Blog

What I’ve Learned in Eight Years of Marriage

Marriage|

Rachel and I completed ten years of knowing each other and eight years of marriage last year, and I’m glad to honestly be able to say we are doing great. The guys I know don’t really talk about their marriages with one another, and so I have no reference point; I just have learned that putting my wife’s needs first is what I am called to do and what I ...

Jack Bauer is My Hero

Integrity, Sacrifice, Wisdom|

I have been watching a show on Hulu for the last few months, and I am enamored by it. I am sure I am suffering from recency bias but I have been making claims to anyone who will listen that “this is the best show ever” and “there could never be a show more amazing than this one.” It’s called 24. Yes, you know the one – with Kiefer Sutherland. ...

The Scarcity and Abundance of Shark Teeth

Faith, Trust|

If you live in or around Jupiter, Florida, you’re likely familiar with the fact that over the last couple of years, there have been a lot of shark teeth found on our local beaches. The reason is that there was a major offshore dredging project done to pump sand onto the shores and thereby replace all  that which had eroded over time. This has churned up thousands of shark teeth, ...

The Dilemma of Distracted Parenting

Parenting|

It is nonstop when I am with them. “Look at me, Daddy!” “Watch me, Daddy!” “Daddy come over here!” “Daddy, are you listening?” “Daddy, will you play with me?” “Hey…. Hey…. Hey… Hey DAD!!!!!”. I get it. It makes sense. They want my attention. But even more, they want me to delight in them – no matter what it is they are doing. Sometimes it’s bellyflopping from the love seat ...

What I’ve Learned in Seven Years of Marriage

Marriage|

Rachel told me a while back that the seventh year of marriage is supposedly the hardest, with statistics showing that half of married couples who divorce do so by this point. I had never heard of this concept, but apparently, it’s a “thing” – and related to the “seven-year itch” (i.e., the desire to have an affair). With this in mind, and as I’ve done with our six month, one year, two ...

What I’ve Learned in Six Years of Marriage

Uncategorized|

Hooray! Happy Anniversary to me! To Rachel! To us! That also means it’s time to share what I have been learning in marriage! Yep, the lessons keep coming. I think they will never stop, even twenty or thirty years into this thing (God willing!). I’ve written out what I’ve learned at our six month, one year, two year, three year, four year, and five year anniversaries, and hope you find my reflections helpful in ...

Keeping First Things First

Uncategorized|

With the new year upon us, I've been thinking a lot about keeping first things first. It's so hard when the tyranny of the urgent pulls us in all sorts of directions, and we go to sleep each night wondering where the day went. But we all know that if we don't keep first things first, we're going to have a lot of regrets at the end of our lives. ...

If You Can’t Measure It, It Doesn’t Matter

Uncategorized|

I am re-reading a book I love by Sara Hagerty, and the author brought up a point that I wanted to try to think through. She said that many of us hold a belief that has been quite detrimental to our walk with God. That belief is as follows: If you can’t measure it, it doesn’t matter. That struck me, and I wanted to think through how it applies to ...

Obsessing Over the Stock Market

Uncategorized|

I am not sure if you’ve followed the stock market this year, but it has been a wild ride. In January and early February, we were approaching record highs in the major indexes. Then COVID-19 happened, and everything plummeted in March and April before an incredible recovery since the middle of 2020 (with some minor corrections along the way). I have a huge interest in technology trends, startups, IPOs, and ...

The Desire To Be Loved

Uncategorized|

The week between Christmas and New Year’s is…weird. Everything builds up to a zenith on December 25th – which is a great day – but then it ends. And we find ourselves suspended in mid-air until after the calendar actually turns, listless and a bit out of sorts, wondering what even happened during the past year and feeling hesitant about jumping into the new year with two feet. Maybe there ...

Working Yourself To Death

Uncategorized|

I was reading a paper recently entitled “Spending in Retirement: Determining the Consumption Gap” that talked about how retirees are dying with more money than they had when they actually retired. Specifically, the researchers studied 704 retirees between 2000 and 2010 and found that across five quintiles of wealth, each group had more financial assets than when they initially retired. What's also interesting is that in the top three quintiles, ...

The Most Beautiful Sight You’ve Seen

Uncategorized|

We’re up in Southwest Virginia for the holidays, and God gave us snow on the night of Christmas Eve! The miraculous part of it was that it had barely snowed here in many years. But somehow, everything lined up perfectly and we got almost six inches to create one of the most picturesque winter wonderlands I had ever seen. We ate icicles, went sledding, threw snow at each other, and ...

Why I Love Christmas

Uncategorized|

Merry Christmas everyone! This special day allows me to reflect on Jesus, his celebrated birth, and all that He means to me and my family. And the day itself has become even more fun since Rachel and I had kids, because we get to remember what it was like as a child, and see everything afresh from their eyes. Finally, we do love that the holiday brings family members together ...

Childhood Moments I Miss the Most

Uncategorized|

When I was in elementary school, I used to entertain myself in the oddest of ways.  I remember taking a a ruler and a fine sharpie marker and drawing a compass (like, the kind you would see in the corner of a map) on a 4x6 index card.  And I would carry this around whenever my mom or dad would take us somewhere by car.  It would be so much ...

Want a Mentor? Be a Mentor

Uncategorized|

You may know that I’ve been hoping and praying for a older, wiser mentor in my life for decades. Someone who has walked the road I am on, who sees something unique in me and feels led to invest in me, and who regularly demonstrates they care through intentional actions and words – reactively (when I ask for help) and even proactively (because they love me and want the best ...

Wishing My Life Away

Uncategorized|

As you know, I have been thinking about how I’ll never be satisfied. And that all of the beautiful things I've gone after – romantic love, success, pleasure, adventure, money, clout – won’t ever fully do for me what I hoped they would do. Rather, they are meant to point me (and you) to God, who is the only One who can complete us. Well, I’ve had another breakthrough in ...

Do I Fully Trust My Partner?

Uncategorized|

With Christmas fast approaching, I was thinking about the relationship between the parents of Jesus. We don’t know much at all about Joseph from historical texts, but English translations convey that he was a carpenter pledged to be married to Mary, a Jewish girl in her teens. However, under Jewish law and according to Old Testament scholars, a betrothed woman was considered to be married. When Mary got pregnant, Joseph ...

Are You Preparing for the Future?

