Articles
Don’t Wait Until You “Have Time” to Develop Healthy Habits
It’s easy to believe that once you graduate, get married, get a better job, settle down, or [insert whatever other milestone you’re hoping to reach next], you will have more time to focus on Bible study, prayer, and other spiritual disciplines. Quite the opposite is...
Engaging God through All Things
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made. John 1:1–3 I’ve never been much of an empirical thinker. While I was growing up, the languages of physics, chemistry,...
What Does Christian Meditation Look Like?
What does the word meditation mean to you? Some see it as spiritually dangerous or discount it as simply not for them. In reality, meditation has deep roots in the Christian faith. Psalm 1 sets a precedent for Christians regarding meditation. Originally written as an...
A Way of Life Developed in God’s Freedom
There are moments when a single truth seems to cry out for focused proclamation. For me one of these moments came in the early 1980s; freedom in Christ seemed the truth in need of focus. When I looked at the people I was living with as pastor—fairly affluent, well...
Discovering Your Inherent Worth
As I’ve wrestled with understanding my own worth, I’ve heard a lot of self-positivity messages reminding me no matter my body type, job, parenting style, or social status, I’m valuable and “worth it.” In many ways, it’s refreshing. We see posts on social media or even...
Understanding the Process of Recovery
Recovery isn’t a fixed state; it’s a process. Recovery isn’t a destination. If you’re “in recovery,” you’re on a journey whose direction of travel is toward self-direction, health and well-being, and the fulfillment of your potential. In recovery, we develop the...
Unlocking Joy through Brain Science
A few years ago, I (Chris) wrote a book with neuroscience specialist Dr. Jim Wilder, addiction recovery specialist Ed Khouri, and educator Sheila Sutton called Joy Starts Here. In our book we describe joy this way. Joy is the twinkle in someone’s eyes, the smile from...
We live in a political world.
That is the opening line to Bob Dylan’s 1989 song “Political World.” The poet laureate of rock ’n’ roll ends the song with these lines: We live in a political world / Everything is hers or his / Climb into the frame and shout God’s name / But you’re not even sure what...
A Remnant Among the Ruins
The hot Haitian sun beat down on our metal tap tap as we bounced along the dirt road of a small town just outside Port-Au-Prince, Haiti. My hands wrapped around the metal bars, I squinted into the high noon sun as we came to a slow stop, our driver pointing towards a...
Music is Spiritual
In 1 Chr. 25:1, the Chronicler recorded that, “David and the chiefs of the service also set apart for the service the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who prophesied with lyres, with harps, and with cymbals.” And again, in verse 3, the Chronicle mentioned...
What makes a community thrive?
As Christian leaders, we tend to assume we already know what thriving communities are; we then simply go looking for instances in Scripture that confirm our knowledge and agenda. Over time, we cease learning from Scripture how to think and instead use it as a tool to...
The Church’s Imperfections and the Captivating Call of Jesus
Lord knows how many times I have tossed churchly keys and thrown myself on a couch of religious despair. I have felt the expansive loneliness of not being able to turn apprehension about the church into prayer. I’ve been embroiled in the ups and downs of church my...
Don’t Preach a Sermon on Giving!
Preach a series of sermons on giving. In my twenty years as a senior pastor, I learned that a stand-alone sermon on stewardship, even if preached twice a year, had little impact on people's giving. But the first year I preached a four-week series on the biblical...
Three Key Things to Know About Deconstruction
If you are convinced that deconstructing faith is dangerous, and you are annoyed by the “trend,” this article is an attempt to help you see things a little differently. It’s an article that’s trying to deconstruct your view of deconstruction. Let me guess. You’re...
You Will Survive Your Divorce and Come Out Stronger
I think it’s fair to assume my new book is one you never expected to need. To put it bluntly, it’s the book I never wanted to write. Having my life upended by divorce and heartbreak was not on my bucket list. The first thing I want you to hear is I’m sorry. I’m sorry...
Business or Body: What is the Church?
Many are predicting that possibly in a decade or so, Christianity will no longer be the prominent religion in America! So, how do we get church folks to hang around and remain part of the local body of believers? Do we hire marketing specialists or church consultants...
Seven Reasons Why I Love to Preach About Money
Most pastors admit they are hesitant to preach about money. I understand their reluctance because I once shared it. However, I learned that my fears were not valid—nothing bad happened. In fact, the results were just the opposite. Here’s why I love to preach about...
Show Countercultural Compassion in the World
As I examine my own life, I think about the temptation we all face to brandish God’s Word like it’s a weapon in our cultural battles. What is our posture toward those who may not be Christians or may hold opinions very different from ours? Many people have had...
Centering Discipleship
In my work as a local pastor and translocal network leader, I’ve had a front-row seat to observe the happenings of many churches across the board. When the pandemic hit and the world seemed to unravel, we were only in the first two years of our communal life. What...
Who’s Following You?
Every disciple needs three types of relationships in his life. He needs a “Paul” who can mentor him and challenge him. He needs a “Barnabas” who can come alongside and encourage him. And he needs a “Timothy,” someone he can pour his life into. – Howard Hendricks Being...
