“You have a brain tumor” is one of the scariest sentences a person can hear.

Every day we’re invited into so many stories. Some are uplifting while others are heartbreaking. Some are infuriating, scary, and others make us laugh out loud. Whether the story is in the news, a movie, a book, or listening to a friend share a page from their life, the lens from which we view this world is story.

Tis the season! SEC football, mountain escapes, Trick ‘r Treating, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s, and all things Winter. Between now and the next issue of Living Real, there will be numerous occasions where we can show Jesus to a world desperate for truth, hope, love, peace, and joy. Tucked between the covers of this volume of Living Real Magazine are life-transforming stories, reflective devotionals, and deeper faith challenges, all steeped in the Word of God, and all designed to help us live out our real faith every day.

Each summer, my family plants a small garden to which we find varying degrees of success. This past summer, we added Carolina Reaper peppers to the mix. They were created near my hometown of Fort Mill, SC and I’d been wanting to give my homemade salsa an extra kick—two excellent reasons to try our hand at growing what is said to be the hottest p...

Do you know who’s in bed with your child? While this may seem like an absurd question for some parents, the reality is it could be anyone if your child has their smartphone with them at night. Pornography is everywhere and easily accessed on that little rectangular box most everyone carries around in their pockets 24/7. With the average age of...

I took an afternoon stroll to the mailbox. While walking back to the house thumbing through the envelopes of junk mail and bills, I came across a plain white envelope addressed to me. The return address took me by surprise. Written beside the name of the sender was a prison number. Panic ensued as questions swirled in my mind. How did a prisoner...

“Come on over for dinner,” was my friend’s simple invitation. Her door was open; no need to knock. Delicious smells lured me into the kitchen. While Barbara flitted from stove to table, divvying up food on the plates, my shoulders relaxed as I  quietly sighed. I could breathe.  Merely knowing I wasn’t alone softened the edges of my hurting heart...

The Bible repeatedly warns believers to be aware of those who seek to deceive us spiritually. In Matthew 7:15, Jesus said, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.” (NKJV)  In 2 Corinthians 11:13-15, the Apostle Paul said, “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming ...

To suggest this world is embroiled in an authority crisis is, perhaps, the understatement of the decade. Almost every country is divided politically, socially, racially, and morally. The church is also in crisis.  Many take personal conviction and personal preference as absolute truth.

Family vacation. Those two words unlock a suitcase of memories packed with emotions—epic, mediocre, or never again. No matter, I still love family vacations. East Coast, West Coast, or somewhere in between, the destinations, food, and fun excite me, but it’s family that fuels the flames of fellowship.