Theophan the Recluse, a 19th-century Russian Orthodox, penned the following words: “Into every duty a God-fearing heart must be put, a heart constantly permeated by the thought of God; and this will be the door through which the soul will enter into active life. The essence is to be established in the remembrance of God,…
John Piper said, “Missions exist because worship doesn’t.” Anthropologists estimate that at least 18,000 different gods, goddesses, and various animals or objects have been worshiped by humans over history. Today, it is estimated that 80 percent of the global population considers themselves spiritual on some level. But that doesn’t always translate to biblical worship. Jesus…
Anthony Hopkins said, “I have three weak spots – cookies, croissants, and laziness.” Let’s leave cookies and croissants for another day. Today, let’s talk about laziness. Prior to 1914, the average person worked 10 hours per day. With the Industrial Revolution, Henry Ford cut that down to eight hours a day, where it still stands…
On this date in history, April 12, 1633, Galileo Galilei’s heresy trial began. The famed astronomer and physicist had the audacity to question established axioms such as the Ptolemaic belief that the sun revolved around the Earth. For that, he was found guilty of heresy and sentenced to life in prison. He was allowed to…
Muhammad Ali told anyone who would listen (and many who would not), “I’m the greatest.” You knew that. But here’s something you probably didn’t know. He started telling people that early in his career, before he really was the greatest. You have to believe it – and say it – before you can do it. …
Imagine that you have two items on your kitchen table – a cup of coffee and an empty glove. You are thirsty, so what do you do? Try this. Tell the glove to pick up the coffee mug and lift it to your lips. You probably know the likelihood of the empty glove performing this…
In 1998, Case Western Reserve University conducted an interesting study on self-control. Participants were surrounded by fresh chocolate chip cookies but were told to resist the temptation and eat radishes instead. While they followed this directive, it took a toll. As their activities were monitored in the following hours, it was found that they lacked…
Patrick Carnes has identified four basic core beliefs of every sex addict: At the root of every addiction is an intimacy disorder. Usually, this manifests itself with insecurity and low self-esteem. Perhaps now is a good time to remind you of your identity in Christ. Celebrate the following. You are accepted (Romans 15:7), chosen (John…
I was the strange guy who enjoyed algebra in high school. I’ve always loved mathematics and formulas. So here’s a formula for you. What does it mean? P+P=A Your wait is over. These three letters represent the following: Problem + Powerlessness = Addiction. You can have a problem without it being an addiction. And you…
Henri Nouwen wrote the following devotional, which I read recently. I want to share it with you in its entirety. May it bless you as much as it blessed me. “I am growing in the awareness that God wants my whole life, not just part of it. It is not enough to give just so…