Leilani Haywood

My first pastor, “Frank,”* who was like a big brother and father to me, is in prison. I don’t want to say why he is in prison, but the reason shocked me. When I found out he was in prison, my first response to was to cut off every connection to him and banish him …

When Your Pastor Sins Read More »

Creditors came to take her two sons as slaves when this mom called for help. According to the book of Josephus and rabbinical historians, the mom in 2 Kings 4 was Obadiah’s wife (Jim Cole Ross, 2011, globalchristiancenter.com). Obadiah was King Ahab’s administrator who hid 100 prophets in two caves while Queen Jezebel was introducing Israel to …

How God Miraculously Provided for a Mom Read More »

I devoured accounts of revival that perpetuated a romantic view of this phenomena which caused me to stumble. Maria Woodworth Etter’s stories of setting up a tent and hosting a service where people were healed and delivered created a hunger in me to see God heal and deliver my friends. I wanted to see people …

4 Myths of Revival Read More »

My friend Harold was told that he wouldn’t make it past five years during his fight with cancer. “I felt like I had lost my breath,” he said. “Then it became really clear what was important in life.” We were on our way to the hospital to see Lucy, whom doctors and specialists have dismissed. …

When You Face Your Mortality Read More »

A Christian entrepreneur has launched an award-winning cosmetics line, generating celebrity buzz and fighting sex trafficking. The founder of Divine Image Cosmetics, Amanda May has overcome addiction, abuse and abandonment to make an impact on women with her “makeup with a message.” “I want to teach women how to come to true beauty inside and …

Beauty Starts Inside Read More »

A dear friend of mine shared a blog post on her Facebook timeline encouraging Christians to boycott the worship industry. I was very disturbed by this piece since I have some close friends who earn their income from leading worship. Here’s why Christians should not boycott the worship industry, but support it: 1. God likes …

Why Christians Should Not Boycott the Worship Industry Read More »

When I think of a holy man or woman, I envision a person living in a cave who doesn’t watch TV or movies or listen to secular music. The unspoken definition of holiness by American church culture is not cussing, not smoking, not drinking alcohol, not watching R rated movies or not listening to secular …

The Shocking Signs of Holiness Read More »

With the divorce rate in the church matching the world’s, I thought I would offer this fresh reminder to single women considering serious relationships. I’ve seen a lot of heartache from women who didn’t listen to leaders who advised them not to marry. From the pattern of divorces, these are the five red flags I’ve …

5 Reasons That He Is Not ‘The One’ Read More »

At 6:05 p.m. I just walked into the door from a long day at work and the kids have not been fed. We grab a bowl of cereal and load our toddler into his car seat. His big brother straps himself into the back seat of the van. The van floor is riddled with crumpled …

Why You Shouldn’t Drop Out of Church When You Have Kids Read More »

A jealous brother murders his brother. A power-hungry son subverts his father’s authority because he wants his throne and his concubine. And another set of jealous brothers sell their brother into slavery. Welcome to the families in the Bible! These families have murderers and kids that rebel way beyond having an all-night party while you’re …

The Myth of the Dysfunctional Family Read More »

Jacob held the blood-stained robe that he carefully wove for his youngest son. The dreams he had in his heart that Joseph told him were shattered. The dreamer father, who told his sons of his dream of angels going up and down a ladder to heaven, treasured Joseph’s dreams. The second dream of his brothers …

When God’s Purpose for Your Child’s Life Hurts You Read More »

Dreams fuel us and cast purpose. A dream from God that others support can make us feel like we’re flying on the wings of favor. But sometimes life trips you up and you find that the very dream you had from God is dead. I had a dream in my late 20s to start a …

When Dreams Die Read More »

Christians were burned alive for the Emperor Nero’s entertainment. Crowned at 17 according to some historians, Nero executed his mother and married a man who resembled a lover. Nero makes today’s American politicians look like saints. Yet under this tyrant in A.D. 64, Paul wrote this to the persecuted Christians:  “Therefore I exhort first of …

How Christians Overthrew a Tyrant Read More »

Former Miss Universe and Miss USA Olivia Culpo broke up with NFL star Tim Tebow because he reportedly wouldn’t have sex with her. This has made the headlines but I believe she has no idea what she just squandered. She may be beautiful but sexually clueless. Here’s why I think she is sexually clueless: Marrying …

Why I’m Glad I Married a Celibate ‘Tim Tebow’ Read More »

Throughout the Bible, the people chosen by God lived under terrorism. Israel lived under tyrants, threats of annihilation and genocide. Yet Israel survived and thrives even in this age of terrorism. We have hope in God’s history of dealing with terrorists as recorded in the Bible. We can aim our faith to believe that He …

What God Does With Terrorists Read More »