Three Steps to a Better Marriage

Bonnie and I have been blessed with 35 years of successful marriage. We have had our share of struggles as we have tried to build our lives together, but we both agree, our lives and marriage are better today than they ever have been, and we look to the future with excitement and hope. I have been asked to briefly give a couple of keys to what we have found to be a way to do marriage that works. There are so many things that God has used and is using that it is hard to pick just a few. For me, not to try to over-spiritualize, but it starts with understanding, and accepting God’s role for me in our relationship. The basic concept that I am to love Bonnie as Christ loved the Church, and gave Himself up for it is where it all started. I had failed in marriage twice before coming to Christ....

The 6 Keys to Successful Journaling

After making our daily first hour with God non-negotiable the next most helpful tool is to write and keep a daily journal focusing on that time, There is just something that so clears our thoughts and helps us to remember meaningful things when we take the time to write them down. Its really indisputable how retention and understanding increases when we invest the time to write things. Keeping a daily summary journal of our time focused on God and His will and way for us will pay huge effectiveness dividends. It has always worked thst way for me and is the consistent testimony of every exceptional believer that I have ever known or read about. Many friends have agreed with the concept of journaling over the years but most have struggled to find a consistent format that helps to keep the...

The Critical First Step – Non-Negotiable!

Most Christians who struggle to have a consistent time of Bible reading, study, prayer and reflection do so because of one fatal mistake; the mistake of negotiation with the flesh! Get this! The flesh doesn’t want you to spend time with God! Neither does the world or the devil! They will never make it easy, always will oppose you in your effort to do so. When we make any profitable discipline or habit negotiable the most likely result is failure to maintain it. This is as true in exercise or diet as in any of the spiritual disciplines. The key is to not negotiate! It is infinitely easier to make one simple decision than hundreds or thousands of difficult complicated decisions. (I’ll have just a bite this time! I’ll skip running while I’m on vacation! etc.,etc.,...

Two Steps to Your best Hour

I didn’t meet Jesus until I was 35. Today I am 72. My first 35 years were lived as a worldly disciple of Hugh Hefner, the last 37 as a Christ follower. There isn’t enough space or time in this medium, and really not enough words,  to tell you all of the ways the “second half” of my life is better. Maybe another time. For the first 15 years of my life as a Christian I heard others talk about having a daily, early morning “quiet time” with our Lord. Since I am not at all a ‘morning person” I resisted the advice and tried every alternative I could think of to justify my resistance. (I do know all the reasons you can’t do it!) I did make a commitment to read the Bible for at least 5 minutes every day and involved myself in a broad...