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What happens to a non-Jesus follower when they die? Many say they go to hell. But believe it or not, some today are saying no - they just die. Every so often something rises back up in Christian circles that makes you stop and think. Lately, it’s the idea that there is no eternal hell. Kirk Cameron and some others call it “annihilation”, where the unbeliever simply stops existing. Others call it a more “loving” view of God. In a sentence, Annihilation means God destroys the w

What can you do and do a crappy job at it? Have you ever met someone who simply can’t do a job halfway? Someone who, no matter what they touch, has to do it well? It’s like excellence is wired into them. It’s built in. They couldn’t slack if they tried. The Apostle John says something similar happens to a person who belongs to God. “Those who are God’s children do not continue sinning, because the new life from God remains in them. They are not able to go on sinning, because

What kind of relationships do you actually have? I mean the real ones. The friends, family, coworkers, children, neighbors and everyone else in your circle. When you slow down and think about the people in your life, who are the ones that feel close, and who are the ones you hope will become closer? I found myself thinking about this after a Christmas party Wendy and I recently hosted. I love every person who walked through our door. I even missed a few who could not make it.

What does a false teacher look like? What is a false teacher? You might be surprised. And please - be aware. This may be one of my most important shares. It comes from my scheduled Bible reading: “There used to be false prophets among God’s people, just as you will have some false teachers in your group. They will secretly teach things that are wrong, teachings that will cause people to be lost. They will even refuse to accept the Master, Jesus, who bought their freedom. So t

Why did God create man with the free will to sin, and why did He set up a world of sinners only to send His Son to be tortured and die for the very sin He allowed? I’m sure it’s a question many may have from time to time. And the more I asked, the more I realized something. I cannot figure it out. You cannot figure it out. Nobody can. God is too big for my mind and too wise for my explanations. Yet people still try. They try to build some neat little box where their intellige

What do people do with the idea that some go to heaven and others go to hell? And how do they make sense of it without feeling like God is being unfair? A lot of people wrestle with that. They also hear the NDE stories, the bright lights, the peace, the overwhelming love, and they wonder if “everyone” is going somewhere beautiful. It raises real questions. But Scripture gives a clear picture of God’s heart. God says, “I do not want anyone to die, so change your hearts and liv

What do you think really separates someone who simply professes to be a Christian from someone who is actually following Jesus with their whole life? John Mark Comer raised this question in his book “Practicing The Way.” He talked about the old Catholic distinction: “Catholic vs Practicing Catholic.” It made me ask myself, “Am I a practicing Christian?” Jesus defined it with clarity. “Everyone who hears my words and practices them is like a wise man who built his house on roc

What do you reach for in the quiet moments? When life gives you a few seconds of space, where does your attention go? And what does that reveal about what is shaping you? Do you grab your device without even thinking about it? Sometimes it is automatic. Sometimes it is boredom. Sometimes it is just habit. Can you mono-task or are you always looking at your phone? Maybe it’s better to notice someone, smile or talk to them - you know - connect. For busy people, we are so isolat

Why do you still choose wrong? I mean really think about that. How do you even define “right and wrong”? And what are you choosing in your own life that you already know is wrong? Why do you choose it? A Christian psychologist once wrote that people “choose wrong because the brain is drawn toward whatever brings the quickest relief, even if it brings long-term pain.” (Dr. Henry Cloud) Jesus’ half brother James said it clearly. “Anyone who knows the right thing to do, but does

What do you want that you do not have right now? If you rated your contentment from one to ten, with ten being truly satisfied, where would you land? Sit with that for a moment. Do you want a new partner? A new car? A new home? More money? A different look? I ask because I have lived inside this wanting. It is familiar. It is tempting. And it never seems to end. The truth is, many of the things we want could be improved through real goals, a good plan, and the discipline to w

What have you removed from your life that allows you to run more freely? What needs to be cut away from your stride so that your running can actually thrive? Please do not rush past that. Pause. What really needs to be cut away? The Apostle Paul once said, “Let us run the race that is before us and never give up. We should remove from our lives anything that would get in the way and the sin that so easily holds us back.” (Hebrews 12:1 NCV) Another version says “cut away the t

What happens inside you when you pause long enough to ask the hardest question of all: Who am I really? Not who people think I am. Not the version I comfortably present. Not the productive leader, the Christian writer, the husband, the dad, or the guy who can talk about legacy and finishing well. I mean the me I see when the noise goes away. I don’t usually question who I am, but sometimes I do. I catch myself wondering if my knowledge and experience ever trick me into thinki

