The terrible violence in Christchurch, New Zealand, is a bell that tolls worldwide.  It raises questions of who we are and where we are. 

When Christ met a Samaritan woman at a well, those questions were answered.

Here are the relevant thoughts from the story of the “woman at the well” that speak to me about our current state of religious conflict:

America has gone out of control.

Civility, respect, and honor are disappearing.  Anger, vitriol, and assault have become the norm. 

Here are my 7 rules on how to have a good disagreement:

Grief and regret are the twin prongs of paralysis.  If you can change it, change it.  If you can’t change it, move past it.

How do you defeat the challenge of grief and regret?

Pain is real.  Everyone feels it.

How can you turn your pain into purpose?

can look at some people and see defeat.  They look like they have lost:   Head down, shoulders slumped, eyes down.

How do you overcome your problems?  Stand up straight and look them in the eye.

You fight an invisible enemy.  He has a strategic plan to gradually, imperceptibly squash your joy. Ultimately, he wants to control your will.

I want to show you first how he takes control.  Then, I will show you how to find freedom!

We all put off confrontation.  We hide from people we should confront.  We have imaginary conversations with them we never get the guts to have. 

How do you resolve your worst confrontation scenario?

 

Confrontation is critical.

All good, true relationships have it. 

The question is, “Can you confront someone with a positive result?”

“The desert is the greatest place for a miracle.”

All of us go through deserts.  It’s confusing, hopeless, and DRY.

I have good news for you:  It can also be the prime spot for a miracle.

It happened again.  17 students killed, many wounded.  Something has to change.  We are the strongest nation in the world but weakest in controlling killers.

God has a solution.

All of us go through trials.

In every trial, there is an Accuser (Prosecutor), a defendant (you!), and a Judge (God).

That trial you are walking through now has a spiritual dimension playing out behind it.  Satan, the Accuser, is seeking to capitalize on any of our many weaknesses.

Here are 5 important things you can do to overcome Satan’s pounding accusations:

FEAR is the biggest enemy to your future.

It comes in many forms, mainly having to do with your future:  failure, rejection, lack, or death (to name a few).  Abram was mighty in battle yet his deepest fear was not having a successor.

How will you overcome the fears that limit you?            

They call it the “baptism by fire.”  Fire is pressure.  Fire is refinement.  Fire transforms.

It may be happening to you.  Don’t worry, join the crowd. 

Here are some things to remember about this process of refinement:

Grief is real.  It doesn’t go away quickly.  It requires time, Scripture, and support.

One year ago this week, my son Jonathan lost a pre-born baby.  He and Angie’s journey included a “healing song” Jonathan wrote that has brought them through. 

Here are a few thoughts to help you in your journey of recovering from personal loss:

Temptation is real.  It is bigger than me, but not bigger than Christ.  He faced every temptation I do, yet was never defeated.

What were His three secrets to overcoming temptation?

Jesus said deception would be rampant in the final days of this age.  That deception will culminate in the “Beast” (the Antichrist) and the “False Prophet.” 

What are some of the warning signs of a false prophet, a “wolf in sheep’s clothing?”

ANGER seems to be at the root of the senseless violence confronting our nation today.

People are angry.  Many of them do not even know why.  Most of us have no clue how to deal with them. How would YOU deal with a monstrously angry person?

“Crisis management” is not my favorite thing.  It is, however, often thrust upon you out of nowhere.  If you knew it was coming, it wouldn’t be a crisis!

Can you keep your head in a crisis?  Do your choices lead to disaster or do they point the way forward? 

Here are the 5 top things I do for direction in one of life’s sudden, unexpected crises:

Besides Harvey/Irma/Maria, North Korea nukes, Mexico City earthquakes, and London terrorism, what is there to worry about?

I believe the secret of peace right now is understanding the difference in “times” and “seasons.”

Here are some facts about "times" and "seasons":

How many times do couples fight per year?  A British insurance survey said 2,455 (that’s 7 per day!). The survey lists 28 sources of fights with "Not Listening" being at the top of the list!

Here is a thought or two about how to avoid these major annoyances: