Christian living + Culture

Life spiraled into chaos the moment I set out to write this article. I helped with unplanned classes, battled pain, sifted through significant opportunities for my husband, woke up to a neighbor’s house fire and witnessed death, got the flu, and went on a family trip. Needless to say, enjoying God’s beauty wasn’t on the top of my “to-do” list.

If you think #MeToo is another transitory wave of social media outrage, think again. Harvey Weinstein’s out and the #MeToo Oscars are over, but the movement doesn’t appear to be going anywhere. This worldwide phenomenon has created a palpable culture shift as countless survivors of sexual violence and harassment have come forward to share their stories and give voice to hurting women.

If I were a man, I would be a church planter. I’m a strong leader with the gifts and wiring essential to the call. I thrive when casting vision, making disciples, training leaders, preaching the Word, and evangelizing the lost. I’ve been “thinking in sermons” since I was fifteen. But I’m a woman—a woman who believes God has spoken authoritatively in his Word on all matters pertaining to life and godliness.

Have you ever stopped to wonder why life actually seems harder as a Christian? Perhaps you were baptized under the assumption that life would be easier as a Jesus-follower only to discover shortly after it can be more difficult. Gone are the days of ease and carefree living; now you wrestle with an ongoing struggle of sorts.

Words have no meaning apart from structure. So the way we arrange our words are just as important as the words we use. The Gospel of Matthew illustrates this perfectly. The life and teachings of Jesus are intentionally pieced together in such a way that you are forced to consider who Jesus is and how he has come in fulfillment of Old Testament expectations.

It’s that time of the year again. The time when multitudes flock to Hallmark aisles and stand awkwardly among strangers as they’re confronted with one of the most powerful, delicate, and potentially painful human relationships. That’s right, it’s Father’s Day.