Each year at this time, I like to look back over the books I’ve read since June and pick my favorites. Because of a busier schedule this fall, I haven’t read as many as in years past (and I have not read a five-star work of fiction in quite some time!); so this season’s list … Continue reading Five Standout Books from the Second Half of 2025
How Long, O Lord? Advent Lament
Chemo therapy that requires a six-week period of sequestering, beginning just days before Thanksgiving. Going weeks without pay because of the government shutdown. Fighting an uphill battle against a pernicious cancer and dealing with debilitating pain from an inoperable tumor. A horrific car wreck involving two cars full of teenagers, two of whom lost their … Continue reading How Long, O Lord? Advent Lament
Is Your Heart Closed Off?
Fraught. Complicated. Tenuous. On-again-off-again. Volatile. While these words might describe many teenage romances, they also aptly characterize the Apostle Paul’s relationship with the Corinthian church. Scripture reports that Paul spent 18 months in Corinth, evangelizing and discipling (Acts 18:1-17), made one “painful visit” during which he dealt with ongoing sin issues (2 Cor. 2:1), and … Continue reading Is Your Heart Closed Off?
You’re Responsible for Growing in Holiness
The clock may say zero, but the game goes on. If you’re a soccer fan, you know that a game isn’t over until the referees blow their whistles. Unlike basketball in which the play-clock stops when the ball goes out of bounds or for substitutions and other stoppages of play, in soccer, the play-clock never … Continue reading You’re Responsible for Growing in Holiness
Images of Hope
What do incense, letters of recommendation, and a blazing light have in common? If you answered (and I’m sure you did!) that they’re all metaphors that Paul uses in 2 Corinthians 2 and 3 to help describe the Gospel, you win! Though Paul had spent much time in Corinth and written the church there multiple … Continue reading Images of Hope
What If Psalm 1 Isn’t Actually About You?
The Lion King is about lions; but it’s not really about lions. Remember the Titans is about football; but it’s not really about football. Titanic is about the Titanic; but it’s not really about the Titanic. The Life of Pi is about a guy on a boat with a tiger; but it’s not really about … Continue reading What If Psalm 1 Isn’t Actually About You?
“You Are Enough”…And Other Lies the Gospel Refutes
“Just do it.” “If you dream it, you can achieve it.” “Believe in yourself, and the world will believe in you too.” “Embrace yourself.” “You are enough.” Slogans like these came into vogue during the 1990s self-esteem movement, but they have proven to have significant staying power. They reinforce the most prominent idol of our … Continue reading “You Are Enough”…And Other Lies the Gospel Refutes
How Can You Have a Quiet Heart in a Noisy World?
Ping! You receive a “breaking news” notification. Another school shooting. Sighing, you open your phone and read the story. Tears fill your eyes as you learn about the victims of such a senseless crime. Ping! Another notification. A friend just texted you asking what time you’d like to meet for dinner. You begin your response. … Continue reading How Can You Have a Quiet Heart in a Noisy World?
Time: A Most Precious Commodity
October 21, 1985. A date that will live in…infamy? Okay, maybe not infamy, but box office glory, to be sure. In case you didn’t recognize it, October 21, 1985 is the date Marty McFly must get back to in order to get “back to the future” in the film of the same name. The Michael … Continue reading Time: A Most Precious Commodity
The Mighty Fortress
Death. Plague. Illness. Temptation. Anxiety. Tragedy. One of Christendom’s best-loved hymns was likely born out of a season of heavy trial. Though the exact details surrounding the writing of “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” have been lost to history, scholars believe that Luther penned his most famous hymn sometime during the years 1527-28, a … Continue reading The Mighty Fortress
The Treasure of Fearing the Lord
What could possess a person to put his life and reputation in jeopardy, to steal one of the most important documents in American history, to evade the FBI, and to bind and gag his own father? If you have ever seen Disney’s National Treasure, you’ll know that the answer is a treasure of inestimable value. … Continue reading The Treasure of Fearing the Lord
Escapism Is the Enemy of Endurance
Remember the fable of the Tortoise and the Hare? As I remember it, it goes something like this: An easygoing tortoise challenges a cocksure hare to a footrace. Certain of an easy win, the hare agrees. At the sound of the starting gun, the hare sprints out to an insurmountable lead, while the tortoise moseys … Continue reading Escapism Is the Enemy of Endurance
Drawing Water from the Springs of Salvation
