light Bearers. She is…
The Continuing Reformation
by Ty Gibson
“The Protestant Reformation was the 16th-century religious, political, intellectual and cultural upheaval that splintered Catholic Europe.”
That’s how the History Channel website defines the Protestant Reformation—as an historical event…
A Brutal Wakeup Call
by Ty Gibson
It’s 2017.
Not 1526.1
Not 1863.2
Not 1968.3
It’s 2017, people, and we have just witnessed a grotesque manifestation of racism coming out of the shadows to flex its emaciated muscles in the mirror of…
95 Theses for the Continuing Reformation
by Ty Gibson
Martin Luther and John Calvin changed the world by the power of their good theology in spite of their bad theology. The Dark Ages from which they were emerging were very dark, indeed, and some of that darkness clung to the great Protestant Reformers…
Super Knowledge
by Ty Gibson
We are creatures of “knowledge.” Our entire existence is shaped by what we know and how we know. According to the Bible, there is a regular, run-of-the-mill knowledge, and then there is a kind of knowledge that operates at a deeper, wider,…
I Wish I Could Tell Her "Happy Mother’s Day”
by Ty Gibson
My mom was a force of nature. As poet Barbara Kingsolver once said, “Sometimes the strength of motherhood is greater than natural laws.” That was my mom. Fiercely independent, she left home at 15 and got a job as a waitress. The popular, cool…
Running Back and Forth
by Ty Gibson
Hello friends of Light Bearers!
There are so many exciting things going on here at the ministry, I can hardly keep up. But I'd rather be busy than bored. I'm sure you feel the same. I recently read in Ezekiel the mind-blowing fact that we’re…
When Jesus Put Shame to Shame
by Ty Gibson
If you know me at all, then you know that I am decidedly anti-coercion. And yet, if I could make every person on the planet listen to this audio message by my friend, Elise Harboldt, I would. Well, maybe I'm exaggerating for effect, but I'm hoping…
Daughters of Eve
by Ty Gibson
Today is International Women’s Day.
As for me, I’m a “ladies man,” but not in the way you are familiar with the term.
My happiest childhood memories are of one summer with my grandmother, Eleanor, fishing, trapping critters, hiking up…
What the War’s About
by Ty Gibson
“War broke out in heaven…” (Revelation 12:7).
Satan launched his revolt against God not with bullets and bombs but with subtly spun lies. The Greek word for “war” in the above text is…
The Parable of the True (Un)Believer
by Ty Gibson
The kingdom of heaven is like unto two men, one who believed in God and one who did not.
The first man engaged in prejudice and hatred and various other forms of ugliness contrary to love, all the while saying to the world, “I believe in God!…
Something to Say at Princeton University
by Ty Gibson
Ministry needs to happen everywhere—even among the educated elite. Evangelists recognize that the highly educated are the most difficult class to reach with the gospel, generally speaking. Recently, feeling the weight of this fact, I delivered six…
The Theological Identity of the Remnant
by Ty Gibson
When the “remnant” is brought to view in Revelation, our attention is directed to God’s intent that the movement be defined by a specific theological construct:
“And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the…
What If the Good News Is Better Than You Think?
by Ty Gibson
After explaining that Christ is “the Word” and “the Light” to every person in the world (John 1:1-9), John makes an enormous, encompassing, extravagant claim:
“Of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace” (John…
Three Reasons to be a Relational Risk Taker
by Ty Gibson
There are definitely moments in which you ought to be careful, calculated, and cautious. And there are moments in which you ought to cast caution to the wind and be a big-time risk taker.
Yeah, be cautious as a driver. Relax—please. Being late…
The Latter Rain in Practical Terms
by Ty Gibson
The Bible is filled with agricultural symbolism as a means of depicting God’s grand and glorious purpose for humanity (Matthew 13). God is in the business of growing things—a new crop of humans, to be exact (1 Corinthians 3:6-8).
Human…
The Apocalypse of Human Sexuality
by Ty Gibson
Sex is in the news.
Big time!
Bruce Jenner’s transgender process has prompted nearly everyone on the planet to ponder the nature of human sexuality. To the delight of some and to the horror of others, Caitlyn, formerly Bruce, was named…
The Little We Know
by Ty Gibson
A rational appeal to the atheist:
Intending no disrespect at all to the scientific achievements of mankind, I want to call our attention to the fact that the human data bank of knowledge is minuscule compared to all there is to know.…
Obedience vs Legalism
by Ty Gibson
A man once came to me and said, “My marriage is falling apart. My wife says she doesn’t have feelings for me anymore, and my feelings for her are pretty much dead too. I guess it’s over, huh?”
