Ditch the Resolutions; Ask These Three Questions Instead
At the start of a new year there’s always talk of resolutions, SMART goals, turning over a new leaf, making…
Bible
What to Do About the Three Kinds of Suffering
You are suffering. Surprise! Welcome to the human race. And of course that’s not at all reassuring. Our culture trains…
Three Characteristics of Toxic Religion
Do you ever get a queasy feeling when thinking about your church or ministry experiences? OK, you’re “supposed” to connect…
3 Steps to Loving Others When They Don’t Love You
Every human being needs love. And sometimes we get love from others, and sometimes we don’t. In spite of that,…
When God Feels Distant: Nurturing Faith in the Absence of Answers
This world is messy and often confusing. How do you handle things when life is difficult? Sometimes you’re not seeing…
Powerful Keys to Stewarding Your Sexuality Well
You have gifts, good things you’ve been given that are valuable. How are you caring for – stewarding – those…
Throwing Down the Idols of Marriage, Singleness, or Parenthood
Relationships are usually complicated. And the church has usually idolized one particular relationship status to the detriment of another. It’s…
Dealing with Lust and Redeeming Eros
Desire is a good thing. As Christian psychiatrist Dr. Curt Thompson says, humans are people of desire. Jesus often asked,…
What Were You Even Created For?
If you woke up this morning feeling that everything in your world is better-than-good and you’re fully satisfied, this article…
Looking at Your Story Around Sex and Intimacy with Honesty and Compassion
Whenever I begin a relationship with a new coaching client I ask, “How did we get here? What’s your story?”…
Disentangling the Connection Between Sex and Intimacy
We use euphemisms all the time, especially around sex. I’ll spare you a list. But did you know the Bible…
The Lifeline You Need to Grow and Thrive
You are not the source. You can’t be; you’re a creature, a created being. You cannot generate life from within…
Practical Ways to Pursue Intimacy with God
God wants to be wanted. Isn’t that like you? Don’t you want to be wanted? What if your desire for…
The One Most Important Goal to Pursue This Year
Goals, resolutions, commitments, decisions, turning over a new leaf, a blank page – you may have a love-hate relationship with…
Good News of Great Joy for All People
That’s what the angel said: “Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that…
How to Celebrate Christmas When Life is Hard – Anyway
You have problems, and it might seem impossible to truly celebrate Christmas when things are this hard. But I’m quite…
Why You’re Frustrated with One Encounter with Jesus
Most of us want the pill, not the journey. We want the magic formula to comfort and success, three easy…
How to Experience Getting Your Validation From God
From very soon after you were born you have been looking for validation. Do you see me? Am I OK?…
How to Experience God in Your Tomorrow: a Theology of Hope
Consider what you’re anxious about. Your logical left brain may say, “I’m not anxious! I just want to be prudent.”…
How to Experience God’s Presence in Your Past Trauma
We’ve all experienced “stuff.” No one comes through life unscathed. What’s in your bucket of stuff is different from what’s…
What Your Need for Intimacy Tells You About God’s Plan
Personal relationships. Intimacy. Sex and sexuality. What first comes to mind when you hear those phrases? It might be privacy…
Why God Created You for Intimacy
There’s something in the human heart that craves connection. We sense, perhaps unconsciously, that we are created for intimacy. That…
From Genesis to Revelation: The Greatest Love Story Ever
Don’t you love a great love story? There’s always a hero, a heroine, and a villain. The questions keep us…
To Know Your Spouse and Be Known by Them
The intimacy God experiences within Himself–Father, Son, and Spirit–is what He designed husband and wife to experience in marriage. The…
How Being Faithful to Your Spouse is More than Sex
You rightfully expect your spouse to be faithful to your marriage vows and you probably hold yourself to the same…
3 Paradoxes We Experience in the Kingdom of God
Things are not always as they appear, especially in the kingdom of God. The carpenter’s son is truthfully the Son…
What if You Could Look Forward to Reading the Bible?
I sometimes ask people, “What things are you supposed to do as a Christian?” And “read the Bible” is always…
The Most Overlooked Obstacle to Maturity and Wholeness
We are an impatient people. Our contemporary culture has fueled our natural human tendency to go for instant gratification. We…
What Jesus Cares About More Than You Doing the Right Thing
What Jesus cares about most is not people doing the right thing. Does that surprise you? Certainly every human being…
10 Scriptures for Overcoming Fear and Anxiety
You know the Bible says “Don’t be afraid.” But sometimes anxious thoughts and feelings seem to overtake your heart and…
Your Brain CAN Change
When I went through medical school back in the “dark ages” we were told that 50% of what we learned…
What do Unafraid, Worry-Free People Know that You Don’t?
You don’t want a completely stress-free life. Not really. But don’t some people seem to handle it better than others?…
What Trusting God IS and What it ISN’T
Your head probably says that trusting God is a good idea. But trust is not only a decision, though it…
How Can You Trust God When His People Let You Down
On a good day the best part of your intellect may agree that God can be trusted. But consider your…
What’s Your One Thing for 2022?
Resolutions can sometimes help, though just making a New Year’s resolution is likely to last about as long as your…
The Baby Who Changed Everything
It’s almost Christmas. Children are eying presents under the tree. Adults are perhaps both tired and expectant. Church volunteers are…
Experience God Being With You This Advent Season
The season of Advent is here. For some this season brings joy, busyness, and countless activities connecting with family and…
2021: A Different Year, A Different Gratitude List
Today is Thanksgiving Day in the United States. I love that it’s the least commercialized of the major holidays. If…
When You Need an Attitude Adjustment
A couple days ago I could feel the tension rising in my body. My mind was ruminating on all the…
Have You Counted the Cost of Following Jesus?
When Jesus called people to follow Him, what did they understand they were saying Yes to? And if we are…
Does Your Life Smell Like Jesus Yet?
Fragrance is a delicate thing that’s hard to put words to but impossible to ignore. Freshly brewed coffee. Freshly baked…
What Has God Given You Executive Authority Over?
God is in control. How many times have you heard that? Said that? And of course it’s true! But the…
Why “Too Old, Too Young or Too Hard” are Bad Excuses
Excuses, excuses. They sure sound good! How could I ever do that? I don’t have the training or money or…
What is the Measure of Success for a Christian?
You’re committed to following Jesus. How’s it going? If your life continued on the trajectory it’s on now, would you…
9 Questions Jesus is Asking You
Have you ever noticed how often God asks questions? We often think of ourselves as asking questions of Him. But…
What to do When Frustrated that Your Prayer Isn’t Working
As a Christian your head believes prayer works, and you might even try to “defend” God if someone tries to…
Why Your Mental Image of God Matters So Much
What is it you love about your best friend? Why did you pick your spouse? That may be complicated, but…
Three Things To Do Between Mountaintop Experiences
Yesterday God showed up. Perhaps you experienced the power of God like Elijah did, calling down fire from heaven. Perhaps…
How to Have an Encounter with God
A few years ago I was privileged to travel to Bangalore, India. Hundreds of thousands of Christians from all over…
How Christ and the Church Form the Model for Marriage and Sex
Intimacy in marriage. The one-flesh experience most Jesus-followers are looking for when they say “I do.” OK, you have physical…
