As a pastor, I often have people share deep and painful things with me. They confess their sins. They express the guilt they feel. They describe the brokenness that surrounds them. They explain the wounds they have experienced. They describe the shame they feel as a result of all these things. Too often, though, I notice that people—myself included—struggle to … Read More
We have inherited the riches beyond our wildest imagination, but continue living on our old budget, penny-pinching our way through life with God. In the early 20th Century, a woman named Hetty Green died, leaving behind an incredible fortune. By today’s figures, it’s estimated that she was worth over four billion dollars at the time of her death. She was … Read More
Money is not the problem, a heart that loves money is the problem. In America, we often think that money can buy happiness. I think most people would agree with the statement: “The more money I have, the happier I will be.” Recently, researchers from the fields of psychology and sociology have tested the hypothesis that money leads to happiness. … Read More
In the Copper Canyons of hidden, rural Mexico, there is a small tribe called the Tarahumara. According to the few outsiders who have been granted access, members of the Tarahumara: Live by simple foods, strange drinks, and hardly work at all. Don’t have clean water, doctors or hospitals. Don’t even wear shoes. Live an ancient and prehistoric way of living. … Read More
We all want to be happy. We want to be free, joyful, peaceful, and thriving. It follows, then, that we do not want to be sad. We do not want to endure loss, to mourn, to grieve, to be sorrowful, or depressed. Just glance at the magazine covers at the grocery store checkout lane. What do you see? Smiling faces, … Read More
In The End of Me video series, Kyle Idleman highlights the testimony of Rachelle Starr to demonstrate the power of brokenness and wholeness. Rachelle grew up in a stable, Christian home, but drifted from the Lord in early adulthood. Despite a healthy marriage and a thriving career, Rachelle felt something was missing. “It was never enough,” she shares in the … Read More
The Secret to Finding Jesus and the (Truly) Good Life How would you describe the Good Life? If you’re being completely honest, and no one would know your answers, how would you respond? How would you fill in the following blank? The Good Life is ______________________________________. Would you respond with an answer similar to one of these? • Having a … Read More
In sports like running, cycling, and swimming, every ounce matters. In the original Greek marathons thousands of years ago, runners trained with leg weights and then removed them on race day. Many of them even ran in the nude or very little clothing to reduce unnecessary weight during the long run. (Thankfully that’s not a thing anymore.) These days, when … Read More
This past summer, I signed up a 50-mile bike race. I hadn’t been cycling long, and this was going to be the longest ride I had ever done. I prepared well. I did months of training and stretching, I practiced each stage of the route, and most importantly, I became an expert in carb loading. (Donuts!) About halfway through the … Read More
