“I can’t get this terrible thing I did out of my head. Can you help me clear my conscience?” While her story was unique, her problem was not. Over the years, it became obvious to me, as a counselor, that people seeking spiritual and/or emotional help often don’t know how to clear their consciences and…
My granddad was an angry and bitter man. During the summer as a little boy, I visited him and my grandma on their farm in Virginia. Granddad was a big man. I remember how frightened I was when I saw him slap Mammy, his petite wife, for doing the smallest thing he didn’t like. I’d…
What my Mama said to me the night I overheard her and my Daddy talking about not being able to pay all their bills surprised me. As a small boy, I knew we were poor, but I didn’t know we were that poor. Mama was a Sunday School teacher in our little church. She always…
I love Mondays. You know why? Mondays are full of hope. But, don’t misunderstand me. I’m not one of those “think positive and everything will be great” manipulators. All that positive-thinking, believe-you-can-do-anything optimism is self-destructive, deceptive, and worst of all, it’s anti-Christian. Foolish optimism doesn’t make me love Mondays. I love Mondays because I’m…
She asked sincerely, “I want to change what I’m doing. Is my willpower powerful enough?” Your willpower is powerful, but it’s not all-powerful. One of our most self-deceptive, self-destructive, and yet widespread beliefs is, “You can do anything you put your mind to.” Sometimes, it’s said this way, “If you will it, you can do…
We live in an activity-addicted culture. We’re so busy that we don’t have time to just sit quietly and talk to one another. Many now spend more time with their phones and computers than with their family members. My dad often worked seven days per week. During the harvest season in South Florida, my dad…
No Wonder We Have So Much Trouble Understanding Faith Bill Nichols, PhD. Ask ten people, “What exactly is faith?” You’ll probably get ten different answers. If you think about the many ways the word faith is used today, it’s no wonder people have so much trouble understanding what faith is. Mother Teresa’s sacrificial work helping impoverished…
Microchips are no longer just for laptops and phones. With so many amazing discoveries in medicine these days, I don’t get overly excited about one anymore. Well, that was until one invention made its debut with such a jolting impact that it just may be the beginning of a whole new era in the medical…
Have you seen the popular TV commercial about calming vests for dogs with anxiety issues? After seeing this curious spot, my wife and novelist, Phyllis Clark Nichols, shared some laughable and helpful spiritual insights in her brief blog “Troubled or Tranquil? That is the question!” You’ve got to read this one.
God may be crying out to you! What horrible pictures and sounds! Our news stays full of shocking videos and voices of the persecuted, mistreated, abused, and the victims of atrocious crimes. We feel deeply for the suffering families, friends, children, Christians in countries like Syria and the suffering ethnic groups. Jesus told his disciples…