Joey + Rory = AUTHENTIC

I am dialing a number on my phone and it starts to ring. Meanwhile, a possum and a cat have started a knock down, drag out fight outside my window when she answers my call. “Hello?” “Joey, hey, this is Brent with Serious.Life Magazine. Please ignore that sound in the background. There’s a cat and a possum killin’ each other outside my window.” Most other interviews would have ended right there with a click, but what I got instead from this cover-model-beautiful singer was, “Darn things. The only good possum is a dead possum.” My kind of folks. How I arrived at this phone call is a unique story for me. I was writing one night and had a ball game on the TV in the background. I kept hearing a commercial every half hour or so with the most velvety-honey voice and perfect harmonies… kind of Allison-Kraus-meets-Emmylou-Harris-with-a-touch-of-Dolly-Parton. Having sung all my life, often in ‘a capella’ groups, the clarity and simplicity of the vocals got my attention. It was a Christmas commercial but not a traditional holiday song. The third or fourth time it came on, I found myself immediately stopping, mesmerized by the music and this soft chorus that was like a lifetime of sweetness rolled up in one voice. Never has a TV commercial launched me on a mission, but I found myself searching Google trying to find out who this duet was. If they weren’t famous already, I was sure they would be some day. (Now that I’ve met them, I hope everyone finds about them eventually). The commercial was for Overstock.com. The singers were Joey Martin and Rory Feek known publicly as the country duet, “Joey + Rory”. In reality, they both sing, play and write but have publicly evolved into the singer (Joey) ... | read the rest of this story online

About Joey Martin & Rory Feek

Authentic artists share a gift for communicating truth; truth mined from their own life experiences and expertly spun into three-minute, melodic vignettes. Vanguard/Sugar Hill Records artist Joey + Rory, the husband-wife team of Joey Martin and Rory Feek, is among that rare breed of talent that lives and breathes what they write and sing. This duo, deeply rooted in a classic country sound, draws listeners into intimate, close-knit community with the debut release The Life of a Song. Twelve songs, seven of them co-written by Rory and Joey, comprise the colorful landscape where this couple is perfectly in its element: scuffed cowboy boots in “Boots”, dusty rodeo arenas in “Rodeo”, laying down the truth in “Cheater Cheater” and enduring love in “To Say Goodbye”. Backed by some of Nashville’s finest acoustic musicians, Joey + Rory bow a standout disc that is as personal as it is plausible. While her distinguishing vocal talent, influenced by Dolly Parton and Connie Smith, rivals the competition on country playlists, Joey communicates with a more nuanced delivery. Rory, a former Marine and decorated songwriter with chart-topping hits by Collin Raye, Blake Shelton, Clay Walker and others, compliments Joey with tasteful guitar work and subtle harmonies. To any onlooker, the humble Rory, in his daily uniform of overalls and work boots, is the obvious match for the down-to-earth Joey. The honey-voiced Joey is a throwback to old school female country entertainers in her standard attire of western-yoked shirts, Wranglers and belt buckles. She’s as at home onstage or at the Pottsville, Tenn., farm she shares with Rory and his two daughters. After migrating from Indiana almost a decade ago, Joey worked with her second love, horses, at ... | read the rest of this story online

Bradley Walker: A Little Change, A Lot of Heart

I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know Bradley Walker and do the following interview. You might want to read the “About Bradley” story first, and check out his video (www.brentriggsstuff.com/detail.asp?submissionid=192 ) to make this part of the story more meaningful. We speak of things in the interview that are explained in his bio, and also about the video. I hope you enjoy getting to know this young man as much as I have. He’s the real deal. ~ ~ ~ My first exposure to you was the video, “A Little Change.” Let’s start there. Tell me how that song and the video came about… The song was written by Carl Jackson, Mike Ward and Jarrod Ashley. Carl produced my CD, Highway of Dreams, and he is a dear friend of mine. He is one of the truly great songwriters in Nashville. Carl asked me one day to listen to this song that he just wrote as we had already begun to look for songs for my album. I fell in love with the song immediately and the message it contained. We go through a pretty rigorous process of choosing which tunes will go on an album, and that song just stuck with us the entire time. When we got in the studio, the song just took on a life of its own, and we were really proud of how it turned out. I feel very fortunate that I was the first person to cut that song and get to call it my own. About a year ago, I met Joey Martin and Rory Feeks, and we struck up an instant friendship that has only grown since then. Rory really loved this song and felt like a video was something he wanted to do just to help me along. It’s the type of song when you listen to it, you get this mental picture of what is happening ... | read the rest of this story online

