Two characters in the Old Testament served as perfect examples of two competing forces: fear and faith. Those men were King Saul and his son Jonathan. Saul let fear dictate his life, while Jonathan was driven by faith. Jonathan spoke with hope in the face of adversity: “Perhaps the Lord will act on our behalf”…
The opposite of addiction is connection. Lots of it. Tons and tons of connections. Not just any connection. I’m talking about the kind of connection that makes a difference. Connection that leads to correction. As we used to say in seminary, that’ll preach. Paul said, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your…
I’m going to tell you how to vote. This is election day in the United States. It’s finally here – the day when our national divisions and endless disputes rise to the top. For 24 hours, life stands still. Tonight, when the tallies come, we will learn who we will get to criticize for the…
“For the Lord saw the affliction of Israel, which was very bitter. But he saved them by the hand of Jeroboam the son of Joash” (2 Kings 14:26-27). In the spring of 1884, the French artist George Seurat began painting A Sunday on La Grande Jatte. That painting, seven feet tall and ten feet wide,…
“Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are his delight” (Proverbs 12:22). Dishonesty is a part of addiction. Have you ever met an addict who didn’t lie? If yes, let me know. I’ll send you $1 for every addict you can name who didn’t lie. Psychiatrist Dr. Beth Tumarkin…
As an NBA chaplain, I was blessed to meet Kobe Bryant, one of the all-time greats of professional basketball. Too often, people focus on how his life ended, in a plane crash on January 26, 2020, rather than how his life was lived. It is easy to forget what an incredible player Kobe Bryant was.…
“The tempter came to him” (Matthew 4:3). Temptation is a part of life, and it is especially a part of recovery. There is never a point when the temptations go away. If Jesus never moved beyond the point of temptation, we should not expect to, either. In fact, James (the brother of our Lord) talked…
Jesus took naps. “Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion” (Mark 4:38). Our Lord clearly believed in rest. While a storm was tossing the very boat he was in, he responded with a yawn and a power nap. He didn’t sleep long, but he did sleep. Power naps can play an essential role…
“How old would you be if you didn’t know the day you were born?” – Toby Keith, Don’t Let the Old Man In Ponder that one for a bit. Don’t misunderstand me. Time takes its toll on all of us. Skin wrinkles. Metabolism slows. Muscles atrophy. If you don’t believe me, attend your next high…
Your recovery won’t go very far or deep if you only stay sober when it’s easy. It’s what you do when it’s hard that puts points on the board. Until you are tested – really tested – you won’t know if you are really sober. Jack Hayford had a lot to say about spiritual growth…