Last winter I learned for sure (as if there had ever been any doubt) that I’m not cut out for pioneer life. This revelation came as the pump to our well bit the dust and we had to go without water for a couple of days. Before pictures of Laura Ingalls fill your head, our … Continue reading Drawing Water from the Springs of Salvation
Rock-Picking Spiritual Growth
“If I never see another rock again, it will be too soon.” My husband and I, along with four other sponsors and sixteen teenagers took off earlier this summer for northeast Ontario to assist in the landscaping of an up-and-coming Bible camp that will minister primarily to kids on First Nations reserves in Canada. Just … Continue reading Rock-Picking Spiritual Growth
A Few Book Recs at the Halfway Point of 2025
What have you been reading lately? Do you have any books on your nightstand? Maybe you’ve got a to-be-read list longer than Rapunzel’s ponytail. But maybe, like me, you’re always on the lookout for your next great read. If you’re going on vacation this summer and need a book for your bag, or headed to … Continue reading A Few Book Recs at the Halfway Point of 2025
Six Words to Remember About Jesus When Your Nets Are Empty
“I’m going fishing.” Three words that he’d said probably a thousand times in his life, but today they meant something different for Peter. On this day, he was going to his beloved lake to find fullness. Though perhaps he wanted to be alone, he wasn’t. Six other disciples hopped in the boat with him for … Continue reading Six Words to Remember About Jesus When Your Nets Are Empty
Breaking Gender Stereotypes to the Glory of God: What Now?
God has a sense of humor. Do you believe that? I do. While I could give many reasons for this (Exhibit A: the duckbill platypus), I really need to look no farther than my own home. Going against the grain of “normal,” my husband and I opted not to find out the gender of either … Continue reading Breaking Gender Stereotypes to the Glory of God: What Now?
Prepare Your Heart for Pride Month
So far, 2025 has been a decent year for conservatives on the LGBTQ front, hasn’t it? From the President’s executive order that the US government will acknowledge only two genders to the UK’s Supreme Court decision defining woman as based on biological sex in regards to the Equality Act, it seems that maybe sanity is … Continue reading Prepare Your Heart for Pride Month
The Scariest Verse in the Bible
A list of the Bible’s scariest verses might look something like this: "On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, didn't we prophesy in your name, drive out demons in your name, and do many miracles in your name? ' "Then I will announce to them, 'I never knew you. Depart from me, … Continue reading The Scariest Verse in the Bible
Abiding in Christ Is a Fight for Faith
In a single afternoon, Job’s world was devastated. He lost not only all of his impressive livelihood, but also all ten of his children in a single tragic accident. Yet, from his mouth come surprising and convicting words: Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will leave this life.The LORD gives, and the … Continue reading Abiding in Christ Is a Fight for Faith
The Dirtiest One Another
Worm dung farmer, sewer inspector, chimney sweeper, hot tar roofer, garbage pit technician, and avian vomitologist—these are just a handful of the occupations that host Mike Rowe investigated in his long-running series Dirty Jobs. Certainly, a job that requires the study of any type of refuse or animal waste easily qualifies as “dirty.” While I … Continue reading The Dirtiest One Another
Four Things I Try to Pray Every Day for My Children
Prayer is hard. You know it’s true. Who among us doesn’t walk away from any sermon about prayer feeling like a failure? We all need to grow in prayer, but we struggle to do it. I’ve read books, listened to podcasts, attended conferences on the topic, and I am still the farthest thing from an … Continue reading Four Things I Try to Pray Every Day for My Children
Embracing Jesus’ Mindset of Surrender
While winter still has a few punches left to land, spring is finally making its way to the upper Midwest. After multiple school cancellations due not to snow but to temperatures twenty below zero (without windchill), we’re definitely ready for some warmer weather. Around here, even the 30’s are greeted with smiles and t-shirts. The … Continue reading Embracing Jesus’ Mindset of Surrender
Are You Leaning on Your Own Understanding?
In the summer of 1972, just weeks before a terrorist attack would be perpetrated against Israeli Olympians competing at the games in Munich and months before the Watergate scandal would break, Bill Withers climbed to the top of the pop music charts with his most famous track, “Lean on Me.” A declaration of relational fidelity … Continue reading Are You Leaning on Your Own Understanding?
