Category Archives: Challenge

You can do all things through Christ! (see Phil. 4:13)

Advice to a Pastor Under Attack

Recently a young pastor with a heavy heart contacted me. He was overwhelmed and brokenhearted by critics in his church and pleaded for prayer. I have added portions of his original message below. I have made changes to keep his … Continue reading

Posted in 1 Corinthians, Abuse, Anger, brokenhearted, Career, Challenge, Church Growth, Church Health, Comfort, Communication, Control, discouragement, Disillusionment, Dissension, Division, Encouragement, Faith, Family, Fear, God's Will, Gossip, Mission, Perseverance, Personal Growth, Purpose, Rumor, Slander, Success, The Church, Uncategorized | 472 Comments

Parents – Back to School!

Among the ubiquitous joys and challenges of parenting is discipline. With every child God creates and entrusts to the care of his or her parents there is the inherent expectation that the parents will do whatever is necessary to train … Continue reading

Posted in Accomplishment, Career, Celebration, Challenge, Discipline, Education, Example, Family, Graduation, Parenting, Success | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 265 Comments

Are You Growing?

Some of my earliest and fondest childhood memories are of watching, “The Wonderful World of Disney” as well as early Disney movies. In the childhood classic, “Peter Pan,” there is a part where Wendy falls in love with Peter. Under … Continue reading

Posted in Ambition, Career, Challenge, Discipline, Encouragement, Faith, God's Will, Inspiration, Motivation, Perseverance, Romans, Success, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 66 Comments

Get Back Up!

Have you heard about the NFL scout who was talking with the college coach as they watched his team practice? The coach said, “Let me tell you about this player I’ve got; he’s the toughest I’ve ever seen.” “How so?” … Continue reading

Posted in Challenge, Encouragement, Perseverance, Recovery | Tagged , , , | 82 Comments

Expect the Best

“Take your umbrella – it may rain!” Most of us have heard a parent or spouse say that as we were on our way out the door. As a student, I sometimes ignored my mother when she suggested I take … Continue reading

Posted in Challenge, Encouragement, Expectation, Faith, Future, God's Will, Hebrews, Isaiah, New Beginning, New Year, Personal Growth, Preparation, Proverbs, Romans, Wisdom | Tagged , , , , , , | 19 Comments

Do You Know What’s Going On Around You?

At a class reunion I discovered that I have the dubious distinction of having more surgeries than anyone else in my senior class. For this accomplishment I received a yellow tee shirt with a reprint of the game “Operation” emblazoned … Continue reading

Posted in Challenge, Encouragement, Personal Growth, Psalms, Romans, Time Management | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Bitter Rivalries and Broken Relationships

What happens when you combine hearsay with  presumption and a blend in some deep-seated animosity? You get an angry reaction – much like Clemson’s Dabo Swinney’s unfounded anger and rant against The University of South Carolina’s football program earlier this … Continue reading

Posted in Challenge, Church Health, Communication, Discipline, Dissension, Division, Family, Gossip, John, Personal Growth, Rumor, Slander | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 88 Comments

Your Epitaph – What Would You Have it to Say?

God desires that we live our lives in such a way that the preacher won’t have to search for good things to say about us at our funeral. I heard the story of a man named Bill whose brother Will … Continue reading

Posted in Challenge, Death, Discipline, Encouragement, God's Will, Humor, Jude, Legacy, Malachi, Personal Growth, Preparing to Die, Reputation | Tagged , , , | 35 Comments

Developing Drive

At 7:45pm August 8, 2011, Diana Nyad dove into the water off the shores of Cuba on her second attempt to swim the 103-miles to the United States. A marathon swim in the ocean would be a monumental challenge for … Continue reading

Posted in 1 Thessalonians, Acts, Challenge, Personal Growth, Psalms | Tagged , , , , , , , | 130 Comments

Let’s Go!

It’s easier to go down a hill than up it but the view is much better at the top. – Henry Ward Beecher For those who are willing to climb with Him, Christ offers an intimacy that those who choose … Continue reading

Posted in Challenge, Joshua, Personal Growth | Tagged , , | 39 Comments