When life flips you upside down and shakes the hope from you and dreams fall like coins to the sidewalk, clattering, scattering . . . In that moment, what do you do? Mary found herself in such a moment. The future she’d imagined for herself was suddenly nothing more than past thoughts. Do you ... read more

Scandal, shady characters, rumors, and ruined reputations infuse the Christmas story. Then a few years after Jesus's birth, Herod swoops into Bethlehem and murders all the baby and toddler boys. You don’t see that part of the story in your normal Christmas pageant. But as I look at the battle in ... read more

An entire community of journeyers exists out in the blogging world, and today I encourage you to let their words stir the beauty of the season in you. In need of a miracle? Ann Voskamp, When Your Heart Hurts For a Miracle this Christmas. Celebrating with lots of guilt and comparison? Jennifer ... read more

What do you think of when I say "King." Do thoughts of grandeur fill your mind? The color purple, perhaps? Wealth, castles, lords and ladies at court, old European history? I'm back in Matthew chapter one today, and am overwhelmed by what an ugly genealogy I see. The kings in the later half aren't ... read more

There it is, for all to see: "by the wife of Uriah." I read it again and wonder at it. Really, Matthew? You couldn't just say Bathsheba? No, he couldn't. Sin had invaded the genealogy and he had to paste the brokenness up front of Jesus' story for all to see. Matthew's main audience was Jews, and ... read more

I have many friends who are carrying boulder-sized burdens. One such friend is dear Amy, a young woman who lost her husband last summer and is now raising their elementary aged boys on her own. Everyday her Facebook posts witness that she is doing the hard work of grieving. Recently, she wrote ... read more

"Consumerism": that nasty "C" word that jumps into conversations that Christians have at Christmas. What are we to think about it? Here are my thoughts on how we can consume with the best and still celebrate. First, let me say that I like to give gifts—sometimes, when I know that what I give ... read more