Articles
131 essays on following Jesus with your friends.
November 15, 2025
The Mirror Test (James 1:22-25)
When I first started to work out, I often left the gym absolutely ragged. I'd punished every muscle in my body with the most intense and grueling exercises I could imagine.
November 5, 2025
So, Does That Cross Mean Anything Special to You?
I wasn't planning on having a theological conversation in the checkout line at Publix.
October 28, 2025
Who's In Charge of Halloween?
In preparation for Halloween, one of my kids invited a friend to come over and go trick-or-treating with him in our neighborhood. However, the invitation was declined. The friend’…
October 21, 2025
Are You As Angry As I Am?
This past weekend, I saw two things that made me pretty angry.
October 3, 2025
Informed or Formed?
The Instagrammable Christian Life
October 2, 2025
Don't Just Read This
How I Want To Follow Jesus
August 4, 2025
A Most Uncomfortable Podcast
As our family drove home from RZIM's annual Christmas dinner, I felt completely satisfied, and not just because the prime rib station had been fantastic.
July 18, 2025
Restored By God
Therefore, ridding yourselves of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent, humbly receive the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
July 11, 2025
Why Do You Get Angry?
My dear brothers and sisters, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger, for human anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness.
June 26, 2025
Can Christians Get Angry?
The worst part about running on the gym treadmill is the wall of TVs. It's nearly impossible for me to not look up and see what's going on. But nearly all the shows infuriate me.
June 19, 2025
Free From Freedom
"For you were called to be free, brothers and sisters; only don't use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but serve one another through love."
June 19, 2025
Why Be Slow To Speak?
In my extended family growing up, a fast-paced, sarcastic 'joking' was usually needed to get through dinner. As the teasing circled the table, laughter would punctuate the barbs.
June 11, 2025
Listening Like God
At Urbana, a major missions conference organized by InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, I found myself sitting at a breakfast table with two very different people: a mentor I deepl…
June 8, 2025
The God Who Listens
"My dear brothers and sisters, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen..."
May 27, 2025
Memorial Day Christianity
Do you know the history of Memorial Day?
May 17, 2025
God's Radical Response to Dehumanization
It's my conviction that God's word shines brightest when we honestly confront the darkness. Sadly, it only takes a few moments to find shocking stories of dehumanization in every…
April 5, 2025
Hope in Chaos
In our journey through James, we’ve seen how trials test our faith (1:2-4), how we need God’s wisdom to navigate them (1:5-8), and how we must resist blaming God for our temptatio…
March 18, 2025
Don’t Be Deceived
Sometimes, we need to read lots of the Bible in one sitting. I've heard people tell me they read the Bible in a year, in ninety days, even in thirty days. There's no other way to…
March 18, 2025
What Do Trials Reveal?
Last week, we saw that those who persevere through trials are thriving as disciples of Jesus (read the article here).
March 2, 2025
How Do We Get Through Trials?
This week's verse is James 1:12,
February 22, 2025
Too Rich to Fail?
Have you ever thought about why we don't listen to God?
January 30, 2025
A Sermon on Cain and Abel (Genesis 4)
Shared at a men’s ministry breakfast
November 22, 2024
Hope Is Not For Sale
If you’re looking for hope, there’s something for everyone: amethyst crystals, essential oils, hope-themed jewelry, and even inspirational throw pillows. Globally, we spend over $…
November 20, 2024
Why We Avoid Gratitude
Recently, a member of the Uncommon Pursuit community wrote to me. He said, “I want to do what I want all the time. I need to stop that and do what God is telling me to do. Any sug…
November 20, 2024
Gratitude As Resistance
She checked her Amazon cart one more time. The deals were amazing, up to 70% off. She thought, Ok, if we get a good end-of-year bonus, we can pay off the credit card, too.
