• man in argument
    Communication

    The Pharisees’ Argument: Five Logical Fallacies

    The fruitless argument surrounds us these days, permeating all forms of media, the classroom, and even the dinner table. As I was reading in John 9 where Jesus comes into conflict with the Pharisees because He healed a blind man on the Sabbath, I found the arguments hauntingly familiar. Rife with logical fallacies, the arguments of the Pharisees have one goal only: to maintain power at any cost. The story begins with Jesus rubbing clay on the eyes of a blind man and instructing him to wash it off in the Pool of Siloam. Instantly his sight is restored. The Pharisees perceive that given this ability to heal, Jesus could…

  • Controlling Behaviors

    Five Controlling Behaviors You Should Learn to Spot

    We all know people who exhibit controlling behaviors. In fact, when you mention control freaks in a group, it often elicits groans. Stories of crazy exes and former bosses start to come out. It turns afternoon special quickly. But they often exhibit controlling behaviors in everyday communication. Manipulation seems to come easier to some than others. Knowing how to spot it in yourself and others helps us self-correct. If we understand behavior, we can develop a strategy to prevent it. If we spot one in ourselves, we can stop and enter a relationship with more authenticity. If we learn to see it in others, we are less likely to be…

  • contract,  document,  legal,  promise,  promises

    How to Negotiate a Contract… with God

    Fasting for an answer to prayer sometimes results in what feels like the wrong answer.  But when I fasted for three days about God’s will for my relationship with my boyfriend, I was still surprised when he broke up with me the first day after the fast.  Heartbreak slaps you hard.  It hurts whether or not you are expecting it.  I felt mad, disappointed, and in pain.  If you were to ask me who I was mad at, I am not sure I could answer you.  All I knew was God had promised me a husband and a father for my four daughters.  Their own father disappeared from their lives, leaving the five of…