2011 Archive

2011 Intersections Article Archive

October 20, 2011 Can’t We All Just Get Along? (Part 1)
Jesus prayed that his disciples throughout time would enjoy “oneness” – a concept we frequently call unity. How do you think we are doing? Is unity in the world, within our organizations and especially within the church even possible? Does the evidence you see around you make you optimistic? Read this Intersections article to see what I think!
September 28, 2011 How Do You Say Love? (Part 8)
Do you think one of Jesus’ final lessons of his ministry might be one of his most important? Read this Intersections article and see how Jesus walked the walk in addition to talking the talk about this final love language.
September 23, 2011 How Do You Say Love? (Part 7)
Do you ever feel like all your problems might disappear if you could just get a really good hug from the right person in your life? Maybe you speak this love language! Read this Intersections article today and see what lesson I learned from Jesus’ example about this love language!
September 14, 2011 How Do You Say Love? (Part 6)
Do you get the warm fuzzies when someone you love gives you a special gift? Maybe you speak this love language! Read this Intersections article and see what big lesson I learned from thinking differently about this love language.
September 8, 2011 How Do You Say Love? (Part 5)
Have you ever needed someone to stand up for you in a difficult situation or vouch for you personally? I know what it’s like to receive that gift and I know what it’s like to need the help and not receive it. The two characters in Intersections today illustrate the tremendous encouragement and affirmation that comes from standing up for someone in need. I think you will be able to empathize with this story and be able to learn a lesson with me.
September 1, 2011 How Do You Say Love? (Part 4)
Do you speak the love language of Words of Affirmation? It is a very common love language. If you are not what I call a “merit badger” I’ll bet you know one! Read this Intersections article today and get some tips on how to say “I love you” to the Words of Affirmation speakers in your life. You won’t regret making this investment in your relationships, I promise!
August 24, 2011 How Do You Say Love? (Part 3)
I think Family Vacations are one of the best ways for parents to speak the love language of Quality Time to their children! There are huge benefits for parents, children, families and even society. Did you know even those melt-down wash-out vacation moments are beneficial for your family? Did you know there is even a story in the Bible about a family vacation with one of those melt-down moments worthy of a Chevy Chase Vacation movie?
August 18, 2011 How Do You Say Love? (Part 2)
Do you speak the love language of Quality Time? If you aren’t a Quality Time speaker, I know there are loved ones in your life that are! Read this Intersections today and get some tips on how to say “I love you” to the Quality Time speakers in your life. You won’t regret making this investment in your relationships, I promise!
August 8, 2011 How Do You Say Love? (Part 1)
Did you know you speak a language of love? You may be surprised to know that others around you very likely speak a different love language than the one you natively use. Perhaps you have struggled in important relationships such as your marriage and its not a big surprise to you that we speak different love langauges. Becoming a multi-lingual love language speaker can revolutionize your relationships and it starts with the heart.
July 13, 2011 Ah, Vacation!
Vacation notice, a prayer request and testimony about the Love of My Life!
July 7, 2011 Relationship Matters (Acts of Service)
As part of Paul’s relationship encouragement in Titus Chapter 3, he challenges us to devote ourselves to good works. Obviously acts of service benefit those we help, but what other purpose do good works have in our lives? Good works are important in our human relationships, but do good works have anything to do with our relationship with God?
June 29, 2011 Relationship Matters (Courtesy)
Where has common courtesy gone? Have you missed it on the road, in a restaurant or even in your family. Is common courtesy a spiritual issue? Read this article to see why I think it is a spiritual issue.
June 22, 2011 Why Me?
Why was I born in America with all the opportunity and inherent benefits that accompany American citizenship? Why wasn’t I born in a poor village in Honduras? Is my place in history just a cosmic accident or is there intentionality behind my birth? Do I have any specific responsibilities to do something with my place in history? These are questions that challenged me during my mission trip to Honduras. In this article, I share some thoughts that have come to mind as I pondered these admittedly cosmic questions.
May 31, 2011 Three Birthdays
Three birthdays were observed on May 31st that were particularly on my mind. Each birthday is a great story on its own but together they made a powerful impact on me on an otherwise typical Tuesday. I hope you are challenged by one of my most powerful Intersections articles!
May 25, 2011 Doomsday Preparedness 101
Many people were caught up with the Doomsday watching on May 21st? Judging by Facebook, news and various blogs it was a popular topic across the country. Are you wondering what you can do to prepare for the real date of the end of the world?
May 18, 2011 Relationship Matters (Gentleness)
Do you ever feel like you are getting bounced around and roughed up by those around you on a daily basis? If so you are not alone. Jesus had something to say to us and something to show us about how we should treat each other with gentleness and respect.
May 10, 2011 Relationship Matters (Quarreling)
I think I have the perfect illustration for this installment of Relationship Matters. I’m willing to bet that many of you will find something in common with the funny personal story I share as I illustrate this serious lesson from Titus.
May 3, 2011 Thinking about Justice
