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When "Church Hurt" Is More Than Hurt Feelings

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“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” —Psalm 34:18 There are phrases that become so commonly used that they can begin to lose their meaning. “Church hurt” may be one of them. Someone unknowingly sits in another person’s usual seat and is rudely told to move. Someone is criticized for the way they dressed. Someone is made to feel less spiritual because they listen to modern Christian music. Someone is ignored, excluded, spoken about, or treated unkindly by people who should have demonstrated the love of Christ. Those encounters can be painful. They can be embarrassing. They can make a person feel unwelcome in a place where they hoped to find grace. They should not be dismissed. Christians are commanded to be kind, tenderhearted, patient, and gracious toward one another. When church members behave arrogantly, carelessly, or thoughtlessly, they misrepresent the Savior whose name they carry. A person’s feelings should not be mocked ...
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Honoring Fathers: The Quiet Strength of a Godly Man

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  “The righteous man walks in his integrity; his children are blessed after him.” — Proverbs 20:7 Father’s Day has a way of sneaking up on us. Mother’s Day often comes with flowers, brunch reservations, cards that make people cry, and a general understanding that we better not forget it. Father’s Day can feel a little different. Dad may get a card, a barbecue tool, a new pair of socks, or, if the family is feeling especially generous, permission to sit in his chair without being asked to fix something. And in true dad fashion, he may act like that is enough. But Father’s Day should be more than a quick thank you, a funny card, or another joke about the thermostat. It should be a moment to stop and honor the role of a father. Not because every father has done everything perfectly, and not because every home has had the same experience, but because fatherhood itself carries weight. It matters, it shapes lives and iIt leaves fingerprints long after the children are grown. A father’s ...
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Putting God First: What It Actually Looks Like in Marriage

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  “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”  Matthew 6:33 There are some phrases we hear so often in Christian circles that we almost stop hearing them - “Put God first” is one of those phrases. It is true. It is biblical. It is needed. But if we are not careful, it can become one of those statements we agree with in church, repeat in conversation, and still struggle to live out in the everyday places of marriage. Most Christian couples would probably say they want God first in their home. They want a marriage that honors Him. They want their children to grow up seeing faith lived out. They want prayer, Scripture, love, forgiveness, and commitment to be part of their marriage. But then real life happens: The bills still have to be paid. The kids still need attention. Work still drains energy. The house still needs to be kept up. Feelings still get hurt. Words still come out wrong. Pride still shows up. Disappoi...
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Building a Marriage Legacy That Points Your Children to Christ

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“And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children…” — Deuteronomy 6:6–7 There is a kind of legacy that can be measured in money, property, keepsakes, family photos, and names passed down through generations. Those things may have value, and there is nothing wrong with wanting to leave something meaningful behind for our children. But for the Christian husband and wife, the greatest legacy we can leave is not merely what our children receive from us. It is what they learn about Christ by watching us. Our children may forget some of the vacations. They may forget some of the birthday gifts. They may not remember every meal at the table or every ordinary day that seemed to pass without much significance. But they will remember the atmosphere of the home. They will remember how Dad spoke to Mom. They will remember how Mom responded to Dad. They will remember whether forgiveness was practiced or only preached. Th...
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Why Married Christians Still Need Community

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  There is a quiet temptation in marriage to think that if we love each other enough, pray enough, and stay committed enough, we should be able to handle everything on our own. And to be fair, there is a kind of strength that a husband and wife do need to build together. Marriage does require private faithfulness. It requires conversations no one else hears, prayers no one else knows about, forgiveness no one else sees, and daily choices that are made behind closed doors when no one is clapping and no one is watching. That private part of marriage matters deeply. But Christian marriage was never meant to be lived in isolation. God did not design marriage to replace the body of Christ. He did not call a husband and wife to become their own little island, disconnected from fellowship, worship, encouragement, accountability, counsel, and prayer. A strong marriage still needs community. Not because the marriage is failing, but because we are human. Every one of us, no matter how long w...
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