One impediment to Growing Up is our fear of change, even if that change is a good one.  We would rather wallow in familiar misery than create future benefits. Even though our pain and unhappiness may be real and true, we put up with it because the condition we are in doesn’t require much of... Continue Reading →

Our modern sensibilities are often repulsed by the absence of God and seasons of loss and struggle. But, the writers of scripture seemed to be much more familiar with seasons of pain. The Psalms are full of examples of lament and downtrodden moments. Psalm 88 reads like a personal diary entry from a patient with... Continue Reading →

In my lifetime there have been several economic bubble bursts moments. The tech bubble burst in early 2000 as startup tech companies that experienced rapid growth soon were going out of business. The housing bubble bursts around 2008 as the growth of real estate couldn’t be sustained and speculative practices overran the market and it... Continue Reading →

I have seen it on bumper stickers and t-shirts. I have seen it on tweets and memes. I have said it multiple times. Be Kind. No character trait has been mentioned more in the last three years yet are we seeing people become more kind? Maybe, but it doesn’t seem like it. So, why can’t... Continue Reading →

If you are struggling with your Christian faith right now you are not alone. Church attendance is down and especially among adults 18-34. The grief and uncertainty of the last three years has left many Christians with a malaise about their relationship with Jesus. Depression is on the rise in such staggering numbers that it... Continue Reading →

There is a set of cliffs in Australia, just east of Sydney Harbor, that is one of those spots that attracts suicide jumpers. Just 146 feet away, Don Ritchie lived with his wife Moya in a home they owned since 1946. Don began to notice when visitors to the area, known as the Gap, lingered... Continue Reading →

According to T.B. Maston, God’s will is our maximum fulfillment. This means that by choosing God’s direction we will not just be obedient and reap some kind of dutiful sense of accomplishment but actually be participating in the activity that will bring us exactly what we need for peace, joy, and happiness.  The difference between... Continue Reading →

My most trusted prayer partner never said a prayer in his life. He didn’t offer to pray for me or tell me his prayer list. He often would interrupt my prayers with a bathroom break or a loud yell.  Henry was our long time dog who died this past Sunday. Unlike typical dogs that could... Continue Reading →

One time as a young boy, my dad sat down at the family dinner table to eat. For some reason, the rest of the family had to do other things and young Bill was left by himself. In this lonely moment, young Bill said, “Put lots of things on the table.” In his mind, being... Continue Reading →

Let’s say that I woke up today and only had a seed of faith in Christ. I believed that he was God’s son, that he died a brutal death, and that he was resurrected. What can that seed of faith accomplish?  First, we have to understand what faith is. It is, according to Dallas Willard,... Continue Reading →