by Craig McAndrews | Mar 28, 2023 | Articles, Mentors Corner
Psalm 73:28 I never put much thought into the impact of nearness until recently. Over the past six months, my wife and I have transitioned into the empty-nester phase of life as our youngest son went off to college. The early part of the transition was fun and exciting as we started to have a bit more time for the two of us. There were fewer activities to navigate, less managing curfews, and a dramatically lower grocery bill. However, as time has passed, we have wrestled with our sons being away. We miss them and often look for ways to get together. There is something about having them near that brings a sense of peace and comfort. These words describe a similar sense we may experience when God is near, however, in Psalm 73:28 the topic of nearness goes deeper and should more profoundly impact how we respond. In Psalm 73:28, Asaph writes, “But as for me, the nearness of God is my good; I have made the Lord God my refuge that I may tell of all his works.” I can’t think of many Christians who would disagree with the idea that having God near is a good thing. However, in this verse, we read about a deeper level of dependence and a compelling call to action as the output of the nearness of God. The nearness of God brings about a deeper dependence on Him as we make Him our refuge. The word refuge is more than just a place of escape. The King James translation uses the word, “trust” which means a literal shelter or a...
by Craig McAndrews | Apr 25, 2022 | Articles
The topic of mental health is a hot one in today’s world. As a result, institutions are focused on offering support to those who need it. Individuals are admired for talking openly about it, and organizations are popping up in many places to address it. Often, at the center of the mental health challenge is anxiety. Our society is increasingly more anxious about what is happening around us. Whether it is the uncertainty of the future or the overwhelming pressure of the present, people seem captured by a sense of anxiousness. As a college professor, I see this with students. When I started teaching several years ago, the common reason for someone missing class or having an issue with an assignment was a physical illness. Today, it’s more often a mental illness issue. It’s always a challenge discerning what’s real and what’s a smokescreen because a student doesn’t do the things required of them; however, one thing is true; anxiety is weighing people down. The word of God speaks to this topic in Proverbs 12:25, which says, “Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down, but a good word makes it glad.” The phrase, “weighs it down” is written as “stoop” in the King James translation, which means “to prostrate in homage, to fall flat, to do reverence, to worship.” Whatever is the object of our anxiety will cause us to worship it or pay homage to it. According to the Proverb, anxiety will cause you to focus entirely on whatever makes you anxious, which takes your eyes off Jesus. When you consider the magnitude of what is taught in this verse,...
by Craig McAndrews | Jul 29, 2021 | Articles
King Solomon wrote in Proverbs 23:7, “For as a man thinketh in his heart, so he is: eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee” (KJV). Another way to read this is, we are what we think about. For anyone who has spent time in the Bible, it’s no surprise that the wisest man to live pointed out this truth. What we think about captures our attention, and what has our attention determines our action. Try this exercise for yourself. Write down the two or three things that have your attention in life. What do you think about most these days? As they come to mind, look at how you are spending your time, money, or talents. It’s likely the resources God provides are being used to pursue what has your attention. We move in the direction of our strongest thoughts. Unfortunately, if our direction is off course, it will impact our relationship with Christ. The apostle Paul provides powerful instruction in 2 Corinthians 10:5 when he writes, “We are destroying speculations, and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.” If taking every thought captive is an essential practice for the follower of Jesus, what is the best way to do it? Praise God that the answer is found in the pages of scripture. In Colossians 3:2, Paul challenges the church to “set their minds on the things above, not on the things that are on the earth.” The King James translation uses the phrase, “set your affection” on...
by Craig McAndrews | Jul 29, 2020 | Articles
Before I get started, I have a confession. Over the years, as a result of the work I was doing, I spent a lot of time on airplanes. On occasion, I failed to fully adhere to TSA guidelines for carry-on items (the confession part) and went ahead and packed that big tube of toothpaste or the massive thing of hair gel (don’t judge). In looking back on those times, I remember thinking that maybe I can get away with it and not have to throw these recently purchased items in the trash. I knew the screening systems were sound, but there might be a chance they would miss finding the rule-breaking items in my bag. There were several times it worked. I was able to get the items to their destination and avoid the inconvenience of having to make new purchases. I saved money, and I saved time. Victory! In reflecting on my TSA smuggling efforts, I was convicted that I often view my sin in the same way. I like to think I can hide it from God by rationalizing that no one else is hurt, or it’s small enough not to matter. After all, isn’t God merciful and forgiving? Won’t God overlook mistakes? One of the most under-emphasized attributes of God in the church today is His wrath. The culture of the church continues to veer further and further away from the God described in the Bible. In Hebrews 10:26 says, “For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a terrifying expectation...
by Craig McAndrews | Oct 2, 2017 | Articles, Mentors Corner
In a world filled with multi-tasking, speedy technology, on-demand entertainment, and social media, it is easy to understand how we get distracted. I have been disappointed at times when I realize how much of my attention the computer, or some other electronic device has captured eaten up my time. What about you, when was the last time you sat still, by yourself, with zero stimulation—all in an effort to quiet your soul? My guess is that it has been awhile. In fact, if you are under the age of thirty, you may never have done anything like that. For anyone pursuing a deeper relationship with God and a closeness to Jesus, the idea of distraction can be depressing. It is challenging enough to handle the day-to-day work that comes our way, but we also live in a culture that rewards busyness over quiet reflection. What we need is a supernatural time management program, but, until that gets discovered, we can look to the Bible for three key thoughts on dealing with distraction. Purpose—The apostle Paul provides perspective on biblical purpose in Colossians 1:28 when he writes, “We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ.” He makes it clear that this is what he works for; to proclaim Jesus to people and challenge them to grow in God’s word. We have a charge to the do the same thing and a clearly stated purpose plays a major role in keeping us “on task”. Do you have clarity on your purpose? Priorities—Having a clear focus on...
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