As I approached late middle age, I became born again. An old man in the world became a new child in Christ. And like many new believers, I carried an assumption that turned out to be wrong. I believed that God’s blessing meant an end to suffering; that once His face shone upon me, life would smooth out, prosperity would follow, and the hardships I had endured for years would finally loosen their grip.

In 2 Corinthians 12:10, Paul writes:  “And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

One of the biggest stumbling blocks to my belief in God was the reality of suffering. The world seemed filled with wars, disasters, disease, poverty, hate, and cruelty. In the 1970s, it was common for evangelists to stop me on the street asking if I’d heard the “good news.” When they began talking about a loving God who gave His only Son, I could only stare in disbelief.

Life stinks used to be my motto.  There was a time (I was much younger then), when most mornings, I’d sit, tired and hungover, with a cup of black coffee and a cigarette contemplating all the evil in the world.  I relived the evil I had experienced, and that I witnessed, and I analyzed all the ways that life stunk.  The holidays made it a little better but Thanksgiving, until a few decades ago, always made me angry.  Because at Thanksgiving we are supposed to be thankful and during that time I couldn’t think of anything to be thankful for.

Part 3 of this series on getting closer to God dealt with finding a mentor — someone who will tell you what you need to hear and give you godly guidance and feedback.

This is part three of the four-part series on getting closer to God. Part one was about prayer being of primary importance in a relationship with Him. Part two covered learning God’s Word, which is vital to understanding what God says to you. This part is about the necessity of having men or women of God in your life to help you in your walk.

Life is a battle. Every day we face temptations, challenges, and even the weakness of our own flesh. If we try to fight in our own strength, we will lose. But with God’s power, love, and sound mind, we can overcome (Philippians4:13). The best way to strengthen ourselves for the battles of life is by drawing closer to God.

Life is a battle. Every day we face temptations, challenges, and even the weakness of our own flesh. If we try to fight in our own strength, we will lose. But with God’s power, love, and sound mind, we can overcome (Philippians4:13). The best way to strengthen ourselves for the battles of life is by drawing closer to God.

Many Christians think of “calling” as something that happens only in the church: preaching, teaching Sunday school, ushering, or going on mission trips. But your call is not limited to the pulpit or a church program. Your true calling is tied to the gifts God has given you, and how you use them in His service.

Jesus Himself said, “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends” (John 15:13). Fighting in the foxholes was not just about survival, but about protecting the lives of others. It was an act of love, courage, and duty.

In combat, soldiers often face split-second choices: fight, flee, or freeze. A friend of mine, Vietnam veteran (Navy Corpsman and later a SEAL) told me how some men froze in battle—staring blankly, dropping to the ground, or lying still as if invisible. He called it “hiding in plain sight,” it was as if they thought the danger couldn’t see them.  However, the bullets still found their mark.

A Vietnam vet once told me that when the bullets started flying, some men abandoned their posts, leaving their brothers to fight for themselves. A few of them were never seen again. Some met worse fates, because in combat, running almost never led to safety. It only left their fellow soldiers more vulnerable.

Today is Labor Day.  A holiday when we are thankful for the dignity of work, remembering that the first work recorded in the Bible was not ours, but God’s. “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth”(Genesis 1:1, NKJV).  On the first day of the week, God spoke and darkness became light. All work since then is a reflection, perhaps not as grand, of the one God who works with a purpose, bringing order and beauty out of chaos. 

The pursuit of romantic relationships is seen by many as a necessary step toward fulfillment. But Scripture presents a different picture, especially in the story of Adam. In Genesis 2, we find a man not chasing companionship, but instead faithfully walking in obedience to God. From this example, and others throughout Scripture, we can draw a powerful principle: God honors those who seek first His kingdom, and He will supply what is needed in His perfect timing—including a spouse.

Mountains in life can be literal or spiritual. Climbers face physical peaks that tower above the earth; Christians face spiritual challenges that loom just as large. Both require courage, preparation, and faith to overcome. Let’s look at how both mountain climbers and believers conquer the heights before them—and the tools God gives us to do so.

Fear and worry are emotional responses.  Fear is a response to an immediate or perceived threat.  It's usually intense and triggers the fight, flee, or freeze response.  Worry, on the other hand, usually involves repetitive thinking about potential future problems.  Their potential to become sin is often linked to how they affect one's relationship with God.

In a world confused about manhood, the Apostolic man must rise—not in pride, but in priesthood. God is calling men not just to exist, but to live sacrificially with purpose.  In order to do that apostolic men must make sacrifices.  These are the reasonable sacrifices that Paul talked about in Romans.

7 Steps to Complete Forgiveness

True forgiveness is a spiritual process that involves the heart, mind, and will. It’s not just a one-time event but often a journey guided by God's Word and the Holy Spirit. Here are 7 key steps someone can take to completely forgive someone who offended them, along with Bible verses to support each step.

Unforgiveness can lead to many emotional, psychological, physical and spiritual, health issues.  For those unable to forgive the consequences may not be temporary but eternal.  Emotionally, it can result in feelings of bitterness, resentment, and anger, which may affect one's well-being and relationships.  Psychologically, unresolved grievances can cause stress, anxiety, and depression, leading to mental health issues and poor cognitive functions. Physically, the negative emotions from unforgiveness can cause chronic health problems, like high blood pressure and a weakened immune system.  Spiritually, it’s a sin with eternal consequences.  A person who cannot or will not forgive, will not be forgiven.

What does it mean to ‘prioritize your spouse’?  It means to make your spouse the most important human in your life.