Dirty Bible, Clean Heart

"Two are better than one  because they have a good return for their labor:  If either of them falls down,  one can help the other up .  But pity anyone who falls  and has no one to help them up.  Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm .  But how can one keep warm alone?  Though one may be overpowered,   two can defend themselves .  A cord of three strands is not quickly broken."  -Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 I think there is a commonly accepted lie within the church that says something like this: "Jesus is the only one you need!" Now before you close out your browser and call me a heretic, please listen to what I am saying. To a certain extent this is true. Our hope, dependence, and life should  have Jesus at the very center of it. But just because this is true, it does not eradicate our * need  for good, wholesome Christian fellowship. In fact, from the very beginning God expressly states " It is not good for the man...

"But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt , because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord."  James 1:6-7 I recently heard a podcast interview between a well-known psychologist and his patient. The patient struggled with binge-eating disorder and this counselor sought to help the woman overcome her addiction. As I listened to the conversation, I was struck by a statement that the psychologist frequently uses with his patients- " feelings aren't facts !" The counselor had the woman repeat this phrase out loud several times and then instructed her to say it (but more importantly internalize it) whenever she felt the urge to binge. This mantra, said he, was one of the slogans that helped him differentiate between what was true and what was a lie which in turn helped him defeat his previous food addiction. Listening to this conversation made me realize ho...

"Then the word of the Lord came to him: 'This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.'...Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness." -Gen 15:4&6 "Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him." -Gen 21:5 We continue our study on waiting by looking at Abraham's life. Let's look at the remaining reasons why God allows us to go through waiting seasons. I think there is much to learn on this topic that will serve as an encouragement in our waiting.  Just keep going, and going... One of the qualities that God works in us during our waiting is perseverance. Some people are naturally inclined to hold on when the road gets tough. There are folks in this world (both followers and non-followers of Jesus) that are incredibly resilient. In spite of  the worst circumstances, these folks, have managed to get through it and become stronger individuals a...