Author: Ryan Trzeciak

It has been said that the single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place, meaning that communication is difficult and it often does not happen the way we expect. We live in a sinful world and we are imperfect people, so it is inevitable that there will be communication problems and misunderstandings. Being misunderstood can bring out many emotions. We get angry thinking the other person just isn’t listening or afraid that our friendship might be in jeopardy. Are you afraid of being misunderstood? Where does that fear come from, and how can we deal with it biblically? There are many ways to approach these issues, but we will look at two main areas: the demand for control and the need for acceptance. While these are not the only reasons why the fear of...

Change is not only possible, but it is a reality for every follower of Christ! Those who have turned from their sin to trust in Jesus for salvation have already experienced massive change as they have been brought from death to life and darkness to light. However, this change is also gradual as we continue to walk with Christ. How is this so? The answer is through the power of the Holy Spirit. So, it is important for us to know who he is, what he does, and how he sanctifies us. Who The Holy Spirit Is The Holy Spirit is God, the third person of the Trinity, coequal and coeternal with the Father and the Son (Acts 5:3-4; 2 Corinthians 3:17). He possesses all the attributes of God, being self-sufficient (John 6:63), infinite (Isaiah 40:12-17), omnipotent (Psalm 104:30), omniscient (1...

Bunker Busters. That is the nickname of the bombs dropped by the United States upon Iran’s underground nuclear facilities this past June. This massive ordinance weighs 30,000 pounds and can penetrate through 200 feet of earth and reinforced concrete! A number of these powerful weapons were used to neutralize Iran’s military advancements against Israel and its threat of unleashing nuclear weapons. In the face of a powerful enemy, a greater force was needed to bring about their defeat. Satan is a powerful adversary. Sin and temptation are his weapons of warfare as he seeks to take down believers and lead them to rebel against the Lord. One of his greatest tools for destruction is sexual sin. Too many Christians are damaged by this wickedness as they wrongfully choose to obey Satan rather...

A wise man once said, “Where two or three are gathered, there’s a conflict waiting to happen.” The truth of this statement is borne out by the fact that you are a sinner, and I am a sinner—and the fundamental nature of sin is selfishness. I want what I want, and you want what you want, and 99.9% of the time, those desires don’t align. As a result, we often end up fighting for what we want—and most of the time, that fight shows up in our words. However, Jesus tells us, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God” (Matthew 5:9). The followers of Christ are to be skilled at resolving conflict. Being a peacemaker is a characteristic of God’s children because that’s who God is. He is the ultimate peacemaker who sent his Son to put an end to the hostility between us. We...

“I want to ride the bench,” said no athlete ever. No one joins a team with the hopes that they sit on the sidelines the entire season. Everyone wants to be out on the field, scoring points, defending their goal, and helping their team to victory. The Apostle Paul often uses the analogy of sports to describe the Christian life when he says that we are to compete according to the rules (2 Timothy 2:5), run in order to win the prize (1 Corinthians 9:24), and finish the race (2 Timothy 4:7). What Paul is communicating is that just as it takes self-discipline and dedication to be successful in sports, these same commitments are also necessary for success in the Christian life. Just as every athlete wants to be in the game, every believer should desire to be engaged in the Christian life in a...

Everyone loves a good story. We read books, go to the movies, and binge-watch countless hours of streaming shows all because we like to be entertained by comedy and intense drama. We also like to tell stories. It is an amazing feeling when someone is hanging on your every word, just waiting for you to get to the end. This affinity for telling and hearing stories is hardwired into us by God because he is a storyteller. Roughly two-thirds of the Bible is narrative and contains the greatest story ever told, the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ, who died for our sins and rose again so that we might live in heaven for all eternity! However, there is a problem. The Problem Is We Love Sinful Stories As with all good things, our ability for storytelling and our love for story listening...

Being a Christian means being a warrior. Living the Christian life means constantly living with a wartime mentality. Paul uses the image of a soldier to describe the life of a believer in 2 Timothy 2:3-4, and he calls the Soldier-Christian to put on the whole armor of God in order to stand firm against the schemes of the devil in these evil days (Ephesians 6:10-17). But what is this battle? Where is the war that Christians face? One of the battles that Christians must face is the one within. When it comes to temptation, the combat rages hottest inside our own hearts. In the book of James, we read, “But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desires. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin” (James 1:14-15). This verse paints the graphic picture that...

College football is a really big deal! When the fall season is upon us, there are very few things that capture more of the attention of our country than this great sport. One of the most important things fans obsess over is the ranking system. Which team will be #1? Is it Alabama? Is it Ohio State? Or might it even be our beloved Gators? People care about the rankings because being #1 means that you are the best. Ranking Your Relationships: Getting the Order Right When it comes to our family relationships, especially with the extra members who come with a marriage, there is also a ranking system. It is important to realize that one relationship is most important and that all others are to fall in line accordingly. Coming in at #1 is our relationship with the Lord. It is always good to...

I give you full permission to mock me, but one of my favorite songs growing up was “Friends” by Michael W. Smith. It had good lyrics and a great tune, and I was fascinated by the idea of having friends forever “if the Lord’s the Lord of them.” I came to know this song right about the time a close friend moved away, and this brought me comfort as I grew in my understanding of the body of Christ and the eternal relationships that Christians will experience. Friends are definitely a blessing from the Lord, and we can be thankful for these precious gifts throughout our lives. Out of the many things that can be said about this type of relationship, I want to highlight that friendship is hardwired into us as humans, and God has graciously given us instructions on how to be friends. What’s...

  Hope is powerful; so powerful it can radically alter the course of life, just like it did for Steven.[1] Currently in his sixties, Steven lived with anxiety and depression ever since his teen years. Over the decades, he has interacted with numerous doctors who prescribed him numerous medications that seemed to work for a little while, but he soon found himself battling the same feelings of sadness and worry. Although Steven claimed to be a believer, church was not much of a priority for him, and he rarely read his Bible. One of the issues that caused his anxiety to increase dramatically is the fact that he was hiding a significant sinful lifestyle from his wife for years. She thought his bouts with depression and anxiety were due to his mental illness and an imbalance with his...