The Greek definition for sin is simply this: “to miss.” We were created in God’s image with the intent to glorify Him through our worship and enjoyment of Him forever. In that, we have missed—big time. We choose to worship money, sex, and other pretend gods and enjoy the menial pleasures of hamburgers rather than the Almighty. We have missed. That’s a simple definition for the far-reaching condition in which we find ourselves. Let’s not miss that, too—sin isn’t so much an action as it is a condition. It’s true, whenever we violate … [Read more...]
10 Ways to Maximize Your Single Years
Singleness is neither a disease that needs to be cured, nor is it a carpe diem season of life. From the proper perspective, singleness is very strategic in God's economy — whether for a season or for a lifetime. Here are 10 ways you can make the most of your single years: 1. Know that Christian singles are a gift to God's church. 2. Be content in the season of life God has placed you. 3. Know that the ultimate goal of life is devotion to the Lord — not marriage, career, or fill-in-the-blank. 4. Grow your affections for Jesus … [Read more...]
Peeling Off the Labels
I have a friend that has a fixation with peeling labels off of everything. The first time I met her, I remember her absent-mindedly peeling off every label that was within her reach. She finally turned to me and said in a light-hearted tone, “If you haven’t noticed, I have this obsession with sticky labels.” OK, a little odd, I thought. Over time, her sticky label peeling became just another enduring attribute of my friend. It’s another way to describe her. It’s another way to label who she is. Too often, we use negative labels to … [Read more...]
How to Make the Most of Your Workday
Work. Sometimes it's a place where you're cranking out ideas and projects like a well-oiled machine. Other times, you're squeaking through the day, easily distracted. And trust us, we know it's tough to get everything done. With the workplace in a constant state of change and many companies forced to consolidate job responsibilities to keep down costs, there's typically more work than seems possible to accomplish. But before you let out a sigh or start screaming, “Is it Friday yet?” for the third time in an hour, there is hope for a … [Read more...]
Life Beyond Worn-Out Shoes and Old Ways
“Tradition!” Tevye, the poor milkman from Fiddler on the Roof, straining to hold on to what he cannot keep, cries out: “Traaaditiooon!” The accented bellow sounds almost like he’s cursing the word itself. And perhaps he should. Our traditions, maybe more than anything else in our churches, have the potential to drag us away from the commands of God. A professor of mine used to comment: “Tradition is the living faith of the dead. Traditionalism is the dead faith of the living.” Generally, they blur together and … [Read more...]
Quick Reminders for Fall
It’s Fall, which means semesters are beginning, students are arriving, and excitement is in the air on many college campuses. These are the days we love as college ministers! These are also the days when we need a few reminders as twelve-hour days seem to never end. 1. Students see things we don’t. Think about all the places your students go that you don’t. From dorm rooms to vehicles, students are involved in deep conversations. The reality is that students trust each other more than an adult at times. Have we trained our students … [Read more...]
Why Young Adults Need a Culture of Honesty
A quick survey of our current culture in America today would demonstrate that the truth is not a high value for many, if not most people. Constant stories bombard the news of high-level leaders who have cheated, stolen, or lied. In many workplaces, these same practices seem to be the law of the land and can even be celebrated. For some, these practices contribute to career advancement. Similar stories have plagued churches and ministries as well, causing many to question if there is any difference at all between the Church and the … [Read more...]
Back to School with Intention and Purpose
It’s mid-August, and where I live, that means one thing: school has started. I’m married to a teacher and work with college students, so the rhythms of the school year are what I live by. That’s why I would rather make a New Year’s resolution in August than in January, and it’s also why I prefer starting a new planner this time of year. It feels like such a fresh start. Like most people, I like to begin a new thing with intention and purpose, and the new school year is no exception. Here are my hopes for the next 9 months or so. … [Read more...]
What Culture Can Show Us About Young Adults
I remember the first time that I read The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn as a child. I, of course, fell in love with the adventure, while missing much of the scathing social rebuke that was featured in the character development. It was not until much later that this story was revealed in to me in a new light. I saw the slave-owning Miss Watson, the Grangerfords, and Shepherdsons, who listen to a sermon about brotherly love with their rifles between their legs in church, or Mr. Phelps, who prayed with Jim daily while locking him up to … [Read more...]
3 Things to Remember to “Work as Unto the Lord”
My first job was pretty typical: I mowed grass all summer for a guy in my town with a lawn care business. It wasn’t a great decision for a kid who suffered from allergies, but it did put a little money in my pocket for a while. At least I had something to use to buy Kleenex. That’s pretty much what that first job was—it was a means to an end. The means was pushing a lawn mower for eight hours a day; the end was money. I felt no great calling to agricultural engineering; nor did I sense the presence of the extraordinary in the … [Read more...]
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