Gratitude in Every Season

(Adapted from “What Should I Do?” in Moving Forward in Hope) Sometimes when life rolls along peacefully, I wonder about struggles that may lie ahead. Depending on the severity of what shows up next, I can become emotionally and spiritually exhausted. Here’s the good news: The right response to a crisis can be spiritually, emotionally, … Read more

Expecting the Return of Your Prodigal

The parable of the prodigal son is one of the most familiar stories in the Bible. The son who leaves, squanders, and returns. The son who stays and stews. One part of the story that sticks with me, though, is passed over quickly in Luke’s narrative. The time lapse. How long was the Prodigal younger … Read more

When Pride Falls, Grace Rises

Silhouetted, leafless tree on a rocky islet in a calm lake at sunset, with fiery orange sky and snow-dusted mountains reflected on the water's surface.

Pride, like any character trait, can be beneficial or detrimental. Merriam-Webster’s definitions illustrate both aspects. On one hand, pride is a “sense of one’s own worth.” On the other, it’s “inordinate self-esteem, an unreasonable conceit, insolence or arrogance of demeanor.” Why would God instill such a trait in us? Because “a sense of one’s own … Read more

Should I Use Someone’s Preferred Pronouns?

Young man shrugging with palms up, wearing a red plaid shirt over a white tee, looking surprised against a gray background.

Megan called me one afternoon to talk about a female coworker transitioning to become a man. “She’s my friend,” Megan said, “She wants me to use her preferred male name and pronouns, but I care about her health and emotional well-being. How can I demonstrate my love, respect, and concern for her without compromising my … Read more

How Can God Bring Any Good Out of This?

Have you ever been so weary that you said, “I cannot take another step”? Have you awakened in the morning and refused to open your eyes because you still felt exhausted? Pain can do that. It can weaken us to the point that we’re immobile. It can fill our heart with so much darkness that … Read more

Envy’s Destructive Path

For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. James 3:16 When God delivered the tenth commandment on Mount Sinai, he added a sweeping conclusion to the simple beginning: “You shall not covet … anything that belongs to your neighbor” Exodus 20:17). Why add anything? Maybe God wanted to … Read more

Trading Lies for Light: The Journey to Biblical Thinking

We all have a worldview—a set of conscious and subconscious beliefs through which we see and interpret life. Worldview determines how we view God, ourselves, truth, and reality. It colors our understanding of history and shapes our values. When we accept Christ as Savior and Lord, the Holy Spirit begins to transform our worldview—removing beliefs … Read more