Suffering: Why Would a Good and Loving God Allow Suffering? Most of us believe that suffering is terrible, something to be avoided, and possibly a consequence of our own misbehaviors. Is it possible that suffering is an integral part of our faith journey? When asked by the Pharisees: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in...Continue Reading

Breaking Free Obsessive-compulsive, or OCD, is a frequently-used term in today’s society. We may tend to associate OCD with individuals who are very neat, well-organized, structured (maybe to the point of rigidity), and concerned with cleanliness. This may or may not be problematic for the individual or for those around him/her. Many individuals simply have...Continue Reading

Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. Colossians 3:13 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:32 We all know that we are called to forgive one another....Continue Reading

In his book, “The Age Of Miracles Is Back: How Jesus Inspired The 12 Steps,” Glenn Langohr tells us that the Twelve Steps, which we associate with Alcoholics Anonymous, did not start out as a cure for alcoholism. Instead, the Twelve Steps originated with the Oxford Group, a Christian organization that was founded by missionary,...Continue Reading

In 1 Corinthians 7:28, Paul tells us, “But those who marry will face many troubles in this life” (NIV). Tackling those “troubles” is the work of marriage. Work that can be overwhelming! We’ve all heard the divorce statistics for our country: Almost 50 percent of all marriages in the United States will end in divorce...Continue Reading

If you imagine your thoughts as the gasoline that fuels your emotions, and your emotions as the car that drives your choices and direction, you will begin to understand Cognitive Behavioral theory, and you will have an important tool for changing your life. Listed below are several types of patterns of problematic thinking that we...Continue Reading

We all experience anxiety or worry at some time in our lives. Although these two words are often used interchangeably, we might think of worry as allowing our thoughts to dwell on past, present, or future negative situations or possibilities. Anxiety, on the other hand, may include: Mental symptoms such as worry, impaired concentration, difficulty with...Continue Reading

5 Natural Ways to Ease Anxiety Exercise, Meditation, Yoga Thirty cumulative minutes a day of any type of physical activity relieves anxiety by flooding your bloodstream with feel-good hormones. Exercise also fosters deeper sleep.Studies show meditation actually changes the brain. Brain scans of regular meditators show increased activity in the area of brain associated with...Continue Reading

Margaret Wehrenberg, Psy.D. recommends this exercise to clear your mind,  increase your focus, decrease  your worry, and increase your emotional availability in the present. Find a private place, where you can sit undisturbed for 15 to 20 minutes.Sit comfortably, breathe deeply and evenly.Notice any part of your body that is tense, painful, or stiff– face,...Continue Reading

May 8, 2020 BY GREG SMALLEY It’s time to start gradually getting back to normal. What are your and your spouse’s expectations for this next stage? And how do you readjust — yet again? You’ve been cooped up with your spouse for weeks, and it’s time to start gradually getting back to normal. Maybe the...Continue Reading