I once read a quote that seemed like such an obvious thing in retrospect, yet I’d never considered it before: “If you had never existed, nothing would be the same. Everywhere you’ve been, every person you’ve ever interacted with, would have a different life experience…just because you weren’t there.” Sometimes it can be hard not […]

Division is not hard to find. In fact, unity is rarer. Ever since the Tower of Babel and the times of the Patriarchs, humankind has found increasing ways to divide itself. The Pharisees set themselves apart from Jesus by their known heritage (casting scorn on Jesus’ own conception). The Jews separated themselves from the “dogs” […]

It’s a part of the human condition that ultimately, we all fear something. From quiet, uneasy rumblings to devastating, life-altering phobias, we’ve all faced something at one point or another that has terrified us. One of the greatest problems with fear is that it greatly hinders our effectiveness on God’s behalf in this world. This […]

Most people are familiar with the imagery of a giant treasure chest full of gold. While the historical accuracy of that design may be a bit skewed—research suggests the boxes were much smaller than what’s usually depicted in swashbuckling epics—the fact remains that treasure chests are widely known to be pretty secure places to keep […]

As we step into the New Year, the minds of many turn toward what goals and changes they will make in 2020; what will they choose to do, to modify, to become? The power to choose is considered by most to be an inherent human right, albeit addressed from differing positions depending on religious, political, […]

I don’t think it’s any coincidence that self-control is the last fruit of the spirit listed in Galatians 5:23, for the simple fact that in order to bear good fruit, we need to be rooted, grounded, and growing in good things—in “good spirit” that helps produce those fruits. And in order to pursue godly things, […]

What’s your default position when someone confronts you with a mistake you made or a way you showed up that was less than beneficial to those around you? If you find you default to defensiveness, irritation, anger and the like, then you’re not alone. Like me, meekness of spirit is a place in your life […]

If you want a quick and crucial lesson on living faithfully, marriage is the life for you. One thing I learned, sometimes painfully, within my first five years of marriage is that faithfulness to my spouse is a lot more than just not cheating. It’s about putting his needs first, above my own or anyone […]

“Perfect is the enemy of good enough.” This is a line they teach us often when it comes to novel-writing. Where the effort for perfection will often never get all the way off its butt and do something, being good says, “I recognize I will never be the best of the best there ever was. […]

Kindness—such a privilege and a challenge. How easy it is to show kindness to a beloved friend in good times, to a well-behaved pet, to a co-worker who’s done something solid for you. How difficult when a friend is trapped in a mess of their own making. When the cat tears the curtains. When a […]