November 20, 2024
Spiritual Growth Requires Ingratitude
She sat in her usual comfy chair at the Bible study, silent. Laying hands on her, the other women prayed prayers carefully couched in spiritual bubble wrap. “God, we just thank yo…
November 20, 2024
Making Sense of Gratitude
He threw his phone at the bed, then winced as it bounced off the edge and hit the hard, wooden floor. The stupid gratitude memes made him angry. “Write three things you’re gratefu…
November 20, 2024
Gratitude As Spiritual Warfare
She sat in the back row of chairs in the sanctuary, weeping. Her friend tried to cheer her up, “I know it’s hard to lose a child, but remember that God has a purpose in all of thi…
November 9, 2024
Why Doesn't God Answer Our Prayers?
Why doesn't God answer our prayers?
October 28, 2024
Are We All Alone? Remembering All Saints Day
Two weeks ago, my grandfather passed away after a brief time in hospice. He was my last remaining grandparent. As I drove down to see him for the last time, I reflected on what a…
October 18, 2024
Finding Joy in Trials
At Rhodes College, in the Bellingrath dorm, there's a small, beautiful chapel on the first floor. When I was a student there, it was one of my favorite places to go in the evening…
October 9, 2024
A Servant’s Posture: Reimagining Prayer with James
In a previous article, I invited us to experience the unsettling disappointment of unanswered prayers.
October 6, 2024
The 2 AM Miracle (Wednesday, October 2nd)
This past Wednesday, I was in the basement bedroom, in the dead of night, shoved back into the world of the living by a prolonged and futile hacking up of my lungs in a never-endi…
September 26, 2024
How Do We Grow In Our Faith?
Sometimes, we make spiritual growth far too mysterious or complicated.
August 19, 2024
Wonder & Humility: Lessons from a Zambian Rhino
In a friendly but commanding tone, the leader of the park rangers told us the terms of engagement. Since they held large guns and outnumbered us 3:1, we listened carefully:
March 26, 2024
A Goldilocks Easter
In the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears, a ‘bad-tempered little girl’ visits the forest home of three rather civilized Bears. In her impudence, she tries all their porridge…
March 12, 2024
How Can I Know if God Is With Me?
You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.
March 5, 2024
How Can I Know If God Is With Me?
You have made us for yourself, O Lord and our heart is restless until it rests in you.
February 27, 2024
How Can I Know If God Is With Me?
You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.
February 20, 2024
Are You Afraid of God?
Have you ever felt afraid of what God might ask you to do?
February 13, 2024
The Golden Hammer: Using The Golden Rule As A Weapon
At Ravi Zacharias International Ministries, two of the organizational values were “unity” and “loyalty.”
February 5, 2024
Misunderstanding The Golden Rule
When I lived in Memphis, the risk of getting on the wrong highway could be high: I'd accidentally cross the Mississippi River and go to Arkansas!
January 31, 2024
How Do You Apply the Bible to Your Life?
How do you apply the Bible to your life?
January 17, 2024
How To Interpret the Bible
Have you ever felt that the Bible is confusing?
December 18, 2023
The Search for Hope
Then Mary gave birth to Jesus, her firstborn son.
December 14, 2023
Why Wait?
There was also a prophetess, Anna, a daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was well along in years, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and was…
December 8, 2023
What Jesus Are You Waiting For?
What's in a name? That which we call a rose
December 1, 2023
The Gift of Advent: Hope and Lament
God, hear my cry; pay attention to my prayer. I call to you from the ends of the earth when my heart is without strength. Lead me to a rock that is high above me…
November 16, 2023
The Gift of Gratitude
I remember sitting at the Thanksgiving table as everyone looked down at their plates, wishing they were eating mashed potatoes and gravy rather than participating in a rote exerci…
November 4, 2023
Biblical Hope For Anxious Times
Is it just me, or is everyone feeling more anxious?
October 31, 2023
Finding God After International House of Prayer (IHOP)
If you've been involved with the International House of Prayer (IHOP) and Mike Bickle, it's likely this is a moment of profound disillusionment, pain, and even furious anger.