Uncategorized|

Every fall, it’s hurricane season down here in Southeast Florida - which serves as an annual reminder that disaster could be headed my way. I’ve had to deal with four major hurricanes while I’ve lived down here, and it has not been fun. Typically, what happens is that the news channels let us know a new one is moving in our direction, and everyone monitors the updates to see where ...

The Bad Stuff I Model To My Kid

Uncategorized|

You might not know this about me, but I get frustrated frequently. Not with my job, or marriage, or even other people, but with small stuff. Like when one-year-old Ravi throws his food on the floor for the 100th night in a row. Like when something breaks in the house and it becomes yet another thing to do on my list. Like when I forget to set a reminder about ...

Never Trust a Leader Without a Limp

Uncategorized|

Have you heard this quote, or one of its variations? Originally made by John Wimber, the founder of the Vineyard church movement which has spread across 95 countries and involves over 2,000 congregations, it is an allusion to the story of Jacob in Genesis 32. And the statement carries much wisdom by underscoring how extreme hardship produces humility and an honorable approach to God. To fill in the gaps of ...

The Best Days of Our Lives

Uncategorized|

I have been doing a lot of walking down memory lane recently. Every night while trying to fall asleep, I take these voyages in my mind back to various stages of my life. And I remember so much, in vivid detail. It brings me back to the sights and sounds and even the smells, and I once again feel the emotions I felt in those seasons. And even though many ...

When God Honors Our Time Spent

Uncategorized|

Last night, Rachel and I were discussing the notion that how a person spends their time really says a lot about that person. Take me for instance: for over a decade, I have spent my free time 1) writing faith-based blogs 2) learning guitar and 3) working out. These pursuits were important to me, and even though they involved a good deal of effort, I enjoyed them. I felt they ...

Fresh Eyes and Little Things

Uncategorized|

Before my little girl Maya was born, I remember praying so very hard for her to have perfect health. Not just every time we went to the OB/GYN for another sonogram, and not just on labor day, but every night as far as I can remember. I just begged God for her to come out healthy. It was the same with my little boy Ravi. I prayed so hard for ...

Sacrifices That Are No Sacrifice

Uncategorized|

I have always been extremely sensitive to those less fortunate than me. I think this started when my family took me to see our relatives in India when I was ten. On this trip, my eyes were painfully opened to so many living in abject poverty in that low-income country. I remember seeing homeless children wearing torn, dirty rags as their clothing coming up to our car asking for money ...

I Will Never Be Satisfied

Uncategorized|

Do you know that song “Satisfied” in the musical Hamilton that occurs about halfway through the first act? It’s sung by Angelica Schuyler, who is captivated by Alexander at the same time that her sister Eliza becomes totally smitten with him – at a party where they first all meet. It is a phenomenal song, and it’s worth listening to if you haven’t heard it. The lyrics depict how Angelica ...

Comparing Myself to Other Men

Uncategorized|

I am not going to lie – I definitely do it. I compare myself to other men. I’ve been thinking a lot about this recently and just wanted to get to the bottom of my motives. Just to sort of check the state of my heart. For sure, I am not wishing ill towards them, or feeling some type of bitter jealousy. I am just taking stock of the men ...

When You Need Help To Get Over the Hump

Uncategorized|

To this day, baseball is my favorite sport. And I’m thankful for the opportunity to play organized baseball when I was young – even though I wasn’t very good at all. For 4-7 year-old kids, Tee Ball is the best way to get acclimated to swinging a bat, running the base paths (in the right order), using a glove, and throwing the ball to your teammates. I don’t think I ...

When You’re Being Tempted

Uncategorized|

Probably like every other kid in the entire world, my girl and boy love sweets. Maya is known to say “I don’t WANT food, I want treats and snacks and sweets!!” I just shake my head in exasperation. As parents, we obviously desire that our children eat healthy food as much as possible. We’re not crazy about this, and Rachel will tell you that I’m kind of a “sugar daddy” ...

When Life is Moving Too Fast

Uncategorized|

Everyone who hears that we have a three-year-old and a one-year-old tells us that “they grow up so quickly” and to “take time to enjoy these moments” because they will be gone before we know it. That makes sense; it’s truly shocking how life seems to speed up as we get older. And those of you who know me know that I’m super intentional about everything, and keep trying to ...

When Your Partner is in “Work Mode”

Uncategorized|

I met Rachel in 2013 while volunteering at a summer camp in Banner Elk, North Carolina. According to her, she started falling in love with me after seeing how I was with kids: playful, carefree, easygoing, undistracted, fully present, joyful, silly, and super cute. That same year, she went to Ecuador for six months to serve at an orphanage, and I visited her during Christmas break. We had an amazing ...

What is the Point?

Uncategorized|

Do you find yourself asking this question? Maybe just to yourself, in your head? Or maybe, if you’re feeling vulnerable enough, to someone you know who won’t judge you? “What is the point?” I feel like everyone wonders this at some stage or the other. I know I’ve gone through seasons of life where every day – even multiple times a day – I would ask myself that same question. ...

The Three Keys to Intimacy

Uncategorized|

You want your romantic relationship to thrive, right? We all do. I’ve only been married for five years, but I feel like I’ve learned the secret to it. Perhaps that sounds arrogant but Rachel and I are thriving, and I’m proud of that – just like I would be proud to finish a marathon or earn a degree. Am I shocked by how much effort it actually takes? YES. But ...

My Favorite Story of Childlike Faith

Uncategorized|

I try to live my life with the “faith of a child” that Jesus talks about – a faith that is innocent, full, expectant, and without suspicion or distrust in God’s goodness. Of course, this isn’t easy to do given the unending challenges and struggles that we all face while living out the days He’s given us. However, I have found that nothing is more important, which is why that ...

When Your Heart is Being Tested

Uncategorized|

Tests are not fun. Really, they are the opposite of fun. Many nights in high school, I remember staying on the phone into the early morning hours with various friends trying to cram for an exam the next day in Calc, or Chem, or European History. And then I couldn’t sleep well because of the anxiety of it all. I had a good grasp of the material, but they were ...

When You Can’t Sleep at Night

Uncategorized|

A few of my friends recently are having trouble sleeping these days, and I’m praying for them hard because I have absolutely been there during extended times in my life. I've often felt the same as them, and have even been on prescription medication in the past to help my mind detach. When I was struggling with sleep, my mind just kept spinning in random directions. I would have a ...

