Most of us can find ways to be thankful at least one day a year. Especially, when the day is filled with things we love to eat, games we love to watch and the company of people we enjoy. But when outrage and angst fill our newsfeeds every other day of the year, how do we extend our âthanksgiving spiritâ … Read More
Forty million Americans battle anxiety. That means for every hundred people you pass on the street, twenty of them are struggling with anxious thoughts. With such a high percentage of people dealing with anxiety, youâd think it wouldnât be hard to talk about. But for many it remains a secret struggle. Partly, because it feels like youâre the only one … Read More
As our national awareness of systemic racism grows following the funeral of George Floyd, Iâve been giving thought to what I should do. Here are six statements that reflect my desire to listen, to learn, and to love those who are different than me. I WILL listen HUMBLY (Pr. 18:2, 15) I will seek to understand your experiences, not interpret … Read More
The 74-day delay in the arrest of Ahmaud Arberyâs killers, followed by the senseless death of George Floyd at the hands of a police officer are heartbreaking and deeply disturbing events. These are not isolated incidents in our country, and this is not someone elseâs problem. It is ours. The Bible charges each of us: âLearn to do good; seek … Read More
Perhaps your lifestyle schedule is best described with Mason Cooley’s quip: The time I kill is killing me. It’s easy to lose track of the real purpose of one’s life when our schedules get jammed with the many activities that we’ve committed ourselves to. In a previous post I referenced the first four timely truths from Solomon’s poem in Ecclesiastes 3. … Read More
Prior to this crisis and its corresponding quarantine, I used to think that if I wasnât so busy, I would do a personal evaluation of my life and my use of time. Perhaps, in the not-too-distant-pass, you had thought too. Then came the quarantine. I have two really busy friends (an Exec in the tech industry and a medical Doc), … Read More
AS LONG as Peter could remember he had worried about what others thought of him. Silence, even in a crowd, had always felt awkward. So, he would speak quickly and brashly, even if he later regretted what he had said. Most people thought it was his mouth that got Peter in trouble, but really it was his fear. Peter knew … Read More
We live in challenging times, and it doesn’t appear to be changing anytime soon. It’s easy to feel your anxiety rising. Three times in the the 37th Psalm we’re reminded to “not worry” (37:1, 7). But God doesn’t leave us there. He gives four steps to calm an anxious heart. Trust in the Lord (37:3) Perhaps the best-known Bible verse … Read More
When I talk to someone struggling with anxiety, I usually start by asking questions about their prayer life. I have found that most people struggling with anxiety are praying, but their prayers tend to be one-dimensional: theyâre praying that God would take the anxiety away. For them, prayer is a panic button. They reach for it when the feelings become … Read More
Few things stir up anxiety like change. Whether the changes take place in our close or extended relationships, theyâre uncomfortable. Being creatures of comfort, the anxiety-meter tends to rise when that comfort zone gets tested. In one of my earlier books I spoke about how when it comes to anxiety, we need to change our mind, not our circumstances. This is precisely … Read More
