Fear is a great instructor. Carl Jung said, “Find out what a person fears most, and that is where he will develop next.” Elizabeth Elliot offered great insight on fear: “Fear arises when we imagine that everything depends on us.” That is especially true of recovery. I see it all the time – a fear…
A woman walked up to a little old man rocking in a chair on his porch. “I couldn’t help noticing how happy you look,” she said. “What’s your secret to a long happy life?” The man replied, “I smoke three packs of cigarettes a day. I also drink a case of whiskey, eat fatty foods,…
Genesis 4:3 reads, “And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering to the Lord.” That was the first “It came to pass” in the Bible. But not the last. The Bible says it 463 times: “It came to pass.” I have claimed that…
Does a relapse mean you no longer have anything to contribute? Let me answer that with a sports analogy. When Tom Brady throws an interception, they don’t pull him out of the game. We have this hope: “In him we have redemption, through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of…
What do you know about Adam? He was the first man. He was married to Eve. He had two sons – Cain and Abel. Due to his sin, he was cast from the Garden. He had another son – Seth. But all of that accounts for just 14 percent of Adam’s life. The last 800…
A priest was walking down the street when he saw a little boy struggling to reach the doorbell at a nice home. After watching the boy stretch for several minutes, the priest came to the porch and offered to help. He rang the doorbell for the young boy and then asked, “Now what?” The boy…
According to the CDC, 40 percent of Americans are struggling with anxiety or depression. A Gallup poll indicated that 60 percent of Americans experience significant stress every day. The Bible is against anxiety. “Be anxious for nothing” (Philippians 4:6). One of the problems with anxiety is that it often leads to acting out behaviors that…
You fall into one of three camps: Disqualified Unqualified Qualified For those of us who have messed up, we are often tossed to the curb. We are considered by many to be disqualified from serving God. For others, we never had what it takes in the first place, meaning we are unqualified to serve. Only…
“Love means never having to say you’re sorry” (Ryan O’Neal, Love Story, 1970). That’s true. When you hurt your spouse, you don’t have to say you’re sorry. But it’s a really good idea. Sure, living amends and a change in behavior trump what you say. But learning to express remorse, repentance, and regret is huge.…
There is one condition to a powerful relationship with God. See if you can find it in King David’s charge to his son Solomon. “And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands every…