The Purpose of Burnout
May 18, 2024

The Purpose of Burnout

Jen Zamzow
  • Calling & Purpose
One problem with working too much—even if we love our job—is that work can crowd out other important things in life. If we put all our time and energy into our purpose-driven work—our “worthy cause”—we can’t put that time and energy into other aspects of life, like relationships, hobbies, and rest.
How to Talk about Your Faith
May 07, 2024

How to Talk about Your Faith

Tom Johnson
  • Calling & Purpose
To be a follower of Jesus means we are His disciples. A disciple is a learner or pupil. Notice the emphasis on receiving knowledge first in this definition.
A Disciplined Spiritual Life Month 3
April 29, 2024

A Disciplined Spiritual Life Month 3

Ken Chitwood
  • Spiritual Disciplines
Though loving others across divides is messy and difficult, we need people who are not like us to share life’s joys and sorrows with, celebrate milestones, and be vulnerable around.
How to Help Others Feel Safe in Spiritual Spaces 
April 18, 2024

How to Help Others Feel Safe in Spiritual Spaces 

Megan Choe
  • Calling & Purpose
Whether it’s my children, my spouse, or those in my online and in-person communities, this work continues to pave a road into the otherwise guarded parts of their hearts and souls.
With My Hands in the Dirt 
April 07, 2024

With My Hands in the Dirt 

Shelly Schwalm
  • Uncategorized
If I’ve learned one thing through gardening, it is this: our God, the Gardener is so delighted.
A Disciplined Spiritual Life Month 2
March 29, 2024

A Disciplined Spiritual Life Month 2

Ken Chitwood
  • Spiritual Disciplines
Meditation is not just about emptying the mind. Instead, it’s about filling the mind, heart, and soul with a particular prayer, ritual activity, point to ponder, or passage of Scripture.
Keep on Seeking 
March 18, 2024

Keep on Seeking 

Marcus Lane
  • Culture & Faith
God is not going to leave you hanging if you long to see Jesus, if you seek after Him in faith. Keep seeking! Keep pursuing! Keep searching the Scriptures and you will see Jesus! Because the one who went to the cross for you will not abandon you in your search. The one who rose again will not forget you.
3 Lessons from My Grown-Up Kids 
March 07, 2024

3 Lessons from My Grown-Up Kids 

Joe Connelly
  • Spiritual Identity
Jennifer and I were very intentional in raising loving, faithful, and engaged children, trying never to speak down to them, and regularly inviting conversation where disagreement presented itself.  This approach has provided our relationships with our grown-up kids much greater depth, equality, and mutual respect, and we are grateful for it and our adult children.
3 Prayers for When You’re Angry at God 
February 29, 2024

3 Prayers for When You’re Angry at God 

Cindy Koch
  • Spiritual Disciplines
It is nothing new to be angry at God. But these prayers from His Word embolden us in hope and trust in our Savior, even when our lives go in an unexpected direction.
A Disciplined Spiritual Life Month 1
February 15, 2024

A Disciplined Spiritual Life Month 1

Ken Chitwood
  • Spiritual Disciplines
Simplicity’s challenge to us is to desire less, less, and less in a world of more, more, and more.
6 Ways Christians Can Become Trauma-Informed 
February 02, 2024

6 Ways Christians Can Become Trauma-Informed 

David Wang
  • Calling & Purpose
Ultimately, Christ models for us the foundational principle of how we are to be trauma-informed—by being connected to God and being relationally present to the joys and the pain of one another—and to do so in community.
How to be a trustworthy Christian online 
January 11, 2024

How to be a trustworthy Christian online 

Angelo Blancaflor
  • Digital Evangelism
…no matter where you find yourself in community with others online, I want to highlight some of the habits that helped establish trust and opened the door to conversations about faith.
Cultivating Faith-Fueled Community Online
January 07, 2024

Cultivating Faith-Fueled Community Online

Christina Schuetz
  • Digital Evangelism
Remaining with others through division and standing on the rock of my Redeemer means I honor the Divine Hands that made the person on the other side of the internet from me.
Being a Person of Peace Online 
January 03, 2024

