Overcoming Chronic Sins
My twelve year old self had a violent temper. My fuse was short, and my blasts of anger detonated at insults as unexpectedly as bursts of laughter …
Overcoming sin and failure
Making a List of Our Sins
A few weeks ago, I spoke with someone who felt horrible about forgetting a commitment. She felt her accidental negligence caused unnecessary stress …
Should We Ever Wrestle with God?
In the movie The Princess Bride, the evil genius Vizzini repeatedly (and inappropriately) exclaims, “Inconceivable.” His partner Inigo Montoyo finally …
Avoiding The Pain of Regret
I am the son of a pastor. During my dad’s forty years of ministry, he did many great things; he probably committed a few stupid acts; and he …
My First Parachute Jump Ever … and My Last
As a young boy, my weekends were filled with imaginary World War II battles. Nearby parks fielded the Battle of the Bulge, and the skeleton of a local …
The Self-Centeredness of Unselfishness
[Click here for an audio version of this post: The Self-Centeredness of Unselfishness.] Our romantic 30th anniversary trip to Italy began the same …
Why Don’t We Think First—For A Change
Several weeks ago I had an awful day in the middle of a horrible week in the midst of a bad month. A sniffle turned into post-nasal drip which turned …
What’s The Problem With Christian Leadership?
A few years ago a good friend of mine listened to a set of my sermons. He offered me constructive criticism. He liked what I said, but he had one bit …
Where Personality Tests and Character Collide
Years ago I had two friends with almost opposite personalities and with almost identical approaches to life. John (not his real name) was direct, and …
Overcoming Chronic Failure and Sin
We all have chronic failures, sins, and shortcomings. We all would like to get rid of them, and we’re pretty sure God would like them to …