Life is unpredictable. Don’t take my word for it; Solomon said, “At best, life is unpredictable” (Ecclesiastes 9:7). The great philosopher Forrest Gump said it in a way we can all understand. “My mama always said life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.” – Forrest Gump, 1994 You…
I hate it when someone drops out of one of my Freedom Groups. My first reaction is, “What did I do wrong?” Over the three years I have been leading groups, we have grown from five groups to nine, and from 50 men to 130. But I always fret over the one who slips away.…
Andrew Whitworth switched teams. A four-time NFL All-Pro, the six-foot-seven lineman left the Cincinnati Bengals for the Los Angeles Rams. And in 2022, he accomplished a rare feat, as a member of the Super Bowl champions. What made this so special was that the team he beat was – the Cincinnati Bengals. If you are…
In 2022, three noted psychologists produced an extensive editorial: Human Connection as a Treatment for Addiction. Their research included broad, diverse studies. They used a bio-psycho-socio-spiritual model of health and illness, in order to tap into multiple perspectives. This was their summary conclusion: “In summary, the results of our research topic of articles point to…
Psalm 51 provides the gold standard for confessional prayer. “According to the greatness of your compassion, blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin” (Psalm 51:1-2). First, David asks God to “blot out my transgressions.” He is asking God to scrape off the lies and deceit in…
Saving Private Ryan may be the greatest war movie ever produced. The film traces a mission to bring Private James Ryan home after his three brothers had all been killed in battle. Under the command of Captain Miller, a small group of soldiers went through hell to rescue Private Ryan. Most of the others, including…
In the 1929 Rose Bowl, All-American center Roy Riegels picked up a fumble and ran 30 yards – in the wrong direction. The play contributed to an 8-7 loss by California to Georgia Tech. Looking back, Riegels described the play: “I was running toward the sidelines when I picked up the ball. I started to…
Proverbs 16:9 “We plan the way we want to live, but only God makes us able to live it.” There are three ways in which you need to pursue your goals for the new year. 1. You need God’s Spirit to empower you. “You will not succeed by your own strength, or by your own…
Another year has passed. The new year is just hours away. In God Is Visible Every Day, Steven M. Hitchcock offers great advice. “In this new year, be grateful that God has given you victory over many things over the past year.” The prophet agreed. “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past”…
The crazy dude in Mark 5 is the prototype for Step 1. His life was unmanageable, and he was powerless to do anything about it. To be specific, “This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain” (Mark 5:4). Did you catch that word, anymore? That…