I’ve seen the atheists’ billboard that reads, “Think before you believe.” I’d say it this way, “Think because you believe.” God gave humans a beautiful, brilliant mind as his image bearers. He also likens us to sheep, knowing our propensity to follow the crowd. Parents who love Jesus and want to impart a strong faith to their children must teach their children to be thinkers. Like all discipleship, this begins with parents developing their own critical thinking skills. After all, we can’t give our children what we don’t have. Critical thinking has nothing to do with Continue Reading
Why You Need to Fight for Your Joy
As Americans, we believe we have the right to pursue happiness. As Christians, we have access to joy in Christ. For the believer, Jesus is the source of all real joy. He bought and paid for our joy along with the rest of our unspeakably wonderful benefits package. However, just because joy is Christ's gift to us doesn't mean it comes our way easily. Every human culture in every era has contained anti-gospel elements, and ours is no exception. That's because Satan uses worldview to indoctrinate humans with his lies. Consider just a few Western cultural paradigms which can Continue Reading
How Electronic Devices can Hinder Your Child’s Spiritual Development
Parents are busier than ever. In today’s crush of responsibilities and activities, it can be really tempting to allow electronics to “babysit” our kids. Is it harmless – socially, emotionally and spiritually – for children to spend time on electronic devices? As it turns out, all that touching and clicking on bright screens is powerful brain candy. It has an addictive quality. Letting your baby have access to an ipad or allowing your teen to stay up at night on their cell phone has an adverse effect. The prefrontal cortex is the part of the brain right behind your forehead. It Continue Reading
One Tragic Way we Hinder the Cause of Christ
When I go on vacation and get out in the woods, what I want most is to hear from God. So last month I'm hiking in the Pioneer Mountains of Montana with my husband Scott, asking God to talk to me afresh. As we make our way up the trail, we keep seeing trees with odd, arrow-like shapes cut into the bark. They are trail blazes made to mark the path for those who follow. Trail blazes. Pioneer Mountains. I'm listening, Lord. I reflect on how those who have gone before impact our lives by going places first so that we can get there, too. I think of the heroes in Hebrews chapter 11 Continue Reading