About Bradley Walker

By Robert K. Oermann Before he got his recording contract, Bradley Walker had already performed on the Grand Ole Opry, appeared on national television and sung at some of America’s leading bluegrass festivals. One listen to Highway of Dreams, his stunning Rounder Records debut, explains why: Bradley Walker is simply one of the greatest young country singers alive. He belongs to a tradition that includes such outstanding stylists as Vern Gosdin, Merle Haggard, Mel Street, Gene Watson, George Jones, Lefty Frizzell, and Keith Whitley, all of whom he cites as influences. “It’s not like I’m on any kind of campaign to bring back traditional country music,” says Walker. “It’s just that this is the kind of music I love, the kind of music that makes me happiest. I’ve been singing this way all my life.” Backed by some of Music City’s greatest acoustic players, under the direction of producer, singer, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Carl Jackson, Walker turns in one breath-taking performance after another on what is easily the finest country-bluegrass disc debut of the year. The message song “A Little Change,” alone, is enough to alert you that you’re in the presence of a master vocalist. The twin-fiddle waltz “He Carried Her Memory” is utterly heartbreaking, while the yearning “Lost At Sea,” the classic-sounding weeper “Love’s Tombstone,” the bluegrass rampage “I Shoulda Took That Train,” and the moving gospel outing “We Know Where He Is” are so assured, so emotionally complex and beautifully phrased, that they sound as if they come from a seasoned veteran rather than a newcomer. “He really is one amazing singer,” says producer Jackson, who has worked with everyone from Emmylou Harris to Glen Campbell. The GrammyTM award-winning Jackson’s ... | read the rest of this story online

Bradley Walker Video Response

We put Bradley’s video up on the blog (www.brentriggs.com) and asked readers to respond. The messages were heartwarming and insightful. •Posted By: Bob There’s so much that can be said about Bradley Walker’s “A little change”. I know that in the past I have been guilty of judging others based on their “appearance”. In the video, there are two surprises for us. First, we discover that the old man has a Bible in his paper sack instead of the bottle we assume is there. And second, we discover that the very talented Bradley Walker is wheelchair bound. We assume that the old man is a drunk and can’t be trusted. We also assume that Mr. Walker must be able-bodied because of his talent. What we really discover is that we have biases and preconceived notions and ideas about people based on outward appearances. The shame that I have felt in the past because of my own judgmental attitude once again welled up in my heart and mind. I am grateful to have been reminded again that I am no better than any of God’s children. God is not interested in our outward appearance. He is interested in the condition of our hearts and our souls. I pray that God will help me to look through His eyes at others. • Posted By: Joan This young man gives a wonderful testimony in this song. I hope he writes more songs with messages. He reveals the attitude of Americans who have no regard for anyone but themselves. Satan causes hearts to be self-centered with no compassion for others. If this does not wrench your heart, I believe you have no love for Jesus there either. Jesus’ way is simple; find Him. • Posted By: John It reminded me of the time my wife and I were driving through Tulsa, Oklahoma. We were off on a side road and as we approached ... | read the rest of this story online

Living Faith: Don & LaVon Baker

This month we want you to meet Don & LaVon Baker, the RV Chaplains, who have a very interesting ministry story we know you’ll enjoy hearing about. Tell us a little bit about how you grew up… family life, who influenced you, your spiritual background. Don Baker grew up in the Pauls Valley, Oklahoma area. He was saved at eight years of age in a revival meeting, graduated from Maysville High School as Mr. Basketball, and was recruited by several colleges to play college ball, but the Lord had different plans for him. Don suffered a “destroyed” ankle which still gives him “fits” to this day. God saw fit to get Don into the Navy where he survived basic training and survival training and went on to serve three tours in Viet Nam. Don married Joan in 1968, and they had one daughter, Stephanie, born in 1972. Don went to work for the 7-Up bottling plant in Waco, Texas, and was soon plant manager and worked in that capacity for four years. Following his success with 7-Up, Don went into business with a friend at Motive Power Industries, an oil field related company in Oklahoma. Success followed Don’s hard work and success-driven mentality until the “crash” of 1984. Not only did the oil business crash, but Don’s heart health crashed as well. He spent eight days in a coma, 30 days in ICU, and was in and out of the hospital for a year. Diagnosis: congestive heart failure and cardiomyopathy. In 1985, Don, still thinking he could do it all, built a lucrative vending business. However, in November of 1990, God got Don’s full attention when the doctors told him, on yet another of his hospital visits, “We’ve done all we can do for you. Short of a heart transplant, with no guarantees, you have six months to ... | read the rest of this story online

