“Sarah” was confused. She hadn’t been in church circles very long, so when someone started talking about “pouring into” someone else, she couldn’t quite wrap her brain around what that meant. Sarah is far from alone. Many unchurched people, or new believers, find themselves having to learn a whole new set of terms once they start hanging out with Christians. Yup, we have our own subculture, including special lingo some refer to as “Christianese.” I define Christianese as terminology which Christians invent and repeat rather than as terms right out of the Bible. Terms like Continue Reading

Heart pounding, the girl peers through the reeds, watching the entourage make their way along the riverbank. Her eyes cut to the water, where a little pitch-covered basket floats among the reeds. Inside the papyrus vessel lies her charge—her infant brother, hidden there to spare him from certain death. Their courageous mother has hidden the infant for three months, despite Pharaoh’s order to throw every newborn Hebrew male into the Nile.... How does the famous Old Testament story of Moses apply to today's issues? Continue reading here to find out!     Image Continue Reading

A sea of middle-school students surged through the hallway between periods. Suddenly, one seventh-grade girl lost her grip on her books and dropped them on the floor. Much to her chagrin, the boy behind her seized the opportunity and kicked the pile of books, sending them sliding down the hallway. His cronies hooted with laughter, humiliating the girl even further. Not one of the ruffians offered to help pick anything up. That girl was me—and unfortunately, that awful day was one of many bad junior high days. But now, middle school is behind me, right? No more eye-rolls or Continue Reading

Recently, a Christian university posted their official statement against racism on social media, a statement which is founded on imago Dei and which is part of the school’s fundamental beliefs. Immediately, someone criticized the university for not posting their statement sooner. “Do better,” chided the self-righteous individual. This uncharitable attitude angered me. Nevertheless, I can’t allow criticism, or the discouragement it causes, to stop me from doing my part against the evil of racism. Innocent blood keeps getting spilled on the soil of our nation. That blood cries Continue Reading