World-Changing Suffering

I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three...

Three Reasons You Give Up On Your Goals

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will...

Gratitude Over Guilt

Sometimes I‘ll be sitting around, minding my own business, and BAM! I am struck by overwhelming feelings of guilt, but not because I did anything. These feelings are completely out of the blue. So I start analyzing everything, every conversation I have ever had,...

Feeling Inadequate

Sometimes I want people to think I’m a better person than I actually am, especially when that person is in a position of authority over me. One time, when I went to get a physical, the doctor and I were talking about my diet. She asked me what I usually ate for...

Celebration

Have you ever actually read the laws surrounding tithes? They are found in Deuteronomy 14:22–29. For the most part, they are exactly what you would expect: bring a tenth of all you produce to the place God has set aside (i.e., your church). That’s what you...

Struggles Make Me Better

Do you ever think it’s weird you’re so religious? You’re so devoted, in fact, you immediately started saying, “I’m not religious, I have a relationship!” (Non-churchy people don’t think in those terms, BTW). Not to mention the...