Month: August 2022

For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. Titus 1:7-8 I said a bad word the other day at the gym. Actually, I yelled it. I’ve…
Read more

The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen. 2 Timothy 4:18 I grew up in a church of an evangelical tradition, meaning we placed high value on salvation – being born again into a new life. In…
Read more

Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing. 2 Timothy 4:8 When my kids were in junior high, my wife was gone one day and…
Read more

For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 2 Timothy 4:6-7 The one addicted to drugs or alcohol usually has a lifetime of regrets. Addictive behavior is toxic…
Read more

As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. 2 Timothy 4:5 Nearly eight years ago, I relapsed into drug use and a spiral of dramatic self-destruction. It didn’t start out with me losing my job and going to treatment one day. It started out with just…
Read more

For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions . . . 2 Timothy 4:3-4 When I began doing some Olympic lifting a couple of years ago, I thought I knew how to lift weights. I did…
Read more

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 When my kids were young, they’d spend hours playing with LEGOs. They’d build spontaneously, but the most fun was…
Read more

Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted . . . 2 Timothy 3:12-13 Throughout my life, I’ve often been a little too preoccupied with what others think of me. In reference to my faith, I believe in God, and I want to follow him, but I’d prefer…
Read more

. . . Always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. 2 Timothy 3:7 In medical school, I memorized and learned a multitude of facts. I passed my board exams, and I knew a lot of stuff. I wasn’t yet fit to practice medicine though. Simply knowing a lot wasn’t…
Read more

People will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. 2 Timothy 3:2-5 While using drugs,…
Read more