Marriage is awesome! It can also be difficult. There are numerous factors that contribute to it being a mishmash of both. In conversation and counseling with couples I am convinced God’s blueprint for marriage, particularly as outlined in Genesis 1-3, needs to be stated and restated. One feature to that blueprint that requires emphasis: male leadership….
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Anecdotally, Christianity is the “singingest” religion. It probably wouldn’t take too much work to verify this peculiarity. But why is that? Historically, why has Christianity always involved so much singing and music? Depending on your church background, this may seem strange to you, so let me offer a few reflections on this. As always, we’ll…
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One of the most startling stories in the gospels is found in Mark 2. Jesus has gained a reputation for being a miracle worker. He’s healed countless people and demonstrated his authority over the demonic world. A paralyzed man has caught wind of this and through the help of his friends hatches a plan that…
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Imagine a conversation like this: Skeptic: I don’t believe in Christianity.Christian: Why not?Skeptic: Because science can prove some of the stuff in the Bible isn’t possible. There’s no way it could have happened.Christian: So science is what you use to determine what is true?Skeptic: Yes.Christian: How did you decide science is what you would use to determine what…
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I’ll be away at a conference this week, so I won’t be posting any original material. However, I thought I’d give you a sampling from around the web. There are some very pertinent and helpful gems in this list. Happy reading…and reflecting! 7 Reasons Sports Matter So Much to So Many: Barnabas Piper writes, “Last…
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Christians are exiles. That is, what Christians believe is becoming increasingly strange to the culture around us. We don’t need to fear this because God’s people have been here before. In the Bible, we are called ‘exiles,’ ‘strangers,’ and ‘foreigners,’ dozens of times. There’s plenty in the pages of Scripture to direct our thinking and…
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Found all throughout life, including sports, there is story. A plot is established. There’s a sense of anticipation. Good stories create tension, dissonance, and mystery. There are moments where the story is not going the way you would like. There are even times when the story doesn’t end the way you’d like it to; but…
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New Year’s resolutions are upon us. Goal setting can be a good thing, and perhaps one goal you need to have in 2016 is to be less busy. Here’s one thought that may help fuel your motivation. Jesus was a busy man. He was in high demand. Crowds flocked to Him. Everybody wanted a piece…
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High school was challenging for me. I attended a large public high school in Green Bay, Wisconsin, with a graduating class of 460 students. Socially it was a nightmare. I had come from a very small, private middle school and as a result was clueless to what was and was not “cool.” Early in my…
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10. “Hey, girl, I’ve got the gift of prophecy and I see you in my future.” 9. “You must be made out of water, because Jesus turned you into FINE!” 8. “I have been struggling with loneliness. Would you mind meeting me to pray about it?” 7. “Your middle name must be ‘Grace’ because, baby,…
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