When people see me in my wheelchair and ask about my persistent smile, I always say, “I’ve learned to sing my way through suffering.” Over the years, I have discovered that singing is not an option for Christ-followers; it’s a command. Whether Colossians 3 or Ephesians 5, we are not merely invited to sing; God tells us to sing. Lately because of the coronavirus’ stay-at-home directives, my...
I recently heard someone describe that they like doing video church. “I don’t see a big difference between Sunday morning gatherings and doing church online,” they said. I beg to differ. God’s Great Plan for Local Churches The Apostle Paul writes in his letter to the Ephesians: “To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable...
Every mom can close her eyes and visualize the ideal Mother’s Day. Older moms envision their kids all together in one place, laughing and enjoying each other in sanctified bliss. Young moms dream of sweet notes from their kids and a few hours of gorgeous solitude with iced coffee in hand. Sometimes those dreams come true, and sometimes—Poof!—they disappear in a cloud of pointless arguments or...
As adults it’s hard to figure out how to live as Christians in a morally murky and increasingly hostile world, so how do we teach the next generation to develop relationships in the world in which we live? There are so many areas of life to navigate when growing up. In his book, Radically Different: A Student’s Guide to Community, best-selling author Champ Thornton provides an insightful guide...
Recent quarantining due to the COVID-19 pandemic leaves many people vulnerable to suffering abuse when isolated in a dangerous situation at home. Many abuse survivor advocates and professionals are expecting that child abuse, intimate partner abuse, and sexual assault will increase during the pandemic because of the increased isolation. Most abusers are parents, siblings, intimate partners, or...
