The past several years have been anything but stable. The entrance of COVID into our vocabulary, the political swings, financial pressures, and so much more have seemingly redefined life as we know it. Life appears to be marked by a feeling of anxiety, or of a general sense of unsettlement.

Happily ever after, right? Marriage was supposed to be all rainbows, puppies, and roses. The two of you are going to wake up every morning at the same time, with great smelling breath and stare googly-eyed at each other. But marriage will go through seasons. Marriage is a man and woman who are broken in sin covenanting together to work through all the seasons together.

 Far too many myths exist within the church about what it means to grow spiritually and how a church facilitates that growth. The goal of these articles is to identify those myths and give thought to how to possibly overcome those myths within your organization.

In church matters, for example, like the matter of church discipline, churches can “discriminate” in how they apply their internal rules to addressing sin, behavioral issues, etc. They can for example determine that certain individuals are not qualified for ministry, or eligible to work with children, or eligible to serve in leadership roles. 

Left to its own devices, any organization whether for profit or non-profit, will drift off its center line of mission. There are instances where that drift is ultimately positive because of advancements in the industry, or changes in the market.

At Gideon Law Group, we believe in true diversity—the kind that honors thought, not just appearance. It’s not enough to preach coexistence while engaging in destruction when others choose a different path.

We have become a compartmentalized people. We have lost in many the classical educational truth of the interconnectedness of things. We separate the parts of our lives into different areas. Perhaps it is rooted in the Greco-Roman Hellenistic grounding of our society, or the lightning rod belief of separating church and state.

Far too many myths exist within the church about what it means to grow spiritually and how a church facilitates that growth. The goal of these articles is to identify those myths and give thought to how to possibly overcome those myths within your organization.

There is a curious phenomenon in Washington politics that reappears with clockwork precision—always when Republicans suggest tax cuts. Suddenly, we hear the familiar chorus: “But how will we pay for it?” The talking heads emerge, budget charts in hand, warning of deficits, doom, and destitution.

For decades, our society has accepted the premise that discrimination is wrong. However, we need to qualify this.

Inflation hurts hardworking Americans, yet there’s one inflated cost Democrats never seem to scream about—college tuition. Over the past 40 years, tuition prices have skyrocketed at a rate far outpacing general inflation, yet the return on investment has plummeted. Universities charge Mercedes prices for a Yugo education, producing graduates steeped in ideological dogma rather than critical thinking and real-world skills.  

It is often innocent enough as an assumption, but that is exactly what it is, an assumption. The senior pastor assumes that all the people of the church just need the sermon for spiritual growth. So groups are given discussion guides, or a series of questions, to come together in their small groups to talk about the sermon from that Sunday morning. Of course, the expectation is that every group member has seen/heard the sermon to some capacity, which is rare.

We have stopped living in a quiet world. Now, that doesn’t have to mean sound in our lives. Take stock for 10 minutes of how many notifications come across your phone. How many emails? How many messages? How many news updates? How many dings, pings, and vibrations happen in your life in any given amount of time. Our world has become loud.

Far too many myths exist within the church about what it means to grow spiritually and how a church facilitates that growth. The goal of these articles is to identify those myths and give thought to how to possibly overcome those myths within your organization.

Married couples regularly underestimate the value of not just good, but great, communication in their marriage relationship. Communication underscores any truly successful marriage

More and more these days, churches are being involved in legal actions. Denominations are suing local congregations over ownership of the church property. Former staff members are suing churches, challenging what they feel was an unlawful termination. Every week it seems we’re reading about a sexual abuse case that has caused a family to bring a case against the church. 

After 27 years of marriage, I’ve learned that we aren’t the same people we were when we first met. Marriage is a journey of growth, intimacy, and mutual love, not about completion, but about becoming better partners as we walk through life together.

Okay, if your brain did not immediately follow reading the title of this article with, “Baby don’t hurt me” we might not be able to be friends. Extra points if you continued it with, “ don’t hurt me, no more.” 

The Senate recently unanimously passed two resolutions that echo Christian values of justice, compassion, and the importance of remembering God’s work in history.

From the lowest position on the org chart to the highest. Every person is leading someone. It is not a question of whether or not you can lead. You are. So, you might as well choose to lead well.

We live in a world of outsourcing. When we call customer service, check our card balances and even make changes to our deductions for payroll we are likely partaking in outsourcing. Now, there are a lot of reasons that organizations utilize outsourcing for their day to day operation.

AI is here, and while it offers helpful tools for organization and summarization, it should never replace the heart and authenticity God has given pastors in their sermon preparation. Use AI wisely to enhance your work, but remember, it cannot love or lead your people the way God designed you to.

Fatherhood is one of the most rewarding yet challenging callings, requiring love, discipline, and the humility to own mistakes. Your kids don’t need perfection; they need your presence, faith, and intentional moments of love and joy. By breaking unhealthy cycles and leaning into the role of dad, you can create a legacy of unconditional love and lasting memories.

Too many people live with the idea of a ‘Gotcha God’—a harsh judge waiting to punish every mistake—but the truth is, God offers grace, love, and forgiveness through Jesus. He doesn’t want you living in fear; He wants you to know Him fully as the God of unconditional love.

Communication is the cornerstone of a thriving marriage, yet many couples enter marriage without the tools to truly connect. By intentionally practicing four types of communication—small talk, organizational meetings, challenging conversations, and intimate discussions—couples can build a stronger, more fulfilling relationship over time.

Second chair leaders, such as student pastors and ministry directors, play vital roles in the church's mission, bringing their unique callings, leadership, and strengths to the table. They desire trust, recognition, and mutual loyalty from senior pastors to thrive in their roles. By empowering and valuing their contributions, churches can grow and succeed in ways that surpass expectations.

The First Amendment and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act protect your right to express faith-based greetings like "Merry Christmas" and accommodate religious practices at work, ensuring the joy of the season can be shared confidently and respectfully.

While the wedding day may be picture-perfect, a lasting marriage takes continuous, intentional effort. By investing in quality time, openly communicating, and supporting each other emotionally, couples can build a strong foundation and embrace the beautiful, ongoing journey of marriage as a true gift from God.

The holiday season can be a particularly challenging time when navigating the loss of a loved one. As Brian Hatcher shares, grief is a natural and profound part of the healing process, and it’s okay to let ourselves mourn deeply, just as Jesus did when He wept for His friend Lazarus. During this season, it’s essential to let the tears flow, share memories, and lean on loved ones rather than isolating ourselves. Embracing a “new normal” can help bring healing. By honoring past memories and creating new ones, we can find ways to experience both grief and the quiet joy of being with family and friends amidst the pain.

The church is most alive when every member uses their unique gifts to contribute to its mission, as Paul emphasized to the church in Ephesus. Recognizing our individual limits, entrusting ministry to faithful people, giving them space to lead, and following up for growth all contribute to a thriving church body. When ministry is shared, the church’s impact is multiplied, beautifully reflecting God’s design for His people to carry out His mission together.