October 20, 2023
Behind the Mask: What Halloween Reveals About Our Hearts
Walking through a store recently, I stumbled upon a row of gruesome masks. Hanging on the wall by themselves, the vacant eye sockets made me feel uneasy; I turned around.
October 18, 2023
The Prayer No One Wants To Pray
Heman the Ezrahite is my hero.
October 11, 2023
Do You Love The Truth?
Many lawyers charge $300 an hour for their services. The New York Times made nearly $100 million in profit in one quarter this year. The accounting firm Deloitte reported $59 bill…
October 6, 2023
The Strength To Be Weak
It's easy to edit our social media lives, carefully curating each post to show ourselves at our best. With automatic filters and a little AI, we present our ideal selves online.
September 30, 2023
Jesus Redeems Our Deepest Hurts
As you wake up, you wonder where or how you will celebrate Passover. With anxiety about the details but confidence in your leader, you ask him, "Teacher, where do you want us to m…
September 22, 2023
Faith Is a Journey, Not a Spreadsheet
Writing for The New York Times, Scott Cacciola profiles runners who've ditched their GPS devices for training sessions. Some don't even wear a watch. But by giving up their obsess…
September 13, 2023
Playing with Fire: The Risks of Misreading Scripture
The Power of Fire
September 8, 2023
Why Be Grateful?
You can thank me later, but let me tell you now: the scientific research on gratitude is astonishing.
August 31, 2023
Why Did Jesus Go Up the Mountain?
Visitor stats are tanking at your local church. Giving is down. The parking lot is deserted.
August 24, 2023
Who Taught the Sermon on the Mount?
Who taught the Sermon on the Mount?
August 15, 2023
Why Are Peacemakers Persecuted?
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God" (Matthew 5:9).
August 8, 2023
Do You Have a Well-Worn Bible?
Charles Spurgeon once said, "A Bible that is falling apart usually belongs to someone who isn't."
August 3, 2023
Has Social Media Hooked You?
How much time would you estimate you spend on social media?
August 1, 2023
What Is Prayer?
What is prayer?
July 25, 2023
What Does God Think About Bitter Women?
On social media, it's common to find "bitter" and "women" slammed together.
June 9, 2023
Bilingual Conversations For A Secular Age
When I was in high school, one friend gently tried to help me see the limits of my unbalanced approach to life. In the zeal of adolescence, I was relentlessly focused on the satis…
June 7, 2023
How To Eat In A Restaurant (or: The Problem of Evangelism Without Discipleship)
Any parent knows that children need help learning how to eat in a restaurant.
January 9, 2023
Unresolved Pain
One of the agonies of injustice is the lack of resolution.
December 26, 2022
Christmas Every Day
Hi friends,
December 13, 2022
Christian Hypocrisy, Again
The other day, one of my kids asked me why I used my fork a certain way. I was perplexed; I'd never thought about how I held my fork. I asked for an explanation, and immediately,…
December 12, 2022
Jesus vs. Santa
I have a confession to make: I still celebrate Santa bringing me gifts. I'm in if it's got my name on it, even if it's from Santa. And I prefer to build bridges when possible rath…
November 18, 2022
What Is It Like To Be A Whistleblower?
When I spoke up at RZIM, I didn't know what it would cost.
November 12, 2022
True Prosperity
Psalm 1:3 reads, "Whatever he does prospers."
November 3, 2022
How Writing Transforms Our Faith
On Halloween, I walked around the neighborhood with my kids, getting to know the neighbors. As we talked, someone asked me about my favorite sports team.
October 27, 2022
Does the Bible Require Incarnational Ministry?
Many Christian leaders prefer incarnational ministry to other forms of ministry. The Biblical and theological model for “incarnational ministry” is, of course, the ministry of Jes…
October 20, 2022
Streams of Living Water
How do you understand Biblical metaphors?