What do you picture when you think about the space between you and God? If you could visualize your sin and the choices you regret, what would that distance look like? Sin does not just complicate life. Sin separates. It creates a divide between us and a holy God. This might sound a bit like holy-rolly jargon. Because you will die, honestly, it’s the most important element in your life - and mine. In the Old Testament, God’s presence stayed in the Holy of Holies, a sealed roo

What percentage of the human race is struggling with something right now? Some appear like everything is fine when it’s not. Some try to ignore what needs to be faced. Some hide their hurt behind busyness or humor. But every single one of us has something that needs support, help, and love. Everyone. So who is actually best equipped to help? King Solomon once said something that always stops me. “Don’t forget your friend or your parent’s friend. Don’t always go to your family

What do you do when you look at your life and realize you made decisions that were not wise or even flat out wrong? And why is it so easy to blame someone else when things fall apart? Parents. A spouse. Stress. A boss. Childhood. Circumstances. I’ve blamed all of those at different times. It feels easier than facing myself. But God doesn’t let us stay there, and honestly, His truth feels more freeing than confronting. Ezekiel gives us a hidden gem about personal responsibilit

How does grocery shopping change if you shop while hungry? I think everyone has done this. For me? I buy more junk food. There was a day I literally ate an entire box of Cheez-It crackers while shopping. Hunger changes your cravings. It changes your judgment. It makes things look good that aren’t good. Spiritually and emotionally, the same thing happens to every one of us. When we’re hungry, tired, bored, lonely, or discouraged, our appetite shifts, and not always in the righ

Have you ever wondered why God seems to let bad people get away with bad things? It feels unfair sometimes. We see people lie, cheat, or hurt others and still seem to prosper, while those who try to live right often struggle. It makes you want to ask, “Where is God’s justice?” Psalm 106:8 says, “But the Lord saved them for his own sake, to show his great power.” (Psalm 106:8 NCV) What does God saving them (you and me) for his “own sake” mean? God doesn’t act because people de

Why do some people fail right after they succeed? Why is it the rich and famous who fall into drugs, or the powerful who begin to make terrible choices? Even King David, at the very peak of his career, fell. At a time when he should have been leading his army, he stayed home, looked down from his rooftop, and sinned with Bathsheba. Then he had her husband killed. Success didn’t protect him—it exposed him. It was the same for Jerusalem. God blessed her, raised her up, and gave

As we live life, what is it supposed to look like on a day-to-day basis? What does God’s Word have to say on this topic? Does God speak on this? As you know, you wake up, work, rest, and repeat. But in the middle of all that routine — and all the noise, opinions, and chaos around us, I sometimes wonder, “Am a doing a good job at the day to day? “ I think God calls us to something deeper. He didn’t design us to simply exist but to live with purpose, intention, certainly love a

What’s really behind what you do and say? Have you ever been accused by someone saying, “I know why you’re doing that!” Maybe they were right. Maybe they weren’t. But it makes you stop and think, doesn’t it? The truth is, we’re complex people. There’s usually a “main” reason we do or say something, but there are often layers underneath. Psychologists call this multi-motivational behavior, meaning we can be driven by several motives at once. Sometimes we act from love, fear, g

What would you change if you could do your marriage over again? Would the change be your spouse - or yourself? And if your marriage feels stale right now, what needs to change? Is it really your mate, or is it you? Every marriage tells a story. Every union reveals who we really are, our strengths, our selfishness, our fears, and our faith. Marriage was never meant to be built on luck, compatibility, or even good intentions. It’s built on layers, spiritual, emotional, and prac

What keeps you and me holding on when things begin to break down? Maybe the breakdown started with a death, a broken relationship, a hard diagnosis, or simply the feeling of being worn out and bored with life. What then? Normally, we go back to what we know, or we begin to slip and do things we shouldn’t. It’s human nature, but it’s not right. People often wonder why someone returns to an addiction, an unhealthy relationship, or old habits that once trapped them. It’s becaus

What in your life would you say “it’s time” I take care of that? Maybe it’s something that’s grown too large, gone too deep, or simply run its course. Maybe it’s time to go in a different direction. What is it for you, maybe it’s more than one thing. God always has a plan and purpose. He waits. He shows mercy. And then, when it’s time, He steps in. When someone has lived out His purpose, He brings them home. When someone has gone too far, He disciplines or judges. God is the

What do you want people to remember about your words when you walk away? Have you ever really thought about that? Whether it’s a short goodbye or a deep conversation, our words can plant seeds that last far beyond the moment. I’ve been thinking a lot about this lately. Life feels shorter. The world feels darker. The time to speak truth and love feels more urgent than ever. The Apostle Paul felt that same urgency when he wrote to Timothy. He was nearing the end of his life and