On this day, the country celebrated a big victory in the War on Terror. Osama bin Laden is dead and justice is served. But do the celebrations go too far? Is it right to celebrate a man’s death like a Super Bowl victory? I’m not sure even after doing some studying in the Word.
April 27, 2011 Relationship Matters (Damaging Words)
Your tongue has the relationship equivalent of the destructive power of a nuclear bomb! Outrageous statement? Read this articel and see if you agree.
April 19, 2011 Relationship Matters (Attitude of Service)
Paul has some very helpful relationship advice for us in the third chapter of Titus. Before diving into the list of practical instructions, he begins by telling us to “be ready.” When he says “be ready” he is calling for a certain attitude that must be present for the practical advice to be effective. I think Paul is also speaking about one of the common “love languages” that many of us speak within our relationships. Perhaps it is your number one love language!
April 12, 2011 Relationship Matters
Relationships like gardens need to be carefully cultivated in order to thrive. A successful garden begins with careful soil preparation and a successful relationship also begins with carefully prepared foundation. Getting the foundation right goes along way to ensuring we have healthy and thriving relationships.
April 8, 2011 Hope is a Strategy (Part 3)
Do you know someone who always seems to have it together even when life is at it’s craziest. Do you aspire to be that kind of cool-headed person who rises above the chaos to make a positive outcome from the insanity? Read this article to see what it takes to be that kind of person.
March 29, 2011 Hope is a Strategy (Part 2)
Hope is a place and it’s the best possible strategy for life! God speaks of hope as a promise that will never disappoint us. The promise is there for you.
March 23, 2011 Hope is a Strategy (Part 1)
Perhaps you have heard that hope is not a strategy for life. Wishing is not a strategy. Hope is the best possible strategy for life! God speaks of hope as a promise that will never disappoint us. The promise is there for you.
March 15, 2011 A Roller Coaster Life for Hope
Hope is a word we tend to throw around trivially without expectation that anything will come from our hoping. Perhaps we have missed the point and confused the real meaning of the word. God speaks of hope as a promise that will never disappoint us.
March 9, 2011 A Roller Coaster Life for Character (Part 2)
Although we have a tendancy to think of character building in relation to “bad” experiences, I think we should remember that God works in the good times and victories in life too. Perhaps it’s just natural for us to turn to God in the bad times and not so much in the good times. God wants to be present in the valleys AND the peaks of your roller coaster life!
March 2, 2011 A Roller Coaster Life for Character
Do you remember having one of those “character building experiences” as a child? It seems to me that my parents usually used that term to try to make me feel better about an especially disappointing experience. But were they right? Are the trials of life critical for building character?
February 23, 2011 A Roller Coaster Life for Patience
My best friend in this life has apparently prayed for patience at some point in the past and she has been blessed with slow checkout lines and traffic jams in apparent response to her prayers. Whether provided by God for instruction and discipline or just a side-effect of life, God wants to use the big and small trials of life to make you a better person.
February 16, 2011 A Roller Coaster Life for Dependence
God has designed your life to make the most of both the highs and the lows. He intends to use your life journey to remind you of your dependence on Him.
February 9, 2011 A Roller Coaster Life by Design
We all know life comes with it’s highs and it’s lows. You may be experiencing one of those exhilirating highs today or you may feel mired down in a low. Sometimes we reach incredible heights and depressing lows all in a single day! That’s the roller coaster ride we call life. Does it surprise you that God has a design for your life that makes the most of both the highs and the lows to make you the complete and mature person you were created to be?
February 2, 2011 Going Viral (Part 3)
The most viral of all actions is sometimes the most difficult for us to put into action. I think God understood how difficult it can be which is perhaps why He provides so much clear instruction on the matter. Getting this right can revolutionize your life. Getting it wrong could keep you from spending eternity in heaven!
January 25, 2011 Going Viral (Part 2)
We all have opportunities every day to bring Jesus into the lives of people that are hurting and in need. Most of us probably see more opportunity than we have time or resource to help. Do nothing or do everything? Neither option seems right or possible. Could the viral phenomenon be the answer?
January 18, 2011 Going Viral (Part 1)
A recent head cold had me thinking about viruses. What does that have to do with random acts of kindness? Read this Interesections article to see for yourself!
January 11, 2011 Well Equipped
The modern game of professional football is as impressive for the high-tech equipment as it is for the talent of the players. The improvement in equipment has improved safety at all levels and has given a performance edge to the gifted college and pro players. Is the high-tech stuff necessary for high performance at all levels or could it sometimes actually get in the way of the more fundamental equipping necessary for a winning formula. More importantly, is there a faith analogy for us to consider?
January 4, 2011 Snowflakes and DNA (Part 2)
Although we are unique individual creations like snowflakes, we are not limited creations like snowflakes. We are each potential new creations in Christ and that knowledge forces me to change my perspective and affects how I treat each and every one of my fellow human beings.

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