Everyone seems to have a different idea of what it means to follow Jesus. For some, it comes with a list of dos and don’ts. For others, it means casting your vote behind the politician who supports the one issue that means the most to you. Still others think it means...
How to be imitators of Jesus
Did you know that the word “Christian” wasn’t a label the disciples gave themselves? They were first given this name in Acts 11:26 in Antioch. It was a name outsiders gave to them to distinguish them from other Jews. Why? Because these men and women were different....
Once you decide to live like Jesus, this comes next
For those who wonder how to live like Jesus, there is a wealth of information available through local churches, blogs, books, peers and Google. Depending on who you ask, you’ll receive to-do lists, don’t-do lists, a magic prayer and maybe a new schedule of meeting...
How to live like Jesus every day
Literally living like Jesus every day may not be physically possible in 2019. Just look to the short-lived TV show “Living Biblically” or the drastic measures Rachel Held Evans took to show us how literal interpretations fall flat. But that doesn’t mean taking the...
Loving the LGBTQ+ community in the church
First, to love someone means that you are willing to sit down and listen to their story, to understand, to let your heart break for theirs and to rejoice with their rejoicing. To truly love the LGBTQ+ is to be willing to hear the hard truths of the rejection and...
When loving others conflicts with biblical law
Everyone is talking about love lately. There’s even a presidential candidate harnessing the power of love on the debate stage and in her campaign. Perhaps the sudden focus is due to the extremities of hate that have surfaced in our American culture. One does not have...
10 Peacemakers That Should Influence You
What does it mean to be a peacemaker? First and foremost, it is not having an absence of conflict or accommodating all sides. There are times when compromise is not the answer. When injustice and oppression happen, claiming there is good on all sides and seeking to...
Dealing with rejection as a Christian
No matter what faith or community you associate yourself with, you will experience rejection at some point in your life. At no point am I saying that dealing with rejection is unique to Christians; what I am saying is that Christians have been empowered uniquely to...
Overcoming the obstacles that keep us from loving others
Passive love is tolerance. The absence of hate is not the same as loving. The Christian’s job is to transform the world, to make it look more like the heaven we say we believe in. Throughout Jesus’ ministry He was increasingly inclusive, not exclusive. This requires a...
We hear a lot about being spiritual . . . but what is it?
In Christian circles, people talk a lot about being spiritual or growing in spirituality. To those who are not of the Christian faith, this language can be confusing. Heck, it’s confusing to many who do consider themselves Christians. What is spirituality? What does...
It’s Time To Surrender
Are you paying attention to the stuff inside of you? It’s an indication of who or what has control of your heart. When this stuff begins to surface it is a warning that it’s time to surrender your heart back to God. If you don’t you may end up in a place in life where...
It’s not too late to apologize
Do you know why you hurt people who are the closest to you? It’s because you are looking for fulfillment in someone close at hand. You have brought something into the relationship, a desire of some kind that is not being met and conflict arises. We are all selfish and...
Has shunning ever gotten you the response you wanted
Have you ever given someone the silent treatment only to discover they never knew you weren’t talking to them? Shunning someone rarely has the desired effect you are looking for. In fact, the person who suffers the most is you. Peace is in your control. When you shun...
We are called to be reconcilers, not dividers
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” Romans 12:18 You and I have been called to be peacemakers. It is our job to reflect Jesus and Jesus came to bring peace, not the sword. Here’s the thing, when we focus on living out...
Jesus & Superheroes: Why we need them both
Last month, in a rare explicit depiction of a global religious figure, DC comics announced a brand-new comic about the return of Jesus Christ titled Second Coming. In the series, Jesus is sent down to earth to learn what it takes to be the true Messiah. To do this he...