Everyone wants to experience the spine-tingling and euphoric RAIN OF JOY in their life. Sounds easy, right? So what’s the problem? Why does the world seem, largely, joyless and incapable of finding its elusive destination? And why in the world do so many Christians struggle mightily to understand the meaning of joy and search unsuccessfully for the pathway to its well of wonder? I vividly remember...

I was flooded this past weekend with thoughts about UNCERTAINTY and RISK. But that is NOT a bad thing. In fact, I call this GLORIOUS UNCERTAINTY. And RISK is a big part of its story. It’s easy to be confused about God’s interest in our risk-taking. But taking risks in this context has nothing to do with our manufactured calculations or risky schemes. The risk that God promises to help us with...

I often get asked, “Mark, how do I know when I’m genuinely sad versus when I’m wallowing in self-pity?” And lately, there’s a second question that comes along on the self-pity ride: “How do I keep from becoming cynical?” It’s no surprise these questions come up together—they both reveal a growing sense of defeat that so many believers wrestle with today. These mindsets—self-pity and cynicism—may look...

In the world of science, researchers have developed genetically engineered mice with transparent skin, allowing a clear view into their biological processes without surgery. These tiny creatures serve as a powerful metaphor for Christian living—just as their transparency facilitates discovery and healing, so too does a life of honest faith reveal the transforming work of God. When we live transparently,...

I could NOT keep my mind quiet as a new Christian, NO MATTER HOW HARD I TRIED. Nothing was quiet back then when I was a CEO chasing success. When I was caught in the relentless pursuit of wealth. When I was constantly fixated on the next big achievement. Hearing God’s call to “live a QUIET life” at that time in my faith walk made me think: “are you kidding me?” But then God tossed me a life-line from...

This weekend had me thinking a lot about why it makes sense that there are three “U’s” in the word PRESUMPTUOUS. It’s because presumption is all about us—our plans, our timing, our desires. When we are presumptuous, we put ourselves at the center of the story rather than God. And a presumptuous attitude is incompatible with following Jesus. It pre-empts God, leads us off course, and can...

There are millions of Christians everywhere on this planet wondering why they get ANGRY when they know it’s wrong. Know that it damages their faith walk. Know that it paints the wrong picture for those people who see it come out. Sadly, only a small portion of believers who are carrying DEEP-SEATED ANGER inside them are willing to acknowledge it, let alone expose it to God. That was ME early in my...

“I’ve Got This!” That line shows incredible hubris, right? Yep. But that’s how I looked at spiritual maturity early in my faith walk when I tried to turn a superficial understanding into my “permanent” relationship with Christ. When it failed, I called on my professional success and money to soothe the pain of living without God. The results were ugly. The minute we think “I’ve Got This,” God tells...

Burned-out and boarded-up buildings. Economic turbulence. Political incivility. Forests on fire. Homeless encampments. Melting icebergs. Murder in the streets. Floods and hurricanes. Middle East strife. Rampant inflation. Housing price crunch. That’s the SHORT list of issues raining down on our world today—a time people say “the world has never seen.” But I could pick ANY century and come up with...

Let’s cut to the chase: “Fake it ’til you make it” (FITYMI) is a lie wrapped in a catchphrase. In a world obsessed with appearances, this idea might seem like a clever hack to get ahead, but for Christians, it’s a spiritual dead-end and a dangerous deception. If we’re leaning on this pop culture crutch, it’s time for a wake-up call. Faking anything, especially faith, is a fool’s...