What's a Wretch to Do?
Jun 19, 2008
By Jonathan Daugherty

I know a counselor who recently approached a local church to ask if they would host a conference to help homosexuals learn about God's best regarding their sexuality.  The pastor of the church simply stated he wasn't interested.  This, unfortunately, is not uncommon.  There is such a fear among many well-meaning, evangelical churches of how their church fellowship will appear to others.  In many ways, it is politics as usual in the church.

Fatherhood: An Investment that Lasts
Jun 13, 2008
By Jonathan Daugherty

My father died in 1992.  I face every Father's Day with mixed emotions.  I am sad he is gone, I miss him so much.  But I also love the memories, I love this time of year where I can reflect on the things my dad taught me, the investment he made in my future.

Why We Like Superheroes
Jun 11, 2008
By Jonathan Daugherty

My son, Ethan, loves superheroes!  His favorites include Superman, Spider-Man, and Aqua Man.  Bending the laws of physics is a regular habit of these superheroes.  They fly, shoot spider web silk out of their hands, and all other sorts of things "regular" human beings can't do.  For little boys (and even us "big" boys) there is an attraction and even envy of these larger than life superheroes.  Why is that?

When You Don't Look Up
Jun 4, 2008
By Jonathan Daugherty

My wife and I were recently hiking a nature trail through the hill country (that's in Texas, by the way) when an interesting insight struck me.  We were on a getaway (that means no kids!) and so we were just talking and enjoying the beautiful scenery along the trail.  About halfway through our hike we decided it would be fun to search for some rocks to bring home to the kids.  Each of our three children have started a rock collection.  This particular hiking trail was near a river, so there were lots of rocks to choose from.  From that point on we were intently focused on the ground right in front of us, searching for the perfect rocks for the kids.

Desiring to Be Nothing
May 30, 2008
By Jonathan Daugherty

God has been tearing down a few more walls in my life lately. It's funny (sad, really) how I can think I have come so far on my journey only to look up and realize I haven't moved an inch on the timeline of eternity. One of the walls God seems to be keenly focused on right now is pride (probably one He will be chipping away at for some time). I have come to the sober realization that I have not fully embraced my insignificance. God really doesn't need me. I don't add anything to Him that would complete Him or enhance His essence in any way. Sadly, I often think God couldn't do "purity ministry" without me. He is breaking me of the lie.

The Beauty of Brokenness
May 28, 2008
By Jonathan Daugherty

Brokenness is not a condition we usually desire. We typically associate brokenness with weakness, being incomplete, or something is out of order. We don't strive to be broken. We don't pursue brokenness like we would wealth or fame or love. Yet, we are all broken. We are all weak, imperfect and in need, regardless of economic position or social status. Brokenness is the common denominator in all of humanity. We all come up short of perfection or wholeness. But no one seems to admit their brokenness. This is truly sad because I see such beauty in our brokenness.

Why Are We Not Ashamed?
May 5, 2008
By Jonathan Daugherty

Is there such a thing as healthy shame? I spend a lot of time in our ministry helping people overcome the negative effects of shame, the kind of self-loathing thinking that causes a person to believe that he or she is worthless. This kind of shame eats away at the core of a person's identity, stealing away the truth that God made man in His own image. A person can thus begin to believe that God made a mistake when He made them, and they therefore live their lives in a state of depression and despair. This is obviously unhealthy shame. But is all shame the same? Is all shame wrong or negative or unhelpful?

Overcoming the Power of Distraction
Jan 7, 2008
By Jonathan Daugherty

I think we can all agree that life is full of distractions. And even if we can't agree that it is "full" of them, we can certainly agree that they are present in everyone's lives (to varying degrees). For those brave few who have ventured into the wilderness of pursuing sexual purity, the term full more than accurately describes the degree to which distractions exist.

Take a Vacation from Your Problems...
Apr 24, 2006
By Jonathan Daugherty

One of my all-time favorite movies is "What About Bob?" It's a great story about a comically paranoid delusional man who becomes the patient of an egocentric psychiatrist. The day after they meet the doctor is going on vacation, which sends the patient (Bob) into a self-induced state of panic. Through a series of events, Bob learns the location of the doc (Dr. Marvin) and catches a bus to meet him at his vacation spot. This very inappropriate patient behavior takes Dr. Marvin by surprise, but he offers Bob a "remedy" by politely "prescribing" that Bob "take a vacation from his problems." While this prescription fails hilariously in the movie, I want to glean some positive insight from such light-hearted advice.

Safety in Numbers
Apr 24, 2006
By Jonathan Daugherty

I have a tendency to drift away from people. If I'm not careful, I will gradually isolate myself from friends and family. I don't necessarily intend to disconnect, it just seems to be my natural inclination. And it almost always leads to trouble.

Why I am Not God...and Other Comforting Thoughts
Mar 16, 2006
By Jonathan Daugherty

I was driving around town yesterday taking care of some errands when an announcement came over the radio that an online child pornography "business" was being shut down and its operators prosecuted. Then they reported something that nearly caused me to have a wreck out of disgust and anguish. You see, part of this online child porn ring included videos of abuse occurring on children younger than 18 months old. My gut wretched at such horrific news.

What Good Are the Lame?
Mar 8, 2006
By Jonathan Daugherty

I've struggled with shame most of my life. I believed such lies as, "I must be perfect" or "I am undesirable." These lies spun in my mind so often and so strongly that I lived them out in my everyday life and relationships. I worked hard to present myself as perfect, not having any flaws or deficiencies. I covered up the deep secrets of self-hatred and despair so as not to appear sick or unlovable. But these lies of shame kept me imprisoned in a state of perpetual sickness and immobility. I was lame.

A Mother's Story
Mar 7, 2005
By Kay Daugherty

“Mother, I’m a sex addict.” Painful to admit, horrific to hear. I listened as my son explained to me what sexual addiction was, never having heard the term before. I was shocked and confused, but grateful that he was being honest and that there finally was a name for the phantom that had turned my beloved son into someone I didn’t know anymore. But I had no idea of the long road that lay ahead, from that first confession to eventual healing and freedom for my son.

The 4 Pillars of Purity
Aug 23, 2002
By Jonathan Daugherty

What does it take to live every day in sexual thought purity? We have developed the 4 Pillars of Purity to encapsulate the basic principles of purity into a simple "package" that is easy to remember. The first letter of each Pillar spells out the word P.U.R.E. Easy enough, right? So, dive in and learn what it takes to live every day in purity!