Blog

Before dawn Dark nightsHopeSpiritual Formation

Before dawn

It’s been said it’s darkest just before dawn. And this phrase captures a symbolic truth…

Dr. Corey CarlisleMarch 9, 2025

Seasonal patterns of growth AwarenessGrowthWisdom

Seasonal patterns of growth

We like to measure our growth linearly. And at times this is useful. But even…

Dr. Corey CarlisleMarch 8, 2025

Meaningful wandering FaithWisdomWork

Meaningful wandering

Life is filled with many distractions that keep us from focusing on the work God…

Dr. Corey CarlisleMarch 7, 2025

Building relational tolerance EnduranceGrowthPatience

Building relational tolerance

The status quo is comfortable by its very nature – making change of any sort…

Dr. Corey CarlisleMarch 6, 2025

More than skills AwarenessWisdomWork

More than skills

There’s great value in mastering various technical skills of life and manhood. But much of…

Dr. Corey CarlisleMarch 5, 2025

What the farmer knows FaithHumilityWisdomWork

What the farmer knows

By the sweat of their brow farmers work the land and tend their livestock. They…

Dr. Corey CarlisleMarch 4, 2025

Be hungry CallingDesireWork

Be hungry

Sin distorts our desires in many ways. And we must be willing to put to…

Dr. Corey CarlisleMarch 3, 2025

Seen and loved AwarenessLoveSpiritual Formation

Seen and loved

Perhaps being loved generically is better than not being loved at all. But better still…

Dr. Corey CarlisleMarch 2, 2025

Praying our fantasies PrayerSexual FantasiesSexual Formation

Praying our fantasies

Our sexual fantasies are usually private, and most of the time, they should remain that…

Dr. Corey CarlisleMarch 1, 2025

Stewardship as warfare Sexual FormationSpiritual WarfareStewardship

Stewardship as warfare

We’re charged with faithfully caring for the things God has entrusted to us. And this…

Dr. Corey CarlisleFebruary 28, 2025

Every good is not our responsibility CallingDiscernmentResponsibilityWork

Every good is not our responsibility

There are countless good works to be done everywhere we turn. And we can usually…

Dr. Corey CarlisleFebruary 27, 2025

Rescue the beauty BeautyGospelLarger Story

Rescue the beauty

A regular theme in storytelling is the prince rescuing the beauty. And unfortunately, many of…

Dr. Corey CarlisleFebruary 26, 2025

Different currencies of wealth GenerousGiftsGratitude

Different currencies of wealth

Wealth is often thought of in terms of money. And certainly this is one clear…

Dr. Corey CarlisleFebruary 25, 2025

No longer a caterpillar AwarenessGrowthTransformation

No longer a caterpillar

Our way of being in one season of life might not serve us in the…

Dr. Corey CarlisleFebruary 24, 2025

Prayer as surrender PrayerSpiritual FormationSurrender

Prayer as surrender

Prayer requires a childlike humility as we look to God to give us what we…

Dr. Corey CarlisleFebruary 23, 2025

Leverage tools GoodnessStewardshipWork

Leverage tools

We can dig with our hands, but a shovel makes the job much easier. Of…

Dr. Corey CarlisleFebruary 22, 2025

Behind the curtain IdentityShadowTrue Self

Behind the curtain

What we present to others is not always the truest part of who we are.…

Dr. Corey CarlisleFebruary 21, 2025

Keep seeking DesireFriendshipWarrior

Keep seeking

We are not alone in our desires. Many others want a purpose-driven life and relational…

Dr. Corey CarlisleFebruary 20, 2025

Winter is not lazy RestWisdomWork

Winter is not lazy

We were created to work. And there’s a certain joy being active and pushing ourselves…

Dr. Corey CarlisleFebruary 19, 2025

Mending hearts BetrayalHealingHeartHope

Mending hearts

Broken hearts are not easily mended. And certainly they will never be the same again.…

Dr. Corey CarlisleFebruary 14, 2025

Prudence of timing DiscernmentTimeWisdom

Prudence of timing

Knowing what is right is only part of the equation. Knowing when to implement it…

Dr. Corey CarlisleFebruary 13, 2025

No more Mr. Cynic AwarenessHopeWisdom

No more Mr. Cynic

No one likes being fooled. And there’s a place to question motivations or to otherwise…

Dr. Corey CarlisleFebruary 12, 2025

Humility of becoming childlike DesireHumilityPrayerSpiritual Formation

Humility of becoming childlike

One of the privileges of adulthood is no longer needing to ask permission to get…

Dr. Corey CarlisleFebruary 11, 2025

Spitting in our soup AwarenessChangeDiscernment

Spitting in our soup

Some decisions are easy to make – a door is clearly open or closed and…

Dr. Corey CarlisleFebruary 10, 2025

Seek to understand CommunicationConflictWisdom

Seek to understand

All too often we’re simply talking past each other. We’ve closed our minds and hearts…

Dr. Corey CarlisleFebruary 9, 2025

Obedience > Rhetoric DiscernmentObedienceRepentance

Obedience > Rhetoric

Some people say all the right things, but their actions leave a lot to be…

Dr. Corey CarlisleFebruary 8, 2025

Entering without force GraceStrengthWork

Entering without force

We’ve been called to make an impact for good – to offer our strength to…

Dr. Corey CarlisleFebruary 7, 2025

Unfair decisions AcceptanceHumilityMaturity

Unfair decisions

We won’t always like the choices we are given. In fact, it might be clearly…

Dr. Corey CarlisleFebruary 6, 2025

Finding ourselves through beauty BeautyDesireIdentity

Finding ourselves through beauty

Beauty captivates and inspires. But it also has the power to leave us undone. And,…

Dr. Corey CarlisleFebruary 5, 2025

Leading ourselves first AwarenessLeadershipStewardshipTrue Self

Leading ourselves first

Leadership is usually considered in terms of our influence on others. And these are important…

Dr. Corey CarlisleFebruary 4, 2025