In his groundbreaking book, Unwanted, Dr. Jay Stringer writes, “The more an individual acts out, the more likely he is to deprive himself of meaningful relationships and self-care because he will not feel as if he deserves that.” But this cycle must stop. God is clear: “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers…
We find this interesting little verse tucked away in the middle of the Psalms. “Your path led through the sea, your way through the mighty waters, though your footprints were not seen” (Psalm 77:19). What do you do when you can no longer see God’s footprints? We want his path to always be clear. We…
I have attended several AA meetings as a part of my recovery plan. For many, that makes sense. But for me, it may seem odd. You see, I don’t drink. Never have. So why would I attend AA meetings? First, I was required to as a part of my Master’s work in recovery. Then my…
Your current sexual behavior is the predictable result of your childhood experiences. Most likely, your early childhood was littered with isolation. Or trauma. Or abuse. Or all three. And that explains how you got here. However, that does not excuse why you’re staying here. Let me be clear. You owe no one an apology for…
We live in a porn-crazed time. Covenant Eyes reports that $3,075.64 is spent on porn every second and that young adults think that not recycling is worse than viewing porn. Further, more than 50,000 church leaders in the United States are using porn on a regular basis. The Bible is abundantly clear. “Marriage should be…
In the Heidelberg Catechism, a Protestant confessional document, there is a question about how human beings know their misery. It’s an odd question, until you understand that the German word for misery is elend, meaning to be out of one’s native land, with a deep sense of homesickness. Translation: when removed from familiar surroundings, a…
The Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers join together in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to form the Ohio River. If you want to understand the Ohio River, you must first take a look at the Allegheny and the Monongahela. Jesus said, “It is what comes out of a person that defiles him” (Mark 7:15). Medical News Today identified the…
In 2017, the Boston Globe released an article titled “The Biggest Threat Facing Middle Aged Men Isn’t Smoking or Obesity, It’s Loneliness.” Actress Anne Hathaway said, “Loneliness is my least favorite thing about life.” The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) studied loneliness in America. Among their findings: Loneliness is more damaging to our health…
C.S. Lewis wrote, in his preface to The Screwtape Letters, “There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe in them too strongly.” “We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, powers, rules of…
Someone recently gave me a copy of the Serenity Prayer for those of us who are getting a little older. “God, grant me the senility to forget the people I never liked, the good fortune to run into the ones I do, and the eyesight to know the difference.” The more popular version of the…