Read this verse with fresh eyes. Ask yourself what Jesus did just before he blessed the bread. “Now as they were eating, Jesus, having taken bread and having blessed it, broke it, and having given it to the disciples, he said, ‘Take, eat; this is my body’” (Matthew 26:26). What God blesses, he first breaks.…
It was the first prayer I learned. We prayed it every night before dinner: “God is great, God is good; let us thank him for our food. Amen.” We hear these same three words at church every Sunday, from a multitude of lips “God is good.” When our prayers are answered (our way), God is…
There are a lot of things that were once accepted as truth that turned out to be a lie: Mark Twain said, “A lie can travel halfway around the world before the truth gets its shoes on.” He also said, “When you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause…
I spent nearly half my life in school – 29 years. I have met a lot of really smart people along my journey. I have met presidents, governors, surgeons, philosophers, astronauts, and scientists. I have played chess against grandmasters and dialogued with the leaders of some of the world’s most successful companies. I’ve known geniuses…
If you are a sex addict, it would be helpful for you to spend more time in the Word of God. If you are not a sex addict, It would be helpful to spend more time in God’s word. Samuel Chadwick wrote, “No one is uneducated who knows the Bible, and no one is wise…
“The fruit of the Spirit is . . . joy” (Galatians 5:22) St. Teresa of Avila said, “From silly devotions and sour-faced saints, Lord, deliver us.” Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, a Jesuit priest, paleontologist, and philosopher, said, “Joy is the surest sign of the presence of God.” Pastor and author Bruce Larson said, “Grimness is…
A few months ago, Beth and I vacationed on the north slope of Minnesota. The views of Lake Superior are simply stunning. I return every year on a personal writing retreat. It is a highlight of my year. One of the sites to not be missed is the Slip Rock Lighthouse overlooking the massive lake.…
God is not a fan of arrogance. In case you weren’t sure, hear his voice: “I am against you, arrogant one” (Jeremiah 50:31). That’s strong! God says he is against you if you live a life of arrogance. John Maxwell said, “There are two kinds of pride, good and bad. Good pride represents our dignity…
Addiction is a horrible professor. It teaches us to do things that leave irreparable damage. Lesson 1 is this – “Body, obey your emotions.” Recovery, on the other hand, is a master teacher. It tells us, “Emotions, obey your body.” Do the right thing long enough, and your emotions will eventually catch up with you.…
“With eyes full of adultery, they never stop sinning” (2 Peter 2:14). This speaks to the cycle of addiction: The result of repeated porn use and of crossing unhealthy sexual boundaries is the inevitable disruption of the brain’s pathways for releasing dopamine and oxytocin, which can cause short- and long-term changes in brain chemistry. Psychologist…