Blog

You shall not steal. Exodus 20:15 This is one of those blogs that I’d rather not write. It can be terribly shameful to admit the sins of my past. But, here goes . . . As I was pontificating on the eight commandment last night – You shall not steal – I struggled to come…
Read more

You shall not commit adultery. Exodus 20:14 My wife and I recently wrapped up a marriage small group study at our church. At our final meeting, we reflected upon the improbability of us leading a marriage study nine years ago. Nine years ago our marriage was still reeling from the disastrous consequences of my addiction.…
Read more

You shall not murder. Exodus 20:13 The other day, as I went to make a turn at an intersection, I offended another driver. It’s an awkward intersection that I won’t try to explain, but I don’t know how I could have avoided it. Still, this guy was enraged, yelling, pointing, and gesticulating wildly. There was…
Read more

Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God.  Exodus 20:8 Several years ago, a buddy and I began curling as an activity to do with our teenage sons. We formed a team and…
Read more

Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you. Exodus 20:12 While interviewing patients in addiction medicine for the first time, it’s standard practice to ask about childhood trauma. I was asked the same when I was going through treatment. A…
Read more

You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain. Exodus 20:7 When I was perhaps four years old, I began to spend time with the neighborhood kids, learning some rather colorful language. To be fair, I’d been…
Read more

I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments. Exodus 20:5-6 Whenever someone new attends our jail Bible study,…
Read more

You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I…
Read more

On the morning of the third day there were thunders and lightnings and a thick cloud on the mountain and a very loud trumpet blast, so that all the people in the camp trembled. Then Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they took their stand at the foot of…
Read more

You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Exodus 19:4 I’ve often said that even though I’m not thankful for the pain that I caused others, I am thankful for my drug addiction. Through it, God is still teaching me…
Read more