Best-selling author John Eldredge recently wrote a book about Jesus titled Beautiful Outlaw. One of the things that struck Eldredge as he researched and wrote his new work was noting how grounded Jesus was as a person. Eldredge wrote that Jesus had the “ability to navigate praise, then hatred,... read more »

Last year, as I was driving to church on a Sunday morning, I was in a deep funk. For many reasons, I was experiencing an emotional and spiritual valley. I prayed, trying to tell God where I was emotionally and spiritually, but the words didn’t come easy. As I struggled, the song “Word of God... read more »

One of my favorite quotes from John Wesley is, “Pray like it depends on God; work like it depends on you.” I don’t always live it, but it echoes something an old wise king once said. As King David was nearing the end of his life, he realized he wasn’t going to be able to build a temple for... read more »

Unexpected journeys. Little and big—life is full of them. A quick trip to the grocery store turns into a car accident, injuries, and several months of recuperation. A routine drive home from work turns into a breakdown on the highway and a lengthy wait for a tow truck. A call on the cell phone... read more »

Chuck Colson tells the story of Ron Greer, an ex-convict who was rehabilitated through Colson’s Prison Fellowship ministry. Greer, who became a pastor after serving his time, was once interrupted by a group of gay activists as he was conducting a church service. The activists were disrespectful... read more »

Financial guru and radio talk show host Dave Ramsey frequently says, “Debt is normal. Be weird.” In an age where charging purchases to a credit card and spending beyond one’s means are common practices, Ramsey urges his listeners to “act their wage,” save up, and—other than the... read more »

Last year I said goodbye to a friend from my high school years. David, who struggled with physical challenges his entire life, was just 50 years old when kidney failure took him. Why do some people die seemingly before their time? Why do parents have to bury their children? These are burning,... read more »

Failure isn’t final. A man in the Bible who experienced that firsthand was John Mark—an assistant to Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey (Acts 13:5). We don’t know all that his role entailed, but it likely involved doing behind-the-scenes work like buying supplies and cooking... read more »

The film Dead Poets Society introduced me to an old phrase from a Latin poem: carpe diem. It means “seize the day,” an urgent call to live life to the fullest, getting the most out of each and every day. Generally speaking, it’s good advice, especially for those of us who to tend to live... read more »

Don’t judge me!” Most of us have used those words to defend ourselves when we believe someone has unfairly called into question something we’ve done. So, is it wrong to judge people? After all, Jesus Himself said, “Do not judge others” (Matthew 7:1). The answer is yes and no. It’s... read more »