Are you ever a mystery to yourself? Do you sometimes wonder who you are? You’re not alone. It’s an age-old dilemma. Even the apostle Paul saw himself as a bundle of paradoxes, acknowledging, “I don’t really understand myself” (see Romans 7:14–25). One of the most consequential blind spots we can ignore or confront is how we see ourselves. A story in the gospel of Mark illustrates the point. You...
We were out on a walk. I was frustrated. I didn’t know what to say or how to say it. My son had been bullied, again. I wanted to show him that I cared, that God cared, and justice needed to be done. But I also wanted to show him there is hope for him. That his life is not going to constantly be filled with sadness and bullying. Talking with your son can be hard. You may not know what you should...
Whenever trouble is afoot, kids love to play the Blame Game. As a parent, trying to figure out who did what first can seem impossible and feel like it requires a degree in law—or at least some serious experience as a union negotiator or police detective to figure things out. You know the routine: an argument breaks out in an adjacent room, followed by screams or a loud cry. As soon as the kids...
The Bible’s sexual ethic is one of the biggest stumbling blocks for people investigating the Christian faith. It goes completely against the grain of our culture and, if we’re honest, of our own heart’s pull. Complicating matters, many Christians have been loudly unhelpful in the public square, acting as if others’ sins are worse than theirs or demonstrating profound ignorance about these issues...
Have you ever had your plans altered or challenged? Sure you have! We all face that in life. But what about those plans you meticulously thought out? What about the plans you spent hours, days, weeks, or even years putting together? And right when you are ready to launch your plans, God throws you a curve. Sometimes it’s a small adjustment. Perhaps you were looking in one direction, and God took...
