What I Said to the Preteens About Marriage, Sexuality, and Boundaries
Once a month, I teach at the preteen youth group at church. My assigned topic a few weeks ago was what the Bible teaches about marriage, romance, and godly boundaries. Not exactly what was on my mind during my own preteen years. But since teenagehood keeps expanding both directions (from the 7-going-on-17 to the 27 […]
How to Have a Successful Sabbatical: Timing, Structure, and Flow
Planning a pastoral sabbatical? Here’s your go-to guide, packed with wisdom gleaned from seasoned practitioners and personal insights from my recent transformative three-month renewal. Whether you’re seeking rest, clarity, or a deeper connection with your calling, these practical tips will help you make the most of this sacred time away. Confession: I hesitated in writing […]
‘Make Every Effort’: Intentional Relationships in a Culture of Laziness
If given the choice, many people would opt for living in a do-less, get-more world. With the emergence of generative artificial intelligence, it can be tempting for a student to want to submit a single sentence to a chatbot—and let AI create the essay. Ever since COVID, it’s been tempting for some to want to […]
David and Bathsheba and Affairs in Your Church
I recently preached through the story of David and Bathsheba from 2 Samuel 11:1-27 on a Sunday morning. There are several important learnings from within this story, as well as from the related research on sexual immorality and affairs, that are worth applying in our churches today. Many of us can be intimidated when it […]
Leaving a Legacy of Faith
History is complicated. If you ever trace your family history, you’re going to find a few skeletons in the closet. And everybody in your family is going to have a different theory about how they got there. I’m not asking anyone to jump into the genealogy deep end. You might wake up in a daze […]
10 Bible Verses About Marriage
I was asked to write this article well over a year ago. There are several reasons as to why it took me so long, and some of them are legitimate. However, I think one of the main reasons that I procrastinated is that even though I have been married for almost 20 years, I often […]
How to Learn How to Love Well – Q&A with Marriage Expert Dr. Joe Beam
In this Q&A on marriage, Joe Beam, bestselling author and founder of Marriage Helper, gives practical advice on how to learn how to love well. Q: Let’s say I want to love my spouse better, but we’re both super busy. Any ideas? In our current culture, schedules are incredibly busy. When things are insanely busy, […]
The Catholic Church Is Blessing Same-Sex Unions? Let’s Check.
December 18, 2023 On December 18, many of us woke up to headlines such as “Pope Francis Allows Priests to Bless Same-Sex Couples” and “Pope Francis Authorizes Blessings for Same-Sex Couples.” For most people, what did those headlines spell? They spelled CONFIRMATION. From one group came confirmation that said drily, “Pope Francis always was a […]
