“So whether you swim deep, soar high, run fast, or sing beautifully, or not at all—each of you has what it is that makes birds unique and makes birds one.”
Held Hostage
If the Republicans lose, it will be because the party was held hostage by…the party. A party out of touch with the very people who could help them survive.
The Race
Despite our intention for God to be at the center of our lives, we often lose sight of what truly matters and find ourselves running toward things that are tangential to the true goal, or even worse, completely opposite from it.
Finding Our Identity
We want to stake a claim to our own identity—far enough away from the mainstream to be an individual, but not so far that we are alone. We want to be our own man or woman, and yet we also want to belong.
Learning to Die Well
We put great emphasis on how to live for Jesus. We talk about treating people well, making behavioral decisions that follow Jesus, and serving people the way the Good Samaritan did.
Knowing What Is Best
The fact that there is an ethical dimension to Christianity is undisputed. The dispute regarding ethics lies in how that dimension relates to salvation.
Word Problems
So what should we do? The same thing Jesus always tells us to do. Maybe if we apply the greatest commandments to our words, there will be fewer word problems.
Marked with the Spirit
The gift of the promised Holy Spirit may mean many things for the Christian life, but for those newly initiated into Christian discipleship it means one thing. It means you’ve been marked with God’s tattoo.
The Power of Blood
There is something unique about female humanity that puts them in solidarity with Christ. The blood of women has life-giving power, so too the blood that poured from Jesus’s side bore new creation.
Are You Joking?
When you finally come to know the message you intend to preach, then you can freely build on that message and give the gospel handles so people can carry it home with them.
Healthy Responses for Church Leaders: Being Well vs. Not Being Sick
"Focus on STRENGTH not weakness” is a response not only for the physical systems of the human body, but also complex emotional systems—like churches and families.
Tug of War
Jesus followers have found themselves on both sides of this social argument. Unsurprisingly, our bickering hasn’t brought peace to any part of the situation.
Negativity Bias, Charitable Interactions, and Learning to See the Best in Others
Our brains weigh us down with negative assumptions that ensure we fall short of the merciful, charitable attitudes we would like to manifest toward others.
Looking for Millennials ... In All the Wrong Places
Here are some values that are present in churches that tend to distance themselves from younger adults.
Shepherding with Paddle Strokes and Pigskin
Authentic spiritual bonding like this is as real as family blood ties. Maybe more so. And in some ways, as irreplaceable as blood ties.
Hiring a Minister: Five Suggestions for Ministers
In this article, I will share five suggestions to ministers who are interviewing for a ministry position. I have accumulated advice from mentors and my own experience on both sides of this vital process.
For the Kids
We must demonstrate for our children what it looks like for people of all colors and backgrounds to love one another. We will have to demonstrate lives of humility, service, and empathy.
Violence Culture
the American Sniper’s gospel has a stronghold in many churches today. This, not because it is actively preached (overt militarism, war mongering, etc), but more often because we fail to preach against it.
To Remember Is to Listen
So if we are to live into the identity God has called us to— a people who will not forget we were slaves—we must listen to those in our midst who are still living under oppression.
Smallness and Significance
There is something about the beach that reminds me of who I am and who God is; this keeps me focused on the God who empowers me to minister to others. The beach reminds me of my smallness.