An each-other life is one where we pray for each other, encourage each other, serve each other, and carry each other’s burdens. From the beginning of time, God stated it was not good for us to be alone. Most of what we experience in our earthly relationships are intended to reflect the connection God wants to have with us himself, … Read More
Don’t Give Up On God Life gets hard. You pray, but God doesn’t seem to answer. You are disappointed, and over time, disappointment becomes disillusionment. Disillusionment turns to despair, and you feel like giving up. Honestly, you feel like giving up on God. It happens to all of us. We have expectations; then God doesn’t meet them. Recently, I went … Read More
As a pastor, I have many conversations with people where the bottom-line message they need to hear is, “Don’t give up.” Different people need to hear that reminder in different ways, but I want to encourage you specifically: Don’t give up on your marriage. I want to tell those of you who have been divorced that Jesus loves you and … Read More
Think about a critical conversation that you’ve had. Maybe it’s one of the most important conversations you’ve ever experienced. Like a coach sharing a strategy and imploring his team to give their all during a game. Or it could simply be two world leaders trying to negotiate peace. I’d like to cast my vote for what I think has to … Read More
What is Victim Mentality and How Do You Overcome It? On May 25, 2001, Erik Weihenmayer reached the summit of Mount Everest. Seven years later he climbed the Carstensz Pyramid in Papa New Guinea. That day, he also completed the Seven Summits, the highest point on every continent. Only 150 people have accomplished such an incredible feat. I forgot to … Read More
How do you maintain a faith that gives you the confidence to keep believing, even when you face overwhelming or impossible circumstances? It can be tempting to give up when life gets challenging. Defining Faith In my new book, Don’t Give Up, I take an in-depth look at Hebrews 11, also called God’s Faith Hall of Fame. When you study … Read More
Over the last two decades, obstacle course races and events have grown exponentially in popularity. Turn on the TV on a weeknight, and you might find American Ninja Warrior athletes—non-professional folks like you and me—climbing ladders, leaping over swinging obstacles, and climbing walls, all in front of a raucous, cheering crowd. Races like the Tough Mudder and Spartan Races are … Read More
In Hebrews 11-12, we are called to look back and reflect upon the witnesses of the Old Testament and to look forward to a better country. These chapters in the Bible form a sort of biography series, consisting of stories about those who resisted their immediate desires and put their hope in what was to come. Long for a Heavenly … 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
The Bible is full of stories about people who experienced brokenness while being challenged at their very core. The Christian life is certainly not free from hardship and suffering. On the contrary, life in Christ is full of all the demands that the rest of the world faces, and all of the challenges and trials of spiritual and church life. … Read More
