As a counselor, I often get asked, usually after one person has been deeply hurt by another person, “How can I know for sure if I can trust them again?” This is a great question—and a wise one—which, fortunately, comes with a lot of helpful answers. In fact, this is so important that our wellbeing and the quality of our relationships—and any possible reconciliation—depend on knowing and living according to the right answers. Therefore, with so much at stake, we should be relatively thorough in Continue Reading
Love and Discernment: Why We Need Both
Tens of thousands of people recently flocked to the tiny town of Wilmore, Kentucky, which has a population of just 6,000 (and also happens to be the birthplace of my lovely grandmother, Ruth). Why did these crowds come? Because they were told an amazing revival was happening, and they wanted to see and experience it for themselves. Interestingly, the school where this occurred, Asbury University, effectively ended these meetings after a few weeks, at least for outsiders/non-students. Someone Continue Reading
One Last Try: Marriage Counseling
THE END OF OUR MARRIAGE? After several years of unhealthy communication, harmful coping, growing resentment and hopelessness, and so much more, our marriage seemed to be over. Pop-psychology and some religious leaders affirmed that it likely was over, that too much damage had been done. At the same time we were continuously told to “trust the process” and “give it time”—and that involuntary separation from each other without guidance could be healthy, even in parental alienation with our Continue Reading
Are All Sins Equal?
“Sin is sin.” “All sins are equal.” “There is no sin that is worse than another, at least in God’s eyes.” Perhaps all of us have heard one or more of these assertions in their various forms. And most people I ask about this believe these ideas are biblical. However, “so that no one will deceive" us “with persuasive arguments” (Col 2:4)—and in order to walk in the truth and love others with the truth (1 Jn 3:18; 2 Jn 1:4; 3 Jn 1:4)—as well as not harm others with erroneous ideas, we Continue Reading