An Open Letter to a Distressed Sufferer
Mike Emlet (article/letter)
While we can’t penetrate the mysteries of suffering, we can be sure of this: our gracious and strong Lifeguard will not let us be swept away.
God is Not Red or Blue
Mike Emlet (article)
Perhaps in these tumultuous times, when we are tempted to ask (others, as well as God), “Are you for us, or for our adversaries?” we need to hear this: “No. But I am the Lord your God.
Manifestations of Pride
Stuart Scott (article)
Here is a sample list of pride manifestations that can easily clear away the smoke of any self-righteousness.
How to Battle Bitterness
John Piper (audio/article)
“Justice will be done. It may not be now, but you do not have to carry the load of vengeance.”
The Power of Unforgiveness When Used As a Weapon
Rick Thomas (article)
Sin disorients and distorts our thinking. Sin does not let God be God but entices us to assume the role of god-ness.
The Major Obstacle in Forgiving Others
John Piper (article/audio)
“Can we move forward treating others better than they treat us, even if it means only God knows and nobody else?”
4 Reasons for Addictions
Ed Welch (article)
On our first pass, addictions are lusts. They are out-of-control desires that usually hurt the addict and anyone else who is close by.
10 Steps to Deal with Anger
Chuck Lawless I grew up in a home where my father was prone to fits of anger. They typically didn’t last long, but they were loud and frightening while they were occurring. If you or someone you know has that same tendency, think about these ways to fight it...
How Can We Be Angry and Not Sin?
Jon Bloom “Be angry and do not sin” (Ephesians 4:26). Is this even possible? Not if perfect, sinless anger is the requirement, since sin infects everything we think, say, and do. But I don’t think Paul had perfect, sinless anger in mind. Paul’s point seems to be that not all anger Christians experience is rooted in the prideful, selfish soil of our sin nature...
Scripture's "Top Two" List
Ed Welch The Apostle Paul has a tendency to give us lists of sins. He gives us at least five of them.* At first glance, it feels like he is simply piling it on. But his lists include a recurring structure that brings keen insight into the human condition. He identifies the overarching category of renegade desire, and he typically calls out two expressions of this desire: sexual sin and anger.
Christian Conflict: Five Ways to Fight It
Josh Squires I wish I never had to deal with conflict. I am a card-carrying conflict avoider. Whatever the reason (character, context, sin, etc). I would rather run away from conflict than take it head on. It wasn’t until I began my training as a counselor at nearly thirty-years-old that someone explained conflict didn’t always have to do damage...
3 Criteria of Righteous Anger
Paul Tautges One of the most common, ongoing struggles we face in our sanctification as believers is the area of anger. And one of the most common ways we mismanage our anger is by failing to distinguish between righteous and sinful anger, and response.
Resources: Anger
Paul Tauges This resource list gives book suggestions, dvd ideas, and online resources to help you counsel yourself and others who are dealing with anger.
Anger Lite: Being Annoyed but without Sin
Paul Tautges As I think about Jesus being irritated by what Warfield calls a human being’s “blundering misunderstanding” of the divine agenda I am left talking to myself, asking questions like these:
How did Jesus experience irritation and yet not succumb to the temptation to sin against those with whom He was annoyed (Heb 4:15)?
Anger Self-Examination Questions
Paul Tautges Each Friday, three men at our church meet over lunch to read through Stuart Scott’s book, The Exemplary Husband. As we near the end of this helpful look at biblical husbanding, we have been studying some of our regrets as husbands. Today’s chapter was on the subject of anger. We found the following list of self-examination questions instructive for our own personal growth,
White Sugar Makes Me Angry
Paul Tautges Now certainly there is some validity to the idea that our diet may impact our moods…to a degree. However, no dietary change will ever lead to lasting behavioral change, and no “Christian Dietary Laws” will control your anger or your child’s temper tantrums...