The Emotionally Sensitive Person
It’s very difficult to be a Feeler surrounded by thinkers and doers! Bill offers empathy for Kristi’s tender heart and draws out her emotional intelligence to benefit us all.
To Love Yourself, Love God
God delights to bless you — but maybe not in the way you think. This explains why many people are disappointed or frustrated with God. They believe the typical Christian answer to low self-esteem: “You are special to God so love yourself. He created your personality and gave you gifts so you can achieve great…
Jesus’ Cure For Shame
I’ll never forget being in Israel and getting up before dawn one morning to sit on a rock beside the Sea of Galilee. As the waves gently lap at my feet I imagine Jesus calling the fishermen Peter, Andrew, James, and John at that very spot. “Come, follow me,” Jesus says, “and I will make you fishers of men…
Love Can Woo You Out of Self-Hatred
My daughter Briana is just home from college and I was watching her pick flowers in our garden to give to Kristi for Mother’s Day. She also made a lovely card with one of Kristi’s favorite Bible verses on it: “Look at [God]; give him your warmest smile. Never hide your true feelings from him.”…
We Took a Risk. Are You With Us?
“I’m afraid of failing,” Kristi said to me at the kitchen table. “You mean about our new Soul Talks Podcast,” I verified. She nodded. “It’s been a dream of mine. What if it doesn’t connect with people? What if I look foolish?” We volleyed our emotions and compassion back and forth. “This feels like a big…
Humility is Not Thinking Less of Yourself
As Christians we may think we’re being humble by disregarding our emotions and needs to focus on other people. It’s not true and it doesn’t work! Humility is not thinking less of yourself — it’s thinking of yourself less. But what does that saying really mean? In actuality, “thinking of yourself less” may prove to…
Remembering Robert H. Schuller
When I knew Robert H. Schuller from afar I judged him negatively. I was writing a thesis paper on integrating Christian spirituality and psychology and I criticized the “Self-Esteem Theology” of the famous television preacher and author. A few months before I finished that paper and graduated from college I was shocked to learn on my…
Don’t Be Discouraged by Your Faults
When you’re discouraged about your faults it can lead to shame. Instead look to Jesus’ hand of mercy. This excerpt from Francois Fenelon shows the way.
Confessions of Sin
One of the most important spiritual exercises we can do is confessing our sins to God. To confess sin is to speak the truth to God and others that we have missed the mark of loving God and our neighbor in particular instances and that this tendency lives in us. Sins like unkindness, selfish ambition,…
My Super Bowl Dad
Do you see a dominant running back when you look at me as a boy in my green football uniform? Neither did I. Nor did my junior high school football coach who saw a fumble waiting to happen! So he stuck me in the middle of the offensive line as a guard. He wanted me…