By: Victor Stanely Jr. Out on Bail Seven years ago in June 2011, I was sitting in Northern Virginia awaiting a court hearing where I was facing two counts of assault and battery. The DEA had taken down a crime ring I was part of in a state down south and the drug task…
Category: Scripture
Warring Against the Shame of Lust
By: Shane James O’Neill Spiritual Hangover Have you ever experienced the spiritual hangover that comes from acting out lustfully or watching pornography? It’s a kind of grief that sits in the soul and pushes up into our emotions, thoughts, and relationships. Being “in a funk” doesn’t do the experience full justice, but I’ve used…
Why What You do While You’re Naked Matters
By: Shane James O’Neill (This is a continuation of our Ephesians 6 series in anticipation of the Proven Men This is War Conference on June 9th.) New Atheism Sam Harris is probably my favorite public atheist (are Christians allowed to have a favorite public atheist?!). While criticizing what God cares about, Harris once said:…
The Warfare of the Redeemed
By: Shane James O’Neill All of Life is a Warzone There are always things we are in conflict with, there is always real adversity in our days. There are goals we’re fighting for and emotions we’re fighting against. Starting the day can be its own battle, along with the real anxiety we have as…
Raising From the Dead
By: Shane James O’Neill ProVen: Victorious in Living. Paradox There is an intense, and often confusing, paradox at play in the New Testament: We are given the freedom to be weak and we are given the power to be strong. In Romans chapter 8, St. Paul shares the intensity of this paradox in the…
Why Do Some People Experience Same-Sex Attraction?
By: Kyle Thorp Avoidance Romans chapter 1 is one of the harder passages of the Bible to swallow. I remember studying it with my Bible Quiz team in ninth grade. When we got to the part that mentions homosexuality, there were some uncomfortable pauses and throat-clearing before someone said, “Let’s just skip that for…
Following Jesus But Living Like Hell
By: Shane James O’Neill Matthew 5:22-24 The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!…
Why Does Purity Even Matter!?
By: Shane James O’Neill Confused by Paul In Colossians 1:24 Paul says something seemingly funky: “Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church.” But what the heck does that even…
Practices of Righteousness
Written by: Shane James O’Neill 1 John 3:6-8, 10 “No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. Whoever makes a practice of sinning is…
2 Bible Stories About Sexual Integrity, and How to Teach Them
The Bible gives us many life lessons, including how to handle some uncomfortable discussions regarding sexual integrity. Below are some examples from the Bible with lessons for today. Joseph and Potiphar’s Wife (Genesis 39) The Story: In this story, a young Joseph has been sold into slavery and works in Potiphar’s house. Potiphar’s wife tries…