Without Excuse

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“If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me ---” -Job 9:20           I haven’t even wanted to think about the Ariel Castro case, much less write about it. Castro has confessed to what was undisputedly exposed in Cleveland last May - that he had kidnapped and imprisoned three girls, violating them as captives in his home for over a decade. The details are unthinkable, and thankfully we’ll be spared a trial since the accused has pled guilty, accepting a bargain of life imprisonment plus 1000 years in lieu of the death penalty. But Continue Reading

A Cuppa Joe – Random Ramblings from a Fellow Struggler

Every Friday we’ll take a break from topical posts and will post some random personal thoughts.  Lessons from Fruit Flies I’ve often thought that when we’re denied one form of sensual pleasure, we are likely to turn to another, and while that’s hardly an astute observation, it’s pretty darned relevant to the sort of work I do. The idea’s pretty simple: The brain craves some sort of reward, a reward often given through illegitimate means like porn, intoxication, etc. It doesn’t have to be that way, of course – there are plenty of other Continue Reading

Great Offer for some Great Summer Reading!

Sussex Cove

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Watched

Watched Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. - Hebrews 4:13 Ezekiel makes a brief and chillingly prophetic observation about God’s people looking secretly at forbidden imagery when he recounts the Lord saying to him: “Son of man, hast thou seen what the ancients of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the chambers of his imagery? for they say, The LORD seeth us not —” (Ezekiel 8:12)” Even then, men who were believers Continue Reading

Blessed to be speaking at Calvary Chapel Refuge this week

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  For those of you in the Southern California area, I’ll be speaking at Refuge Calvary Chapel in Huntington Beach tomorrow (Saturday) at 6pm, then again for their Sunday morning services at 8:30 and 10:30. The church address is 7800 Edinger Ave. in Huntington Beach. For directions or more details check their website at www.refugefamily.com. If you’re there, please take a minute to say hi!   Hope your weekend is joyful and blessed. Take good care.   Love, Joe Continue Reading

A Lonely Peace

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 Every Thursday we'll post something about relationships. Hope it's useful. “Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you!” - Luke 6:26   I had a rough experience as a 17-year old, a spiritual and emotional boot-camp event which I thank God for now. It shaped me, and my approach to Christian life and service, by hammering into me a simple, critical truth: Peace of mind trumps popularity. Continue Reading

Amazing Grays

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Every Wednesday we'll post something about doctrine. Hope it's useful. Our local paper ran a feature story this week written by a self-identified evangelical Christian titled “There is Something in the Air. Can You Feel It? Grace.” Continue Reading

The ‘It’ Factor

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Every Monday we'll post something about sexual integrity. Hope it's helpful. Considering the fact you’re reading a blog on sexual integrity, there’s the possibility you’re either in crises over your sexual behavior, or you want to avoid ever having that sort of crises. And why shouldn’t you? You’ve got other plans, after all – a family, a home, or a certain type of job or career. And by now, you’ve probably attained some of those goals, so I’ll also assume you’ve steered your life in a certain direction and, to some extent, you’ve Continue Reading

Still In the Dog House? Try a Weekly State of the Union Address

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Every Tuesday we’ll be posting an article about restoring and strengthening marriages that have been damaged by sexual sin. Hope it’s helpful. For the married man, there can be a real helplessness that goes along with repentance. You know you’ve messed up, you’ve apologized every which way you can, and you’ve taken some concrete steps to get help. You’ve joined an accountability group, you’ve gotten yourself an accountability partner, you’re in counseling, and you make sure that on a daily basis you’re in the Word and praying. But you’re Continue Reading

Five of the Most Important Questions in the Bible

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The Bible’s full of instructions, of course, but there are some awfully interesting questions in there as well. Here are five that stand out to me. These were asked by the likes of Cain, Paul, and God Himself. All of them, to my thinking, speak to some of the most important issues of life. “Adam, where are you?” (Genesis 3:9) There’s the heartbroken cry of a Creator/Father in response to the tragedy of the fall. “We used to be close”, He seems to be saying to Adam, “our communion was deep. And now you hide from me?” Devastating, really, to Continue Reading