Author Jerry Sittser tells of a conversation with his wife Lynda where she shared with him, “I can’t imagine life being any better than it is right now.”  Within 24 hours of that conversation, they were hit by a drunk driver. In that incident Jerry lost his wife Lynda, his mother, and his four-year-old daughter (A Grace Disguised, 4, 44).  While most of us do not face such catastrophic trauma...  Read More

     At the height of the Korean War minister Everett Swanson flew there to speak to the troops.  Shortly after arriving, a street urchin stole his coat.  It was a cold winter day and so Everett gave chase.  As he came around a corner expecting to catch the boy instead the child had disappeared and his coat was piled on the ground.  He stopped and picked up the coat to be surprised to see that a s...  Read More

      Today we live in a culture of outrage and offense.  So many are building their lives on resentment.  In contrast, Christians are called to be people who offer forgiveness.  We do not always walk this calling out well.  Most of us have a person in our life where our teeth clench when their name comes up.   We must address these issues so that these understandable angry feelings do not take up...  Read More

     According to author Arianna Huffington “one American falls asleep at the wheel every second” (The Sleep Revolution, 112).  This leads to about 6,400 deaths a year killed by drowsy drivers (The Sleep Revolution, 32).  This is just one symptom of the frenzied, messy lives most of us struggle with.  Often this frantic pace is driven by people pleasing.  Our default is to say yes when we really s...  Read More

      With words and a microphone a comedian can make us laugh. With words a teacher can open and stretch a mind.  With words a parent can give a child a strong belief that they are loved.  And yet:  with words a parent can convince a child that they are worthless.  With words a bully can crush a spirit.  We all have experienced the power of words.  King Solomon acknowledges the impact of words wh...  Read More

     Years ago I saw a commercial for a pair of glasses for the color blind.  The glasses allow them to see color for the first time.  It moves grown men to tears to see the world they have been missing.  One older man was so excited he started clapping like a small child.  Imagine life without color.  Something is missing.  Can you live without color?  Yes, but it’s incredibly sad to be in a blac...  Read More

     I love Christmas.  The music, the food, the times with family and of course the gifts.  Many feel the same, I recently read that as many as two million people visit the little town of Bethlehem every year (Joy To The World, Scott Hahn, 1).  There is so much to enjoy about the season, the generosity it spawns and even the busyness is captivating.  But in the midst of all the hustle and bustle ...  Read More

      Many people view God’s wrath as portrayed in Scripture as something unseemly.  There is a tendency today to act as God’s editors rather than simply his messengers.  Just as it would be malpractice for a doctor to not tell a person that they have a deadly cancer, it is the Christian’s job to make sure those within their sphere of influence know that there is real danger when we ignore the wra...  Read More

      If you google the “still face experiment” you will find an exercise psychologists have done that reveals our core need for love and connection.  A mother will do what she normally does, smile at her one-year-old, touch and interact in various ways.  Then she turns away, she then returns with a still face, no reaction and intentionally ignoring all the child’s tactics to make a connection.  N...  Read More

      Years ago I used to watch a show, “Star Trek:  The Next Generation.”  In my mind, the stand-out enemy of the Federation was a group called “The Borg.”  They would capture people, take away their freewill and make them part of the collective.  The Borg were known for saying to their potential victims “you will be assimilated.”  I think of the Borg when I read the Apostle Paul’s words, “Do not...  Read More

      Most of us have an area in life where we are wrapped in chains.  Whether you call it a bad habit, signature sin, weakness or maybe even an addiction, the struggle is real.  It could be with a particular emotion, such as anger or a substance (legal or illegal), or with a toxic relationship.  How do we move forward?  How do we grow into the thriving person that God intends for us to be?      F...  Read More

      Life is short, it is crucial that we are intentional in how we live. Especially if we claim to follow Jesus Christ; we should leave a lasting legacy. Living a life of positive impact is complex, but there are a few keys:1. Focus on the Eternal.     I encourage you to read the book of Ecclesiastes. There are so many paths offered to us to live the “good life.” King Solomon explored most of th...  Read More