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

Have you ever read through the whole Bible chronologically just to get a feel for the over-arching story of God? If so, you may have noticed the same phrase which stood out to me this time around. In my read-through for 2016, I was struck by the  New Testament theme of  "Obey the gospel." Nowhere did I read,  "Accept Jesus as your Savior."  Nowhere did I see an invitation to "ask Jesus into your heart." No, the call of the gospel is to die to the old, selfish way of life and rise to an entirely new life in Christ. How do we do this? By means of obedience. Please hear me out Continue Reading