When the Door Opens and Lets the Future In

Uncategorized|

The other day, I stumbled upon a quote by British novelist Graham Greene which stated: "There is always one moment in childhood when the door opens and lets the future in." When reading a book, it isn’t often that I am stopped in my tracks and forced to think deeply about my life in that very moment. And so I started to wonder: ‘What was that moment?’ ‘What experience opened ...

But Do You Still Love Me?

Uncategorized|

Earlier this summer, I was putting my two-year-old Maya into her car seat when she hastily and forcefully pushed open the car door and scraped the door of our other car in the garage. This frustrated me.  I was like, “Maya! You’ve got to be careful, you can’t push the door open so hard because it hit and messed up the door of our other car!!” I was stern and ...

Ignoring My Kid and Ignoring God

Uncategorized|

“Look, Daddy!!!!” “Are you watching?” “Pay attention, this is important!” “DAAAAAAAAAAAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” My just-turned-three-year-old Maya is the best. She’s always up to something: dancing and twirling around, climbing on furniture and banisters and countertops to test her strength, or jumping from pillow to pillow on her makeshift obstacle courses. And she needs me to witness all of it. Maya is constantly calling my name and trying to get me to focus ...

Choker Necklaces, Beauty, and Relationships

Uncategorized|

Rachel recently ordered some choker necklaces. Why, you might ask? Because I absolutely love that look. It reminds me of my punk rock days, where all the emo girls would wear chokers with their heavy eye makeup and blue or black nail polish. <swoon> Don’t laugh, it was a long season of my life. It encapsulated passion, emotion, energy, angst, and a bit of rage and helped me through the ...

Deathbeds, Regrets, and Lessons to Learn

Uncategorized|

Rachel’s granddad passed away recently. His name was Cliff Davis, and he almost made it to the ripe old age of 91. He lived with Grandma on the second level of Rachel’s parents’ home, and I loved seeing both of them whenever we went up there to visit. I felt like I got to know Granddad Davis over the last few years better than even my own grandparents - who ...

What I’ve Learned in Five Years of Marriage

Uncategorized|

I didn’t know if it would ever happen – me meeting someone who was everything I ever wanted. And then I did, completely out of the blue, while I was serving at a summer camp in North Carolina. Her name was Rachel. We dated for two years, tied the knot, and now five full years have gone by and I’m married with two kiddos. Geez. That happened fast. Over these ...

What Are You Fighting For?

Faith, Strength, Wisdom|

In every great story, someone is fighting for what they believe in. Something dear to their heart. Something that is much bigger than their own life. When we think about our favorite movies, we recognize that Frodo is fighting for the survival of Middle Earth. Wonder Woman is fighting to preserve human kind. James Bond and Ethan Hunt (from the Mission Impossible franchise) both fight for the lives of those ...

Do You Keep Your Word?

Uncategorized|

In my classes at the university, I sometimes give my students extra credit. Most of the time, it is specific to the subject matter I’m teaching, but occasionally I mix it up and ask them to do something that will stretch their brain and get them out of their comfort zone. For example, i've asked them to partner up with a fellow student and learn a hand-clap (or hand-jive) song. ...

Hope Deferred Makes the Heart Sick

Uncategorized|

Something has been weighing on my heart a lot recently, and I’m really not sure what the right answer is. Maybe there isn’t a right answer. I don’t know. A handful of my friends are very sad right now because of life circumstances. They put on a smile and they soldier on through their days, but you can see their pain behind their eyes if you look closely. And it ...

Don’t Judge, Lest You Be Judged

Uncategorized|

I fly on a regular basis for work, and I’ve dealt with all of the typical hassles that might face a person while on a plane. This includes turbulence, smelly people, inconsiderate seat-back-recliners, smoke in the cabin, and…kids. Kids on planes are challenging simply because they are kids and generally fidgety, but sometimes you have kids on planes who are not just challenging but who act absolutely insane. They cry ...

About a Boy

Uncategorized|

We just had a boy! Rachel and I are so thankful that he is healthy and beautiful and perfect in every way. We named him Ravi Gabriel. Ravi means “sun” and I believe he is called to shine God’s light and be a bright spot in the lives of everyone he meets and knows. Gabriel means “God is my strength” and I really believe he is going to need ...

What I’ve Learned in Four Years of Marriage

Uncategorized|

Wow, the years are flying by. I remember the very first time I saw Rachel on the morning of June 2, 2013. And now we’ve known each other for almost six years and been together as husband and wife for four. I’ve written about what I have learned during my first six months, year, two years, and three years of marriage, and I encourage you to read over those. With ...

Dealing With Each Other’s Idiosyncrasies

Marriage|

You might think this odd, but whenever it is raining and I’m driving around, I don’t use my car’s windshield wipers. This makes Rachel crazy. She’s like, “How can you even see!?” and I’m like, “I dunno, I just do!” I know she doesn’t understand why I won’t turn on the wipers to clear the windshield when it’s such a simple and sensible thing to do. But I just don’t. ...

When You’re Alone Again on Valentine’s Day

Dating, Singleness|

Valentine’s Day. Or Singles Awareness Day. Your choice. A lot of people dread it as we inch towards the middle of February. Many of those individuals believing for a new relationship had really high hopes when January began that they would meet someone over the first six weeks of the year, and not be alone for Valentine’s Day. And perhaps nothing has happened yet. And it just doesn’t seem like ...

When You Just Want To Be Noticed

Uncategorized|

When I was growing up, oh man, did I just want to be noticed. I remember in third grade intentionally wearing braided thread bracelets just so the girl who sat next to me would think I was cool. And want to be my friend (and girlfriend!). I remember wearing my favorite band shirts around school and town - so proud of the punk or emo or indie rock group that ...

Why I Don’t Make New Year’s Resolutions

Wisdom|

New Year’s Resolutions are normal, healthy, logical, and helpful. They springboard and incentivize us to make positive changes. I understand why we make them, and why I made them for a very long portion of my life. But when I consider the driving motivation for me personally with these January commitments to myself, it clearly reminds me why I stopped. Resolutions are typically prompted by a feeling of discontent. At ...

How Your Wife Fits Into Your Life

Dating, Marriage|

Well, in marriage, the lessons just keep on coming. And I’m committed to keep sharing what I’m learning just in case it helps someone else. I know all of my single friends want to get married, and I want them to get married as well. (Immediately!) But the more wisdom you can gain right now will save you a lot of headache and heartache down the road. So let’s get ...

Do You Take Your Partner for Granted?

