“And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,”(Ephesians 5:18, ESV) In life and the pastorate, I have seen the effects of addiction on people’s physical wellbeing. My step grandfather was an alcoholic. His problem had an effect on his body and his family. In the pastorate,Continue reading “Conquering Addiction”
Tag Archives: healing
The Greatest Hurdle
“Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.” (Proverbs 26:12, ESV) In track and field there is an event known as the hurdles. It is on a stretch of track where the runner must jump over some barriers. Often a runnerContinue reading “The Greatest Hurdle”
Medication for Perfectionism
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28, ESV) Years ago, I had a home project to renovate a bathroom. I decided to put in a marble tile floor as part of the project. There was a section that I built that elevated the showerContinue reading “Medication for Perfectionism”
The Monkey on Your Back
“Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.” (Matthew 18:21–22, ESV) In 1822 Thomas Gillet published a collection of stories. One of them is titled “The Devil and the Doctor.”Continue reading “The Monkey on Your Back”
No Regrets
“I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter, my great army, which I sent among you.” (Joel 2:25, ESV) There was a Milky Way chocolate bar commercial that aired years ago that pictured a tattoo artist and a client. The client wanted aContinue reading “No Regrets”
Our Pet Rocks
“And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” (Hebrews 10:10, ESV) Many years ago, a man named Gary Dahl came up with an idea. He created a fad called the Pet Rock. These were being marketed and sold in retail stores in theContinue reading “Our Pet Rocks”
Shedding the Load
“For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.” (2 Corinthians 7:10, ESV) When I lived in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, I participated in an annual 5-K race on the fourth of July. Following the 5-K they had a 1-mile Survival Run where the participants ran in combatContinue reading “Shedding the Load”
When Others Hurt With You
“So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord and struck Job with loathsome sores from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head . . . Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die.”” (Job 2:7-9, ESV) One evening as IContinue reading “When Others Hurt With You”
The Right Question
“When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, ‘Do you want to be healed?’” (John 5:6, ESV) There was a college student one time who was taking an exam just before the Christmas break. He did not study and did not knowContinue reading “The Right Question”
Baggage Handling
“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your cares on him, because he cares about you.” (1 Peter 5:6–7, CSB) Before the Lord called me to the full-time pastorate, I worked as the Director of Technical Services for a company thatContinue reading “Baggage Handling”
Renewing the Heart 