Being a Person of Peace Online 

Danielle Tietjen
  • Digital Evangelism
When we interact online, we are faced not just with a choice of what to say, but what is inspiring our words. Emotions help us name our needs as humans, but do we choose to let them rule us or inspire us?
A Disciplined Spiritual Life
December 30, 2023

A Disciplined Spiritual Life

Ken Chitwood
  • Spiritual Disciplines
…these disciplines are a gift. These historic practices are a way to help channel devotion and shape the daily practice of our faith. They’ve withstood the test of time for a reason.
I Wonder Why I Wander 
December 14, 2023

I Wonder Why I Wander 

Karen Novinger
  • Spiritual Disciplines
When I take the time to regularly go wandering, I find my everyday life to be less noisy. The intimacy of my time wandering with Jesus and praying filters its way into my days. When stressors come, I can close my eyes, breathe deeply, listen intently, and hear the sounds of the trees, the birds, my footsteps, and the benefits of time spent with God.
On the Matter of Books and Banning 
December 10, 2023

On the Matter of Books and Banning 

George Wilson
  • Culture & Faith
My message to those who would ban books for whatever reason is this: Telling people they can’t read a certain book is the surest way to increase readership. Humans are naturally curious, and we need to do more to open doors than build walls between each other.
Learning to Love from My Rescue Dog 
December 06, 2023

Learning to Love from My Rescue Dog 

Kelsie McWilliams
  • Calling & Purpose
Some people have been hurt before and need some time to heal before they can love you back. But in learning to love someone else, we can learn to love ourselves better too.
How can we help?
December 02, 2023

How can we help?

Don Everts
  • Calling & Purpose
Jesus’ teaching about giving isn’t just good news for people who knock on our door, it’s also good news for us. It’s changed us. Grown us. Challenged us. Delighted us.
3 Reasons We Need to Care About Animals
November 29, 2023

3 Reasons We Need to Care About Animals

Tom Johnson
  • Culture & Faith
No matter our political beliefs, we are called as Christians to be kinder, consume less, and become better stewards of all living things.
Finding a Church in My Neighborhood  
November 23, 2023

Finding a Church in My Neighborhood  

Angelo Blancaflor
  • Calling & Purpose
Even if you don’t live in a major city or urban center, there are plenty of ways you can “walk” through your neighborhood and consider how your spiritual life is impacted by your community and how your spiritual life impacts the community around you.
Come Together 
November 17, 2023

Come Together 

Sarah Styf
  • Calling & Purpose
We don’t have to live in a state of constant loneliness. We can do better. And by doing so, we can reflect the love of Jesus to each other.
How Much Jesus Has Done
November 14, 2023

How Much Jesus Has Done

Thomas Eggold
  • Calling & Purpose
[Luke 8] is certainly an example of how, in Christ, we should view outcasts and aliens but, even more importantly, in this story of the demon-possessed pariah, we should see ourselves.
A Reality Check with Reality TV
November 11, 2023

A Reality Check with Reality TV

Ella Kerr
  • Culture & Faith
Because while I may be able to see heartache and tears and triumph and laughter behind modern dating shows, what it boils down to is this: we were created to love and be loved, by our Creator and by the people He fills our lives with. And that is a reality I love to celebrate.
Accidents Happen
November 08, 2023

Accidents Happen

Kelsie McWilliams
  • Culture & Faith
..supporting and comforting people who are hurting is an opportunity to listen and truly understand how someone is feeling–and then love them where they are.
You Can’t Find Purpose from a Job Alone
November 05, 2023

You Can’t Find Purpose from a Job Alone

Chad Lakies
  • Spiritual Identity
Work isn’t just where you make a living and earn a paycheck. You’re working when you’re changing your children’s diapers and seeking to raise them well. You’re working when you’re obeying the laws of your society, which aim to bring security and peace to you and your neighbors.
Choosing to Meet God as I Am
November 02, 2023

Choosing to Meet God as I Am

Amber Havekost
  • Culture & Faith
Some days I strive for answers by asking questions because I believe God is big enough and wants to hear them. Some days I rest in the peace that He’s simply a mystery and it’s okay that there is much I won’t know this side of heaven.
Loving Harder in the Face of Violence
October 30, 2023