Dating, Marriage|

Rachel and I share a king-sized bed. Oh man, a king-sized bed is the best. I know everyone can’t currently have one because their bedroom or budget may not accommodate it, but I hope that everyone eventually gets one. Really. The reason why is because of S-P-A-C-E. Space! I love space. I need space. While I technically can fall asleep while spooning Rachel, I much prefer to have as much ...

Shortcuts to Spiritual Growth

Faith|

I have been thinking a lot about our microwave society – and how we want everything RIGHT NOW. And every new technological development reinforces that tendency in us. Some of us remember connecting to the Internet on dialup. That was painfully slow and often problematic (like when your mom or dad picked up another receiver in the house and kicked you offline) – but we didn’t know any better; we ...

Why You Need to Say No More Often

Faith, Wisdom|

As the pages of the calendar keep turning, I’ve been thinking a lot about how I spend my time recently. Actually, this is something I regularly have tried to do – the periodic evaluation and recalibration of what I do during my waking hours. I think we all can agree that time (not money) is our most precious resource, and we’re specifically encouraged to make the very most of our ...

When You Want To Curse Your Neighbor

Wisdom|

Have you ever bought anything on Craigslist? For me, it’s always a little nerve-wracking, not because I’m afraid that I will get mugged or killed but because I’ve been screwed over before. I was in the market for a Bosu ball – and I’m not sure if you know what that is, but you probably have seen it at your local gym. It’s basically half of a Pilates ball attached ...

Integrity in the Men’s Bathroom

Wisdom|

Recently while going to the bathroom in an airport, I noticed a wad of chewing gum in the urinal I was using. And it reminded me anew of how much I hate it when guys spit out their gum into any type of toilet. I think it’s one of the most inconsiderate things imaginable. I mean, you’re in a bathroom, there are trash bins everywhere – why not use one ...

When Your Prayers Aren’t Loud Enough

Faith|

I’m not getting a lot of sleep recently due to our eleven-month old waking up randomly to scream her lungs out. We struggled a lot during the first five months, but then turned a corner and enjoyed four months of baby Maya sleeping through the night (I felt like a brand new human, it was glorious!). But now everything has changed for the last two months, and I’m up multiple ...

When My Mouth Gets Me In Trouble

Dating, Marriage|

So, I really didn’t know the power of my words until I got married - when I began to fully and completely do life with another individual. And though I quickly caught a glimpse of this during the first six months of marriage, my eyes are still constantly being opened to this reality. I’ve realized that when I am with co-workers or at church or small group or playing sports ...

What I’ve Learned in Three Years of Marriage

Marriage, Wisdom|

I can’t believe it, but it’s been three years since I said “I do” at the altar and married the love of my life. Three whole years. Among the joys we’ve shared together (some cool annual vacations, the birth of our first child, cheering on my favorite sports teams) and the struggles we’ve jointly endured (the passing of Rachel’s grandparents, some health issues, and some difficult work and ministry transitions), ...

When You’re Rushing Ahead of God

Wisdom|

Have you ever been confused as to whether it is your responsibility or God’s responsibility to make something happen? Man, I have definitely struggled with that. It’s like, okay, I know that He’s not going to drop what I want in my lap, and I’m supposed to use the giftings and abilities He’s given me in order to chase after it. Life involves hard work, and I have to work ...

If You Don’t Have Something Nice to Say

Wisdom|

I’ve been thinking a lot about the saying “If you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” It’s a solid statement. Especially because there’s a lot of negativity that surrounds us. Heck, many of us are guilty of contributing to the discord around us because there is always something to complain about. And often someone to complain about. But I want to talk about the opposite ...

What Are You Competing For?

Dating, Marriage|

I’ve been thinking a lot about competition recently, and how it relates to the things I want in my life. When I was in high school, I competed with my peers to get straight As (predictable, I know!), to know more about professional sports teams, and to be more athletic – whether it was a better crossover dribble on the driveway when we were playing pickup basketball, or becoming more ...

The Most Important Thing You Can Ask Your Mate

Dating, Marriage|

Whether you’ve been in a relationship for a few weeks, a few months, or a few years, you’ve learned that communication is critical and foundational for things to work out. Some of us are naturally good at expressing our feelings and our needs, while many of us struggle to share personal thoughts that would help us love our partner well, and be loved well in return. We all want to ...

Humble Yourself or Life Will Do It For You

Wisdom|

A while back, I was in Manchester, New Hampshire to give a talk. Everything was going really well – I was connecting with my audience, making them laugh, and basically feeling like a rock star in front of them on stage. I was just flowing and riffing and bantering like a pro – it was completely exhilarating and incredibly fun. It was like, Yes! I belong up here! This is ...

The Five Best Decisions I’ve Ever Made

Wisdom|

Today, I thought it would be fun to contemplate the best decisions I have ever made. Like everyone else, I have made plenty of bad decisions, but I’m already really great at remembering them, dwelling on them, and eviscerating myself about them. You know, “worst critic” and all that. I don’t need to be always doing that. Neither do you. Especially because on the whole, I would say that I’m ...

The Importance of Non-Sexual Touch

Dating, Marriage|

When we were dating, I wanted to touch Rachel all of the time. I remember shaking her hand when first meeting her. I remember teaching her how to juggle, and having her stand right next to me, with her left hip touching my right hip. I remember our first high-five, and our first playful bump into each other. And I remember when I put my hand around her shoulder for ...

How Our Compromises Cost Us

Strength, Wisdom|

I have to travel sometimes for work, and pretty much every time I stay in a hotel, I am fascinated by my hotel room’s minibar. Why, you ask? Well, first off, I typically have just gotten off a multiple-hour airplane leg, and I’m desperate and absolutely starving. Second, I really don’t want to try to find a decent restaurant around me, because I’m exhausted from airports and lines and people ...

When Bad Things Happen In Your Life

Courage|

I was thinking yesterday about the occurrence of crappy things in our lives. Like, how sometimes it feels so random and arbitrary when they come along. Everything is going along pretty swimmingly, your heart and relationships and walk with God feel like it’s in a good place, and then BAM! Something awful happens. And it throws you for a loop not just because it was unexpected, but also because it ...

When You Don’t Pray Anymore

Faith|

Shepherds. I’ve been thinking about them a lot recently, mostly because of a verse that stood out to me: The shepherds are senseless and do not inquire of the Lord; so they do not prosper and all their flock is scattered. When I read that, I was like, whoa, God, you’re really calling them out. What exactly do You want them to ask You about? I mean, what they are ...

