Have you ever known of someone only to be completely surprised by them when you met them for the first time? Sometimes we get an idea that someone is a great person, only to be disappointed. At other times, we might discover that someone famous is humble and are surprised when he or she seems to really engage with...

If you haver ever purchased a new car or a new house, you know about upgrades. You start with the base price, but then you are presented with a series of optional upgrades. Before long, your total price has ballooned, but you have justified it because it is such a long-term purchase and your monthly payment still isn’t that...

Every once in a while, my wife, Tara, will ask me why I love her. She knows that I love her, but what her soul craves to hear and know more deeply is why I do. My answer will generally focus on two areas: her character and her behavior. I love her for who she is—her tender heart, her...

I was bitter and I knew it. Shortly after college, I joined the staff of Cru (Campus Crusade for Christ at the time). After attending a summer staff training, I returned to Baltimore to raise financial support—a process that was far too slow for my liking. I moved back home with my parents (but not into their basement as...

You don’t need to be active on Twitter to know that people today are deeply divided over politics. I want to add “more than ever” but that sounds like hyperbole. It does seem that there are more arguments and divisions because of politics today, but these things are not new. Perhaps it is just more apparent because of social...

This week we celebrate the Son of God—Creator God—wrapping Himself in His creation and being born as a human. The incarnation of Jesus is a critical part of the gospel story and one that we are quite familiar with—perhaps too familiar sometimes. Let me encourage you not to rush through your prep this week. Take time to ponder God...