My first marriage failed because I was unfaithful to my wife,” shares Michael. “I’m very prone to wanting to go back and beat myself up for that. That was a horrible mistake. I know God is a grace-filled God. He still loves me and has forgiven me, and my first wife has forgiven me. But that’s an area where I struggle. I still think about my failure quite a bit. That’s a vicious … [Read more...]
“Should I try to forget my past?”
As a former pastor and as an equipper of pastors, people often ask me the important question, “Should I try to forget my past?” When hurting people in our congregation and community ask us that question, how can we respond in a compassionate, biblical way? First, we can respond with a one-word answer. “No.” Then we can respond with a blog-size answer. Being pastors, we could … [Read more...]
“Pastor, why in the world should I keep trusting God?”
God is like an elevator; He lets people down—at least that’s what many people I’ve met would say. In my work for Church Initiative, building curricula to help suffering people, I’ve interviewed a number of people who’ve lost loved ones, have been betrayed by lovers, misunderstood, misrepresented, and mistreated in dozens of ways. And I’ve noticed that quite a few of them have … [Read more...]
What’s the best way to help someone with anxiety?
Amy can no longer remember a time when her mind was “at rest.” She really thinks she needs to get a job, because there are rumors that her husband’s construction company might have to lay off workers. She used to work at a grocery store, but was glad when her husband wanted her to quit and be a stay-at-home mom. As a cashier, she often was flustered by customers with … [Read more...]
Much afraid: Help for the worried in your congregation
Any quick search on Google or Amazon will confirm what we all already know: worry is harmful to our bodies. Here are a few physical symptoms associated with worry: Difficulty swallowing Dizziness Dry mouth Fast heartbeat Fatigue Headaches Muscle aches Muscle tension Nausea Rapid breathing Sweating Trembling and twitching You can almost get … [Read more...]
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