Loving Harder in the Face of Violence

Manòn Voice
  • Culture & Faith
We must think creatively about how we practice and apply [love] everywhere and how our outreach can reach those who are hurting. We can think creatively about what tangible revolutions of kindness look like.
What to do when you doubt God
October 27, 2023

What to do when you doubt God

Don Everts
  • Spiritual Identity
On my own journey, I’m so thankful that I encountered believers who gave me the space and language and freedom to bite at God’s silence, to ask hard questions, to wonder. I’ve learned that God daily invites us into the wrestling ring with him. His people, Israel, had a name that meant “wrestles with God” after all.
A Christian Vision of Justice
October 24, 2023

A Christian Vision of Justice

Marcus Lane
  • Calling & Purpose
Justice is something every single person, in particular the Christian, can and must promote.
The I in Community
October 21, 2023

The I in Community

Alicia Drier
  • From the Thred Desk
We tell our children that actions speak louder than words, but this isn’t exactly how we meet the world every day. Especially when words are all we have in our hardest moments, there’s an important balance between the things we say and what we do in our relationships with others.
Personal Identity in the Parent Adventure
October 18, 2023

Personal Identity in the Parent Adventure

Katie Bowers
  • Spiritual Identity
But when we choose to accept ourselves wholly for who we are, to see ourselves fully as parents, to see ourselves as parents who are artists, parents who are athletes, parents who are academics, we become better and strong individuals—ones who can reflect our own passions and personal values back to our children.
This Is the Reason You’re Here 
October 15, 2023

This Is the Reason You’re Here 

Don Everts
  • Calling & Purpose
...I want my life to count for something. And...the reason I’m here is to thoughtfully, faithfully take steps forward in my various vocations. The reason I’m here is to become implicated in the world around me.
Faith Is… 
October 12, 2023

Faith Is… 

Thomas Eggold
  • Spiritual Identity
As Christians, “faith” is one of the most important words in our vocabulary. In fact, the Bible tells us that faith is essential for our eternal future because it is the way we receive God’s gifts of forgiveness and salvation. But do we really know what it means?
Grief: Let’s Talk About It 
October 09, 2023

Grief: Let’s Talk About It 

Finn Morrigan
  • Culture & Faith
Experiencing grief lends you entrance to the club no one wants to be a part of. But it can connect you to others who have had to face the same pain.
Do we make faith too complicated? 
October 06, 2023

Do we make faith too complicated? 

Billy Frazier
  • Calling & Purpose
We can—and should—have faith in each other, one human to another. You can have faith in someone and, sometimes, that’s all they need to hear to get through whatever life throws at them.
Creativity in the Creator 
October 03, 2023

Creativity in the Creator 

Haley Wade
  • Spiritual Identity
I meet God as a reflection of the ultimate Creator in my creative work. This is the beautiful spiritual work He calls me to every day.
The world’s view of purpose can be exhausting 
September 30, 2023

The world’s view of purpose can be exhausting 

Jen Zamzow
  • Culture & Faith
Busyness for the sake of busyness doesn’t just hurt us; it can also hurt our relationships. If we are overscheduling ourselves, we might not have enough quality time with others, and we might miss out on being there for them when they need us.
To Be a Witness 
September 27, 2023

To Be a Witness 

Shelby Senger
  • Digital Evangelism
I truly believe that listening to people, trying to understand their points of view, and developing friendships over time is one of the purest ways of reflecting and sharing God’s love.
Many Joyful Noises
September 24, 2023

Many Joyful Noises

Alicia Drier
  • From the Thred Desk
As a singer, I’ve learned harmony is about relationship. You can’t hit the right notes in a chord without listening to the other people around you.
Carrying Assumptions 
September 21, 2023

Carrying Assumptions 

Erica Tape
  • Digital Evangelism
If I want to build bridges of communication we can both walk across, I need to recognize that my words carry assumptions, and I need to understand what those assumptions are.
How Long, O Lord? 
September 18, 2023

How Long, O Lord? 