He was startled by my immediate…
Global Impact
by Ty Gibson
In 1985, a few of us new converts—James Rafferty, Sue Gibson, and myself—received what we knew to be specific direction from the God of the universe. We were young and on fire for the Lord (now we're older but still on fire for the Lord). James…
So What About the Pope?
by Ty Gibson
Pope Francis definitely has our attention.
Bible prophecy said that would be the case (Revelation 13:3).
But why?
What is the significance of his influence and why does he have such massive influence in the first place?
Even avowed…
Women’s Ordination: Is the Church Free To Act?
by Ty Gibson
The God of the Bible is a delegator, not a micromanager. He entrusts His children with decision-making power. God is not a control freak, but rather a freedom lover.
Adam and Eve were given “dominion” over the world God had made for them…
Una Mirada Más Profunda a la Ordenación de la Mujer
by Ty Gibson
english | español | русский | …
Women’s Ordination: Shall Angels or Demons Guide Us?
by Ty Gibson
Adventism is heating up as we approach the GC Session in Texas, during which a vote will be taken on women’s ordination. In all my years as a member of this church I…
Conservative or Liberal?
by Ty Gibson
“Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left” (Isaiah 30:21).
Apparently, God sees in us an inclination to veer off course to the…
Resurrection Remix
by Ty Gibson
The resurrection of Jesus was not an arbitrary act of God. Rather, it was the definitive conquest of other-centered love over the death-dealing principle of self-centeredness inherent in all sin.
According to Paul, “the law of the Spirit of…
The Power of the Printed Page
by Ty Gibson
Plain and simple: words of truth on paper are extremely powerful. Allow me to break this down for us. First, are need to understand that the words of God are a creative, life-giving force:
“The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they…
The Deeper Meaning of Christmas
by Ty Gibson
When we speak of the birth of Christ, we are speaking of the most sublime and astounding event in all of eternal history. God literally became a human being. “Without controversy,” Paul exclaims with wonder, “great is the mystery of godliness:…
The Old Covenant Brood
by Ty Gibson
The current tensions and polemics within the Seventh-day Adventist Church are not occurring in a vacuum. We have history behind us that has created the trajectory within which we are now living. To a significant degree the spirit and content of our…
Cosmic Atonement
by Ty Gibson
God is up to something bigger than our eternal salvation. Certainly, from our individual standpoint it is hard to imagine anything bigger. To be saved from sin and given the assurance of eternal life is a truly marvelous thing. But notice the…
Worlds Apart (Not Anymore)
by Ty Gibson
Sutherlin, Oregon and Papua New Guinea are worlds apart. Separated by 6,518 miles and the vast Pacific Ocean. Sutherlin is in the Northern Hemisphere and Papua New Guinea is in the Southern. But the two places and their people are separated by more…
How to Be Free from Guilt
by Ty Gibson
The Bible knows what’s going on inside of you. It understands the complexity of the human being and penetrates into the deep mental, emotional and moral issues we all deal with. Notice, for example, this insightful passage from King…
Revelation 13: An Annotated Reading
by Ty Gibson
The book of Revelation is highly symbolic. Its prophecies are written in a kind of code language that must be interpreted to make sense. A casual reading will blur the eyes and befuddle the mind. One must take the time to define each symbol by…
The Romanism Within
by Ty Gibson
The new Pope, Mr. Jorge Mario Bergoglio, has caused quite a stir recently. So much so, in fact, that an ardent Protestant friend said to me the other day, “Wow, this new pope seems like a really good guy and he’s saying some good things. Maybe…
A Nameless Mass?
by Ty Gibson
Six million people.
It’s a big number. When I hear it, I don’t see faces.
But God does.
To me, it’s a number that represents a nameless mass.
But not for God.
He sees faces, behind which are personal histories and heartaches,…
The Identity-Shaping Power of Fatherhood
by Ty Gibson
“The Father Himself loves you” (John 16:27).
