Messages

We've all been there: before we even realize our lips are moving, something stupid, senseless, or hurtful is coming out of our mouths. Are we just careless and clumsy, suffering from a bad case of foot-in-mouth disease? Or do our words reveal more about who we are than we realize? If the eyes are the window to the soul, maybe our mouths are the window to something deeper. Perhaps our foot is not t...

Few of us would claim to having kept the Ten Commandments perfectly, never mind the more than six hundred other rules found in the Bible. (Have you ever worn a cotton-polyester shirt or eaten shrimp?!) But is Jesus' highest priority that we be fanatical rule-keepers? Or is there more to the story? Could there even be rules that are meant to be broken?

When our relationships are struggling and life gets messy, it's amazing how easy our family feels like a foe. Suddenly we find ourselves turning against the ones we hold most dear. But is our spouse or are our kids, parents, or siblings really the enemy? Shouldn't we be on the same team? What does it look like to choose your battle and fight for the future of your family?

Four of the most dreaded words in the relationship vocabulary: "We need to talk." Most of us are terrified when it comes to conflict-oriented, tension-filled, crucial conversations. But what if our ability to communicate is the make or break ingredient to a thriving family? How can we get better at communicating with our kids, parents, spouse, or siblings, especially when the stakes are high? Let'...

Our family relationships would be so much easier if our spouse, kids, parents, or siblings weren't so difficult, right? If only they were better listeners, more attentive to our needs, and trying to be more of who we want them to be, then everything would be smooth sailing, wouldn't it? But what if the problem is closer to home? What if it starts by looking in the mirror? What if the key to health...

The picture perfect family. We've all seen them. Pinned on Pinterest, posted on Facebook, and smiling at church on Sunday. Meanwhile, we can't understand why our kids, siblings, parents, or spouse can't get their act together and start being a little more perfect themselves. But does the "picture perfect" family really exist? Or behind the highlight reel status updates and the family photo shoots...

Even when we're doing our best to live for God and follow him, it's easy to turn back to old habits - habits that bring hurt, pain, and destruction to our lives and relationships. So how do we leave these old ways behind? How do we experience the healing, freedom, and forgiveness that God wants to provide? What does it take to turn from our ways?

It's easy to feel like prayer doesn't matter or make much of a difference, especially when we think we can get by just fine on our own. But if God is really God, wouldn't we live and pray as though everything depends on him? Wouldn't we orient our hearts around an ongoing relationship with him? What does it look like to pray in an 'only God' kind of way? What does it mean to turn our lives to pray...

It's easy to feel like prayer doesn't matter or make much of a difference, especially when we think we can get by just fine on our own. But if God is really God, wouldn't we live and pray as though everything depends on him? Wouldn't we orient our hearts around an ongoing relationship with him? What does it look like to pray in an 'only God' kind of way? What does it mean to turn our lives to pray...

If God up and disappeared from your life, would anybody notice? Would you notice? Many of us say that we believe in God and want to relate to God, but do we live like he actually exists? Do we live like he is the most important thing in our lives? Do we live like we desperately need him, day-by-day, moment-by-moment? If not, why not? What's getting in the way? Where should we turn to experience Go...

It's cute, or downright impressive, when we see kids excel at things that are often reserved for adults. Whether sports, arts, or academics, it's inspiring to see kids give it their all. But we tend to have lower expectations on these achievements, cause after all, it's not the 'big leagues'. But what if the 'big leagues' of faith actually look a lot more like the 'little leagues' of life? What if...

We've all done it: criticized or questioned the actions of others from a comfortable seat on the sidelines. Whether a backseat driver, water-cooler politician, or armchair quarterback, sometimes we think it's easier to make the 'right call' when we're not actually in the game (just ask Pete Carroll). But what happens when we treat our faith this way? And what would it look like to get off the side...

