A few months ago, a Christian man sat in my office angry and sad because his wife just told him she was divorcing him. “And my kids don’t respect me either,” he added, implying that his wife had turned the kids against him. “Why is God letting her do this to me?” I’m not sure why I end up with so many guys with bad marriages sitting in my office, decade after decade. I don’t even pretend to be a marriage counselor. But, there’s a common theme that runs through the majority of

I’ve sat with men and women, months after the death of a child, spouse or parent and have been asked “Will I ever find closure?” My honest answer is, “Probably not, and I’m not sure you truly want closure.” Closure works well in some areas, like the closing of a real estate transaction. But the term closure does not apply well to the human heart. It might not be possible, or even desirable, to permanently close the heart on a deep relationship ended by death. Are you sure yo

I had a friend of a friend ask this question of him recently. He said, "My wife and I grew up in the traditional church. But when we began having children, that just didn't seem to work anymore. So my wife and I began our own family church, where we can teach our own children, worship together as a family and where we can grow together spiritually. It's working for us." So, is a church made up of only one family, really a church? I don't believe it is. However, I love it that

Over the years, I've met so many people who have walked away from God or become angry with him because "he took my mother (or dad) from me. Why would a good God, a loving God do that?" So a few years ago I decided to prepare our grandchildren for the day of my death. Each of them, roughly 15 years old or over have gotten "the talk." They've now heard straight from me in this life, what death means for true Christians. Here's the gist of what I've told them. Someday you're goi

Nearly all of us have been approached by a friend, family member or a member of our church for "a loan." Sometimes their need is obvious, worthy and we are able to respond with real joy because generosity to the poor is so highly valued by God. However, there are times when we are asked for help and almost immediately our guard is up. How do we know when it's wise to help someone, or when helping actually hurts and enables the person we are being asked to assist? Let's start

Even atheists know the Golden Rule. "Do to others as you would have them do to you." Luke 6:31. Good parents have taught their children to obey the Golden Rule, from the time they could talk. And whenever someone mentions the Golden Rule, we nod in affirmation and say, "That's the only way to live!" And when we were children the application of the Golden Rule was pretty straightforward. Share your toys Let the other person have their turn on the swing Don't hit your sister Th

If you haven't seen this famous video of "psychologist" Bob Newhart yet, you'll want to. Obviously, not all fears and phobias can be erased by an act of the will. My fear of snakes won't just go away instantly if I "just stop it!" But, the reason that video "works" is because we all know many of our bad habits or sins can "stop" – must stop! But here's the crux of the problem: The primary reason believers continue to sin is because we've not decided to stop! Here's why: Most

The invention of the printing press by Gutenberg in 1436 was as revolutionary then as the internet is today. But books were still scarce and expensive and therefore unavailable to the masses. Then, 70 years after its invention, Luther nailed his 95 Theses on a Wittenberg church door and the protestant reformation began. Soon copies of his 95 Theses and other short writings were being printed by the tens of thousands, inexpensively and the ideas in them went viral! People had

A few months ago I blogged about what God may be doing through the sexual scandals in the news almost every day now. We can complain about the Hollywood and Washington sex scandals at the coffee shop and on the job, but how can Christian men or women actually begin making a difference right in our own families? I think it begins with courtesy and respect. Paul reminds us of God's standard. "Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat yo