It’s Easter morning. I’m a teenager. Emotions are raging. My future seemed uncertain. A Scientology book sat on my desk in my bedroom—unread. The overriding imprint on my heart was fear. Fear and anxiety crippled me each day. Easter had always been one of my favorite holidays growing up—memories of Easter baskets, my mom wearing […]
I was sitting in the audience of a mega-church listening to my son-in-law preach. It’s kind of an odd feeling knowing him well, watching him live his life (off the stage), and loving him like a son. And being pierced with the truths of God’s Word as my heart and brain configure the learning and […]
My body got WRECKED under the notion to usher in the new year all out. It wasn’t pretty. With a full surrender to Jesus and a full surrender to life to its fullest, I decided this was going to be a YES year. Saying yes to new adventures, saying yes to the uncomfortable, saying yes […]
This is the question many of us are asking. More now than ever. As a kid my dad taught me that “bad things” were random. Evil is here and “stuff” just happens. I’d ask, “What about God?” Dad would say, “If there was a God why does he allow babies to die and cancer and […]
There was a famous research experiment conducted by two Princeton psychology professors that shows the harm busyness does to our priorities and our focus. Because the experiment was conducted on seminary students, it is very applicable to ministry leaders and churches. The year was 1973. John Darely and Daniel Batson were the professors. Three groupings […]
“For nothing will be impossible with God” (Luke 1:37). As a parent we have tremendous responsibility. Some might say overwhelming responsibility. What I see today with parents is a burden for compliant children and a crushing duty to get results with their kids. I completely understand this, while I was raising my three now adult […]
My two-year-old granddaughter was very distressed. Tears, screaming, confusion, frustration, and dismay consumed her. Then her dad said, “Come here. I will help you.” At first she stayed in her distress and kept crying. He said it again, “Come here. Daddy will help you.” She dropped her determined state to stay in her distraught and […]
We are living in a cancel culture. An adult child gets offended and they decide they will no longer talk to you. An adult child thinks back on offenses from parents and decides to “take some space.” An adult child doesn’t like advice given and they decide to remove you from their life. I don’t […]
“I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all people will know that you are My disciples: if you have love for one another.” – John 13:34-35 Love. Jesus commands us to love. But what does this […]
Sitting in church on a Sunday morning our pastor* said, “Many of you will run out of time before you run out of money.” Let that sit for a minute. It hit hard with me. Even during times of financial struggle I’ve never missed a meal or not had a warm bed to sleep in. […]
