The Looking Glass: seeing clearly in a confusing cultural moment
Have you ever wondered how you see the world—and why? It’s because of your worldview, a set of beliefs and assumptions that shape how you interpret life, make decisions, and find purpose. Everyone has one, whether they realize it or not. More than just culture or religion, a worldview underpins how we answer profound questions like, What does it mean to be human? and What is the definition of a man or a woman?
Pastor or Party Planner? How to reach the Next Generation in a Hyper-Sexualized Culture
Whether you are a full-time youth pastor in a paid position or a volunteer bi-vocational youth leader, the call you have from God to mentor and develop young people to be passionate disciples of the Lord is a high calling. You may feel overwhelmed and under-equipped, but what you do matters. Maybe you've experienced being the brunt of jokes suggesting that you just babysit kids who need to put on more deodorant, but the truth is you have an incredible opportunity to be a vessel which God uses to lead others to Himself. That being said, you also have your work cut out for you. The pressure young people are facing in this hyper-sexualized culture is no joke. It’s potent and persistent.
WWJD, Love is Love and Virtues Gone Mad
Think about the statement, “Love is love.” You may have seen this in an advertisement or heard it shouted by those protesting for the “freedom” of the LGBTQ+ community. It sounds like a trendy or noble statement, but I dare to suggest that this statement is both deceptive and destructive.
Thank God I Am Not Like Them: The Double Standard Of Sin (ours vs THEIRS)
If we were honest, most of us have two different scales we use to measure sin. There’s the one we use with our sins and the one we use with others. If we aren’t careful, the tendency is to make the sins of others out to be more disgusting than our sins. Others have to live under a microscope of judgment while we need…grace. This should not be so.
A Deeper Kind of Sexual Purity
Remember that “courage” is not one of the fruits of the Spirit, nor is it one of the gifts that is imparted to us. It is a choice. You’ll have to decide - is Jesus worth laying everything else down for?
If Good Men Do Nothing
You won’t make a difference because you think you have arrived at some level of perfection or because you think you know all the answers, but simply because you care and because you are willing to offer your strength for the good of those around you. That’s something, isn’t it?
And something is certainly better than nothing.
Why Authentic Masculinity is Anything but Toxic
The answer to “toxic masculinity” is not less masculinity but more masculinity…authentic masculinity.
Finding Your Way in a Sexually Confused Culture
There is no question that the landscape of our culture when it comes to sexuality and identity is disorienting and confusing. Who would’ve thought it would be offensive to ask, “What is a woman?” Or that an idea such as “men can have periods” would be celebrated as “brilliant progressive thought”? How can the church respond? How can we regain confidence when so many foundations are being questioned?
Putting Out Fires: How Churches Can Respond to Sexual Scandal
As a person who believes that we are meant to thrive in healthy communities of faith, recent news headlines about sexual scandal are troublesome and grievous. And I know that I’m not alone in the desire to make the bleeding stop. The problem is not a new one, but the solution will be uncomfortable.
Every Day a Bride: a message of God's love for the church
The glory of the bride on her wedding day is the glory of being chosen and treasured. But, not every day is the wedding day. This is a reminder that no matter what you face today, nothing can rob you of your identity in Christ.
Living with a Pure Heart in an Pornographic World
We see and hear things all the time that are trying to distort our mindset about sexuality. Maybe it starts as a seed, but if it remains unconfronted, it can grow to a place that wreaks havoc.
You can read some key truths here that will help you know what to do.
Children, the Mess, and the Investment
Christ knows the cost of raising children, and He deemed it a worthy cause. As we interact with the children around us, whether in our home or outside of it, we are called to reflect His countenance. Here’s what you need to remember.