A Letter From The Editor

Well, I get to issue my first “oops” for this magazine. It would probably be a big deal had I not already experienced enough “oops” for ten lifetimes. So it just doesn’t pack the same punch as it did when I was younger and less messed up. Last issue, I did a story on Steve Pavlina. I had read his latest book, and one would think you’d have a pretty good idea about someone after reading an entire book they wrote. I ASSUMED from his book what his worldview was. He disguised his core beliefs effectively (on purpose?). I was wrong, wrong, wrong. He had some decent ideas in his book, but what I discovered digging through his blog AFTER publishing the story (bonehead!), that he is as anti-God/Christianity as you can get. He wrote an insulting public diatribe that labels Christians as immature, idiots, morons, simple-minded and childish. Not only that, he is neck deep in the occult, spirit channeling, astral projection and yes, thinks he (and eve ryone) is god. No surprise there, that is the lie that Satan started with in the Garden. He has routine contact with “Jesus”. He told me he’d say hi for me. In a comic twist, he told me I should not “equate him” with what he wrote... he was just being provocative. Huh? Don’t equate someone with what they write publicly in the first person? Only a New Ager could get away with that kind of psychobabble. Well you CAN equate me with this statement: if you bought Pavlina’s book, throw it in the trash... I did. Don’t promote him, don’t recommend him, don’t waste your time reading the tired old New Age nonsense on his website. My bad.... | read the rest of this story online

Dear Brent

Dear Brent, While I think much of what you say about “courting” makes sense, how realistic is it for the majority of singles out there of all ages? Also, what is your opinion of the online dating sites (match.com, eharmony, etc...)? - - - - - - - - - - - - - - I agree that courting is hard today for ANYONE, but any single of any age, all by themselves can choose to “court” without all the formalities of parental involvement. In other words, just enjoy being friends with no romantic involvement until you are ready to marry… then “court” in a very structured way (with a specific purpose) when you decide you are ready to find a marriage partner, (as opposed to “dating” where romance and sexuality is experienced as a means to an end, not in specific preparation for marriage). “Dating” or “courting”… it’s not the term that matters, it’s the INTENT. Most importantly, avoid the “emotion blindness or distortion” that sexual stimulation causes in evaluating a person for marriage. Most people get physically involved almost immediately, even if just kissing and hugging. That physical adrenaline goes a long ways to distort your view of someone, often to our peril. My suggestion to singles, is to avoid physical contact with romantic potentials in the first phase of courting (or dating, call it what you want), until you decide they are the person you want to marry. Then you get a REAL look at who they are without the hormones clouding the issue. Even after engagement, physical contact should be careful, cautious and light so as to minimize temptation and continue to get to know the “real” person… and to reserve the physical expression for the appropriate time: after marriage. This is God’s plan - NOT to “keep ... | read the rest of this story online

Push Your Flywheel: Real Success In Life and Business

Today, people want meteoric success in whatever they do, especially money. In other words, they want it fast, and they want it big, preferably with minimal effort. In our modern world of “give it to me NOW, give it to me FAST, I deserve it”, we are easy prey for the mentality that success in life, relationships or business should be instant and easy. That’s not reality. Nor should you want it to be. Success that is fast and easy for all, is no success at all. It’s just status quo. Think about it. If everyone could get it all fast with no real effort or process, then “success” would be redefined as something more than that. That’s why, as a rule, “success” is typically neither easy, nor fast. You have to change your mentality and expectations. Real success comes with time, discipline and consistent effort. Picture yourself diligently pushing on a giant flywheel every day. A flywheel is a heavy-rimmed wheel that translates energy into momentum and power. The faster it turns, the more power it generates and the easier it is to spin. Each day you push on that flywheel by doing the right things; you discipline yourself to do the activities that will lead you closer to your goals and with each action, even small actions, you nudge that flywheel faster and faster. Early in your efforts, you push hard, and the wheel turns slowly but that is natural; don’t let it discourage you. With each nudge the flywheel picks up speed. As it picks up speed and gains momentum, the pushing becomes easier and the speed continues to build. It’s like the proverbial snowball rolling down hill. Keep pushing. Keep doing the things you must do every day to give that flywheel energy. Your little pushes each day result in great ... | read the rest of this story online

