I love the 4th of July. Even though we don’t usually go on a vacation or even have a big picnic, it’s one of my favorite holidays. Some of my favorite traditions include watching fireworks in the car, tasting some of the first local corn on the cob, and enjoying a cold glass of iced tea. Every year, Jamie and I watch A Capitol Fourth on television and then switch to watch the New York fireworks. While these traditions are fun, most of all, I love seeing all of the flags and the red, white, and blue decorations as Americans celebrate the greatness of the United States of America. Yes, I know that this year is going to be different across the country. Many are canceling vacation

Let’s face it, we live in a world where everyone expects to be praised, told they are the best, and not succeeding is okay as long as you try your best. Everyone gets a participation trophy. But that’s not reality, especially in a mentor relationship.

I was sitting on the edge of the doctor’s table doubled over in pain convinced that I was about to hear that I had contracted a dreadful disease. If not a disease, then for sure I was going to be rushed to the hospital for an emergency appendectomy. I was feeling so bad! Much to my surprise, it didn’t take long for my doctor to assure me that my fears were completely unfounded—-I simply had bad indigestion. When he asked me when it all started I replied, “Well, we went out to dinner and I had the most amazing crab cakes. They were so delicious—I really enjoyed them, but I started feeling sick afterwards. Then the next day when I ate the leftovers, I started feeling sick aga

"If everyone else jumped off a bridge, would you jump, too?" How many of you heard that one growing up? Back in the day, it was every parent's response when their child said, "But everyone else is doing it." I remember my Mom saying it, followed by, "I don't care what everyone else is doing; you are going to be different." I have to admit, over the past few months, I've wondered if many of us don't need to hear those words again. You see, one of the biggest things that concerns me about modern Christians and the contemporary church is our tendency to jump on every bandwagon that comes along. We want to be relevant. We're worried about how things look—the optics. Social medi

Check out these practical tips for how to make the most of your mentoring relationship.

The other day a woman told a story about a wedding shower to which she wasn’t invited. Apparently, the people hosting the party were planning some inappropriate activities and games that they knew my friend would find objectionable. The party was being held by all Christian women AT A CHURCH. Still, rather than allowing my friend's commitment to Biblical standards to convict them of their sin, they chose to leave her name off of the list. As we talked about the story and our mutual “been-there-done-that”, I was thinking that my friend should actually see her lack of invitation as a compliment. She was left out because they knew that she would not compromise her beliefs just to fit in

How do you find the right mentor? Here are some practical tips to help you find just the right person.