Ella Kerr
  • Spiritual Identity
I have tried to find new ways to praise. I open my Bible and bow my head and I still turn the volume high on worship music. But it doesn’t feel the same. The joy is drained from my worship. And grief overtakes me once again.
Rearview Mirrors
September 15, 2023

Rearview Mirrors

Mychal Thom
  • Calling & Purpose
Every time I get into the car with my son now, I look at the rearview mirror a little differently. I remember the awesome opportunity to look back with gratitude, and look forward with hope. And, of course, I put on my seatbelt.
How to Help Your Friend with Mental Health Issues 
September 12, 2023

How to Help Your Friend with Mental Health Issues 

Kelsie McWilliams
  • Calling & Purpose
I know what the bible says. David wrote heart-wrenching psalms. Job lost everyone and everything he loved and experienced immense suffering. Jesus sweat drops of blood in his anguish and sorrow. And depression and anxiety are part of being human.
God’s Mission in the World and Your Purpose in It 
September 09, 2023

God’s Mission in the World and Your Purpose in It 

Rick Mattson
  • Calling & Purpose
...evangelism is actually God’s business. He’s out there ahead of us, doing His work in the lives of those who do not yet know Him. He’s introducing Himself to them. Our job in evangelism is to discover what He’s already doing, then enter the conversation.
An Expectant Mother’s Prayers
September 06, 2023

An Expectant Mother’s Prayers

Ella Kerr
  • Spiritual Disciplines
Whether you are an expectant mother, a nervous father, an eager grandparent, or someone in between who feels the call to pray for a child who is not yet born, I share [these prayers] with you.
When I Grow Up 
September 03, 2023

When I Grow Up 

Andrea Bode
  • Calling & Purpose
When I was a child, I thought that the only way I could serve was by leading directly in the church. But as an adult, it turns out there are so many beautiful opportunities to be in and among the people of God.
A Simple, Daily Way to Interact with Scripture 
August 30, 2023

A Simple, Daily Way to Interact with Scripture 

Steven Grahmann
  • Spiritual Disciplines
I love scripture. Whenever I interact with it in a meaningful way, I leave feeling closer to Jesus. I’m less likely to worry, lash out in anger, or act in my own self-interest that day.
Restored for a Reason 
August 27, 2023

Restored for a Reason 

Thomas Eggold
  • Spiritual Identity
Jesus doesn’t love us because we lived our lives without regret. And just as He knew that Peter would deny Him, our Lord knows what we have done, He knows about our guilt, He knows about our regrets, and for those sins He went to the Cross.
Faith and Family 
August 24, 2023

Faith and Family 

Alicia Drier
  • From the Thred Desk
No family is perfect. No story is fully written. James and Jude were half-brothers of the literal Savior of the world—and they still took a whole lifetime to figure out how to live openly in their faith.
What To Know When You Don’t Know 
August 21, 2023

What To Know When You Don’t Know 

Tyler Cronkright
  • Calling & Purpose
We trust in the promise of Jesus’ love, even for those who confess their faith with dilated pupils and slow speech. After all, those who die are in the hands of God, and He is a far better judge of souls than we could ever be.
The Perilous Frontier of ME
August 18, 2023

The Perilous Frontier of ME

Chad Lakies
  • Spiritual Identity
What would it mean if we began not by pointing the finger of blame away from us, but, in a reasonable and humble manner, toward ourselves? What if we answered, “What is wrong with the world?” by thinking first of…our own self-seeking, instead of the problems of others?
A Ukrainian Flag on Every Corner 
August 15, 2023

A Ukrainian Flag on Every Corner 

Shelby Senger
  • Digital Evangelism
What is the right way to respond to public crisis and tragedy? In a world where we have limited resources and little control, especially over events so far away, what should we do? Most importantly, what does God call us to do?
Rethink Evangelism
August 12, 2023

Rethink Evangelism

Erica Tape
  • Calling & Purpose
By witnessing our faith in these ways, we…allow people to approach it if they want to. It's in these types of interactions—honest relationships and quiet conversations—that God starts to light flames of faith in people’s hearts.
Learn to Meditate like the Desert Saints
August 09, 2023

Learn to Meditate like the Desert Saints

Cindy Koch
  • Spiritual Disciplines
The desert saints have emboldened us to be real about life. We are free to meditate on the truth of disappointment and sin....Trusting in the God who will never forget us, as shown by the uncertainty and failures of the saints who came before.
How Hymns Have Blessed My Life
August 06, 2023

