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I admit it! My life is such a cluttered mess. At least I often feel that way. Earlier this week, I opened my desk drawer, and it gave me a sinking feeling. It was overflowing with stuff. There were two types of stuff in this drawer: Stuff with which I did not want to deal.Stuff with which I did not know what to do. Over the years, the drawer had accumulated more and more stuff. It became an overflowing mess. I never took any stuff out of the drawer. I just continued to stuff more and more into it. My mantra was out of sight, out of mind. The only problem was that every time I opened … [Read More...]

And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints. (Ephesians 6:17–18, ESV) There is a cosmic battle that is raging. There are evil forces at work that stand opposed to the kingdom of God. The Apostle Paul describes it as nothing less than spiritual warfare in Ephesians 6:10-20. We are called to take up the full armor of God and to stand firm against the devil and his schemes. We are to take the … [Read More...]

I was a 4th-year seminary student. I was about to graduate, be ordained, and receive my first Call into ministry. I had spent four years of college and four years of seminary in preparation to serve as a pastor in the church. I had studied the Bible, church doctrine, and church history. I had done fieldwork and completed a one-year internship, working in a church. I considered myself mature and knowledgable. I was confident in my education and learning. I was ready to take on the world. I believed I had everything I needed. I was so confident in myself that I had signed up for a … [Read More...]