Category Archives: Books

Boundaries in Families, Part 2

That leads us to a helpful metaphor for this series: walls vs. fences. Walls are barriers. They don’t allow access. A wall keeps the bad things out and protects that which is good. A wall is the most rigid boundary … Continue reading

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Developing Healthy Boundaries: The Principle of Respect, Part 3

The boundary problem of compliance Compliance is when we don’t respect ourselves enough to maintain healthy boundaries. Compliant people have “fuzzy” boundaries. Their “yes” and their “no” doesn’t really mean anything. An example of this is the person who claims … Continue reading

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Developing Healthy Boundaries: The Principle of Reaping, Part 3

So here’s an example of what this looks like. Or, rather, what this sounds like: This gives some good examples of language that reflects healthy boundaries. I especially want to highlight two of these: I will end this phone call … Continue reading

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Developing Healthy Boundaries: The Principle of Reaping, Part 2

The language of sowing and reaping comes from the world of agriculture. It’s about cause and effect: the seeds you plant lead directly to the harvest you’ll gather. This proverb is about the natural consequences of our actions. And you … Continue reading

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Developing Healthy Boundaries: The Principle of Responsibility, Part 1

Last week, we kicked off a new series entitled Boundaries: Setting Healthy Limits. The aim of this series is to help us establish godly boundaries for our lives, primarily in our relationships. This is predicated on the idea that clear … Continue reading

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Boundaries: Setting Healthy Limits, Part 1

With seven minutes to go in the third quarter of Super Bowl LII, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Nick Foles threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to running back Corey Clement. The touchdown gave the Eagles a commanding 29-19 lead. But replay showed … Continue reading

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Humility as Seeing the True Self

I came across this yesterday in The Cloud of Unknowing, a 14th century spiritual classic. Humility is seeing yourself as you really are. Pride is a facet of the false self. It is to see yourself falsely. In our pride, … Continue reading

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How We Grow: Study

Psalm 119:11 I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. One of the ways God grows our souls is through study — specifically Bible study. Regular engagement with Scripture is a vital part … Continue reading

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Knowing Jesus: The Story Behind the Name, Part 2

The angel of the Lord told Joseph and Mary to name their son after the great Old Testament military leader, Joshua — the one who led the Israelites to the promised land. I think that’s also a big part of … Continue reading

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Best Books of 2023

Each year, I set myself a goal of reading one book per week. It’s an ambitious goal and I rarely ever hit the mark. This year I’m finishing with a total of 45 books read. But given the hectic pace … Continue reading

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