Congratulations On Doing What You’re Supposed To Do

We tend to celebrate the bare minimum as being exceptional, without realizing that we've simply set the bar so low for ourselves that we've made the bare minimum look like an accomplishment when it's not. [Click title to read more.]

Mind The Small Hurts

The answer isn't to compare pain or place it on a relative scale of suffering, but rather to address pain as pain, in context, regardless of the source. Yes, we absolutely must kick into gear the moment we hear a word like "cancer" or "death." But I hope we can also mobilize ourselves to respond with similar compassion to words like "frustration" and "fear" and "chest cold." [Click title to read more.]

Enduring Doubt Till Morning

With the blessing of history and hindsight, we can see it. We, from our vantage point, always see the aftermath of the crucifixion illuminated by the glow of the resurrection. But the disciples didn't. What we understand as the transition from death to life they saw as a tangled mess of failure, despair, fear, and confusion. [Click title to read more.]

Oranges and Others-Focused Thinking

When my mind is on myself, it literally prevents me from seeing outside myself: I lose my ability to think of the world in an empathetic way. I lose my ability to see the world the way others might, to understand their needs and their perspective. [Click title to read more.]

Ministry to the Childfree And Those With Nontraditional Families

As I grow older, I become more and more aware that I'm part of an odd, niche demographic: the childfree family. And we (along with other non-traditional families) don't often seem like candidates for targeted ministry. But we need our churches desperately. [Click title to read more.]