• Redeeming Church Conflicts,  Relationships & Peacemaking

    Church conflict often robs us of an accurate, hopeful, God-centered perspective.

    (One of my favorite parts of Redeeming Church Conflicts is the introduction to Section 1: Perspective. I have heard and seen Cap’n Dave minister this message to so many people over the years–especially pastors who were tempted to despair over conflicts in their churches. I hope you enjoy …) SECTION 1: Perspective “I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’” Isaiah 46:10 “How do you overcome? You get a breathtaking glimpse of God and the Lamb. You take your eyes off your earthly situation and gaze into heaven and see what true…

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  • Please Pray for Troops & Chaplains

    For God and Country * That Others May Live

    My friend’s FB post today was a great reminder of why (I hope!) we all will pause today and honor our Veterans … “Recently I have enjoyed teasing Favorite Husband about having gone to war in two different centuries … But truly today – as much as every other day I am grateful for his life of selfless service – embracing the creeds from both of his lives: For God and Country * That Others May Live” (Here is the official V.A. Veteran’s  Day information, just in case you need a little refresher on the details of why we pause specifically at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th…

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  • Sin & Repentance

    God’s story makes you just the right size …

    I’m not an avid Twitter reader, but CCEF tweets like these David Powlison gems keep me coming back: “…….you become joyously sane. The universe is no longer about you. God’s story makes you just the  right size.” “Christ-less, grace-less attempts at change conclude either with the praise of your own glory or with your shame.” “Good theology interprets psychological phenomenon, and good pastoral practice addresses psychological and interpersonal problems.”  

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  • Sin & Repentance,  Singleness & Marriage

    Girls’ Guide to Understanding Guys and P*rn

    Many thanks to Challies for linking to this article. I must admit that it is a hard read for me. Having been exposed to such things as a young child (so I personally know more of this evil than I wish I knew), and knowing too many marriages that have been utterly decimated by sexual sin, I simply cannot read this with any level of emotional detachment.  But it is surely one of the main issues facing young men and women today; and I absolutely agree with the author’s list of recommended resources at the end. So I hope it is a help (and warning and encouragement) to some of…

  • Relationships & Peacemaking

    When to Overlook and When to Confront

    Recently, Tim Challies linked to a (great) blog post he wrote back in 2008: Overlooking an Offense In it, he cites Chris Brauns’ Unpacking Forgiveness, which is definitely worth the read on this topic. As is my favorite book to work through if you or someone you love is struggling with bitterness and unforgiveness: Nancy Leigh DeMoss’s Choosing Forgiveness. But of course I can’t think about this topic without specifically remembering one of my favorite questions from one of my blog readers. Ever. I talked about it in this post from 2006: Are You a “Reconciling Stalker”?? And (also of course) my brain automatically hyperlinks to the one modern book that I truly…

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  • Relationships & Peacemaking

    Foundational Peacemaking Principles that I Mentioned on Wellspring Radio Today … (and a Giveaway!)

      What a joy it was to spend an hour with Joanna Weaver of Wellspring Radio! Thank you, Joanna, for the privilege of introducing your listeners to the foundational biblical peacemaking principles of Peacemaker Ministries.     As promised, here are the links to the peacemaking tools we discussed: The Slippery Slope of Conflict The Four G’s The Seven A’s of Confession The Four Promises of Forgiveness (including the Young Peacemaker Four Promises of Forgiveness)   And just because I love introducing people to these foundational principles, our family would like to do a WIN FREE STUFF GIVEAWAY! Here are the details: Leave a comment on this post by 5:00PM (Mtn), Thursday,…