In the Bible, the term righteousness has multiple different applications. It can describe our right standing before God and a life that is lived in a way that reflects God’s righteousness in the world. It can also describe what Jesus addresses in the Beatitudes, which is a social righteousness, a righteous justice. Jesus wants us to know that it is good for us to work for the good of others!

The desires of this world revolve around power and authority and strength. Jesus turns these values upside down in the description of his kingdom and those who would be a part of it. Instead of power, Jesus says there is a promise for the meek. Who would want to be meek? That's just weak. But maybe it's so much more.

While most life experiences will differ greatly from person to person, even growing up in the same family, there are a few common shared experiences. One of those is pain. We know what it's like to feel pain. The pain of loss, defeat, broken relationships and more. What do we do with the pain? In his kingdom, Jesus says finding joy requires facing our grief.

The hope of the follower of Jesus is the hope of an eternal kingdom, yet it can be so easy to become enamored with the kingdoms of this world. Jesus flipped the script when speaking of his kingdom's values and its citizen's character. It is not until we recognize our complete dependence upon God that we realize the blessings that he brings.

This month's Real Life podcast welcomes the one and only Makenna Grace Beall for a special dad-daughter conversation just before Makenna starts her junior year at Indiana Wesleyan University. The conversation dives into a look at the life of a student-athlete, social media, the opportunity to travel to Kenya and the impact of seeing God work through the lives of some very special children. Makenna has a lot to share and we hope you enjoy this time together.

What we believe matters because belief translates to action. But what's the "right" way to believe? There are so many "brands" of Christianity, what are the true non-negotiables? Thankfully, the historical church gives us a wonderful tool that reflects the light of Scripture.

If God is my perfect heavenly Father who is all-loving, all-good, all-knowing, and all-powerful, why does he allow bad things to happen to me? Why doesn’t he remove those bad things when I ask him to in prayer? May we consider how our faith can grow when we remain steadfast to God’s will during difficult times.

I know the Bible says Jesus forgives me, but am I really forgiven if I can’t forgive my enemy? Harboring unforgiveness in our hearts can adversely affect our physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being. Offering forgiveness to someone who has hurt us is a choice we make to let go of our resentment and the desire to enact revenge because of the forgiveness we have received from God.

If the church is supposed to be a place of love, trust, and acceptance, why don’t I feel comfortable sharing my struggles or asking others in the church for help? Why can church people be so judgmental? 

It is helpful to admit we are limited in our understanding of God and his ways and will never have all the answers. Rather than deconstruct, I can embrace the mystery of a great God who loves me with confidence in him rather than my understanding. This is faith.