Refreshment
Rest as a Spiritual Rhythm

Rest as a Spiritual Rhythm

As I mentioned earlier, most of us aren’t natural morning people. We’re wired to seek comfort and rest, gravitating toward the warmth of our blankets rather than the chill of early morning air. Perhaps this is part of our survival instinct as human beings. Why Rest...

How Stress Impacts the Body and Soul

How Stress Impacts the Body and Soul

Stress is ubiquitous in contemporary life,1 and the word gets tossed around as if we all understand what it means. Most of us routinely talk about the daily kinds of stress we experience—in our work, finances, parenting, commuting, and social concerns. Then there is...

The Power of Sabbath Practice

The Power of Sabbath Practice

My sister is a busy woman. She and her husband have four kids, ages ten to seventeen. They live outside of town in a house with some property, along with a dog and several chickens. My brother-in-law works full-time outside the home, and she works part-time from...

Freedom from the Pressure to Perform in Ministry

Freedom from the Pressure to Perform in Ministry

Have You Felt That Insidious Pressure to Perform? A poor man plodded toward home, bent under a heavy sack of potatoes. A wagon drew up beside him. “Climb aboard,” the driver said. The man climbed into the wagon, dragging his burden with him. He sat but continued to...

Silent Prayer: A Path to Soul Health

Silent Prayer: A Path to Soul Health

Our souls long for health and the practices that will bring that health, but we have become adept at ignoring or suppressing that longing. That’s why it’s so important to engage in practices that elevate us above the fray of our lives, practices that help give us an...

How Can I Believe God Protects Me When Tragedy Strikes?

How Can I Believe God Protects Me When Tragedy Strikes?

“I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” PSALM 91:2  In my head, I know God is my Protector. But sometimes my heart struggles to feel protected by God.  At some point in our lives, most of us have experienced some kind of...

Ministering to Married Couples in Crisis

Ministering to Married Couples in Crisis

Practically everywhere we turn today, we find someone we care about experiencing some sort of marital crisis. And the fallout does not just impact the couple themselves. Children, extended family, church community, and overall cultural health are all negatively...

Music is Spiritual

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?

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...

That Thing Called Courage  

That Thing Called Courage  

What is the most courageous thing you’ve done? I have read many stories of courage, but one comes immediately to mind. On March 7, 2022, the massive Sunshine Skyway Bridge over Tampa Bay, Florida, was closed as part of a 10K race for the armed forces. Nearly seven...

Rest as a Spiritual Rhythm

Rest as a Spiritual Rhythm

As I mentioned earlier, most of us aren’t natural morning people. We’re wired to seek comfort and rest, gravitating toward the warmth of our blankets rather than the chill of early morning air. Perhaps this is part of our survival instinct as human beings. Why Rest...

How Stress Impacts the Body and Soul

How Stress Impacts the Body and Soul

Stress is ubiquitous in contemporary life,1 and the word gets tossed around as if we all understand what it means. Most of us routinely talk about the daily kinds of stress we experience—in our work, finances, parenting, commuting, and social concerns. Then there is...

The Power of Sabbath Practice

The Power of Sabbath Practice

My sister is a busy woman. She and her husband have four kids, ages ten to seventeen. They live outside of town in a house with some property, along with a dog and several chickens. My brother-in-law works full-time outside the home, and she works part-time from...

Freedom from the Pressure to Perform in Ministry

Freedom from the Pressure to Perform in Ministry

Have You Felt That Insidious Pressure to Perform? A poor man plodded toward home, bent under a heavy sack of potatoes. A wagon drew up beside him. “Climb aboard,” the driver said. The man climbed into the wagon, dragging his burden with him. He sat but continued to...

Silent Prayer: A Path to Soul Health

Silent Prayer: A Path to Soul Health

Our souls long for health and the practices that will bring that health, but we have become adept at ignoring or suppressing that longing. That’s why it’s so important to engage in practices that elevate us above the fray of our lives, practices that help give us an...

How Can I Believe God Protects Me When Tragedy Strikes?

How Can I Believe God Protects Me When Tragedy Strikes?

“I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” PSALM 91:2  In my head, I know God is my Protector. But sometimes my heart struggles to feel protected by God.  At some point in our lives, most of us have experienced some kind of...

Ministering to Married Couples in Crisis

Ministering to Married Couples in Crisis

Practically everywhere we turn today, we find someone we care about experiencing some sort of marital crisis. And the fallout does not just impact the couple themselves. Children, extended family, church community, and overall cultural health are all negatively...

Music is Spiritual

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?

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...

That Thing Called Courage  

That Thing Called Courage  

What is the most courageous thing you’ve done? I have read many stories of courage, but one comes immediately to mind. On March 7, 2022, the massive Sunshine Skyway Bridge over Tampa Bay, Florida, was closed as part of a 10K race for the armed forces. Nearly seven...

Helping Your Small Group Thrive

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