Learning from the Tinder Swindler and other scam artists
The Tinder Swindler convinced vulnerable women to give him thousands of dollars. What can we learn from the Tinder Swindler and other scammers like him?
Ten Reasons Bad Things Might Keep Happening To You
Why do bad things keep happening to you? Is God against you? Is it your fate? Do you somehow invite bad things into your life? These ten reasons might help you to turn things around in your life.
Does Your Church Demand Obedience or Empower Growth?
Too often church pastors want to control the thoughts and behaviors of their church members. This undermines God’s desire to develop a relationship with people individually. The Bible tells us that we are meant to make our own choices.
Church Abuse Recovery... a basic roadmap for overcoming loss
When you’ve experienced church abuse, or any significant loss, it’s easy to get stuck in a form of exile where you feel lost and disoriented. This post offers a brief roadmap to help people find the path to recovery.
Denial Lasts Seconds But The Damage Can Last Years
A few moments of denial can cause long term damage. But if you can manage those moments, you will save yourself much pain.
Deconstructing Your Faith: Review of "Invisible Jesus"
In Scot McKnight’s latest book, Invisible Jesus, he looks at the recent Deconstruction movement and helps people to navigate this journey.
Is Your Pastor "The Voice of God" to You?
The recent upheaval in Daystar Ministries has caused people to question how we hear the voice of God and the role of spiritual oversight. In this post I offer an alternative view to what is often too quickly accepted as truth.
Personal Update: Heading to Ecuador
I’ll be teaching over a two week period to students and pastors in Ecuador.
Creating a Positive Church Culture: The Power of Words
People are leaving the church and pastors wonder why. They are speaking the truth, right? It might have to do with the words they use and the tone in which they speak their words.
Defining Forgiveness: Six Things Forgiveness is Not (part two)
People often fail to forgive another person because they misunderstand the meaning of forgiveness. This post is part three of a three part series defining forgiveness.
Defining Forgiveness: Six Things Forgiveness is Not (part one)
People often fail to forgive another person because they misunderstand the meaning of forgiveness. This post is part two of a three part series defining forgiveness.
Defining Forgiveness - Three Things That Forgiveness Is
People often fail to forgive because they don’t understand what forgiveness is. This brief article defines forgiveness in simple terms.
Finding Purpose by Serving Others
If you are looking to find your purpose in life, it may not be in a career or even a ministry. The Bible gives us a good indication of our purpose by listening to an ancient prophet.
Identity and Purpose: aligning your behavior to your identity in Christ
Too often the behavior of Christians doesn’t line up with their claim to be God’s child, earning the name: hypocrite. This post looks at the need to align your behavior with your identity as God’s child and follower of Jesus.
Church Abuse: Why "Matthew 18" May Not Apply to Confronting Pastors
Abusive church leaders misuse Matthew 18 to silence victims. Learn why it may not apply to pastors and what you can do instead.
Is Life Spinning Out of Control? How to Find God's Peace.
Where do you turn when life feels like it is spinning out of control? The Bible not only gives us the example of Jesus but also powerful verses to meditate on to find God’s peace.
How to Overcome Fear with Faith: Part Two
When Jesus was arrested, his disciples reacted in fear. Maybe you can relate. Fear turns us into control freaks and robs us of our future.
How to Overcome Fear with Faith
When Jesus was arrested, his followers were gripped by fear. This post helps to better understand the effect that fear has on us and how to overcome it.
Traveling Notes From Churches in Chile
In this post I relate my experience traveling to Chile (Antofagasta and Calama) to encourage two churches in their efforts to serve the poor.
Tackling Church Wounds with Christy Boulware
This is my second post with some of the questions and answers from when I was interviewed by Christy Boulware for her podcast. We looked at spiritual abuse and women in ministry.