rebelling against low expectations
Stories of deconstruction break my heart. A few years ago, after hearing of a well-known Christian author abandoning Christianity, I remember going upstairs to my room and crying on the edge of my bed. Just this morning, I saw a Facebook post from a young woman saying she was “glad to announce” that she was leaving Christianity because “it wasn’t working” for her anymore. Deconstruction is common...
I have a confession to make: evangelism used to terrify me. Knocking on doors, giving out tracts, stopping random people on the street – it all felt so awkward. I felt like a newborn giraffe with wobbly legs doing nothing more than making a fool of myself. Plus, people certainly weren’t coming to know Jesus because of their encounters with me. If anything, I had this nagging suspicion that I just...
“16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their...
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is a classic story that resonates with everyone, even if they have not seen the movie or read the story. Mention the yellow brick road and prepare to be transported to the land of short, blue-clothed Munchkins and flying monkeys. But I am amazed by this classic story’s deeper message for Christians. The main character, Dorothy, is carried away from the gray...
Once upon a time a girl found herself wandering down a trail as tears ran down her cheeks. It had happened again; she had lost something very dear to her heart and this time her insides felt shattered and bleeding. Suddenly she stumbled, but she caught herself on a post sticking out of the ground. Sobbing, she looked up at the post. A sign pointed ahead at a bend in the road. The sign said, “Life...
I sat on the stump of an old apple tree. The sweet smell of blackberry cane mingled with the salty scent of the sea. The foggy curtain unfurled to reveal the bay; so calm and smooth I could see every detail of every tree and ray of light reflected on the water’s crystal surface. The birds welcomed the dawn’s golden light. All was peaceful. I feel so blessed to call this my home. I breathed in...
Allow me to unfold the incredible story behind the beloved hymn, It Is Well, so that you may know, just like the Spafford family, that your soul can be well, even though sorrows high as sea billows roll through your life. This story is both heartbreaking and amazing at the same time. The reality that one man and wife could experience so much heartache and loss, while still glorifying God is an...
“Do you know what your spiritual gift is?” Ms. Flora asked as we sat on the swings at camp. It was something I hadn’t thought about in a while. “I know I have one, but I don’t remember what it is,” I replied at first. Suddenly I remembered, “Wait, it’s encouragement.” About a week later at church, the pastor preached a message on what makes Jesus...
Let’s face it: the Christian walk is hard. It’s not—and shouldn’t be—easy to walk the straight and narrow way. Matthew 7:13-14, ESV, warns us of this, saying, “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” As Christians...
We had disappeared into the trails, running alone beneath the trees’ dappled shadows. With swift strides, I chased after the runner ahead of me, following her down the left road at the path’s fork. For a few moments, I continued down the path until the other runner made a sudden turn. “I think we went the wrong way,” she whispered amidst heavy breaths. We ran back to the fork and turned onto the...
rebelling against low expectations
