When someone says that they do or do not trust someone, they are making a statement about their belief in either someone’s competency, their character, or both. Competency is someone’s ability to do a particular thing and to do it well. Someone’s character is their commitment to do what is

[This is likely going to start out sounding insensitive, but hopefully it gets better.] It seems like everyone has a victim status these days. They come in so many shapes and sizes that everyone can find at least one that is just right for them. Maybe yours is a learning

Although Chutzpah is a Yiddish word – not one of the Biblical languages: Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic – it is an important word for understanding the Biblical concept of faith. Chutzpah is a word that means audacity, gall, nerve, fierce determination, refusing to quit or let go even when you

Hineni (pronounced hee-nay-nee) is an important Hebrew word meaning “Here I am.” It is much fuller of meaning than the informal and casual poh (“I’m here”). Hineni connotes being completely present, completely available, immovably surrendered, yielded, having a readiness to do whatever is asked, etc. Hineni was the response of

I remember a friend of mine who I think a lot of, telling me out of the blue, “Nathan, I don’t know that I feel comfortable calling myself a Christian anymore.” All of a sudden, I was really listening. He went on to say: You know, the word Christian, it

[This is the third part of a three part series on God’s Forgiveness. Part one is “Did God Forgive Before Jesus?” and part two is “Does God Need Blood to Forgive?“] God did and is doing far more through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus to redeem and heal

[This is the second part of a three part series on God’s Forgiveness. Part one is “Did God Forgive People Before Jesus?” and part three is “Jesus’ Death and God’s Forgiveness.”] Does God need blood to forgive people? Of course not! Do you need something to die or bleed for

[This is the beginning of a three part series on God’s Forgiveness. Part two is “Does God Need Blood to Forgive?” and part three is “Jesus’ Death and God’s Forgiveness.”] Did God forgive people, forgive sins, before Jesus? Of course. In case you thought God specifically needed the death of

There is a quote that I love which has been attributed to a number of different people that goes like this:  “Everything will be alright in the end.  If it’s not alright, then it’s not the end yet.” I think this quote does an amazing job of capturing the hope

“The Lord remembers us and will bless us”- Psalm 115:12 Sometime soon try this simple and powerful way of praying for people – offer people’s names up to God. If done out loud it might sound like the reciting of names at a memorial service, but the intent is different.