My brother Wil has trouble hearing. As health problems will do, his condition sometimes causes him to feel frustrated, depressed and isolated. One day, he made plans to meet a good friend of his -- we'll call him John -- in a public parking lot. As Wil waited near his car, John approached him from out of his line of sight. Wil didn't notice him until John was almost right next to him. "You are hilarious!" grinned John. "I was right there and you didn't notice me!" On the outside, Wil managed a smile. On the inside, he was crushed. John was just being funny -- but by making light Continue Reading

I know what you’re thinking. Are you some kind of hater? Don’t you know Christians should be loving and non-judgmental? Now don't ya'll get your panties in a wad. I'll explain. I’m not targeting gays or liberals or fundamentalists, or any other groups taking potshots at each other. This is not about those arguments. I’m simply reflecting on Scripture passages that give us some relational limits  -- all from the New Testament, by the way. Here's the thing: We love the idea of being gracious and inclusive. But in a culture that shouts, "Don't judge!" and insists there are no Continue Reading

If you're a woman, think about how many times you've walked into a new situation and started out by complimenting the other women in the room. I really like that color on you. Those shoes are super cute! I love your earrings. Or am I the only one? I thought not. Compliments aren't inherently good or bad. It all depends on our motive. If praise is genuine and flows from a pure motive of building others up, compliments are great. But if praise is false or the motive is to fend off insecurity and get others to like us ... maybe not so much. I'm a natural encourager, careful to Continue Reading

Like a gem set in a crown, this important character quality sparkles throughout the New Testament. It’s mentioned in letters addressed to a young pastor, it's part of an oft-quoted passage on the peace of God, and it's part of the fruit of the Spirit. Jesus himself exemplified it better than anyone. Yet this characteristic, so vital for every Christian, is highly under-rated in our snarky culture. When was the last time you heard a sermon expounding the importance of gentleness? According to the Bible, gentleness is not the same as being a wimp. A quick word study in a few Continue Reading