The Low Down on Low Payments

Low down payment, low monthly payments. Nothing down, minimum monthly payments. No money down, no payments until next year. Let me ask you a question. Do you think retailers and dealers make these offers because they care about you and just want you to pay as little as possible for their goods? Do you think there is a reason they structure financing in such a way so that it makes it “affordable” to you RIGHT NOW? Do you think they have a profitable reason to allow you a low down payment, and minimum monthly payments? Low or No Down Payment Why do you suppose they offer this? Because they want you to get the best deal, right? Puh-leeze. C’mon… how many times have you walked away from a salesman convinced you got a “great deal”? Offering low, or no, down payment is a way to get people to buy impulsively when they simply do not have the financial means on hand. It is a way to get people to COMMIT their FUTURE to the creditor. “We can’t get yesterday or today’s money… but we can get what you make tomorrow.” Low Monthly Payments Out of the goodness of their heart, we are offered the lowest monthly payments possible, right? The terms are extended to longer periods of time, years and years. Payments are delayed for months or even a year. Why? By allowing you to have “low monthly payments” you are more likely to buy NOW, more likely to buy MORE, and more likely to buy something without really thinking about the long term. By allowing you to have “low monthly payments” creditors are assuring that the principle amount of the loan is paid off very slowly, thus maximizing the amount of interest you pay (as well ... | read the rest of this story online

Where There is Vision; There is Provision

By Angel Weir Before even writing this blog post, I can say that it is truly among my favorite posts EVER! A year ago, God sent me on a journey to Ethiopia. I met Hannah - a woman who inspired me like no other. A woman who just followed God’s call. Where most of us would say “Impossible … who am I,” Hannah says “Where there is vision … there is provision.” Click here to see the video of Hannah’s amazing ministry. WHERE THERE IS VISION I was impacted so deeply by her story of taking in one child after another off the streets. She is providing them a home, a family of foster siblings, food, clothing and, so important, EDUCATION. Today, Hannah cares for over 160 children with little consistent outside support. THAT is about to CHANGE! Hopechest and Red Letters Campaign just returned from Ethiopia where we identified 8 orphan communities with over 750 kids who would benefit from the Children’s Hopechest community - to - community sponsorship model. THERE IS PROVISION Just Released - Powerful Video of Ethiopia Vision... As Hannah said, “Where there is vision, there is provision!” Some of us had a vision for supporting Hannah in her incredible work. Some of us had a vision of bringing support for Kolfe orphanage. Tom Davis had a vision for bringing future to 1,000 children in Ethiopia. Well … guess what, I want to show you the provision (watch the new video: http://www.redletterscampaign.com/blog/2008/11/where-there-is-vision-there-is-provision/). To date, it appears that we have four of these communities sponsored already. It brings tears to my eyes to see Hannah’s orphanage on this video and to realize that God has taken this experience full circle. Also, keep an eye out for Moses’ Orphanage ... | read the rest of this story online

The Reality of Modern-Day Child Slavery

By Jeff Goins Before all the election hooplah monopolized the blogosphere, I read a story a last week about a little boy who was purchased for $60 in Asia. While we’re debating how much Sarah Palin paid for her campaigning outfits, atrocities like this one are happening on the other side of the world, and I can’t help but feel one emotion - shame. Where is the justice? God help our hard hearts. Here’s a chilling update about child slavery from Marisa Banas, a missionary on the World Race: Navotos is a community of 10,000 people who live on top of tombs in a graveyard in the Philippines. Michael lives in the part of the community that is raised about 12 feet off Manila Bay’s polluted waters. All 9 of his family members live in a 2-story makeshift squatter home. Most of the bottom level is rotted out and can’t be used. You get up to the top floor by climbing a slippery ladder and once you get up to the top, you realize that this family literally has nothing. Each child has one shirt. Some don’t even have pants. The baby’s bottom is diaperless and the severe rash has bubbled his skin over to look like a think crust. Michael spends all day alone in the house with the baby and his other 2-year old brother while his father and mother go out to try to find work so that they can eat. His older siblings are left to govern themselves and find work. When the pimp came to the door with a picture in her hand, the family thought that their luck had changed. She promised them that by giving Michael to her they would become rich. She said, “At the age of 20 Michael will come back to you with a million dollars and you will not have to struggle like this anymore.” She also promised that Michael would be taken care of and treated like ... | read the rest of this story online

