THOSE FOUR WORDS stood out in bold print. They appeared as if they were forming an enormous monument, each letter seemingly chiseled out of granite. At the base of this strange “monument” were hundreds, perhaps thousands, of people with their arms stretched high, as if worshiping at a shrine. And then, in very small letters, this caption appeared at the bottom of the editorial cartoon: “Speaking of American cults . . .”
Read MoreCategory Archives: Marriage
Persistence Pays
PERSISTENCE IS A COSTLY INVESTMENT, no question about it. But the dividends are so much greater than the original outlay that you’ll almost forget the price. And if the final benefits are significant, you’ll wonder why you ever hesitated to begin with. A primary reason we are tempted to give up is other people . . . you know, the less than 20 percent whose major role it is in life to encourage others to toss in the towel, for whatever reason.
Read MoreAnchor of Unity
The scene breathed life-threatening fears. Imaginations ran wild. Paul knew that staying together was the secret to their survival. The temptation was strong to abandon ship and let each person fend for himself.
Read MoreComplete Acceptance
Because we’ve lived with our wives over the years and have become extremely comfortable around them, we tend to be unguarded in our words. Wives usually get the brunt of our worst words.
Read MoreTruth Spoken in Love
I’m impressed that Job listened to the words of his wife. He pondered them, he considered them, he turned them over in his mind. He neither misunderstood nor ignored her. He heard what she said.
Read MoreA Plea for Understanding
I want to confess that for too long in my ministry I took unfair advantage of Job’s wife, especially since she was not present to defend herself. I think it was probably due to immaturity on my part.
Read MoreDiversity into Unity: A Love Story
God delights in diversity. And from it, He gets a kick out of creating unity. Hence the surprise love story of two very diverse people. He’s a Mexican engineer-turned-pastor, transplanted to Texas 15 years ago, and now the pastor of Insight for Living Ministries’ Spanish-language ministry, Visión Para Vivir, and the pastor of Stonebriar Community […]
Read MoreMy Life’s Defining Moments
For 63 years, I have started nearly every day the same way. My wife, Cynthia, and I get up at 5:00 a.m. We have done this for so long that we don’t need an alarm clock, no matter what time we went to bed. First thing, one of us turns on the coffeepot that I […]
Read MoreMy Grace Awakening – How God Made My Marriage Bloom
When I wrote The Grace Awakening almost 30 years ago, I couldn’t have imagined the book’s widespread impact. People still write to tell me how it changed their lives and even their marriages. Little do they know that, in part, the book originated from my own “grace awakening.” This June, Cynthia and I will be […]
Read MoreThe Garden in Full Bloom: Marriage as God Intended
On the 18th of June, 1955, we said “I do.” At just 18 and barely 20, my wife and I began our journey together that is now in its sixth decade. And, contrary to popular opinion, we’ve not been sheltered from life’s harsh winds. Keeping a marriage together is hard work. Making it thrive is […]
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