Unclean Lips
The prophet Isaiah numbers with a small group of people to have glimpsed the holiness of God while still on earth. He gives account of his experience: In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a high and lofty throne,and the hem of his robe filled the temple. Seraphim were standing … Continue reading Unclean Lips
How to Pray for an Unmet Desire
Lord, please just give me a baby. We’ve been waiting for so long. I would really like to be married, Father. Please bring the right man into my life. I’m tired of being alone. God, I hurt all the time. Please take the pain away. Please work in my husband’s heart. Help him to forsake … Continue reading How to Pray for an Unmet Desire
How Do You Approach the Word?
I’m afraid we have one of those dogs: the type that’s the bane of every delivery person’s existence. He’s big and intimidating-looking, and he barks with such ferocity whenever a delivery truck pulls up that surely the poor person inside thinks that no parcel could possibly be worth a fight with Cujo. However, Huxley’s bark … Continue reading How Do You Approach the Word?
Breaking Gender Stereotypes to the Glory of God
I guess I was always a different sort of girl. I rarely if ever played with dolls. I played football with the boys at recess and left jump rope to the girls. I detested wearing skirts, dresses, or anything pink, preferring instead jeans, t-shirts, and tennis shoes. My long hair always went into a pony … Continue reading Breaking Gender Stereotypes to the Glory of God
The Addiction We All Have (And What to Do About It)
You walk away from a conversation and wonder, “Should I have said that? Did I just sound like a total idiot? Maybe I should have said something else.” Before you go to a party, you text at least two other people to find out what they’re wearing so that you don’t wear the wrong thing. … Continue reading The Addiction We All Have (And What to Do About It)
Don’t Give Up on That Hard Relationship
Hard relationships. Something none of us want, but all of us have. Maybe it’s a difficult parent/child relationship. You’re not sure where things went wrong with your mom or dad, but you can hardly remember a time when the relationship wasn’t strained. Maybe your own kid fights you on everything and always seems to be … Continue reading Don’t Give Up on That Hard Relationship
Truths to Anchor Your Heart on Inauguration Day
Though two and a half months have passed, and I may still have whiplash. The 2024 US Presidential campaign left us all rattled, shook, gob smacked—and really, really ready for the whole ugly mess to be behind us. Thankfully, we survived the political roller coaster of the summer and fall, cast our vote on November … Continue reading Truths to Anchor Your Heart on Inauguration Day
True Strength Starts with Weakness
As the memories of Christmas recede into the background and the fresh start of a new year is upon us, many people will undoubtedly make resolutions tied to the stewardship of their bodies. Getting a gym membership and working out five times a week. Starting that diet and dropping the weight gained over the holidays. … Continue reading True Strength Starts with Weakness
In 2025—Let’s Abide.
We had just landed after a twelve-hour flight. Having just wrapped up a month in China, my jet-lagged friends and I were finally back on American soil. Because we were about to scatter across the country to our homes, we each had different travel arrangements. Some had connecting flights immediately; others would take their time … Continue reading In 2025—Let’s Abide.
“I Am” the Treasure (Part 2)
I don’t often write multi-part blog posts, but when I tried to tackle all seven “I Am” Statements in John, it became apparent very quickly that I would never be able to cram them all into one article. If you haven’t had the chance to read the first part, you can find it here. I … Continue reading “I Am” the Treasure (Part 2)
“I Am” the Treasure (Part 1)
Behold. Believe. Abide. Three active verbs encapsulate the entire message of John’s Gospel. The Beloved Apostle tells his readers that he wrote for the express purpose of their belief: But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life … Continue reading “I Am” the Treasure (Part 1)
My Favorite Books of 2024 (July-December)
It’s that time again! Twice a year I like to do a brief round-up of a few of my favorite reads. Throughout the second half of this year many of my favorite Christian books were rereads, many of which have already made this list; so I won’t take the space to plug them again. What … Continue reading My Favorite Books of 2024 (July-December)
Treasure in the Dark
“And in despair I bowed my head;‘There is no peace on earth,’ I said.”1 Nineteen century poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow penned these words as part of his Christmas poem today known as “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.” Longfellow had seen his share of tragedy as his wife died in his arms after receiving … Continue reading Treasure in the Dark
The Cost of Thanksgiving
Sixty bucks. According to statista.com, that was roughly the grocery bill for your Thanksgiving dinner last year, at least if you had ten people around your table.1 While sixty dollars may seem like quite a bit to spend on a single meal, you’d have a pretty tough time eating at any restaurant—even the Golden Arches—for … Continue reading The Cost of Thanksgiving
Help! I’m Supposed to Lead a Small-Group Discussion!