Fatherhood is an identity-shaping vocation. Whether he does so consciously or not, a dad tells his child who and what to become. The child is significantly defined by the father’s manner of…
Seven Habits Worth Cultivating
by Ty Gibson
Every time you perform an action it contributes to shaping your fundamental identity. When life is done, you are the sum total of your repeated actions. Here are seven actions worth repeating over and over again this year until they become habits…
Present Stage: A New Year Prayer
by Ty Gibson
Lord God Almighty, ineffably holy,
Great in weakness, immeasurably lowly,
From the corner of my eye, I see Your glory,
Through prophets of old who breathed Your story.
But sweep me into the narrative now,
Resisting no longer, Your will to…
Four Incredible Lyrics from Advent Songs
by Ty Gibson
I’m one of those weirdos who could listen to Christmas music year-round. But I don’t, because I love the special sense of awareness of the incarnation that dawns upon my heart every year in December as advent songs begin to play. Some of these…
Stop Tinkering!
by Ty Gibson
Is there somebody in your family or in your church who is doing something you think they ought not to be doing?
Of course there is!
Are there people around you with defects of character that you can’t help but notice?
Yep!
Do you find…
Amazing Things Happen
by Ty Gibson
The mission field is an exciting place to be. Special and unique experiences occur as human agents make themselves available as ambassadors for Christ. The truth of the gospel maneuvers its way into out-of-the-way places and reaches hearts in…
Psychic Civil War
by Ty Gibson
No doubt you’ve heard someone say, “I am my own worst enemy.” Maybe you’ve said it yourself.
We intuitively understand that there is some sense in which the I stands against the me. Part of me wants to be something other…
God’s Secret
by Ty Gibson
Apparently God has a secret to tell us. And it’s the best secret imaginable. If we lean in close to Him through Bible study and prayer, we’ll hear Him whispering the confidential mystery into our hearts. Be still and listen:
“The secret of…
Introducing Table Talk
by Ty Gibson
Four guys at a table.
A list of provocative and sublime topics.
All they’re told in advance is, “Bring your Bible and your brain.”
No rules.
No script.
Just straight from the heart, conversation about the things that matter…
Not Letter, But Spirit
by Ty Gibson
As I took my seat on the plane, an energetic little boy came up the aisle with his dad. In my mind I thought, “I sure hope he’s not gonna be in the seat behind me.” As a frequent flyer, I know short legs tend to kick seatbacks.
As he walked…
Setting the Captives Free
by Ty Gibson
A powerful ministry to prison inmates is under way in Kenya.
A group called the King’s Messengers, sponsored by the East- Central Africa Division, recently paid a series of visits to a prison in Nairobi housing 3,500 men. Rather than merely…
God’s Masterpiece
by Ty Gibson
The human mind is creativity in motion. Each moment of each day we see things, take in a plethora of sensory data, intersect with people, and experience life—and all the while, with every encounter, we are incrementally changing, becoming…
When Evil Strikes
by Ty Gibson
On Friday as I walked into my wife’s office to say hi, smiling and eager to interrupt her work with a flirtatious moment or two, she swiveled around toward me in her chair and said, “Have you heard about what happened in Connecticut?”
There…
And In My World…
by Ty Gibson
Wow, I was so blessed by David's “world” that I’d like to expand the vision to the church.
In my world, the church would be a place in which Jesus is the one Truth that gives meaning and heart and…
Teetering On The Edge
by Ty Gibson
Here’s some raw data that ought to blow your mind, make you want to cry, and arouse your suspicions all at once:
“According to the UN Environment Program, the earth is in the midst of a mass extinction of life. Scientists estimate that…
Why You Matter So Much
by Ty Gibson
Today in a little Australian town called Byron Bay I noticed a sign that says, “I saw the universe change today.” Whoever wrote those words was paying attention.
According to “chaos theory,” the single movement of a butterfly’s wing may…
How Not To Be Weird
by Ty Gibson
Placing an order in a café recently, the server said, “You don’t eat meat? That’s weird.” I responded, with a smile of course, “Yeah, it’s way less weird to catch a beautiful creature, look into its frightened eyes, cut its throat as it…
Three Simple Steps For Overcoming Any Sin
by Ty Gibson
"We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us" (Romans 8:37).
Whoever you are, whatever your struggles and temptations may be, sweet victory is yours for the taking.
Right now!
All you need do is appreciate, appropriate and act upon what…
Four Surefire Ways to Maintain High Energy
by Ty Gibson
"Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever" (1 Corinthians 9:25, NIV).
In their excellent book, The Power of Full…