God Hears Us – Manton’s 27th Sermon on Psalm 119 – Part 2
Despite what may sometimes seem otherwise, God hears his people. Prayer is an important and intimate communion with God in which we take our praises and petitions while seeking forgiveness. It’s a moment to gain clarity of God’s signal in our lives of constant...
Transparency – Manton’s 27th Sermon on Psalm 119 – Part 1
In this first of a three part series, we consider transparency with God. It comes after studying Dr. Thomas Manton’s 27th sermon on Psalm 119. Manton is relatively unknown today. However, the preacher and theologian of the 1600s was prominently known and...
Ask Why When You Find You’re Conflicted
I’ve always encouraged my kids to ask why. Most parents get frustrated at that oft-repeated question, myself included. However, being able to question and interrogate a situation or circumstance is a skill of vital importance. That’s because, in seeking...
Be Relentless and Never Give Up on Yourself
Despite firmly believing we should never give up on the things that matter, I too often give up on myself. I give in to negative self-talk. Or I foolishly compare myself to others, which – let’s be honest – is actually comparing our biggest...
The Gripping Fear of God and God’s Rejection
God’s rejection is real. That’s a very tough reality. And it’s a fear that – at least secretly – haunts every Christian at some point. Perhaps even non-Christians give this some serious thought. There are two things I have observed about Jonathan Edwards...
The Secret to Building Character Traits on Purpose
Purposefully building character traits may be one of the underlying reasons for embarking on this grueling study of Jonathan Edwards’ resolutions two years ago. As I enter into the home stretch of it, this may be the only time I have directly acknowledged that fact....
4 Steps for Changing a Toxic Food and Wellness Relationship
I like food. I mean, I REALLY like food. Unless it’s okra. Okra is gross. Seriously. It’s not food. In the words of Jerry Seinfeld’s nemesis, Newman, it’s a “vile weed” – though, to be fair, he said it of broccoli. But this really...
Check Yourself – There’s Never a Wrong Time for it
It’s important to check yourself on occasion. It’s a way to know what’s going on in your head and in your heart. I say this knowing full well there is a sinister vibe that likes to flow through my own soul. It’s not something I am proud of. And, truth be...
Frog Stew Seasoned with Procrastination, Complacency, and a Bit of Mediocrity
I’m no stranger to procrastination and complacency. You may not be either. But, what you may not realize is that the two are very complementary to one another. Heck, you might say the two make up a weird stew that’s seasoned with bit of mediocrity. In Brian...
Answering a Self-Help Culture that’s Afraid to Believe
When it comes to self-help, there’s no shortage of advice to be had. Accentuate strengths and downplay weaknesses. Ignore your weaknesses by delegating those areas to others. Seize the day. Be bold. Have guts. Get resilient, of fierce. Get up every time you get...