
You Can Pretend to Care, but You Can’t Pretend to Show Up: An Advent Message
Hard times are a drag, but they do clarify who your people are. If you’ve ever experienced a crisis, you’ve probably learned that some people

Taking Thanksgiving to the Next Level
When I was a child, I had asthma. Typically, it landed me in the hospital a couple of times each year. It’s been four decades,

Staying Focused in a Culture of Distraction
Recently I was waiting in line in a crowded coffee shop when something felt amiss. Despite a large number of people in the building, the

The Case for the Psalms of Lament
In modern culture, there’s a high premium placed upon “looking on the bright side.” For the most part, people are uncomfortable with open expressions of

5 Quotes From A.W. Tozer That Will Fuel Your Faith
Recently, I read The Crucified Life: How To Live Out a Deeper Christian Experience by A.W. Tozer, which was first published in 1953. Tozer was

Self-Discipline: Embracing the Rattle and Hum
In 1988, U2 released the album Rattle and Hum, and it quickly became part of the soundtrack of my youth. Maybe because it was a

Gas Prices, Inflation, & Psalm 49
With gas prices nearing five dollars a gallon and inflation on the rise, many of us are thinking about cash flow and how higher prices

What to Do When Everything Goes Wrong
There’s an old cliché: “When it rains it pours.” I’m not a fan of worn-out adages, but statements like this are shared because we can

Why You Can’t Follow Jesus From a Distance
According to a recent study, two-thirds of the workforce in America experiences workplace fatigue.[1] The National Safety Council (NSC) defines fatigue as “feelings of tiredness,

The Loneliness Epidemic and the Role of the Local Church
Research indicates that more than one-third of Americans describe themselves as lonely or socially isolated.[1] Loneliness is a quiet epidemic that has become increasingly problematic

Try a Little Kindness
Recently I was in heavy traffic when a man sped by me and flipped me off. I confess, my response was inappropriate—I erupted in a

What the Church Can Learn From Alcoholics Anonymous
My friends in Alcoholics Anonymous tell me there’s a mantra in AA that says, “You are only as sick as your secrets.” One of the