October 14, 2022
Planted — Again
Psalm 1 teaches us that a righteous person is like a tree planted beside streams of water.
September 30, 2022
Planted
In high school, I was part of a life-changing Bible study group. One night, we only covered a couple of words in Ephesians. The discussion was so engaging, honest, and thoughtful…
September 24, 2022
Like A Tree
To be good theologians, we need to talk about trees.
September 16, 2022
Legends Never Rest
“Legends Never Rest”
September 1, 2022
Delighted
Every word has a connotation.
August 19, 2022
FOMO
When I was a junior in high school, most of my friends made plans to go to Europe for the summer. (With the benefit of hindsight, I can see what an unusual and privileged situatio…
August 12, 2022
Bless Your Heart
As a native Atlantan, my heart has been blessed.
August 8, 2022
God Bless You
One of my kids was telling me about their soccer team. One player insisted on wearing a certain number. This teammate was convinced they wouldn’t play well unless they had that sp…
July 29, 2022
Sacred Reading
It was May. The full flowering of spring had arrived with warm, sunny days. Hope was in the air.
June 28, 2022
Is Real Life Better?
We all know it’s true: real life is better than whatever’s online, right?
June 19, 2022
Give Me Church
For two weeks this year, our family was unable to attend our church in person, so we watched the live stream. It was prompted by positive COVID tests (no worries, we’re vaccinated…
June 17, 2022
Who Are You Becoming Online?
Jared Stacy, the former pastor of Spotswood Baptist Church in Fredericksburg, VA, worked hard to serve the members of his congregation. His desire was to teach the Bible and encou…
June 16, 2022
Why Did God Give You A Platform?
Today nearly anyone can have a “platform.” Even if you only have a couple of hundred people “following you” on social media, there’s influence to be stewarded. It’s not a number i…
June 14, 2022
Do You Want To Know Yourself?
In his famous book The Imitation of Christ, Thomas à Kempis writes, "We seldom overcome even one fault perfectly."
May 23, 2022
Holy Spirit Relativism
The Oxford Languages dictionary says that relativism is, “the doctrine that knowledge, truth, and morality exist in relation to culture, society, or historical context, and are no…
May 20, 2022
Toxic Grace
Many people - including a lot of Christians - think the Bible is too judgmental.
April 18, 2022
The Cost of Resurrection Truth
Imagine FSB operatives and Ukrainian refugees as best friends.
April 11, 2022
How Does Truth Get Packaged?
Last week I asked a big question: What’s the cost of truth?
April 4, 2022
What's the Cost of Truth?
Is it time to put a warning label sticker on Bible studies, apologetics books, and seminary degrees?
February 21, 2022
An Undesigned Coincidence, Part 2
Two weeks ago, I shared with you a newly identified undesigned coincidence.
February 7, 2022
A New Undesigned Coincidence?
Have you ever heard of the argument from undesigned coincidences?
January 31, 2022
The Problem of Disgust
Hi friends,
January 24, 2022
How To Run a Con
In light of my experience with Ravi Zacharias, I’ve become intrigued by con men.* While he’s an extreme example, I’ve found lessons relevant to all of us.
January 17, 2022
What if the Gate is Narrow?
In the famous Sermon on the Mount, Jesus made a striking claim:
January 11, 2022
The Bible Is Like A Porcupine Quill
How many times have you seen an image like this on Instagram?
January 4, 2022
The Problem With New Year's Resolutions
It’s time to rethink New Year’s Resolutions!
December 13, 2021
Who Did Jesus Call a Hero?
Sometimes I get discouraged by the deluge of abuse revealed within American evangelicalism. Dave Ramsey. Bethlehem College & Seminary. Liberty University. The Southern Baptist Con…
November 22, 2021
The Missing Ingredient In Your Thanksgiving
Your Thanksgiving menu is missing an ingredient.
