We all want “high performance”, “success”, and “fulfillment”. For some, it looks like Elon Musk. Some people think to themselves, “Maybe if I just worked hard like him, I’d have success.” Or some people ascribe to Gary Vaynerchuk’s montra of “hustle”. There are many messages and marketing stories that promote the pathway to success, fulfillment,…
Author: Nick Meeder
When you were a kid, do you remember getting injured? I can’t tell you how many times I scraped my knee, pulled a muscle, or got injured in some way as a kid. And, the part that I hated the most was that I had to stop playing. Ugh! I hated that I had to stop playing….
It is painful to watch someone break a bone. Have you ever seen something like that? Maybe not in real life, but you’ve probably seen something on YouTube. Didn’t it evoke a pain sensation in your own body watching it? Or how about all of those fail compilation videos where people try really dumb things…
Your story involves heartache. It must, otherwise, it wouldn’t be a good story. In our culture, we avoid heartache because it unearths our desires. When our desires are exposed, we often feel shame in some way because of the vulnerability. This vulnerability creates a sense of weakness, stupidity, and accusation. The way we engage heartache…
How do you change? If you’ve asked this question, you’re not alone. There are several things you need for change to occur, but here are three basic starting points: Securely attached relationship where you’re free to fail. A regularly scheduled time for the activity, behavior, or feelings that you want to change to be engaged….
I listened to the story of David through first and second Samuel. I gleaned a bit of wisdom in relation to the complexities of being a leader, king, or ruler over a realm. This applies to so many areas of our lives. First Samuel chronicles David’s glory and assent to the throne and kingdom. Second…
In American culture, there’s a radical movement towards wicked and evil structures that destroy human dignity and God glorifying gender and sexuality. To those called by Christ: stop relating to culture like it’s a Christian culture. It is not any more. Yes, our country was founded on Judeo-Christian values and men with degrees from seminary….
One thing I find astounding about scripture is how it doesn’t spare details in some places. If the reading of Judges 19, 20, and 21 don’t cause you to stop and ponder ‘what in the HELL was going on?’ I don’t know how in touch with reality you are. This week, I listened to the passage of…
Many search and long for the results of healing, but few take the path when they encounter it because it is costly. You know you’ve paid the cost of healing and redemptive suffering when you find new compassion and tenderness for the parts of yourself that have been wounded, cursed, accused, and condemned. The scripture…
One major issue I consistently see in Christian leadership is a loyalty to abusive structures, ideologies, and beliefs. I grieve and lament these systems because they’re spiritually abusive. Instead of liberating people as the gospel of Jesus Christ does, it often creates enslavement to a family system of control through fear and shame. It’s sad,…