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June 12, 2013

Thy Will Be Done … but are You Open to Suggestions?

looking up

Every Wednesday we’ll post something to do with doctrine and recovery.  — “Thy Will Be Done” (but are You open to suggestions?) Trusting that God will do what we hope He’ll do is one thing. Trusting in His good character, no matter what he does or doesn’t do, is another. And that’s a lesson I hope I’m learning. God parted the Red Sea for the Hebrews (Exodus 14:21-29) protected Daniel in the middle of a lion’s den (Daniel 6:16-23) kept three faithful Hebrews cool while the furnace burned (Daniel 3:20-26) and gave Continue Reading

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May 20, 2013

Under New Management

house and key

Every Monday we’ll post something to do with maintaining sexual purity. Hope it helps. — Under New Management When my wife and I moved into our current home nineteen years ago, we decided to hang onto our prior house and rent it out. Since then, land-lording has provided plenty of teachable moments, none more useful and relevant to me than the lesson of the difference between management and ownership. The distinction between them seems pretty clear, right? To rent a property means to occupy and manage it with limited rights; to own Continue Reading

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April 15, 2013

Walking Strong

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Every Monday we’ll post something to do with maintaining sexual purity. Hope it helps. — Walking Strong This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. (Galatians 5:16) I’ve finally gotten back into serious workouts after a more than twenty year hiatus, and I’m glowing. Energy’s high, stress is hugely reduced, sleep is deeper, and – (drum roll) – I’ve all but lost my taste for fast foods. That may be the biggest miracle, because hamburgers and burritos have been my bad company for Continue Reading

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March 1, 2013

Class Goes Crass

oscars

I’m a movie fan who never watches the Oscars. Back in 2003, when Best Documentary winner Michael Moore hijacked the proceedings to launch a tirade against President Bush, I decided I’d had enough. For years I’d already been feeling “preached to” during the ceremonies by different Hollywood evangelists who used their acceptance speech time to promote various causes, but Moore’s tantrum was just too much. We’ve never watched the show since then. Until last Sunday night, when we relented a bit and recorded it for future viewing. We Continue Reading

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February 28, 2013

Like Me. Please, Like Me

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Every Thursday I’ll post an article having to do with either relational or emotional matters. Hope it helps. — Like Me. Please, Like Me  The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe. - Proverbs 29:25 I wonder how many things you would have done, said, or at least tried, if you hadn’t been so worried about what other people would think. The more I review my life, the madder I get at myself for letting someone else’s opinion carry so much weight. Over the years, there are too Continue Reading

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February 26, 2013

The Feminine Mistake

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Every Tuesday we’ll post something to do with strengthening marriages. Hope it helps. — The Feminine Mistake This year marks the 50th anniversary of Betty Friedan’s groundbreaking The Feminine Mystique  a landmark book which shaped and propelled the modern feminist movement. Today some of Friedan’s ideas would seem pretty tame, even to social conservatives like myself who see nothing wrong with women working, or opting not to marry, or choosing and pursuing careers. Nor have I ever found the idea of equal pay to be anything but Continue Reading

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January 25, 2013

Random Ramblings #49: Radio Interviews, Speaking Engagements and Grace Under Fire

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Busy week. A higher than usual number of people come in for appointments each January, a month of new starts, fresh commitments. And even though I’m not a big fan of New Year’s resolutions, I love the freshness of the new Daytimers, new digits on the check book, and the multitude of  “OK this year we’re really going to ---” remarks that pass between my wife and I. For me this is an idealistic season, one that I know will nudge me further along towards important goals. I’ll improve, mess up, improve again, and wind up a few notches Continue Reading

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January 7, 2013

Wanting to Will

hands

Every Monday we’ll post something about maintaining your sexual integrity. Hope it helps. — Wanting to Will  “Draw me, and we will run after thee.” - Song of Songs 1:4 God initiates; we respond. So whatever we do by way of worship, service, or obedience, it’s done only because He first gave us the desire, then the ability, then the opportunity. Paul summed it up nicely: “For it is God who worketh in you, both to will, and to do of His good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:13)  So ours is no fifty/fifty contract between two Continue Reading

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December 15, 2012

When Words Fail

Photo Credit: FOX News

Try describing the truth about it – its enormity, its barbarism, your astonished rage -  and words fail. They only help when conveying the facts, which are pretty simple: yesterday morning a 20 year old gunman stormed into Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newton, Connecticut, where, after killing his own mother, he proceeded to end 26 more lives, his included. 20 of them were schoolchildren as young as 5. As of this writing, that’s what we know. Those are the facts. Now the truth, harder to articulate, but summarized with partial accuracy Continue Reading

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September 3, 2012

Under New Management

house and key

Every Monday we’ll post something to do with maintaining sexual purity. Hope it helps. — Under New Management When my wife and I moved into our current home nineteen years ago, we decided to hang onto our prior house and rent it out. Since then, land-lording has provided plenty of teachable moments, none more useful and relevant to me than the lesson of the difference between management and ownership. The distinction between them seems pretty clear, right? To rent a property means to occupy and manage it with limited rights; to own Continue Reading

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