Science: The Veracity of James Nienhuis

Editor’s Note: what follows is a series of answers to questions I asked Jim directly. His books and material about Genesis, Ice Age Civilizations, Atlantis and the Black Sea are simply fascinating, and largely ignored by the academic establishment because he presents irrefutable evidence that questions the status quo of world history and the Biblical account. Ancient civilizations mapping and traveling the globe; advanced submerged cities, proof of the Genesis account... Jim is an expert on this and more. I hope you enjoy finding out more about him. ~BR I’m James I. Nienhuis, author, documentarian, and lecturer, trained at Dartmouth College, born again at age 26, saw the veracity of Genesis about five years later, after reading Henry Morris’ The Genesis Flood. I’ve been studying the germane subjects ever since, about twenty years now, having written two books and three documentaries, and now blogging at DancingFromGenesis.com. On my blog I present the compelling evidences that all of the Bible is true, including Genesis, the most accurate and far-reaching book (in geographic and chronological scope) of any volume of ancient history ever written. Did you ever wonder why there are 60 seconds to a minute, and 60 minutes to an hour? Why were these base 6 numbers selected? Well, the ancient root of all that is in geometry, which means earth measure, based upon the hexagon form, within the circle of the earth. One side of the six sided hexagon which is the length of the earth’s radius, measured according to the wobble rate of the earth’s axis, anciently known at 72 years/degree. So the ancients measured time accurately by the earth’s wobble rate, and thereby, achieved geometry, which means earth measure, embodied in the dimensions of the Great Pyramid ... | read the rest of this story online

Forever Homes

By Mike Dotson Destiny has seen and experienced more than most little girls her age deserve. At the age of four, her vocabulary list had to include words like foster parent, court-appointed, no visitation rights, and real mommy versus foster mommy. The story of Destiny and her three sisters is like so many others. She was born into a family who knew little, if anything, about how to care for a newborn or a toddler. But her parents kept having more beautiful baby girls—four little gifts from heaven all within six years. These girls spent the first few years of their life in limbo, never knowing where they would live and if they would have to learn a new mommy name. Their destiny was charted by other people. They learned quickly, too quickly, that their life wasn’t right. They longed for permanency; they longed for their “forever home,” a place where they would feel secure and know that a frantic, manipulative phone call from their real parents wouldn’t spiral them back into darkness. They had some good foster parents, and they had some that on the surface seemed good, but they didn’t always feel loved and accepted. The parents they had for the last two years had done everything in their power to make the girls’ lives full of love, security, and joy. They took all four girls with their dirty clothes and stinky diapers. They picked up the girls on a hot, late afternoon in August. The call came from the state; it wasn’t so much a question of if they could take four girls in three hours but, “You need to be in the Wal-Mart parking lot in three hours. There are four girls who need you and need to be out of their home now!” With three hours’ notice, the couple said simply, “Okay, we will be there.” Not knowing if the girls would ... | read the rest of this story online

Humor: Church Bulletin Bloopers...

Bertha Belch, a missionary from Africa, will be speaking tonight at Calvary Methodist. Come hear Bertha Belch all the way from Africa. Announcement in a church bulletin for a national PRAYER & FASTING Conference: “The cost for attending the Fasting & Prayer Conference includes meals. The sermon this morning: “Jesus Walks on the Water.” The sermon tonight: “Searching for Jesus.” Our youth basketball team is back in action Wednesday at 8 PM in the recreation hall - Come out and watch us kill Christ the King. Ladies, don’t forget the rummage sale. It’s a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house. Don’t forget your husbands. The peacemaking meeting scheduled for today has been cancelled due to a conflict. Remember in prayer the many who are sick of our community. Smile at someone who is hard to love. Say “Hell” to someone who doesn’t care much about you. Don’t let worry kill you off - let the Church help. Miss Charlene Mason sang “I will not pass this way again,” giving obvious pleasure to the congregation. For those of you who have children and don’t know it, we have a nursery downstairs. Next Thursday there will be try outs for the choir. They need all the help they can get. Barbara remains in the hospital and needs blood donors for more transfusions. She is also having trouble sleeping and requests tapes of Pastor Jack’s sermons. The Preacher will preach his farewell message after which the choir will sing: “ Break Forth Into Joy.” A bean supper will be held on Tuesday evening in the church hall. Music will follow. At the evening service tonight, the sermon topic will be “What Is Hell?” Come ... | read the rest of this story online

