We see God’s love demonstrated in the way Jesus treated others, especially those who mistreated and hurt him. If Jesus exemplified this sacrificial and limitless love, why then, is it so hard for us to love those who have wronged us? My favorite philosopher is Soren Kierkegaard and, years ago, he shared the following parable. The Girl With a Broken … Read More
Making the choice to forgive when someone has caused you unspeakable pain is one of the most challenging decisions you may ever face. The good news is, while forgiveness won’t erase your pain, it will most certainly set you free. My father was very abusive towards me while I was growing up. I had a very traumatic childhood because of … Read More
He was on a boat, headed for America when a massive storm rose up and began ravaging the boat. Immediately, he became scared out of his mind, frightened for his life, and started negotiating with God. “God, I can’t die. If you just let me live through this, I promise I’ll …” In the middle of his panic, he looked … Read More
All we have to do is look around to see brokenness all around us. It’s the reality of the world we live in. But for as much brokenness that exists, we see just as many examples of God’s restoration. We can find hope in the fact that our brokenness isn’t the end of our story. Each Story Is Different Ryan … Read More
I didn’t grow up going to church, or reading the Bible, or learning about Jesus. I’m not sure exactly what the “furthest thing from being a Christian” is, but I may have been it. I didn’t believe in God and I didn’t care. At the age of 20, I picked up a Bible for the first time. I had no … Read More
Many of us are skeptical when it comes to New Year’s Resolutions. We may dismiss them altogether. But perhaps we shouldn’t. A new year gives you the feeling of a fresh start. That’s why a lot of people make New Year’s Resolutions. But maybe you’re pessimistic when it comes to New Year’s Resolutions. Perhaps you’ve made some and not kept … Read More
I had lots of problems, but sex issues weren’t amongst them. “You need to go to this sex addiction and issues group.” My friend kept insisting, but I didn’t understand why. “The main idea of the group,” my friend explained, “is to forgive your parents. Most sex issues and addictions stem from issues with a parent. This group will help … Read More
Attempting to reveal God’s love to this broken and busy world has never been easy. I have two pastor friends, Greg and Alex, who created a fun and crafty way of illustrating the history of God’s relationship with people. The smiley face with the halo represents God. Our story originates with God because He encompasses what life is all about. … Read More
We see God’s love demonstrated in the way Jesus treated others, especially those who mistreated and hurt him. If Jesus exemplified this sacrificial and limitless love, why then, is it so hard for us to love those who have wronged us? My favorite philosopher is Soren Kierkegaard and, years ago, he shared the following parable. The Girl With a Broken … Read More
As humans, we tend to believe that we are stronger than we really are. We tend to lean on our own understanding and depend on our own strength. We are usually slow to acknowledge God, so it’s not surprising when we get confused and question those things we don’t understand. The heart of the matter is that we resist trusting … Read More
