I still remember the day when performance anxiety became a thing for me. I’d been playing piano for a decade, having stunned judges at a fifth-grade talent show and wowed my peers with a Brahms rhapsody at the National Honor Society banquet. Then came college. It was my freshman year,… Read More »Faith Over Stage Fright: How to Beat Performance Anxiety
If you had a choice between great wealth or genuine confidence…which would you choose? I won’t make assumptions about anyone who’s reading this, but I would give up a lot for a lifetime supply of genuine, irrepressible confidence. Imagine what a person not lacking in confidence can face! Even the… Read More »What is Genuine Confidence—And Where Can I Get Some?
What comes to mind when someone asks you to visualize a tough person? Someone with lots of muscles, right? Like the guy who can beat anybody in arm-wrestling, or the football player who can take any hit and give it right back. Or maybe you envision toughness as hardness of… Read More »Real Toughness Redefined: How to Develop a Strong Mind
Ever feel like the world is stacked against you? Your day was fine until some jerk cut you off on the highway. Then an ornery cop pulled you over and slapped you with a speeding ticket, and on top of that, your ruthless chemistry teacher pulled a pop quiz. Goodbye,… Read More »No Excuses: A Challenge to Own Your Problems
Shameless disclaimer: The inspiration for this post came directly from the pulpit of my own church, in a sermon titled “Come, Lord, Save Us From God!” (See? This is why all Christians absolutely need to go to church!) It’s one of the most elementary of Christian teachings: Jesus saves. Even… Read More »Jesus Saved You From Sin, Death, Hell—And God
“Is it okay to live with my boyfriend? We’re planning on getting married anyway.“ Statistics show a staggering 70% of marriages begin with cohabitation while anywhere from 50-65% of Americans believe living together before marriage will improve the likelihood of staying together in the long run. But is this true? Does… Read More »Is it Actually Wrong to Live Together Before Marriage?
Few topics make Christians argue more vehemently than modesty. The modesty culture of years past says, “Girls need to dress more modestly to keep guys from thinking impure thoughts.” But more modern voices are starting to speak up with messages like, “Girls aren’t responsible for guys’ thoughts.” So which side… Read More »Teen Talk: Are My Clothing Choices Responsible For Male Lust?
How can you know God loves you? Pose that question to any good Christian and she’ll whip out John 3:16 and hand it to you with a flourish. “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but… Read More »How to Really, Truly Know God Loves You