Tim Tracy In the Beginning…There Were Hoops. I learned about jumping through hoops at an early age. Although I did not find out about it until I was in my thirties, my dad was a closet alcoholic. My mom helped keep it a secret, but resented being forced into this role. She lashed out at Dad, belittling … Read more
What Comes After John 3:16? Do you have a favorite Bible verse? Many people do. Some people call it their “life verse.” Probably the most famous verse in the Bible is John 3:16. Most Christians can quote it by heart: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes … Read more
Words Matter Words are powerful. What we say matters. Words have the power to tear down or build up. Proverbs 18:21 says, “The tongue has the power of life and death.” Yes, words are important. But did you know that this is also true of unspoken words, such as the things you tell yourself? Let … Read more
How’s Your Self-Talk? I love this sign, because it’s a perfect illustration of self-talk. And even though I had been a Christian for many years, the only thing growing in my mind was weeds. Self-talk is a term frequently found in many of today’s self-help books. But back in the 1980s when I first … Read more
by Tim Tracy What Is Shame? Shame is a difficult emotion to express. You may experience it as a feeling of not being good enough, a worry that there’s something wrong with you, or an overwhelming feeling that you’re bad, dirty, or inferior. In her book The Gifts of Imperfection, social researcher Brene Brown explains, … Read more
“Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in … Read more
My Life Begins…In Second Grade Awhile back I was reading a devotional by Dr. David Jeremiah, when a paragraph jumped out at me: “God sends various people into our life. Some encourage us. Some rebuke us. Some help us recover. They all play a part in shaping us to be the person God wants us … Read more
Righteous? Yeah, right. What goes through your mind when you hear the word “righteous”? Do you think of someone ‘better than the rest of us’, like Mother Theresa or Billy Graham? Do you think of a standard that is unattainable in this life? Do you think of yourself? I’m guessing that last one’s not … Read more
Name That Tune My favorite Christian artist is Mandisa. She began her career in 2005 when she auditioned for the TV show “American Idol.” During her audition, she was famously insulted for her weight by Simon Powell. Later she confronted him and publicly forgave him, after which he apologized for his snarky remarks. Mandisa finished … Read more
What’s In A Name? Within the pages of the Bible is a short book, only four chapters long, and it describes one of the most famous romances of all time. Its author is unnamed, though most scholars attribute it to the prophet Samuel, because it is set in the days of the Judges. If you … Read more