Articles
When Work Disappoints: Finding Biblical Wisdom in Setbacks
Disappointment at work is an everyday experience for most of us. It happens when work fails to live up to our hopes or expectations. We don’t finish everything on our to-do list. Only one person attends the online event we planned. Customers prefer our competitor’s...
Understanding the Parable of the Two Lost Sons
Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering round to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners, and eats with them.” Then Jesus told them this parable. —Luke 15:1–3 The Elder Brother and the Two Lost Sons...
Understanding the Gospel Mom: A Calling Rooted in Christ
Over the last decade, the two of us (Emily and Laura) have embarked on our own journeys to understand what a good mom really is. If you’re familiar with our ministry, Risen Motherhood, then you might know that as sisters-in-law and friends, we talked regularly in the...
What the Early Church Knew About Biblical Family
The Early Church’s View of Biblical Family When I was a kid growing up down South, my mom always referred to her in-laws as “Mr. and Mrs. Hubbard.” My parents both grew up in the small town of Talladega, Alabama, where every adult was a “Mr.” or “Mrs.” to anyone...
Miracles Lead to Worship
You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples. —Psalm 77:14 The Power of Biblical Miracles Miracles are hard to believe in, and they should be. In Matthew 28 we are told that the apostles met the risen Jesus on a mountainside in...
The Righteousness of Christ Transforms Your Life
Imagine that you are sitting in a chair in front of God the Father, and all his glory is blazing in unapproachable light, and Jesus, in his blood-soaked robe, is sitting in a chair next to you. An angel asks God the Father, “Who is more righteous, Jesus or this image...
When We Can’t, God Can: Surrendering Our Struggles to His Power
I can’t fix my family. I can’t keep my job. I can’t salvage my reputation. I can’t protect those I love. I can’t stand the pain. I can’t stop drinking. Can’t stop binge-eating, binge-watching, binge-spending, binge-working. Can’t stop looking at porn. I can’t find a...
Understanding Calling Burnout: The Devastating Effects on Purpose and Identity
While burnout in general is definitely concerning—leading to depression, anxiety, increased sick days, relational conflict, a kind of psychological paralysis, and an overriding sense of shame—burnout from a calling is more than that; it can be devastating to the core....
The Resurrection’s Power to Transform and Empower
On Holy Saturday in 2019, The New York Times published columnist Nicholas Kristof’s interview with Serene Jones, the president of New York’s famed Union Theological Seminary. In the interview Kristof, Nicodemus-like, tiptoes toward Christian faith with hesitation but...
How to Let Go of Control and Trust God’s Guidance
“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:34, NIV) Recently, I had the opportunity to visit the command center aboard an extremely large ship. Toward the end of the tour, the...
Reverse Engineering Your Life with God’s Wisdom
We built a log home twenty-five years ago. Sadly, it burned to the ground, and we needed to rebuild it. Log homes are built in a parking lot somewhere, where all the logs are cut, notched, carefully fit together, and then numbered. Then they disassemble the structure...
God’s Heart for the Vulnerable and How We Can Reflect It
God’s Compassion for the Vulnerable Through Scripture God’s heart for vulnerable groups is threaded throughout the Bible. Verse after verse, chapter after chapter in the Old and New Testaments reveal God’s compassion, mercy, grace, and love for those who are...
Finding God’s Glory in the Uncertainty of Life
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33, NIV) Trusting God When the Path Seems Unclear I feel the most unsettled when I’m uncertain about the future....
Faith and Humanity: Bridging the Gap Between Belief and Experience
The Gap Between Faith and Humanity Just think about your own gap for a moment, the distance between what you think you should believe about God—how to know and relate to him—and your actual life experience. Most likely, you’ve had to wrestle with toxic and shame-based...
How to Read the Bible: Intent, Methodology, and Influences
How do you read the Bible? Exploring Intent: Why Do You Read the Bible? One way we may begin to answer this question centers on intent. You read the Bible for the purpose of devotion, or prayer, or study. If you’re a preacher like me, you may read the Bible because...
Resilience in Brokenness: Finding Faith and Strength
“Return to your rest, my soul, for the Lord has been good to you.” Psalm 116:7, CSB Recognizing Brokenness and Choosing Resilience It was just a broken ice maker. It wasn’t a catastrophic event. I was safe. I was in a good place. And I was looking forward to spending...
Prioritize Worship Before Work: Insights for Ministry Leaders
For ministry leaders, the new year brings fresh anticipation for where God will lead us next. As I approached the new year with my own hopes and expectations, God led me to Joshua 5:13-15. It’s the end of a 40-year trek in the wilderness. Israel has crossed the...
Combating Religious Persecution in Pakistan
The Harsh Reality of Religious Persecution in Pakistan Imagine stepping out of your car, unknowingly treading on a few pieces of paper on the pavement, only to be arrested and charged with offenses that could lead to a life sentence. In Pakistan, this nightmare is a...
A Practical Guide to Parenting Adult Children
Understanding Your Relationship with Adult Children How would you describe your relationship with your adult child? Your answer to this question will reveal where you need to start or pick up if you desire a growing relationship. Because human relationships are...
Developing a Church Mental Health Strategy
Why Church Mental Health Outreach Matters Churches are often the first point of contact when a family member has an acute mental health need. Individuals and families are more likely to connect with their church in a mental health crisis than they are with a licensed...
