"I'm thinking of doing something different vocationally. I've been in a job that's been OK, but I'm bored and there's not much room for advancement. But, I just don't know what the will of God is for my next job. I just don't want to make the wrong move." I'll bet you, yourself have sought an answer from God for any number of issues from what college to attend, who to marry, whether to serve in ministry – the list is probably endless. Here's what we really want to know: Is it

I was sitting at Starbucks a year and a half ago on a fine fall day with a young man about to graduate from college in the spring. He and I had met a number of times before when he was going through a crisis of faith over the death of a friend, but today he had a completely different dilemma. "I want to know what God's will is for my life. Is there any way I can know that with certainty?" "Yes, there is," I said. But, what I was about to tell him, wasn't what he wanted to hea

Every Christian knows that Jesus told his disciples in several of the gospels, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” Matt. 16:24. And that command applies to anyone who claims to be a Christian today. So, quick, before you read on please stop and try defining that phrase. What does it actually mean to follow Jesus in 2026? I wasn’t kidding. If you haven’t answered my question, please do it now before reading on. I think the

A few months ago, a Christian man sat in my office angry and sad because his wife just told him she was divorcing him. “And my kids don’t respect me either,” he added, implying that his wife had turned the kids against him. “Why is God letting her do this to me?” I’m not sure why I end up with so many guys with bad marriages sitting in my office, decade after decade. I don’t even pretend to be a marriage counselor. But, there’s a common theme that runs through the majority of

I’ve sat with men and women, months after the death of a child, spouse or parent and have been asked “Will I ever find closure?” My honest answer is, “Probably not, and I’m not sure you truly want closure.” Closure works well in some areas, like the closing of a real estate transaction. But the term closure does not apply well to the human heart. It might not be possible, or even desirable, to permanently close the heart on a deep relationship ended by death. Are you sure yo

I had a friend of a friend ask this question of him recently. He said, "My wife and I grew up in the traditional church. But when we began having children, that just didn't seem to work anymore. So my wife and I began our own family church, where we can teach our own children, worship together as a family and where we can grow together spiritually. It's working for us." So, is a church made up of only one family, really a church? I don't believe it is. However, I love it that

Over the years, I've met so many people who have walked away from God or become angry with him because "he took my mother (or dad) from me. Why would a good God, a loving God do that?" So a few years ago I decided to prepare our grandchildren for the day of my death. Each of them, roughly 15 years old or over have gotten "the talk." They've now heard straight from me in this life, what death means for true Christians. Here's the gist of what I've told them. Someday you're goi

Nearly all of us have been approached by a friend, family member or a member of our church for "a loan." Sometimes their need is obvious, worthy and we are able to respond with real joy because generosity to the poor is so highly valued by God. However, there are times when we are asked for help and almost immediately our guard is up. How do we know when it's wise to help someone, or when helping actually hurts and enables the person we are being asked to assist? Let's start

Even atheists know the Golden Rule. "Do to others as you would have them do to you." Luke 6:31. Good parents have taught their children to obey the Golden Rule, from the time they could talk. And whenever someone mentions the Golden Rule, we nod in affirmation and say, "That's the only way to live!" And when we were children the application of the Golden Rule was pretty straightforward. Share your toys Let the other person have their turn on the swing Don't hit your sister Th