If you follow me on Instagram or Facebook, you know JP and I have been out of the country for the last two weeks. What you don’t know is how one seemingly random conversation between us changed my perspective and filled me with peace. Read on for how our conversation can do the same for…

Should I give up? I sped down the freeway at 70 miles per hour, but the question swirled around my brain at about 100. Part of me wanted to wave the white flag of surrender; the other part wondered if I should press on. I wasn’t quite sure how to proceed, and I didn’t want…

We never saw it coming. I expected this kind of behavior from a non-believer, but from a Christian? Never. The gap between my expectations and my reality left my tender soul shredded into tiny little pieces, like the bits of paper you throw as confetti. Except this was no celebration. I wondered how a heart…

“I AM SO MAD AT HER!” The tears in my daughter’s eyes told me she was more than mad. She was hurt. There’s not a female alive who hasn’t been hurt by a friend at least once. We might be 10, or 20, or 40, or 60, but it happens; a friend’s actions or words…

Sign Ups for the 2019-2020 CruxGroups season are live! The deets: From September 9/11-May 5/13 we will be meeting WEDNESDAY NIGHTS from 7:00-8:30pm to study God’s word, have a time of worship through music, hang with friends, and have some fun. We meet at Crossline Community Church (23331 Moulton Parkway Laguna Hills, CA 92653) in the Fellowship Center. What are CruxGroups? CruxGroups…

Today’s post is one of the most important I could share. Please read until the end. Share it with someone who needs the truth it contains. I’m pretty sure I know the single biggest issue Christians grapple with. How could I possibly know our biggest struggle? Because I’ve heard the same universal thread whispered by…

Several years ago a friend asked how she could broach the topic of God with her teenager. She was a new Christian, so church attendance hadn’t been part of their family routine, although her kids had joined her recent visits and liked it. Then, out of the blue, her eighth-grader complained that he no longer…

Congratulations Jody Landon!  You’re the winner of the book giveaway!  I know you’ll enjoy reading Exhale. ________________________________________________________________ I hate it when someone tells me I should do something without telling me how.  A “should” without a “how” is like a cake without the frosting–simply not worth having. When we know we should do something, but we don’t…

One unrealistic expectation can ignite a hundred unhealthy emotions. I know. I’ve lived it. Likely, so have you. Today two of my favorite author/speaker friends, (seriously, they’re great gals!) Amy Carroll and Cheri Gregory, share their insights into the issue of expectations. As an added bonus, they are giving away a FREE copy of their…

My southern relatives had a saying I remember to this day: “She’s running like a house-a’fire”. Translation? That person never stops. It was not a compliment. Because they knew something we often forget: A house-a’fire eventually turns to ashes. We are a culture that runs like a house-a’fire; sometimes as a result of our choices,…

What wisdom does a 90-year-old possess the rest of us wish we had, but don’t? God willing, many of us will find out someday, but my mother-in-law knows now. We celebrated her 90thbirthday this weekend. In honor of her birthday, I asked what she wanted. Her answer was pretty similar to how I suspect I’ll…

Being married to a pastor comes with definite advantages. I can get my Bible questions answered at the drop of a hat, or receive godly counsel about how to handle a difficult person (hypothetically, of course–wink, wink) without making an appointment. These conversations usually take place while I make dinner and JP sits perched at…

If you walk through my house you’ll notice a variety of crosses scattered throughout. Not a ton–just enough that a casual observer would realize we are Christians. The crosses have become so familiar to me now, I hardly notice they are there. Until today. This morning I walked through our quiet rooms before everyone else…

“You two are real Christians, aren’t you?” The question took JP and me by surprise. I mean, how do you answer a question like that? Behind the question laid an implication: some people aren’t real Christians. Or, at least, some people don’t seem like real Christians. JP and I eyed each other before we answered…

Do you ever think “I really should read the Bible” but don’t? Do you ever start reading the Bible, but get sidetracked, and stop?  Do you ever wonder why other people get oodles of insights from the Bible, while you get zilch? Do you ever read the Bible and find yourself…wait for it… Bored. You…

One question can change a relationship. One question. And it’s not even a question you ask out loud. Want to know what it is? The gal perched in front of me droned on about the sad state of her life. She expressed her complaints not so much in words, but in whines. She oozed negativity.…

Hello there!  If you’re here it’s probably because you are interested in being apart of the Crossline Church staff on the Crux Student Ministries team this summer! Below you’ll find a helpful overview of what it looks like to be a summer intern with us at Crux as well as how to apply. COVID-19 Disclaimer:…

What do you need right now? Maybe a need comes to mind immediately. On the other hand, maybe you can’t think of anything. You’re one of those folks who would rather stick needles in your eye, than be labeled “needy”. Me, too. But there’s a difference between being a needy person and being a person…

You know what today is. And depending on your relationship status, you either love it or hate it. JP and I haven’t always been the greatest at celebrating Valentine’s Day. Case in point: one Valentine’s Day we celebrated with dinner and a movie–Silence of the Lambs. Thankfully, we still laugh about that one. The thing…

  Years ago I worked with a gal who started countless conversations by saying, “I’m not one to gossip, but…” Her lack of awareness always made me giggle, because of course she was one to gossip. In fact, she was usually the first one to gossip. I tried everything under the sun to squelch the…

“The Bible demeans women”. Ever heard that?  I have. On many occasions. Whenever I hear someone speak these words, I know one thing for sure: they don’t know what’s inside the Bible. I had such fun writing this week’s article for Crosswalk.com called “11 Biblical Women We Can Learn From”, mainly because I uncovered so…

How do you handle another person’s frustration, disappointment, or anger? It’s not always easy, is it? Last week our normally upbeat child found herself dealing with circumstances that left her frustrated and disappointed.  A verbal processor to the core, she shared her feelings with one of her friends.  Big mistake. Apparently the conversation hadn’t gone…