Strength to the weary
When your strength is clearly insufficient and you feel stuck, God is there to set you free. Have you ever felt stuck? Have you ever reached the end of your…
Please explain: Why do I so often fail to do what God wants?
I think you already know the answer to the question, Why do I so often fail to do what God wants? The problem is not so much about what you…
Forgiveness isn’t fair
“But he doesn’t deserve to be forgiven,” she cried, as tears rolled down her face. She was right. He didn’t. He had cheated on her. He had ruined their marriage.…
Forgive as you are forgiven
We are to forgive others the way God forgives us—freely and often. Every Sunday, we and thousands of other believers gather for worship in various congregations. We are greeted by…
My Christian life: On the front lines of a pandemic
A husband and wife’s passion for serving leads them to the front lines of a pandemic. It was a quiet Saturday afternoon in May. Jon and Paige Fricke were sitting…
My Christian life: Dealing with mental illness
Seeing God’s grace through the struggle of mental illness. I struggle mightily with my mental health. To most people I look healthy; I am a vegetarian who runs about 40…
Struggle to forgive
We are to forgive others, but the journey can be difficult. I needed to forgive my father. But for the life of me, I could not figure out how. Trying…
Easter is life
Easter brings us victory over death and gives us new life. Joshua E. Stahmann The young man across the table from me was in tears. There was no doubting the…
My Christian life: Battling cancer as a teenager
A pastor reflects on his battle with cancer as a teenager and how his experiences helped shape him and his ministry. Growing up, Paul Jansen fondly remembers a great home…