We’re moving closer to Christmas. Ironically, this is about the time when ads and expectations and schedules pull us further from Christ. For sure, there is an abundance to this season but not in the commercial way you may be thinking. Strip away the fussy garland and the must-have linens and the coordinated outfits. Let’s listen for the call to you and me; inviting us to a more Christ-like...
What Are You Waiting For? (And Why It Matters.)
I lament the number of Christians who are faltering, compromising, and walking away from the faith because of concerns related to Christianity’s views on sex and sexuality. I think one of the biggest reasons has to do with our individual and collective struggle with waiting. Advent means beginning. We often think of Christmas as the end of our waiting. But that’s not exactly true, is it? Yes, the...
If You Want Integrity, You Have to Wait
We are in a season of waiting for the arrival of Jesus. And, while we count down the days of Advent by eating chocolate or reading devotions, the anticipation builds. In the area of sex and relationships, waiting can lead us to a place where we are really tempted to compromise. As a culture, we are too short-sighted and impatient. Where are your sights set this season? Experiencing Advent side by...
Meditating on Mary
Mary, the mother of Jesus, is an important figure in every way. After all, it was her body that ushered in the tiny body of our Savior, Jesus, into this world. Still there is controversy among us, as believers, on the amount of time we should dedicate to her. For now, let’s spend a few moments meditating on Mary. Because, if we make too little of Mary, we miss out on more of God. Looking at Mary...
Why Mary Matters to Your Body
The Christmas story is a story about Jesus. It’s also a story about Mary. This is important because if we make her too small a figure, then we can miss the whole reason Jesus came. As Christians during the Christmas season, we say it all the time: the Word of God became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14). This matters so much for those of us who wrestle with sexual sins—either our own or...
Was It “Weird” or Was It Abuse?
I remember watching more than one movie when I was a kid that depicted an adult woman initiating an adolescent boy into the ways of sex. Usually, the scenario included a nerdy and relationally insecure kid somehow meeting an adult woman who would take him under her wing romantically and sexually-speaking (Remember Weird Science, anyone?). For me as a teen guy, I could resonate with these boys on...