Amos – The Lion Roars & Redeems Have you ever tried to memorize the order of the minor prophets before? Let’s be honest, have you tried, got it down for a day or a week, and now months later… it’s gone? Yeah, most of us have been there. However, the minor prophets are some ofContinue reading “The Lion Roars”
Author Archives: Intentional Faith
Reverent Conversation
It is often very helpful for some Christians who struggle with prayer to think of it in terms of “talking to Dad.” This can help take some of the burden off of thinking our prayers have to be expressed a certain way or use a certain kind of terminology in order to be heard. SomeContinue reading “Reverent Conversation”
The Fraternity of Friendship
We live in an age where people are desperately looking for connection with each other. Texting, tweeting, instant messaging, Facebook posting, Tiktoking and so much more. The problem is, virtual communication is a pale shadow of real in person communication. You are more easily fooled or foiled or scammed in the virtual world. Consider forContinue reading “The Fraternity of Friendship”
An Abundance Mentality
Rejecting scarcity thinking and adopting an abundance mentality produces at least four life-changing results as you lead your church or ministry. Will we have enough? If you’ve ever started a church, led in church revitalization, or pastored a local church of any size, that question drives a lot of discussion, prayer, and decision-making. Will weContinue reading “An Abundance Mentality”
A Watershed Moment
Apparently, the U.K. has decided to shift its loyalties from courageously defying tyranny in the 20th century to embracing it in the 21st. Last week, a “conservative”-led British Parliament made George Orwell’s fictional accounts of “thought crime” a reality. After establishing censorship zones around abortion clinics in England and Wales, the MPs voted 299-116 toContinue reading “A Watershed Moment”
Why We Are Losing the Culture Wars
“Why are we on defense,” one frustrated culture warrior asked me, referring to some religious freedom issue, “when we should be on offense?” As I’ve written elsewhere, I find this metaphor telling. It assumes that what really matters is the church’s state rather than its mission. The more I’ve thought of it, though, the moreContinue reading “Why We Are Losing the Culture Wars”
Is It Time to Pop the Question?
If I could go back and make myself read one article when I was 17, 18, or even 21, I think it might be this one. I would want to try to expand and reframe my naive ideas about dating, romance, and marriage. I would want to lay out a map for making wiser, moreContinue reading “Is It Time to Pop the Question?”
What’s All This About St. Patty’s Day?
When it comes to Saint Patrick, the true story is even more exciting than the legend and the myth. The facts are far better than the fable. This day that belongs to St. Patrick has become about leprechauns, shamrocks, pots of gold, and green—green everywhere. Famously, the City of Chicago dumps forty pounds of itsContinue reading “What’s All This About St. Patty’s Day?”
The Future Of LBGTQ
After climbing steadily for almost a decade, the percentage of Americans who identify as LGBTQ remained steady at 7.2% in 2022, according to the latest Gallup survey. While the percentage is more than double Gallup’s first measurement in 2012 (3.5%), 2022 levels remained statistically even with the previous year (7.1%). Most of those identifying asContinue reading “The Future Of LBGTQ”
Humility
There are ways to laugh at yourself that should be avoided. Humility is never self-contempt or self-shaming. On the other hand, there is a way to laugh at yourself that is healthy and life-giving. We all do things that are preposterous. We all have quirks. We all are, in some way or another, a bitContinue reading “Humility”
Intentional Faith 