Philip Yancey, the noted American author, writes in his book Prayer: Does It Make Any Difference that he considers prayer a "risky enterprise." It's a jarring statement but one we should thoughtfully consider. As Christians, we have the luxury of "having God's ear." We have reassurances from Jesus Himself that, not only does God hear … Continue reading When Prayer is Scary
#wellnesswednesday
Willful Disbelief
Being a Christian is risky. We live in a world that is increasingly hostile to a Christ-centered worldview. Our beliefs are seen as childish, ignorant, or sometimes downright malicious. As culture moves further and further away from the cross, the chasm between believers and non-believers grows wider and, at times, un-breachable. The arguments against Christianity … Continue reading Willful Disbelief
Get That ‘Love’ Stuff Out of Here
Ah, the day after Valentine's Day. Or, as I like to call it, the "75% off love day." Whereas just 24 hours ago, love was everywhere--flowers, balloons, candy, red hearts--today, all that remains are the few stragglers of which stores are desperate to be rid. Hence the cheap prices on wilted roses, sinking balloons, stale … Continue reading Get That ‘Love’ Stuff Out of Here
Shaky Ground
In Psalm 11, King David asks a question many of us have probably been asking over the last few months if not years: "The foundations of law and order have collapsed. What can the righteous do?" (11:3). Has the world ever felt like that to you? We see riots and lawlessness, blatant evil and unimaginable … Continue reading Shaky Ground
*Not* Working For God
Eugene Peterson writes: "There are times when our grand human plans to do something for God are seen, after a night of prayer, to be a huge human distraction from what God is doing for us." As a Christian author, I can find myself stumbling over this truth time and time and time again. When … Continue reading *Not* Working For God
That Which We Have Already Attained
There's a lady at church with whom I have a hard time. And I don't mean in the sense that we don't get along. We do. Very well, in fact. And I don't mean that she has some kind of annoying habit, irritating mannerism, or even overt sin that causes me to be distracted. No, … Continue reading That Which We Have Already Attained
When An Attitude of Gratitude Isn’t Enough
It gets harder every year. If you're a parent, you probably understand what I mean. I try so hard to keep the focus on Jesus during this Christmas season. I mean, cue all the cliches, right? He's the reason for the season! You can't spell Christmas without Christ. And all those familiar sayings. We do … Continue reading When An Attitude of Gratitude Isn’t Enough
When Knowledge Becomes Sin
A few years ago, I decided one of my goals was to run a half-marathon. I'd been an avid runner for many years but had never gone above a 10k. Then in the summer of 2018, I suffered a knee injury from which my doctor assured me while, yes, I would recover, my running days … Continue reading When Knowledge Becomes Sin
Breaking News From Babylon…
I am a recovering news junkie. If you've followed me for any amount of time, you know my background is in the world of journalism. After obtaining a master's degree in journalism from Indiana University, I worked for a short amount of time in both print and radio news before turning my attention to fiction … Continue reading Breaking News From Babylon…
You Have Nothing to Fear…Except for God.
This is my favorite time of year. After a long, hot New Mexico summer, there's a certain relief when fall finally arrives. The nights get cool, the leaves change hue, and I can finally-FINALLY-wear jeans without feeling as I was going to pass out from heat exhaustion. But also...it's spooky season. Ever since I was … Continue reading You Have Nothing to Fear…Except for God.