Easter Sunday marks the highpoint in the story of God, the miraculous resurrection of Jesus. But it's not just a story of the past, it's a story for our present. So what does this mean for us? What about the things in our lives that have died? Maybe our aspirations, our relationships, our identity, or our self-worth? Can these be brought from death to life? What does resurrection mean for us?

We live in a culture obsessed with the new and improved. From careers to cell phones, we're always looking for the next best thing. This is applies to our relationships. Whether grudges, irreconcilable differences, or matters of opinion, when the going gets tough in our friendships, marriages, and churches we're quick to get going in a search of something new. But what if we could stick together?...

Family is supposed to be a place of safety, a place where we are loved and accepted in spite of our quirks, flaws, and imperfections. But outside our families, we tend to keep these characteristics hidden, out of fear of rejection or ridicule. At the same time, we have a tendency to avoid, exclude, or lose patience with anyone who rubs us the wrong way or doesn't live up to our standard. But what...

We've all heard stories of the parent who did whatever it took to see their kid succeed. From athletics to academics and everything in between, stories of high achievement are often backed by a family who pulled out all the stops. Maybe you've experienced this for yourself, or maybe you're wondering who will ever do this for you. But what if someone already has? And what if you have what it takes...

We all take our earliest cues from the parents or family who raised us. For good and for bad, we tend to resemble, at least to some degree, the characteristics and behaviours that surrounded us. So how does this affect the relationships outside our family? How does this help or hurt the health of our friendships? And ultimately, who should we seek to resemble if want to experience relationships th...

There is a lot in our world that competes for our attention and devotion, promising all sorts of rewards, benefits, and accolades. Every advertisement we come across promises something that will make our life better and more worth it. But what about a life of faith? As we've discovered, following Jesus comes with high demands? So what's the promise that makes a life of faith - a life of mission -...

Whether you're thinking of losing weight, going back to school, learning an instrument or language, it seems that anything worth doing is difficult. Faith can be that way too. Following Jesus isn't always easy. In fact, sometimes it's downright hard. But what do we do when it seems too difficult? How can we stay the course when the road gets rough?

There's no worse feeling than not knowing what to say. Whether it's needing the right words in a time of crisis or grief or the impossible spiritual question from a co-worker, it's uncomfortable, humiliating, and even terrifying when our mind draws a blank and our tongue gets tied. Sometimes we'd rather say nothing and be thought a fool, than open our mouths and remove all doubt. What if we could...

There's plenty in life that we put off until we're financially "established" - going to school, getting married, having kids, traveling, embracing a hobby, or starting a business. Sometimes we even do this with our faith: pursuing our calling, just as soon as we are out of debt, working full time, have some savings, or retire. But can Jesus' mission really wait until our finances are in order? Wha...

Have you ever been given a task that seemed way over your head? In these situations, we've all made excuses as to why we can't do it. I don't have what it takes. I don't know the right people. I'm too ordinary. But what if being ordinary is exactly what Jesus is looking for? What if the most critical mission depends on the most ordinary people? What if Jesus is looking for someone just like you?

When you look at the world, what do you see? What stands out? What catches your attention? We all see the world through a particular lens that affects how we think, how we feel, and ultimately, how we live. So how did Jesus look at the world? What did he see and how did it make him feel? What does it look like to open our eyes to the mission before us?

Christmas is a wonderful time of year to celebrate an incredible story. But sometimes stories don't seem like enough. Sometimes words can only go so far. After all, aren't we really looking for a 'show me, don't tell me' kind of faith? A 'show me, don't tell me' kind of love? A 'show me, don't tell me' kind of God? This Christmas, why not let actions speak louder than words?!

We all like to know when we've done something helpful. Whether it's the money we give, the time we volunteer, or the causes we promote, it's a good feeling to be charitable. But what if our helpful intentions lead to unhelpful consequences more than we realize? Is it possible that our help can be both good and bad? How do we know when our helping might hurt? And what does it look like to love, ser...