Reader Recipes

The following recipes were taken from the “Adoption Cookbook”. The pics are from the cookbok. If you would to purchase it, go here. Ethiopian Dabo Kolo (Little Fried Snacks) Ingredients: In a 1-quart bowl: Mix: 2 cups all- purpose flour ½ tsp. salt 2 tbsp. sugar ½ tsp cayenne pepper ¼ c oil. Directions: Knead together and add WATER, spoonful by spoonful, to form stiff dough. Knead dough for 5 minutes longer. Tear off a piece the size of a golf ball. Roll it out with palms of hands on a lightly floured board into a long strip 1/2 inch thick. Snip into 1/2-inch pieces with scissors. Spread about a handful of the pieces on an ungreased 9-inch frying pan (or enough to cover bottom of pan). Cook over heat until uniformly light brown on all sides, stirring up once in a while as you go along. Continue until all are light brown. They will look like flat peanuts, and are served as a snack or with cocktails; and like peanuts, once you start eating them you can’t stop. Submitted by Beth, mother of Jessica and Sam, Ethiopia Cheesecake Dip <span ... | read the rest of this story online

Homeless Houses

All of us have passed a house before with a sign in the front yard that read, “Home For Sale.” Each time I pass by such a sign I say to myself, “They’ve got it all wrong. They’re not selling a home, they’re selling a house.” However, I sometimes find out later that the couple living in the house is getting a divorce, and they’re just selling and dividing up everything. Then I think to myself, “Maybe their home is for sale. Evidently it’s already been sold.” These days when some people say, “I’m going home,” all they find when they get there is a house. Instead of being a haven for mom, dad, and the kids to live and love together as a family, it’s often nothing more than a motel, a fast-food establishment, or a place to sleep and change clothes before rushing to the next activity. For some, it’s more like a prison cell. For others, the house keeps getting bigger while the home keeps getting smaller, until one day an empty large house stands “homeless.” Think of that, a “homeless house.” Can you imagine such a thing? Sadly, it happens every day, somewhere. Standards by which families have been traditionally maintained, have become an oddity instead of the rule, and the home is being undermined. So how do you advertise a home for sale? I guess you would advertise it a lot like you advertise a house or household items for sale. You get a sign that says, “Used wife for sale” or “Used husband for sale” or “Used kids for sale.” They’re sold like yard sale items. You paid a lot for them initially, but you are basically giving them away now. There just may be more homes for sale than houses and who is the “realtor” in these kinds of transactions? Is your home for sale? There will always be someone willing to buy it cheaply. We know ... | read the rest of this story online

Children Without Bitterness

We should pray that our children will not resist or become bitter in trials. “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you” (Ephesians 4:30-32) God uses trials as one of His three very special tools to shape our lives into Christlikeness. The other two tools are God’s Word and prayer. It is easy to love God’s Word and prayer; yet, rarely will someone love trials. But if we resist the troubles and trials of life, and become angry at our circumstances and those who hurt us, we will miss one of the greatest tools God uses in our lives. Staying angry about life and refusing to forgive those who hurt us causes a dangerous weed called bitterness to grow, take root, and gradually choke out our life. A heart filled with anger and hatefulness grieves the Holy Spirit. When grieved, God’s Spirit won’t bear fruit in our lives. Though His Spirit cannot leave us (because we are sealed until that day when Christ returns to take us home), we are emptied of joy and blessing. Bitterness hurts the bitter person the most. Bitter people act like their father, the devil, treating others as he treats them. A soul consumed with bitterness denies our Father in heaven who loved us even when we were His enemies. The way out of bitterness is to remember the cross of Christ. There the power of sin was broken. Because of this, the once bitter person can confidently say: I no longer have to allow myself to be hurt. I no longer need to get even. I am empowered by God’s grace to see His hand even in people and events ... | read the rest of this story online

