We tend to overemphasize outward appearance. Especially sex addicts. This is a powerful verse: “The Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the…
Let’s start with a really hard question. Do you like grumblers? Of course, no one does. In fact, one of the shortest books of the Bible made room to criticize the grumblers and mumblers among us. Jude criticized “grumblers and faultfinders” (verse 16). Joni Eareckson Tada knows more about suffering than just about anyone else…
Most of us spend money we don’t have to buy things we don’t need to impress people we don’t like. And it never satisfies. It may give us a false sense of pride, but it never satisfies. Our incessant drive to outperform, outspend, and outdo the next guy is a ride on a crazy train.…
Let’s talk about the power of singing. We find this fascinating passage in the Old Testament. “Joshua said to Moses, ‘There is the sound of war in the camp.’ Moses replied, ‘It is not the sound of victory, it is not the sound of defeat; it is the sound of singing that I hear’” (Exodus…
In her new book, The New Loneliness, Cindi McMenamin identifies several ways in which social media promotes loneliness rather than connection. Paul’s words from 2,000 years ago resonate today. “Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well” (1 Thessalonians…
2 Kings 24:18 “Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eleven years. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord just as his father Jehoiakim had done.” The link from father to son is unmistakable. Dr. David Popenoe, professor of sociology at Rutgers University, has written extensively…
If you don’t hear anything else today, hear this – your addiction has not moved you beyond the reach and blessing of God. There is nothing you can do to invalidate God’s capacity to use you in a profound way. Paul was unequivocal: “God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable” (Romans 11:29). “He [Jesus] told…
The first American movie theater opened on this date in history – April 2, 1902. Yes, 1902. In Los Angeles, Tally’s Electric Theater opened its doors with an hour-long film, with a white bed sheet as the screen. Sadly, the theater was torn down in 1998. Americans have always loved their movies. Every day, five…
I love the imagery found in the short Book of Jude. Verse 12 describes false teachers as “shepherds who feed only themselves; they are clouds without rain.” I like that – clouds without rain. Recovery groups are filled with people like that. They look the part but are just clouds without rain. Nice image, poor…
Recovery is all about breaking old habits. The longer we wait, the more difficult the task. St. Augustine was right: “A habit, if it is not resisted, soon becomes a necessity.” Jeremiah warned of the process of bad habits. “And like their bow, they have bent their tongues for lies. They are not valiant for…