I'd been wondering how things are going with the churches that were once called Mars Hill Church in Seattle. Lo and behold, Relevant covered the topic this month: relevantmagazine.com. I'm heartened by the news of what is happening with these churches since the time of Mark Driscoll's resignation. I'm also reminded of a principle: When a spiritual leader speaks truth into our lives, and later his/her flawed and sinful human nature is revealed, the truth he/she taught does not change one iota. I've been around the church block enough times to witness moral failures, control, Continue Reading
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3 Important Differences Between Amusement and Joy
Want to be happy? Me, too. And having that desire doesn't make us shallow people. I've heard some Christian teaching to the effect that "joy" is different than "happiness," that joy is deep whereas happiness is shallow. You know -- happiness depends on circumstances, but joy can be had regardless of the externals -- you've heard the drill. There's some truth there, but it's possible to get a bit religious with this. We can end up squelching joy if we insist it's not even an emotion. Truth is, it's pretty difficult to separate joy from happiness. According to Webster's, happiness Continue Reading
Why Your Pain Matters Just as Much
Debbie and Laurie were very close friends, and as such, they supported each other in the ups and downs of life. When Debbie's ten-year-old daughter was tragically killed in an accident, Laurie rose to the challenge. She provided the emotional support her dear friend needed. Being there for Debbie became Laurie's focus for a season, and understandably so. But something subtle happened inside her during that time. Something that wasn't good for her heart. You see, every time she faced something difficult, Laurie found herself comparing her suffering to Debbie's. And her pain Continue Reading
Why Christians Shouldn’t Hang Out With Certain People
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