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An Adventure in Non-Avoidance I really value harmony. I don’t like conflict or division. It is like nails on a chalkboard to me. As such, I tend to avoid things. If someone texts me, it usually takes me a while to respond. And that is the best of circumstances. I’ve been known to completely...

Asking For Help Stinks! [ 1 min read ★ ] God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble—James 4:6 So, carrying burdens is something for which we are built . . . and something which we are supposed to...

4 OPTIONS WHEN THE CULTURE MOCKS AND OPPOSES YOUR FAITH: A Study in 1 Peter Like so many college students who are weary of being mocked by their professors for being Bible-believing Christians and getting their grades reduced, husbands who are mocked by their buddies for not looking at porn or...

Refocusing the Drive [ 1 min read ★ ] greatest among you become as the youngest . . . leader as one who serves—Luke 22:26 We men devote so much of our mental attention and hard work to our own greatness...

Ten parenting tips that can instantly impact your family When Ashley and I became parents a decade ago, we were pretty clueless about how to take care of this little human being who was now our responsibility. Along the way, we’ve been collecting good parenting advice for mentors, books and...

6 Tips to Overcoming Fear of Commitment A recent survey found that 84% of women and 82% of men in the US crave commitment and report that being married someday is “very” or “somewhat” important to them. That said, many people seek lasting commitment, often in the form of marriage. This can be a...

C.S. Lewis and Life’s Simple Pleasures Beauty can invigorate our working hectic lives, if only we let it. I’ve spoken with writers, pastors, mothers, and fathers who tell me, “I just don’t have time to get out and spend time in nature or go for a walk or just sit and listen. I’m too busy.” And...

My brother’s death made me an angry atheist. But kindness made me a Christian. There are many things that cause people to question God’s existence. The presence of suffering in the world and our own lives is often a key factor. This was the case for Mike Arnold who lost his faith at the...

Embrace the Fear [ 1 min read ★ ] . . . for man shall not see me and live—Exodus 33:20 We’re made for fear. We’re made to live with fear, not without it, as we’d like. It’s just, as so often happens, we...

May the Force . . . Be You [ 1 min read ★ ] . . . what I want mostly is for men to pray—1 Timothy 2:8-10 There are many forces at work in this world—forces colliding, reacting to each other, influencing...

Don’t Do, Don’t Desire The Ten Words include twelve negative commands. Most of the verbs that are negated are unique: 1) Thou shalt not have (lo’ yihyeh-leka; literally, “there shalt not be to thee”) other gods. 2) Thou shalt not prostrate (lo’-tishtachweh) to them (i.e., images). 3) Thou...

He Will Turn Our Grief into Joy God doesn’t only promise to replace our grief with joy, but to turn it into joy. Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. A woman giving birth to a child has pain...

Going Through Hell [ 1 min read ★ ] . . . fear not, for I am with you—Isaiah 41:10 You know when you’re in the thick of it—facing tough financial circumstances, or maybe a problem with work or a...

5 Timeless Truths From the Life of Jonah If you think the story of Jonah is just about being swallowed by a big fish, then you’re missing some incredible truths! Here are five timeless truths from the life of Jonah: Okay, so the historical setting is the late 8th century BC. Jonah was a...

Six warning signs of a “drifting” marriage I recently sat down with a couple who have been married for a long time, but recently some relational “drift” in their marriage had slowly sent them in opposite directions like two ships that are each just slightly off course, but over time, that...

Smile, God Loves You. I never thought too much about that line “Smile, God Loves You” growing up, though I heard it often enough. I would also see it emblazoned on my late father’s coffee mug (pictured here), from which I’m drinking my morning brew today. Surely, if I’m honest, there have been...

Top Ten Books on the Parables Okay, I’ve read a lot of books on the parables, they are very different, but here are my top ten: Klyne Snodgrass, Stories with Intent: A Comprehensive Guide to the Parables of Jesus. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2007. Blomberg, Craig L. Interpreting the Parables...

Naomi, Orpah, and Ruth: Sustaining Hope Read Ruth 1:1–18; 4:13–15; Lamentations 3:16–24; Psalm 107 When all hope is lost, where do we find that elusive little word? In days of pain, disappointment, or grief, we often hear others tell us to “hold onto hope.” Hope is tricky, though. It slips...

Those Wounds Yet Visible Above I’ve often taken comfort from the idea that Jesus’ resurrection body still bears the scars of crucifixion in his hands, feet, and side. A teacher I respect says that the only person in Heaven whose body remains imperfect will be Jesus, who carries the marks of...

Gearing Up for Work [ 1 min read ★ ] . . . you have put off the old self . . . and have put on the new self—Colossians 3:9-10 At work, we serve. We serve the users of products and services that we and our...