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.
The Immaturity of Addiction
Barry York A person who has practiced addictive behaviors for a good portion of his life once told me an insight he had been given. Though it came from a secular source, this observation rings true. He was told that one of the side effects of addiction...
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)?
How to Be Spiritually Miserable
Eric Davis You have to do one thing to ensure a run-in with misery: exist. In a fallen world, it’s inevitable. And, for many, it’s unbearable. Misery: a state of dissatisfaction, unfulfillment, and emptiness. It is the consequence of pursuing something other than the biblical Christ for salvation, satisfaction, and/or stability...
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,
You Are Not Damaged Goods
Paul Maxwell Talking about sexual history with the person you’re dating can go wrong very quickly. It can turn a healthy dating relationship into a game of manipulation and control in a millisecond. When sexual history is revealed, both parties may feel betrayed for different reasons...
Study Guide for Lloyd-Jones’s “Spiritual Depression”
Paul Tautges I am delighted to learn that Granted Ministries has brought into print a hard-cover edition of Martyn Lloyd-Jones’ classic, Spiritual Depression, which also includes audio messages and a free study guide. Here’s what the publisher says about this unique resource:“It is our opinion that Spiritual Depression: Its Causes and Cure is one of the finest Christian books that has been written."
The Best Question to Ask Yourself When You Are Overwhelmed
Mark Altrogge I remember one night when I expressed to my wife Kristi that I was feeling overwhelmed. At that time she asked me an incisive question:
6 Kinds of Evil Conscience
Paul Tautges Conscience is a gift from God, but what are some different ways it is misused?
Depression: Discerning False Thinking Patterns
Paul Tautges The most convicting and, thereby, helpful chapter to me personally is one in which the author identifies 10 false patterns of thinking that are often characteristic of persons struggling with depression-anxiety. Frankly, I’m ashamed to admit how many of these describe my tendencies...
Resources: Depression & Spiritual Discouragement
Paul Tautges More than 20 resources to help you...
23 Reasons to Be Joyful (Philippians)
Paul Tautges The book of Philippians has been my food for the past month, or so, in response to the encouragement of a faithful brother of mine. Having struggled my whole life with negative thought patterns, which come so easily—without any conscious effort—I am asking the Lord to train me in a pattern of joy...
Depression and the Pastor’s Wife: Suffering in Silence
Cara Croft Every counselor begins with the question, “So how long have you suffered with depression?” The truth is that I am not sure. At times it seems like a lifetime....