sobriety

Harder than Sobriety

The only thing harder than doing the right thing is doing the wrong thing. James R. Miller said, “It is a great deal easier to do that which God gives us to do, no matter how hard it is, than to face the responsibility of not doing it.” A recovery friend checked in at the…

pride

Anything But Pride

God is not a fan of pride. Through the young prophet, God spoke to an entire nation that was rife with pride. This was that message, to the empire of Babylon: “I am against you, you arrogant one, for your day has come, the time for you to be punished” (Jeremiah 50:31).  Imagine hearing those…

football

This Is a Football!

It’s always a good time to get back to basics. Legendary coach Vince Lombardi’s first practice session with his new team was a memorable one. Addressing the Green Bay Packers, he held up a football and said five words: “Gentlemen, this is a football.” Jesus said, “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness,…

clock

The Clock Is Ticking

If you want to make God laugh, make your plans in stone.  Uncertainty is a part of life. Even the angels are kept in the dark sometimes. Jesus spoke of the timing of his return: “No one knows the day or hour, not even the angels in heaven” (Matthew 24:36). We know that our end…

joy

Fear vs. Joy

Matthew 28:8 “The women hurried away from the tomb, afraid, yet filled with joy.” Often, life’s greatest journeys take us through both emotions – simultaneously. We experience fear and joy at the same time. At no point is that truer than with recovery. The feelings of joy and fear are not mutually exclusive. Many who…

wrestlers

Wrestlers

I grew up as a wrestling fan. You always knew the good guys from the bad guys. So imagine my surprise when I was visiting family in Kansas one summer, and I came across their local wrestling program on television. Into the ring stepped a villain, as confirmed by the round of boos from the…

discoveries

New Discoveries

Life is full of new discoveries. Such was the case on this date in history, 1781. Sir William Herschel observed the planet Uranus for the first time on March 13, 1781, from the garden in his backyard at 19 New King Street in Bath Somerset, England. After processing what he had seen, he reported his…

addiction

Five Signs of Addiction

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition (DSM-5) identifies five signs that you are likely an addict. The first time I read this, I checked all five boxes. I’m guessing you do, as well. But the good news is, there is a God who can help, who can lead you out of…

stage

A Stage

William Shakespeare wrote, “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women are merely players.” (As You Like It, Act 2, Scene 7) What does that mean? This 17th-century comedy features this timeless line from Jaques. He is essentially contending that life follows a script. People play pre-determined roles, as in a theater…

first

The First Call

On this date in 1876, Alexander Graham Bell placed the first phone call. He called his assistant, Thomas Watson, who was in another room in the same house. His message: “Mr. Watson, come here. I want to see you.” The telephone has come a long way in the last 150 years. Sadly, I’m old enough…