November 15, 2021
How Do We Describe Ourselves?
What was Steve Baughman's first clue that something wasn't right about Ravi Zacharias?
November 8, 2021
What's Wrong With Disembodied Communication?
What makes technology so dangerous?
October 18, 2021
The Unacknowledged Crisis in the Evangelical Church
In the past year, as a former employee at Ravi Zacharias International Ministries, I’ve learned more about church abuse than I ever wanted to know.
October 11, 2021
A Way Out of Hyper-Individualism?
I regularly hear sharp critiques of America's culture of extreme individualism.
September 27, 2021
How Can We Discern Who Really Loves Jesus?... and Who Is Faking It?
So many people claim the name of Jesus.
September 20, 2021
How To Love the Ordinary
Humans love the extraordinary.
September 13, 2021
9/11 and The Gift of Gratitude
It took 20 years after the 9/11 attacks to realize how much of this tragedy I had simply blocked from my mind. The overwhelming barbarity and evil of these terrorist attacks were…
September 6, 2021
What's Wrong With Relativism?
For at least two decades I have understood and taught that the main problem with relativism is that it is false. Further, relativism isn’t just false, it is also illogical, irrati…
August 30, 2021
Does Teaching the Bible Lead To Abuse?
Let’s get the Sunday school answer out there: No, teaching the Bible doesn’t lead to abuse. It doesn’t. After all… how could teaching God’s own words lead to abuse?
August 23, 2021
Who are your enemies?
I remember sitting in a dull, dingy classroom with about thirty people to learn about Muslims and Islam. It was a careful, respectful, and thoughtful experience. So I’m sad to tel…
July 12, 2021
Why won't Christianity go away?
There’s a lot of anxiety or rejoicing that Christianity is declining or growing.
May 17, 2021
Why do you read the Bible?
Let’s say your main goal in life was to be fit and healthy, and so you turn to the Bible for some wisdom. After perusing its contents, you buy some Ezekiel Bread (Ezekiel 4:9), yo…
May 10, 2021
Why Doesn't God Answer Our Prayers?
Have you ever prayed for something important and good, but the opposite happened?
May 3, 2021
When do we need to answer questions?
If someone has a doubt, you might not want to give them an answer.
April 26, 2021
How Can We Tell if You Really Believe in God?
For the ten years after I graduated from college, I invested in discipleship and evangelism with university students. For the first seven of these years, I was affiliated with Int…
April 19, 2021
How do things get better?
I am a hopeful person. I believe the future will be better than the past.
April 13, 2021
Why do I need to find myself?
A common phrase in my childhood was, “When you grow up, you can be anything you want to be.” I sometimes responded with sarcastic comments like, “Oh, sure, then I guess I’ll be an…
March 29, 2021
Were the Atlanta murders motivated by racism?
On March 16, 2021, eight people were murdered. Their names are
March 25, 2021
How Technology Replaces God
Have you ever interrupted a quiet time with God to check something on your phone?
March 11, 2021
What Can We Learn From a Lost Toenail?
One night during college, I looked down at my feet and realized that I had lost a toenail.
March 4, 2021
What I have learned from Ravi Zacharias and RZIM, Part 2
The catastrophe of Ravi’s double life, and the failure of Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (RZIM) to notice it, much less provide accountability, are now well established f…
February 25, 2021
What I have learned from Ravi Zacharias and RZIM, Part 1
Two facts are now a matter of widespread, public knowledge:
January 13, 2021
Was Ravi Zacharias Like King David?
Gentlemen, the first step to correcting any error is always the step of repentance. And unless we are willing to say, ‘I was wrong,’ we will never know how to follow His right.
April 11, 2016
The Argument From Failure
In this post, I’d like to consider the following argument with you:
March 28, 2016
A True Comparison
In the age of social media, it seems that comparing ourselves to one another is inevitable. How can you not compare yourself to others when, every day, you are seeing the glamorou…