When You No Longer Have Time For Simple Pleasures

Wisdom|

Recently someone told me during a conversation about the seasons of life that “the days are long but the years are short.” I’m sure that quote has been around forever, but it struck me as if those words were uttered for the very first time, and I’ve been thinking about it over the last week. Life does seem to speed up when we get older. And even though as an ...

When Fear Keeps Us From Trying

Faith|

My little girl Maya just turned three months old. And we've had a lot of fun together even during these early days of life as I try to make her smile in every conceivable way. And as I teach her how to be human, she’s teaching me how to trust God. One of our favorite things to do is to have her stand on my stomach while I’m lying on ...

When Your Goals Matter More Than Your Family

Wisdom|

“Society treats kids and senior citizens the same,” Rachel remarked to me the other day, and it got me thinking a lot about the truth of that statement on many levels. In the main, there just doesn’t seem to be a lot of time, respect, and wholehearted care given to those populations by the mass of individuals who find themselves chronologically between them, even if they are related to them. ...

When You’re Waiting for Your Miracle

Faith, Marriage|

On Tuesday , we were due to have our first baby. People say that with your first child, it’ll probably come late and so don’t get your hopes up for an early or even on-time delivery.  But you all know me – I definitely expected ours to not make us wait. She’s been so active every single day for a couple of months now, and it made me believe she ...

When You’re Trying to Protect Yourself from Pain

Strength, Wisdom|

Driving on the backroads of Ireland is very stressful and downright scary sometimes. This is no exaggeration. Americans like me are already at a bit of a disadvantage because the steering wheel is on the right side of the car, and the Irish drive on the left side of the road. Secondly, Irish roads are notoriously curvy and hilly – and the signs say you can go a lot faster ...

What I’ve Learned in Two Years of Marriage

Marriage, Wisdom|

Somehow, some way, a bit over twenty-four months have passed while I’ve been doing this marriage thing. What the pez!? You’ll recall I shared some of the lessons learned after one year of being hitched, and I thought it would be important to reflect again now that we’ve hit another milestone. I’m not sure how the first couple years are supposed to be, or tend to be. Are we still ...

Does God Randomly Surprise Us With His Love?

Faith|

I’ve been thinking recently about the ways that God endeavors to show us that He loves us, that we are the apple of His eye. Many times, we are just moving so fast as we manage our responsibilities and commitments that we miss or dismiss His gestures of affection, and then wonder why He doesn’t seem actively involved in our life. I’ve been there. When I slow down (or am ...

When you’re having a baby, and you’re freaking out

Marriage|

My life is about to be turned upside down, because we’re about to have a baby. This is a wonderful, incredible thing, and I don’t take it for granted. It’s actually a complete miracle to have a child, and I am beyond grateful that it happened. And I am so very excited because I’ve always wanted to be a dad, and have always been great with kids. I’ve always done ...

When People Judge You Based On How You Look

Wisdom|

While living in a dorm room this summer at a university in Ireland, I was reminded about one aspect of human nature I really dislike. I had to get to another campus to give a speech, and went downstairs to the reception desk to ask someone to please call me a taxi. However, the person behind the desk really didn’t seem interested, and appeared put out by my request even ...

How a Superhero Cape Helps Me Be Awesome

Courage, Faith|

Rachel made me a cape!  A full-sized, heavy, satiny, superhero cape!  I am totally shocked and bowled over by how freaking awesome it is!  This is the best gift I have ever received in my entire life! I’ve honestly always wanted a cape, ever since I saw the original Superman with Christopher Reeve.  We both had black hair, and wore glasses, and were a bit nerdy.  Clark Kent obviously had ...

What My Pregnant Wife Needs From Me

Marriage|

My wife Rachel is six months pregnant with our first child, and we’d both tell you that we’re enjoying this uniquely special time in our lives.  Part of me wishes Baby were here already so I could play with it.  It’s like, come on already, I want to hold you and cuddle you and love you to pieces!  The other part of me understands we need this to stretch out ...

When you trust yourself more than God for career success

Faith, Wisdom|

By now, I’m going to assume you’ve seen the viral video of a political expert being interviewed via Skype by the BBC, and the comedy that ensues when his two daughters boldly and innocently enter into his home office before being corralled and yanked out of there by their completely embarrassed mom. I saw the video early on Friday morning, and immediately showed Rachel (who loved it because that could ...

When Your Ministry is Taken Away From You

Strength, Wisdom|

Have you ever been humming along in one direction, and then all of a sudden life takes a sharp, quick turn? And while the effect may not be disabling or deadly, it does throw you for a loop. And leave you wondering “what now, God?” That is what has happened to me – and by no means is it crippling, nor does it induce a state of depression or rage. ...

When Nothing You Do Is Working

Courage|

I  am in a deep, dark valley. I know that sounds really dramatic, but that is my reality. The current season of my life has been marked by incredible futility. Pretty much everything I am trying to do right now is met with failure. As an example, I’ve been wanting to find a mentor – praying about it, reaching out to people, seeking out connections, making sure it’s not contrived ...

When You’re Playing Hide and Seek with God

Faith, Wisdom|

I  have a three-year old nephew named Blake, and he is the cutest thing alive.  I bet that all uncles say that about their nephews and nieces, but I personally think Blake would out-cute all other cute kids in any cuteness competition! Well, he and his family visited us this summer, and we spent our days going to the beach, swimming in the neighborhood pool, watching movies, and just spending ...

When God is Close to the Brokenhearted

Dating|

There was this one time where I really loved this girl, and she loved me back, but things got jacked up because life is broken and people are broken and mistakes are made. In this relationship, most days were really, really great. But there was one day when something happened and my heart was shattered into a million pieces. I can’t get into the details, but I feel like most ...

How Faith Helps You Climb Mountains and Get Home Safe

Courage|

Rachel adores The Sound of Music. Personally, I knew all of the songs from as far back as I can remember (I am pretty sure my parents had me watch it when I was seven), but I really didn’t remember the storyline. I mean, I remembered a nun, a bunch of cute kids, some Nazis, and a LOT of singing. But that’s really it. Well, on our recent trip backpacking ...

When You Struggle With Never Being Good Enough

Courage|

One of the very generous gifts Sameer and I received for our marriage last year was a week-long trip to St. Thomas.  Sameer had to continue work remotely so it turned into a kind of solo retreat for me most of the time. As a new bride, I thought it would tear my heart into pieces to be on my own sometimes, but it turned into a time of deep ...