Small groups Bible and book studies have become a vital component of many thriving churches. The more informal and intimate atmosphere fosters transparency and allows mentoring relationships to grow and flourish. I’m sure no two of these groups—even within the same church—are identical in their operation, yet no doubt their similarities far outweigh their differences. … Continue reading Help! I’m Supposed to Lead a Small-Group Discussion!
From Limelight to Shadows: Growing in Humility
A little different. Strange. Eccentric. A bit off. Straight-up weird. No matter how you put it, John the Baptist was not your average guy. He dressed funny, had a strange diet, and played a unique role in prophetic history. Despite his unorthodox appearance, John had a significant following as he prepared people for the coming … Continue reading From Limelight to Shadows: Growing in Humility
The Beautiful Truth About Genuine Comfort
Whipped to the full extent of the law. Beaten with a rod. Stoned. Shipwrecked. In constant danger. Hungry. Thirsty. Deprived of sleep. The Apostle Paul knew about suffering. And his afflictions didn’t even end with this list. Eventually he would be beheaded at the hands of Roman Emperor Nero. Nearly every city he visited ran … Continue reading The Beautiful Truth About Genuine Comfort
The Trouble with Competitiveness
I’d rather not write this article. Anyone who knows me knows that competitiveness lodges deep within my bones. I want to come out on top whether playing tic-tac-toe, four-square, taking a test, or parenting my kids. I size up the competition and track the most likely path to victory. Of course, I don’t always win. … Continue reading The Trouble with Competitiveness
Truths to Anchor Your Heart Before, During, and After the Election
Election seasons are like a roller coaster. As the poll numbers fluctuate up and down, so too do your emotions. Yesterday you were confident; today you’re feeling anxious. Who knows what tomorrow will bring. Corkscrews, loop-the-loops, and precipitous drops—all perfect descriptions of your emotions throughout this season. Election seasons are like a wildfire: unpredictable, consuming … Continue reading Truths to Anchor Your Heart Before, During, and After the Election
The Lord Is Your Portion: 6 Reasons That’s Great News
“All billionaires under 30 have inherited their wealth.”1 That’s the headline of a recent article from The Guardian, which follows the source of the wealth of the world’s youngest members of the billionaire club. Turns out, at least one billion dollars was the portion, or, inheritance for each of these affluent individuals. Maybe you read … Continue reading The Lord Is Your Portion: 6 Reasons That’s Great News
Friendship That Endures
Friend. So much is tied into that one word. From the playground days when friendship revolved around little more than kickball or jump rope; to middle and high school when friendships could blossom over biology homework, hatred for PE, or playing the same instrument; to adult friendships that perhaps still feel somewhat clunky and awkward. … Continue reading Friendship That Endures
Does Pride Month Harden Your Heart or Break It?
Rainbow tinted profile pictures, rainbow light displays, the pride flag on nearly every staff—reminders about what month we’re in greet us at every turn. Pride Month has grown from a niche community recognition to a national celebration rivaled only by Christmas. No longer can we ignore what’s going on “out there.” We followers of Christ … Continue reading Does Pride Month Harden Your Heart or Break It?
Pride Month Prayer Guide
As the first day of June looms near, it's time for an annual reminder to be in prayer for our neighbors, leaders, family, and friends. While the next thirty days will be dominated by the clarion call of the world, may we take the month of June to remember who the real enemy is and … Continue reading Pride Month Prayer Guide
Pray, Stay, and Say: Three Things to Do When You Find No Joy in the Word
A chocolate peanut butter shake. That was about all I could think of. Well, a chocolate peanut butter shake and a cup of real (not instant) coffee. I had just spent two weeks in a small rural town in China that offered no western food but plenty of unfamiliar cuisine. I realize that two weeks … Continue reading Pray, Stay, and Say: Three Things to Do When You Find No Joy in the Word
Dear Graduate: Embrace the Awkward
Dear Graduate, I’ve never written anything specifically for graduates, though nearly every year for the past couple of decades of my life, I have attended either high school or college graduations as a graduate, friend, or faculty member. So, graduates of both high school and college, have a special place in my heart; and I … Continue reading Dear Graduate: Embrace the Awkward
God’s Word Is Good. But Is It Better?
“Have you ever read…?" I confess that I ask this question far too often. I’m sure that my friends want to get out the duct tape as soon as the first words escape my lips. I just can’t help it. I enjoy reading, and I want to talk about the books I’m reading, have read, … Continue reading God’s Word Is Good. But Is It Better?
Bible Study Nerd 