She was raised in a Christian family, and she was frustrated. No one seemed able or willing to provide her with satisfactory answers to her big questions about life, God, and reality. Halfway through high school, she abandoned her religious upbringing. It happens far too often, doesn't it? A young person has questions, but instead of engaging them and helping them wrestle through to the answers, adult Christians (including parents) often prescribe more devotional experiences as the answer. However, encouraging the emotional side of faith more does nothing to satisfy the Continue Reading
Two Extremes to Avoid concerning the Devil
If you're anywhere near my age, you probably recall comedian Flip Wilson's infamous character, Geraldine. Geraldine would get herself into trouble of some kind, and then insist, wide-eyed, "The devil made me do it!" That always got a laugh out of me. It's tempting to blame our bad behavior on someone else -- but it can also be a mistake to ignore or downplay the reality of our spiritual enemy. When it comes to the existence and work of Satan, Christians tend toward one extreme or the other. On the one hand, we can blame the devil for everything, giving him far too much credit. Continue Reading
When Does Your Child’s Spiritual Development Begin?
“Oh, come on,” said the exasperated mother. “Can’t you cooperate just once?” The father chimed in with similar frustration. “You’re being a pain in the butt!” You’d think these parents were dealing with a defiant toddler or a rebellious teen. Nope. They were talking to the ultrasound image of their pre-born child. Why were they angry? Because their baby wouldn’t turn in the direction they wanted. What kind of relationship do you suppose this child had with his parents once he was born? Given the way they demonstrated disdainful impatience toward their son long before he was Continue Reading
The Most Important Reason Not to Always Pursue your Dreams
You may recall my previous post, wherein I told the stories of a young mother who successfully built a business and a young father who spent his extra hours earning money for his boy’s college fund. Inspiring stories like these move us to do the same. We’re motivated by the popular slogan printed on many a T shirt, Follow Your Dreams. Doesn’t this notion appeal to the spirit of American independence? Don’t we love the idea of leaving our day jobs to be our own bosses? Don’t we long for financial security (never mind that it’s an oxymoron)? Here’s the thing: followers of Jesus Continue Reading