Recognizing a Single Group

I’m a part of a unique group of people: single parents. We are a diverse group. Some of us are widowed, others divorced, some have never been married. Yet, most of us feel similar pressures: To compensate for the absent parent To make sure our children feel “normal” To provide for our children To make …

Which Team Is God On?

How many times have you caught yourself praying when your favorite team is down by two and has the ball with three seconds left? Maybe it’s just me, but I doubt it. When we get caught up in the excitement of the moment, we tend to forget that God has children who are fans of …

Are We Teaching Two Gods?

Christians around the world affirm the fact that there is one God and He never changes. Seems pretty straight-forward and basic doesn’t it? He is God, He doesn’t change. However, when Christians use phrases like, “In the Old Testament, God is full of wrath, and in the New Testament, He is full of grace,” we …

Escaping Virtual Reality: The Deceit of Pride

I was in seventh grade. My mom and dad had taken me to the mall for an afternoon of shopping. As usual, we planned to go our separate ways and meet back at the front entrance at a particular time. As I wondered through the mall that day, I noticed a new storefront. It was …

Loving Contrasts

I recently saw a picture of a soldier returning from duty overseas. In the picture, the strong, tough, muscle-bound soldier is kneeling down to hug his young daughter. I was mesmerized by the contrast. One moment, the man was engaged in battle. The next moment, he was enjoying a tender moment with a child. Why …

The Power of “Finished”

I have always enjoyed mowing yards. It is satisfying to walk around a fresh-cut lawn after the sidewalk has been swept and enjoy a job well done. But I never understood why until my dad made a comment to me one hot summer day. I was in Jr. High and mowing neighborhood yards was my …

Caught in the Middle

Everyone experiences loss at some time in life -from the second grader whose classmate didn’t return to school after suddenly contracting spinal meningitis, to the elderly man whose life-time neighbor dies of natural causes. In between, is a difficult range of scenarios including parents left grieving in the delivery room, children left standing by the …