The room buzzed with conversation punctuated with laughter as forty college students practiced a snooty new word I'd just taught them. They practiced using it in a sentence any pseudo-intellectual would gladly add to their repertoire. The word? Weltanschauung, which is German for "worldview." The sentence? "Well, it all depends on your Weltanschauung, am I right?" (Now laugh in a condescending manner. Very good!) Our church's college group Regenerate. led by my son Sam and his wife Jamé, has affectionately come to know the Apostle John as "Papa John." In 1 John 4:1-6, Papa John Continue Reading

In a lovely, moving ceremony, my youngest son got married last Saturday. My heart overflows with joy, not just because he's found a wonderful woman, but because Jed and Rebecca understand what weddings are all about. Despite the swirl of opinions these days as to what marriage is and whether it's important,  weddings are still a big deal in our culture. I hope weddings will always be a big deal -- but I pray it's for the right reasons. My son and his bride orient their lives around joyful obedience to Jesus Christ. They planned their ceremony around the understanding that their Continue Reading

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

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