THIS JUST IN FROM OUR GLOBAL ONLINE TRIBE:    I’m a new Christian and my pastor told me my identity is in Christ, but I feel like a fraud. I’m not sure I even know what authentic is. Actually I don’t know who I am. What am I missing?”    Wrestling with our identity—especially believing it is in CHRIST—is a life-long battle because LIFE is a Battle Royale!    In the midst...

On average, people give up after expending just 40% effort. It could be a workout. Or a diet. Relationships. You know…LIFE. This “40% Rule” was popularized by author Jesse Itzler in his 2016 book “Living with a SEAL.” The concept comes from the Navy Seals who use it to produce mental toughness and endurance.    His compelling theme got me thinking about how many careers fall short of...

The words glided softly from his pursed lips and landed softly in the room’s quiet air: “God, I cannot do this. I give up.” This story comes from a member of our online tribe who is struggling with, as he puts it, “taming my own strength.” His question to me was focused on how Christians can stop trusting themselves and start relying on God.    I’ll start my response with this immutable...

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This question just in from our global online tribe: “Why do I need to examine my heart and take inventory on my sins? God already knows about them, right?” A key discipline in our fight to live an authentic life in Christ is UNMASKING OUR SIN. We must KNOW our sins specifically in order to activate God’s specific forgiveness and cleansing.    The FIRST reason God is looking for us to be...

The essence of our Christian faith is the SON OF MAN coming to seek out and save the lost while other religions call on the FOLLOWERS to seek their “higher power.” Zacchaeus was a rich tax collector who fell into the camp of people who thought they had to seek out God. That’s why he went to Jericho when he heard Jesus was approaching the city gate. Being short in stature, he quickly realized that...

Everything people are doing in the world today—everywhere and always–is being pilfered by smart devices and fenced at the online pawn shop and its kangaroo court. With everyone watching everything, it’s harder to “get away” with a crime, bad behavior, or “secret sin.” But all of this exposure has not stopped us from pursuing pleasure or making bad choices without giving serious thought to the...

Another important question just popped in from our online tribe: “Hey Mark, I’m confused by the Bible’s claim that we hide from God. What does that mean?” The answer can be found by going back to the Garden where everything was great for Adam and Eve. They were fellowshipping with God. They were sinless. And then they accepted Satan’s offer.    In that moment the Garden’s perfection was...

We are all born LEGALISTS (keep the law to win God’s acceptance) who are vulnerable to being caught in the “Pharisee Trap.” Vulnerable to reject God’s grace. And vulnerable to the false allure of earning our way into Eternity with Jesus. The Pharisees were prolific legalists on a pedestal hovering above all others (1 Corinthians 8:1). They appeared to have it all together, but that was merely camouflage...

The word AUTHENTICITY is being tossed around our 21st Century society like a doughy pie gone airborne in the Bronx. Everyone is looking for what’s REAL. Marketing pushes an ARTISAN vibe to sell its products.    GENUINE is a moniker everyone wants to associate with but few ever meet.    The AUTHENTICITY “movement” has reached a fever pitch. It shows up everywhere in just about...