When Fear Keeps You From Miraculous Moments

Courage|

Living only a few miles from the ocean in Southeast Florida, I have the opportunity to enjoy it all the time.  I appreciate it for many of the same qualities that others do: its power, vastness, rhythmic regularity, blueness, and beauty.  What I love most, though, is taking it in at night.  The crowds are gone, it’s peaceful, and the darkness all around me adds an element of mystery and ...

When You Can’t Help Others Help Themselves

Wisdom|

In my last blog, I talked about my “savior complex” and how my compulsion to rescue others from their perceived or actual problems actually made me miserable. Perhaps you could relate to that. Today, I want to explore in depth when it isn’t a good idea to get involved in other people’s lives unless it’s truly led by God, instead of your own mercurial emotions and desire to constantly be ...

When You Always Feel Compelled to Rescue Others

Wisdom|

I was talking with my friend Brittany recently about the way we spend our time, and one of the things that came up has to do with our involvement in the lives of others. Now, I think we are meant to do life in community, and be connected with a group of like-minded individuals who can be there for us while we also are available for them. Life pretty much ...

When I Foolishly Choose Me over Us

Dating, Marriage|

Recently, Rachel and I took a train from London to the East coast of England so that we could walk the White Cliffs of Dover.  It was probably my most favorite experience during our entire time backpacking Europe, only because everything that day was so beautiful – the weather (partly cloudy and breezy, with great lighting for pictures), the cliff’s edge, the wildflowers, the rolling hills, the castle in the ...

When God Corrects Us to Protect Us

Wisdom|

During our recent backpacking trip through parts of Europe, an interesting thing happened. We were walking around a city square in Ghent, Belgium one workday afternoon, and we saw a child running from the middle of the square toward the busy, crowded street. He must have been about two years old, and it caused us alarm because nobody wants to see a kid to go running into a dangerous situation ...

Rachel’s Thoughts On Marriage

Marriage|

Sameer and I celebrated our one-year anniversary on May 23rd of this year, and it was spectacular. Our first year has had its bumps and bruises and hiccups, but I am so happy to say that we are even more madly in love now than we were a year ago. I wanted to take some time to write about and share my thoughts on marriage after our first year with ...

What I’ve Learned in my First Year of Marriage

Marriage|

Rachel and I just celebrated our first wedding anniversary on May 23rd. So here I am, starting my second year as a husband. I’m no longer a newlywed, and in the parlance of sports, my rookie year is over. It’s been a great first year. I say that with hesitation because I know many, many couples have had a crappy first year as they get used to each other and ...

When our Hearts are Restless

Faith|

Just like at the beginning of a new year, the beginning of my summer gives me a chance to consider how the first few five months have gone, and recalibrate my trajectory if I've gone a bit off track.  While it was a successful Spring semester, I do wish I would have spent more time with God.  Those of you who know me know that at the end of my ...

How to Get Over the Girl

Courage, Dating|

So there was this one time where I really liked a particular girl.  It was way back in 2005.  She was all wrong for me, but I still wanted it to work, and gave it my all because I thought it just might.  I would be sweet and endearing and thoughtful.  I would demonstrate in meaningful ways how much I cared about her and her family.  I would put in ...

When You Really Want to Find a Mentor

Wisdom|

The Karate Kid – the original version, which came out in 1984 - is one of my all-time favorite movies.  Why? Well, I could relate to Daniel LaRusso, the introverted, awkward, skinny underdog who was valiantly trying to make friends and fit in at his new school in California.  Plus, most boys my age saw the film and instantly developed a hopeless crush on Ali Mills in all of her ...

When You Are Scared of Sudden Disaster

Courage, Wisdom|

When I look back upon my life, I realize that the most unproductive thing I can do is to fear the future. And yet, I have done it. I mean, we all have done it. We just want life turn out a certain way, and we pour ourselves out to make that happen, and don't want our blood, sweat, and tears to be wasted. And so we spend even more ...

Are You Safe To Be Yourself in Your Marriage?

Dating, Marriage|

Lately I have been reflecting on the passion, energy, and effort involved when a guy really likes a girl and just wants to be with her. You know, when he's past the uncertainty and has made up his mind that she's the one for him for forever, and he goes all gung-ho pursuing her and trying to win her heart. I mean, this hypothetical guy spends time in the gym ...

When Love Starts to Become Conditional

Dating, Marriage|

When I was first falling for Rachel, I tried to do everything to win her heart. I remember teaching her how to juggle, and showing her how to play guitar. I remember writing her poems and letters, and talking with her on the phone for hours, and gladly giving up time I could spend doing the things I’ve always done (my work, my fitness, whatever) just so that I could ...

Sleeping With My Wife

Marriage|

A couple weeks ago, we were hanging out with our friends Becky and Jared, and we got to talking about marriage and sleeping together. It got me thinking about my own experience, and what I am learning, and what we are figuring out, and so I thought I would share it with you all. First off, I've slept alone my entire life. I've never had to share a bed with ...

Does God Share Secrets With You?

Faith|

To start the new year off right, I’m reading Ann Voskamp’s One Thousand Gifts and it’s teaching me a lot about counting my blessings on a daily basis, and how that directly produces joy in life. I will probably blog about the book when I am done because I’m finding it life-changing, but for now I want to write about something else that the book prompted within me. Ann is ...

When You’re Always Looking for More

Wisdom|

Well, it’s the end of 2015. And I’m doing some reflecting, of course. Maybe I should wait until New Year’s Eve, but I’m on Christmas break, and so my mind is in an introspective mood. Here's my main question: am I happy with how this year has gone? For the most part, yes. I mean, I think that all of us feel a bit of restlessness and perhaps even resignation ...

When You Feel Like An Imposter

Courage, Wisdom|

I have been thinking recently about the Imposter Syndrome. You know, the fear I sometimes feel that I will be found out. That it will be revealed that I don't have what it takes. That people will discover that I'm a fraud. A poser. A complete phony. "All I can see is everything I’m doing wrong that is a sham and a fraud." ~ Don Cheadle Research shows that many ...

When You Catch Someone Messing Up

Courage|

A while ago, I stopped by CVS after playing ultimate frisbee at school to pick up some mouthwash and some toiletries. It was just time to run some errands, no big deal. But as I was walking through the aisles by the pharmacy, I saw this guy - who looked to be around 23 or so - grab what seemed to be some over-the-counter medication and put it under his ...

