Category: Basic Training

In my last post, I stated the toughest of all the challenges men face is the battle for their sexual purity. In fact, it’s Every Man’s Battle and the reason why authors Stephen Arterburn and Fred Stoeker sold so many books on the subject. I also described a weekend-long retreat for our church’s men’s group that I conducted about man’s battle for sexual purity based on 5 sessions: Where We Are? Distinguishing between addictive sexual behaviors, a stronger than normal sexual appetite, and God’s standard for our sexuality. How We Got Here. Reasons for the pervasiveness of sexual impurity today, understanding our natural desires as a male, and why we must rise above sinning through those natural tendencies.  Choosing Victory. Biblical foundations for following God’s definitions for masculinity and sexual purity. Time to Fight. Understanding how Satan uses his greatest weapon of deception in the war for our purity and what

After a 3-week sidebar about managing through the current COVID-19 pandemic, I return to my planned follow-up to the series on The Biggest Challenges Men Face. In my last post about Isolation and Temptations During Crisis, I alluded to it but I feel the challenge of Maintaining Sexual Purity deserves its own post. In fact, it needs a series of posts. Although our biggest challenges can be grouped into three categories: Managing Work-Life Balance, Reordering Priorities, and Resisting Temptations, resisting the temptation in order to maintain sexual purity is probably the toughest of them all for men! It’s Every Man’s Battle Several years ago, I read a book called Every Man’s Battle: Winning the War on Sexual Temptation One Victory at a Time by Stephen Arterburn and Fred Stoeker. The book was widely praised for its man-to-man tone and practical advice about what many men grappled with— lust, unchecked sexual

During this coronavirus pandemic, I attempted to encourage you with two posts: Caring and Connecting during Crisis and Pray to Find Peace during Crisis.  But now, I must provide a warning.  No, it is not another message about the need to wash your hands more or why you must practice social distancing to minimize the spread of the coronavirus. This is a warning about giving in to the temptations that can come from being isolated and alone. Distancing; not Isolation and Separation Due to the COVID-19 virus, so many of us are working from home, staying away from family and neighbors, and distancing ourselves to help “flatten the curve”. We’re missing the fellowship of our social gatherings and small groups. We aren’t getting the weekly encouragement in live worship services. We are missing the promises in God’s Word about the forgiveness of our sins and the sharing of Communion.  However,