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The Apostle Paul was betrayed. So stunning to me that Paul's friends bailed on him. What happened to Paul is why we are building a brotherhood. We need our brothers. It happened when he was in jail and needed his friends in Asia to stand with him. In his letter to Timothy (2 Timothy 1:15-18) Paul describes how men he thought he could count on had turned away from him. But there was one man who stood with his friend. Here's how Paul described the incident, "As you know, everyone from the province of Asia has deserted me—even Phygelus and...

I was having coffee with a successful man—good business, nice house, kids in good schools. But his eyes were unfocused. Regret can be a real downer. Some long pauses in the conversation. "Paul," he said, "I've been successful at a lot of things. But I don't know if I've actually been successful at just being me." How many men are winning at the wrong game? Living a story they didn't write? It just got written for them. Wondering what the next chapter is, because the last chapter wasn't good, not fulfilling the deepest longing in their heart....? Here's the question...

The ultimate weapon of tyrants has always been death. From Caesar to Mao, the sword has been the ruling method of the dictatorial despot. But Jesus defeated death. Broke the back of intimidation. Set us free from oppression and fear. "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death" (Romans 8:2). This applies to every part of our lives. People who would try to kill your dreams. A boss holding job retention over your head like a club. The fear of what may happen in your marriage....

When we think of being relentless, we usually think of an athlete, a soldier, or a man of unwavering resolve. But Jeremiah was a soft-spoken man who just wouldn't quit. At exactly 12 noon, on September 23, 1857, this tall, soft-spoken man climbed the dusty stairs to the third floor of an old church building in the heart of Manhattan. He sat down as was his habit and began to pray. Waiting for others he had invited to join him. No one arrived. But, he prayed. Earlier that year, on July 1, he had signed on with a small failing...

A friend recently sent me an article entitled "Why Men Stay Stuck." I almost laughed out loud ... because my brain interpreted this statement as, "Why Men Stay Stupid." Paul wrote, "Claiming to be wise, they became fools (stupid)" (Romans 1:22). I just relate more to being stupid than being stuck because so often stuck is the result of stupid. God said, (in a direct quote), "Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid" (Proverbs 12:1). So, there it is. Why do we stay stupid? We don't care for discipline. We don't want to live with...