IIW Blog
3 Ways Healthy Churches Do Life Together
In this fallen world, the human condition is a paradox of two contradictory, deep primal pulls. One is longing to be fully known, and to know others, in relationally intimacy. The other is being terrified of it. We are terrified of the intimacy we so deeply long for. That terror usually is there because our...Read the Post→
Why You Feel Unworthy
As I work with people to help them partner with God for the calling on their lives, I see a common obstacle that holds many people back. Some people know their calling, but this holds them back from stepping into it. Other people can’t even approach God to have the conversation and investigate their calling,...Read the Post→
The Missing Attribute of God
In every situation, no matter how jacked up it is, the thing we need in the heat of that moment is an attribute of God. In fact, God intentionally meets us in every negative situation, and every encounter with difficult people, to show us and teach us another attribute of himself. Knowledge == Experience In...Read the Post→
Real Forgiveness Is Grief Work
We can unknowingly do tremendous damage by guilting ourselves (or other people) into forgiving too soon. What?!? The Bible commands us to forgive! Yes, it does. I completely believe in the power of forgiveness, no argument there. But it has to be real forgiveness, not cheap forgiveness. Forgiveness is one of the most misunderstood topics...Read the Post→
Why God Heals Our Wounds But Not Our Scars
I was in a devotional meeting on zoom recently where my friend and host played a beautiful song I hadn’t heard before, Heal the Wounds by Point of Grace. It’s about how God heals the wounds but leaves the scars. It got me thinking. I know God heals our wounds, physical, emotional and spiritual. But...Read the Post→
Love Is Unconditional. Relationship Is Not.
How, as a Christian redeemed by a loving God, do we relate to people we love who are behaving badly and hurtfully? The truth is, love is unconditional. Relationship is not. But we should be forgiving, right? Seventy times seven! Love keeps no record of wrongs! Turn the other cheek! Gaslighters, narcissists, and other unhealthy...Read the Post→
The Pig I Have
A rural pastor was out visiting his peeps. In the course of chatting with a local farmer, he asked him, “If you had two cows, would you give one of them to the Lord?” “Why, of course, Pastor! Absolutely. Wouldn’t even think twice about it,” responded the farmer. The pastor asked another question. “If you...Read the Post→
When Quiet Times Fail
I’m taking for granted, in this audience, we all want to spend time with Jesus. We all know we “should.” But more than that, we truly desire that intimacy, that quiet time, with him. But what do you do when it doesn’t work? What do you do when your “quiet times” fail? Because, try as...Read the Post→
4 Healthy Ways of Relating to Jesus
I’ve found, in my life, there are 4 ways of relating to Jesus. Although I’ve worked through different ones at different times in my life, I think it’s healthy to have all 4 active at once, to one degree or another. My regular readers know that, while, yes, I acknowledge good theology is important of...Read the Post→
3 Places the Church Is Called to Be
I think we’d all agree the church should be a safe place. We all want to feel safe when we go there. Hopefully, we’re all open to being challenged, since that’s where the growth is. But none of us want to feel judged, condemned, or threatened. For many of us, the church has not been...Read the Post→