How Hymns Have Blessed My Life

Brian Altevogt
  • Spiritual Disciplines
How can you inspire the people you meet today, both on and offline? Could music work as a connection or conversation starter? How can you share the joy of making a joyful noise to the Lord in your life?
Boredom and Happiness
August 03, 2023

Boredom and Happiness

Jen Zamzow
  • Spiritual Disciplines
We need to do more than just reconsider how we use our devices. We need to redefine how we spend our days—and how we spend our lives.
If You’re a Doubter, You’re Not Alone
July 30, 2023

If You’re a Doubter, You’re Not Alone

Chad Lakies
  • Spiritual Identity
The thought “we’re all gonna die” can act as a kind of wake-up call…and it indicates how persistently we are haunted by the possibility that there might be something more, something unseen, something enchanted, something beyond.
Avoiding the Food Blame Game
July 27, 2023

Avoiding the Food Blame Game

Katie Bowers
  • Culture & Faith
Ultimately, I want my daughter to understand that her body does amazing things and that her body is an amazing thing. She is fearfully and wonderfully made, just as I am.
Is God Ghosting Me?
July 24, 2023

Is God Ghosting Me?

Christina Schuetz
  • Spiritual Identity
It has been six years since my daughter took her last breath in my arms, and I am just now beginning to hear God again. It hasn’t been an easy process, and it is a process far from over.
I’m a Pastor and I Need Counseling
July 24, 2023

I’m a Pastor and I Need Counseling

Ken Chitwood
  • Calling & Purpose
...counseling can help individuals to be more resilient and better able to handle the challenges that life throws their way. This can ultimately make them more effective at the job they love doing—pastoring, shepherding, and loving those entrusted to their care.
Defining Comity
July 24, 2023

Defining Comity

George Wilson
  • Digital Evangelism
It is time to find common ground. We share a common humanity. It’s time to honor humanity with an honest effort to have comity and peace among all of us.
Does Suffering Actually Make You Stronger?
July 24, 2023

Does Suffering Actually Make You Stronger?

Sarah Styf
  • Spiritual Disciplines
 No, suffering does not make you stronger. But with God’s help through the guidance of others, we can still find beauty in the life we live around and through the pain.
How to Wrestle Online
July 24, 2023

How to Wrestle Online

Alicia Drier
  • From the Thred Desk
Jacob reminds us daily that spiritual wrestling is not about power and victory, but rather about vulnerability and relationship.
God Knows Your Heart
July 24, 2023

God Knows Your Heart

Don Everts
  • Spiritual Disciplines
I found it deeply vulnerable to turn the corner at verse 13 and consider that God knows me so well because He actually made me – carefully and masterfully.
5 Ways to Live a More Authentic Life 
July 24, 2023

5 Ways to Live a More Authentic Life 

Tim Ahlman
  • Spiritual Disciplines
Living an authentic life requires acknowledging when you are, or are not, living according to how God made you.
ADHD and Me 
July 24, 2023

ADHD and Me 

Kelsie McWilliams
  • Spiritual Identity
Women with ADHD often go undiagnosed because society tells us to turn our struggles inward. We assume that if we can’t meet certain standards or perform certain tasks that we must be the problem, not the expectations that are placed on us.
Borscht and Why It Matters
July 24, 2023

Borscht and Why It Matters

Shelby Senger
  • Digital Evangelism
But what I’m beginning to realize is that recognizing and respecting the way others’ experiences and identities are different from mine is a major part of treating them as valued individuals and loving them as God intends.
3 Ways to Love Others Through Food
July 24, 2023

3 Ways to Love Others Through Food

Tom Johnson
  • Culture & Faith
The bottom line is that God cares about the hungry, the nutritionally starved, and those on the margins. We as God’s people should also care.
How to Share Your Faith in 30 Seconds 
July 24, 2023

How to Share Your Faith in 30 Seconds 

Angelo Blancaflor
  • Calling & Purpose
Opening the door to conversations about faith always feels risky, and unclear. At the same time, I desire them. I want my close friends to know the most important parts of my life, including the part that believes in Jesus.
Learn to share your faith in a digital world.
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