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In his book Shame and Grace, Lewis Smedes wrote, “The difference between guilt and shame is very clear-in theory. We feel guilty for what we do. We feel shame for what we are.” Everyone experiences a certain amount of shame and regret over sins committed in the past. The Bible has much to say about shame and regret, and there are numerous examples of people in the Bible who experienced these negative feelings. Let's look at a few. Can you imagine the…

If forced to sum it up in one word – despair. I felt a lack of hope, a heaviness of heart. All week it’s been a battle for my mind – wondering if I really am making a difference in a world cruel to even the most seasoned Christ-follower. Wondering if I had lost a step like a fog was hovering over my brain, struggling to remember details, to get the words “right”. Whatever that means. I made a decision to follow Jesus at the ripe old age of 9. That&rsquo…

Someone once said, “The final proof of greatness lies in being able to endure criticism without resentment.” Perhaps. But I also have a mentor who often says, “Never take unsolicited advice.” Does it have to be one or the other? Or can it be both? I’ll let you decide. Recently, I came across a couple of opinion pieces written years ago criticizing a particular individual—his ministry, his books, and his interpretations of Scripture. The…

When I was a child, I would often have visions and dreams and at times, believe I could hear God's voice inside of me directing my path. But as I grew older, I fell prisoner to the belief that God no longer speaks to us directly unless we are possessed or mentally ill. And so, I denied my experience for years. In my early 30s, I became dissatisfied with serving such a distant God when the bible was full of instances of God walking and talking with his people. So, I…

One of the most beautiful things I have ever witnessed was during the time I was working at a rescue mission. An event was planned at our city's convention center, which brought in some top-tier international speakers from the Christian community. As I was sitting in our customary Monday morning leadership team meeting, one of the speakers dropped by our mission and made a donation. This person ran a ministry in the poorest country in the world where they fed 50,000…

Last year was a terrible summer for roses in our area. It started in early spring with an aphid infestation the likes of which I had never seen before. After I eradicated that problem which took weeks, fungus set in. This was an even more difficult foe that I fought for the rest of the summer. My roses would set buds but never bloom fully as they were encased in disease. This year, I started early so I did not repeat the previous year's drama. Everything looked great…

In a recent Gallup poll, when asked about the overall state of moral values today, only 15% of Americans see moral values in the U.S. as “excellent” or “good,” while a significant 49% view the state of morality as “poor.”[i] In many ways, I’m not surprised; are you? Just look around us, at least from a media perspective. When I talk to my neighbors or friends, it’s not as obvious. Maybe I am hangin’ out with people that…

I have been watching coverage of the 2024 Summer Games in Paris over the past few weeks. Something about the Olympics always draws me in, despite the inevitable controversies and politics which create headlines. For me, it's about the struggle - the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat. And the human stories of athletes overcoming all obstacles to achieve life-long goals, then basking in the joy of seeing them to fruition. The culmination of that joy happens on…

Repentance. The act of turning away from self and toward God. Keep reading. I promise you’ll want to hear this. Some read the word “repentance” and cringe. Others roll their eyes and shrug it off as Bible-thumping lingo. But let’s consider what’s actually happening when that word takes action. The hurting heart turns from the temporary highs of the world and clings to the supernatural joy of the Holy Spirit. The troubled mind finds peace with…