What I’ve Learned in Six Months of Marriage

Marriage|

I am six months in. To marriage. To being a husband, and having a wife. And it’s actually going great. You know me by now, I always want to be completely candid so that in my vulnerability you can find value. And so really, it’s been solid. I honestly thought I was going to struggle a lot – not because of Rachel, but because I have been so used to ...

Where Do I Get My Identity?

Wisdom|

I have been thinking a lot about identity this week, probably I went to a concert this Tuesday. I finally got to see New Found Glory live, one of my all-time favorite bands and one that I’ve listened to for the last 16 years. They are a pop punk band out of Coral Springs, Florida, and I absolutely love their music because of the lyrics, the energy, the guitar licks ...

How to Find your Calling

Wisdom|

In my last blog entry, I asked “What is your Calling?” and covered a number of related issues. I first discussed that a 'calling' is the secret of who you are meant to be, instead of something that you simply do (for a living, etc.). I also shared that I believe a vocation and a calling are different for most people, and that the former won’t ultimately fulfill you, but ...

What is your Calling?

Wisdom|

I’ve been thinking a lot these days about contentment, and specifically how it relates to my calling. When I use the term “calling” I mean the secret of who you are meant to ‘be,’ and I am not referring to one’s “vocation,” which is the truth of what you can best ‘do.’ We’ll talk more about that below. But for now, I mean what Mark Twain was referring to when ...

Life Lessons I’ve Learned from Ultimate Frisbee

Wisdom|

I love ultimate Frisbee. So much. If I could play every day of the week, I would. I just find it so fulfilling and fun because it’s competitive, exciting, and a workout – and it requires digging deep and pushing oneself to run and jump faster, harder, and higher than those around you. For those of you who have never played, allow me to provide some background before I tell ...

How the Shortness of Life Can Motivate You

Wisdom|

None of us like to think about our impending mortality. But I think about it all the time. And for me, it’s a good thing. It helps me. It serves as my decision filter on a daily basis. And so I thought it would be worth exploring the value of this notion, because the years keep going by and our mortality is just—relevant. It’s something we can benefit from keeping ...

Lead with your sadness, and follow with your success

Wisdom|

My friend Dan and I went on our annual Adventure Week at the end of this summer, which typically involves either skiing/snowboarding (during the winter) or backpacking/hiking/climbing (during the summer) in Colorado. Even if my life is bursting with busyness and responsibilities and commitments (and perhaps especially so), I need to do this once a year and just get away. It helps me to get off the treadmill of normal ...

My Goals Poster for 2015

Faith|

If you've known me for a while, you know that each year I try to put together a collage of sorts with images from the Web - which I call my Goals Poster.  It's just a visual depiction of the major things I want to do in my life that year, and it helps me to boldly put my hopes and dreams and ambitions "out there" instead of just keeping ...

When You Know, You Know

Dating|

When it comes to finding the “one,” I’ve heard many people say that. “When you know, you know.” I’ve always been like, what does that even mean? How are you supposed to know? And is it so definitive? How can you have a perfect peace about committing to something/someone for the REST OF YOUR LIFE, no matter what? And since it is one of the biggest leaps of faith that ...

It’s Okay to be the Little Spoon

Marriage|

So, my friend Arturo and I joke about spooning a lot. We don’t do so in a crude way, but just because it’s something that people don’t talk about, and it represents an amalgamation of elements which are heavy and all too real: intimacy, vulnerability, masculinity, and femininity. And something we always tell each other with a wry smile is…. “it’s okay to be the little spoon.” I think about ...

When You’re Counting, You’re Not Trusting

Wisdom|

So, one of the stories in the Bible that has struck and always stayed with me is from 1 Chronicles 21:1 (and from 2 Samuel 24:1). Basically, God had ended a three-year famine, and David’s kingdom was thriving. His nemesis Saul was dead, and he had recently crushed the Philistines, Moabites, and Ammonites, and he was pummeling any enemies that went up against him. And everything was going along quite ...

Any Guy Can Get Any Girl

Singleness|

As I’ve mentioned a few years ago on this blog, beautiful girls are everywhere. EVERYWHERE. And growing up during my adolescence as a warm-blooded heterosexual male, I really liked looking at them. And I wanted to become their friend. And I wanted to become their boyfriend. And wanted to marry them and make babies with them and live happily ever after with them. Well, not “them” – just one of ...

Is Your Heart Closing Off, or Opening Up?

Wisdom|

I’ve been thinking a lot about the state of my heart recently. I feel like it’s in a good place. I feel close to God, I don’t feel like I have any unresolved conflict or tension I should address, I feel like I doing the things that make Him proud of me. But I recognize I am still living in this world, and exposed to all sorts of pressures and ...

Learning Lessons the First Time Around

Wisdom|

A handful of years ago, I realized that my brain works in this very linear and sequential fashion – which sounds good and healthy and all that, but actually is a bit dysfunctional when coupled with my always-doing-something personality. Basically, the way that I am wired is that I am always onto the next thing before I’m fully finished with the first thing because my mind just automatically and mechanically ...

What If Your Summer Camp Mentality Was Year Round?

Courage|

Every summer, I go to summer camp. And I've been doing this for years. To be honest, things are a little different now that I am an adult in that I don't go as a camper, but as a volunteer or counselor or leader or helper (depending on the camp). Back in the day, though, I loved going to camps every summer - with my church, with 4H, at the ...

In Your Relationship, Does Your Heart Feel Safe?

Dating|

I was talking with my friend Tammy the other day and she shared an insight after reflecting on a recent romantic relationship of hers - an insight which I thought was completely profound. And I asked her if I could blog about it, and she said yes. So here I go. Overall, I feel like a lot of people struggle with figuring out whether a person they like, or the ...

How to Conquer Fear

Strength|

In my last entry, I talked about how sometimes we are just unstable, and it’s not a fun place to be because it makes everything seem so vague and confusing and even arbitrary.  When we are unstable, it feels like we are slowly going blind, or slowly losing our mind.  Sometimes it is just life being life, but sometimes it is really our own fault.  And I guess it stems ...

When You Realize You’re Emotionally Unstable

Strength, Wisdom|

I have been thinking a lot recently about being unstable.  What seems to cause me to be unstable?  Well, it’s going back and forth on things in my mind.  So I’m not single-minded, I’m double-minded.  And I am realizing I hate being double-minded and I hate being unstable, because it feels like nothing is right and I’ve completely lost focus from what matters.  It’s like, I really want to be ...