Rational Faith, Real Wisdom

Proverbs 30:6-9 - Do not add to His words, Lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar. Two things I request of You (Deprive me not before I die): Remove falsehood and lies far from me; Give me neither poverty nor riches— Feed me with the food allotted to me; Lest I be full and deny You, And say, “Who is the Lord?” Or lest I be poor and steal, And profane the name of my God. Perhaps the Bible’s simplest book to understand is Proverbs. It plays well to any crowd … everyone wants to be wise. And Proverbs is, front to back, advice on wisdom: How to get it. How to keep it. How to recognize it. How to increase it. How to apply it. How to share it. Proverbs is 31 chapters of wisdom one-liners. It also gives nearly equal time to fools: How to be one. How to recognize one. How to avoid being one. Nothing else in the Bible is so secularly clear, so spiritually uplifting, and so humanly convicting all at the same time. Proverbs is a close-up look into a brightly-lit wisdom mirror. The hardest thing about reading Proverbs is its common construction of couplets that tug us in two directions at once, e.g.: “The wise do this, but a fool does that.” Gosh, some of those first ones make me feel smart; and too many of the second ones make me feel dumb. Proverbs insists that we are down-to-the-bone honest with ourselves. You can’t fool Proverbs. In our everyday lives too often we confuse wisdom with simple book-learned knowledge. Too often in culture we see people praying at the altar of rationality and logic. Knowledge, rationality and logic are good, but it’s wise to at least occasionally consider that they are manmade. I think, therefore I am. That is Descartes, not the Bible. Proverbs ... | read the rest of this story online

Forgive Until It Hurts

Forgiveness hurts. Why? Because you are taking the pain of being wronged onto your own shoulders, releasing that burden from the person who rightfully deserves it. Jesus said love your enemies, pray for them and bless them - YOUR ENEMIES. Ever done that? It hurts! And if it doesn’t, then most likely you were only mouthing some hollow words. Loving someone who has only hated you, hurts. Praying for someone who is tormenting you, hurts. Blessing someone who only seeks to make life miserable for you, hurts. Have you ever thought about how absurd the Lord’s command is? Absurd from the worlds viewpoint; absurd apart from God. Think about it. Someone hates you, hurts you, betrays you, steals from you, disparages you and mistreats you... and what does Jesus say about that? Enemies... Pray for them. Love them. Bless them. Are you kidding me? Seems unfair doesn’t it? We not only get to be hurt by our enemy, we get to have a double dose of difficulty when it comes time to love and bless them... regardless of their response or whether or not they have asked for forgiveness. Why would Jesus ask us to do this? Whenever I contemplate something from God that seems “backward”, I can immediately assume a few things based solely on what I know of God’s character: He has our best interest at heart because God is love It is the perfect requirement because God is perfection I will be happy about it eventually because He makes all things work together for good for those who are called according to His purpose It will bring me emotional and spiritual peace because God gives peace that is beyond my understanding I don’t have ... | read the rest of this story online

Feeling Dejected and Abandoned?

David had dark thoughts and uncontrolled emotions. He loved the Lord, but all the stress of his terrible plight had drained him of peace and joy. As we continue to study David’s Psalm 13 confessions, perhaps you can identify with how deeply wounded he felt. My mind seems so troubled: How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? (v. 2a, emphasis added). David was swept away by his emotions, which is a common experience. He couldn’t calmly reflect on God’s faithful hand in the past so that he could be comforted by trusting the future to Him. David had ruminated so long on disaster after disaster that he was feeding on the dark thoughts of hopelessness. So he cried out in anguish again, “God, I can’t stop these feelings of dejection and abandonment!” Usually, there are some clear causes for these feelings David confessed: emotional temperament, physical weakness, and “let down” are often at the root of discouragement. David was probably of the temperament that is more prone to discouragement. As Lloyd-Jones writes in the opening pages of his monumental book, “foremost among all causes of spiritual depression is temperament.” James Boice says that “A plunge into disquieting thoughts and emotions can be caused by physical factors—illness, for example. Charles Haddon Spurgeon was one of the greatest evangelical leaders of the [nineteenth] century, but he suffered from severe bouts of depression. Why? The main reason is that he suffered from gout, marked by painful inflammation of the joints and an excess of uric acid in the blood. It was common in the [nineteenth] century, and it drained Spurgeon’s energies.” At times of illness or extreme fatigue, we are more vulnerable to the devil or our flesh trying to ... | read the rest of this story online