These days, if you watch the news, it seems that the entire nation is splintered into their own little camps based on common political ideologies, skin color, or any number of differentiators. What’s worse, each group seems to be at odds with each other and constantly seeking dominance over their rivals. It makes for a terrible living condition for all and prevents so much good from occurring together. Rivalries between peoples is nothing new for us; even in the Bible, some p

With the government in negotiations and the country in a debate over immigration, both sides cite moral values as reasons why they think the way they do. This comes as no surprise, as our morals underlie every decision we make. But what makes good morals, and how do we know if what we believe is good? It is not enough to just believe that what you say, do, and think is good. Without God’s Word to tell us what is good and what is evil, we’re left with just our own opinions of

Today, social media is more frequently used to tear others down or make us feel worse about ourselves than celebrate accomplishments or good news together. The more time we spend on social media, the more alone, bitter, and angry we feel. We were not meant to live life this way. The Bible tells us as much, encouraging us to always find rest and support first in Christ but also in other believers. Ecclesiastes puts it this way, “Two are better than one, because they have a goo

Thankfully, the government is reopening and workers are returning to their paying jobs. For the next three weeks though, the pressure is on Congress to get a grand deal done to continue its functioning. Though it is a relief to many that the government is reopening, prayer for our leaders and country is still incredibly necessary. When we pray for more than just our own wants or needs, we create real change rather than just receive what we need to get through the day. In Jame

Happy Elevated Friday! Today we highlight a story of gratitude displayed by one of the most well-known and admired statesmen in our country today. Just yesterday, Former Secretary of State and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Colin Powell was driving in Northern Virginia when he was delayed by a flat tire. He tried to change the tire himself, but was unable to unscrew the lug nuts. A man stopped on the side of the road to help whom Powell immediately noticed had an artif

Bitterness and vitriol fill the media these days between the government shutdown negotiations and the Covington Catholic school story. Every one has an opinion and too many feel the need to share it publicly. It’s human nature to enjoy being “right” or having our own views validated. But when we choose this feeling of superiority or victory over a positive relationship with our fellow man, what good are we bringing to the world? Victory without love is hollow and empty. So ho

Nowadays, it seems more popular to close ourselves off from those who think and act differently than us. The more time we spend watching the news or scrolling through social media, the more likely we are to feel anger or resentment towards the people who, as the media portrays it, are standing directly in the way of us getting what we want. But is life really about getting what we want all the time? And is life only about fighting for the future we personally think is best fo

In the last few days, several big stories in the news that were reported far and wide turned out not to be true. In life we all make mistakes, however when we compound a mistake with judgment and condemnation of someone or some group of people, we allow the devil to control our thoughts and actions. Jesus said, “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven.” Mistakes can either be made worse by judgment a

Despite an offer for compromise, our government remains shutdown. If the path forward for our government were a road, we would all be stuck at a dead end right now. There is only one solution for when we are stuck in a dead end in our lives and it is found in the Bible. In Colossians, it says, “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” When you’re stuck at a dead end, forgiveness is what will

Happy Elevated Friday! Today we highlight a story of one restaurant owner who went out of his way to grant a wish for a young boy. Elijah Sprague is a 14-year-old in Mobile, AL and was born with autism and cerebral palsy. He was adopted by a woman named Rene who worked in the hospital where he was in the NICU for 6 months despite a grim prognosis that he would not live another year. Elijah beat those odds and this year celebrated his 14th birthday. He loves Chick-Fil-A and dr