When You Want To Live a Great Story

Courage, Faith, Wisdom|

Alright.  What did I learn from the Storyline conference, if I consider how I've been living my life thus far, and how I want to make sure it is a great story?  Well, the first thing I realized is that even though I am always asking God to come through for me with this or with that, and definitely sometimes getting bummed and frustrated with various things, I have so ...

Viewing Your Life as a Story You Are Writing

Wisdom|

Last weekend I attended Donald Miller's Storyline conference in San Diego.  It was really, really good.  All of the sessions were inspiring, and appropriately fit together to champion the theme of the weekend, and to springboard me (and the rest of the attendees) forward.  Don spoke for most of the sessions, but other speakers included his friend Bob Goff (who wrote "Love Does" - which is probably the best book ...

When You’re Sick of Doing Things Out of Obligation

Courage|

I was thinking recently about the reasons why I do what I do.  I mean, my daily, weekly, monthly activities.  A few years ago, I made a commitment to myself to stop doing things out of obligation.  Because I saw too many people around me who were not very happy at all, and seemingly caught up in certain actions and practices and behaviors that they didn't really want to be ...

When You’re Always Caring What Others Think

Courage|

I've been thinking a lot recently how people have dreams, and they even feel those dreams are from God...and they let other people know about their dreams, and have full faith for them, and wait for them, but it just doesn't happen. Well, it at least hasn't happened yet. And it makes me think about David, and how in his poems and writings, he asks God repeatedly to not let ...

Believing for the Best and Preparing for the Worst

Courage|

I've been thinking how well-intentioned people, in reference to having a particular outlook toward an event, or experience, or even life in general, say "Expect the best, but prepare for the worst."  Expect the best.  Okay.  But prepare for the worst.  Um.  Okay. I've decided I hate that line.  It sounds good, it sounds conciliatory and maybe even soothing.  But it's so neutral, it's so...antiseptic.  It's so weak, honestly.  At ...

My Goals and Dreams Poster

Faith|

Every year, I try to make a Goals and Dreams poster just to force myself to articulate tangible things that I want and hope to work towards over the next twelve months.  It seriously helps me. I first pray about a "theme" that God would want to give me for the new year - sort of a defining and encapsulating big picture that will regularly be relevant in interesting and ...

Living on the Edge

Courage, Strength|

I've been thinking a lot about the edge recently. And living on it. I know that sounds vague. So I'll try to explain. I've been going to yoga relatively regularly for the last few months. The goal has been to really try to increase my flexibility and balance. My hamstrings, for instance, are always tight because I've been running around on fields for decades and I guess I don't really ...

The Beauty of Being Vulnerable in Relationships

Courage, Dating, Strength|

Ive been thinking a lot about one of C.S. Lewis's most famous and most profound quotes: “To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it ...

Testing our Strength

Courage, Strength|

I have this friend, Wil, who I have known since he was eight.  He will be turning sixteen in January.  I hang out with him and his siblings (they are so much fun, and such great kids!), and his parents mentor me in a variety of ways that help me through life.  It's been really neat to see Wil grow up.  I remember being able to toss him in the ...

How Do You Want People To Think of You?

Wisdom|

I've been thinking about the legends of the Bible.  It's interesting that if you just think of a particular person, one particular story or aspect of their life comes immediately to mind.  For example, if I said Jonah and __________, you would say, "the whale!"  If I said, David and __________, you would say, "Goliath!"  If I said Samson and __________, you would say, "Delilah!".  If I said, "Job," maybe ...

Why You Should Choose Someone Who Is Pursuing God

Dating|

So, I mentioned in my last post about girls and standards that I believed a shared faith is so essential, at least to me.  I mentioned that she should be headed in the same spiritual direction as me, and she should earnestly try to live her life with integrity in all areas.  And I think it's a very reasonable standard to have, and one on which I could never compromise.  ...

What Should We Have In Common If We’re Dating?

Dating|

My friend Mo recently mentioned how she wouldn't date a guy who wasn't into the same type of music as her, and so it got me thinking about our standards for the persons we want to date, and/or fall in love with, and/or spend the rest of our lives with.  Sometimes I feel like my standards for a girl are incredibly - no, insanely - high.  And we all know ...

How Are You Getting Through Life?

Faith, Strength, Wisdom|

Earlier this semester. my friend Lucas recently twisted his ankle badly while we were playing ultimate frisbee at school. I was pretty close to him when it happened, and we heard a loud pop and so we thought he had completely broken it. Thankfully, though, a visit to the ER revealed that he had a severe strain and would need to stay off of it for a few weeks. So, ...

Playing Fair in Sports and Life

Wisdom|

I went go to see Les Miserables recently...I had always loved the book and the storyline, and this was my first opportunity to see it on stage. The experience was amazing, and the portrayal of Jean Valjean's inner struggle to do the right thing really gripped me. He had committed a crime (breaking parole) early on in life, and despite all the good that he had since done and was ...

When You’re Single and Waiting

Singleness|

For those of you who are waiting for your big love, I have to tell you that your life is never going to be the same. And you're probably thinking, that's what I want, I am tired of being alone, I am tired of the single life. I was there, I felt the same way. It felt like it would never end. But when it happened, it was like a ...

When You Have Wandering Eyes and Thoughts

Dating|

There are beautiful girls everywhere. They are on the treadmills at the gym, they are in the produce section of the grocery store, they are employees where you work or students where you go to school - they are everywhere. But if you are in a relationship - if God blesses you with a relationship, you had better be all about that other person and not have wandering eyes. It ...

Why You Need Confidence in God to Have a Healthy Relationship

Dating|

One of the character traits that stands out about Nehemiah is that he was so secure. And confident. But you can tell that the confidence isn’t in himself – it is in his God. It’s just crazy how his heart broke for Jerusalem, and he prayed hard and fasted and made sure the Lord’s hand was on this idea he had to rebuild the city walls. And from that point, ...

When You’re Struggling While Waiting For Love

Singleness|

I’ve been thinking a lot about boy and girl relationships recently, as most of my single friends are in that place where they want it to happen pretty much right now.  I am probably not in any position to offer advice or guidance, and I definitely do not have a lot of experience, but I still wanted to write out my thoughts about some aspects of it. Obviously, we know ...

Remember Me With Favor

Faith|

One of my most favorite people in the entire Bible is Nehemiah.  He inspires me because of the way he lived and the way he thought about things, and the things that he said.  One of my most favorite things that he said dots the landscape of the book in which he is featured.  In fact, the very last words of this book - nestled between Ezra and Esther - ...