Finding Contentment In How God Made You Few truths are as comforting to the follower of Christ as the belief that God has a plan and purpose for our lives. Especially in seasons of uncertainty and upheaval, we cling to the promise that God’s sovereignty and omnipotence will guide us toward a future that will
A Timely Message From My Baseball Cap Reminds Me To Loosen My Grip On This World When I’m meeting strangers in a public place for the first time, I’ll often help them recognize me by stating, “I’ll be wearing a black ball cap.” Those who know me well might nod in recognition at the
We have officially entered the season of overindulgence, which will provide no shortage of opportunities to test your dietary resolve and bring ruination to your healthy eating plan. Just past was Halloween, replete with brimming bowls of candy at every office workstation, reception desk and, more than likely, your pantry (you bought them for
My church's response to adversity provides a blueprint for personal transformation This week marks my transition from the relative stability of church-based pastoral work to the walk-by-faith world of entrepreneurial ministry. Like most ending a long season of church work, I’ve done my share of navel-gazing in an attempt to understand and quantify how God
It’s the first week of January. This is the time of year when Christmas carols fade and the siren song of diet marketers promising “quick results” saturate print, radio, television and social media. When someone claims they can deliver huge financial returns virtually overnight we call it a “get rich quick scheme.” When they promise
Merriam Webster’s definition of the word “Available” reads as follows: Available : easy or possible to get or use : present or ready for use These definitions connote a sense of immediacy, responsiveness, and surrender. We might picture a construction worker with needed tools fastened to his tool belt, or an artist with a
I’ve developed an online fitness challenge that typically runs in the spring and fall. People from across the country looking for a biblical perspective on health and fitness join together for 28 days to learn nutritious eating habits, healthy movement, and most importantly, how the gospel informs our body stewardship. I don’t know most of
I live in Iowa, home of the first-in-the-nation presidential caucuses (our version of a primary). For many election cycles, it has fallen to Iowans to winnow the field of presidential candidates from both political parties. Because of the oversized strategic impact of the Iowa caucus results, political action committees and lobbying groups descend on
I caught a glimpse of scripture at my health club recently. Thanks to a bodybuilding college student who’s workout attire had received a skin-baring makeover from a pair of scissors, I couldn’t help but notice he’d tattooed “I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me” across his ribcage. Always on the lookout
The book of Exodus provides a familiar and exciting narrative that has spawned epic movies and amusement park attractions. We see a beautiful story of redemption, the display of God’s awesome power, the transformation of a leader, and the unfathomable hardness of the human heart. From a worship perspective, we also see, for the first
