10 Great Questions To Focus Your Time

I read a great chapter/article about how to focus your time to be a better leader. The context was in a book to pastors, but the topic was so good I felt it important to share with others. It comes from Bobb Biehl.

1. What is my single greatest strength?
2. What three decisions are causing me the greatest stress?
3. What is overwhelming me?
4. What impassable roadblock has me stuck?
5. If I could do three things in my lifetime, what would they be?
6. What should I resign from or drop out of?
7. What can I postpone- be it for a month, three months, or indefinitely?
8. What things on my to-do list can someone else do at least 80% as well?
9. What are the elephants on my schedule?
10. What three things could I do in the next three months that would make a 50% difference?

Some of the questions are obvious, like 1-4 & 6-8, so I will not make comment about them.
Question 4 should force you to think about what your big goals in life are and what you must do to work to fulfill them.
Question 9 has to do with scheduling time. The author used the illustration of Noah and the ark. If the ark started sinking, you could throw a bunch of small animals off the ship to try and slow the sinking. On the other hand, if you throw off the elephants it removes significantly more weight. What adjustments can you make to big items in your schedule that can make a big difference?
Question 10 has to do with project management. Asking what three things can you do on a project that will make a big impact is the idea. Instead of focusing on the hundreds of small items, address the big issues to get large chunks of the project ahead.

I hope this helps you think through how to better improve your schedule. Bobb's suggestion is to take time away from work and others to really think through these items on a regular basis to keep your schedule effective.

Seeking Wise Counselors

Few would argue with the idea of having people in your life who can provide wise counsel when faced with a decision. Proverbs calls the person who does not seek counsel a fool.

Proverbs 12:15 (NASB) The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, But a wise man is he who listens to counsel.

So you know you need counselors in your life, but what should you look for in your counselor? First, be wise in how much influence you give any person in your life. Their worldview should be biblical and they should be a person who makes good decisions.

Seek counsel from God. I know it seems obvious, but we sometimes miss the obvious.

Proverbs 19:20 (NASB) Listen to counsel and accept discipline, That you may be wise the rest of your days. 21 Many are the plans in a man's heart, But the counsel of the Lord, it will stand.

When faced with a decision, ask God to help you know what to do. If it is a big decision, then spend some time asking God to reveal the right path. Prayer, Bible study, and meditation on Scripture can provide great insight.

Listen to your spouse. God has placed this person in your life, your lives are yoked together, and they have a vested interest in your success.

Proverbs 31:10 (NASB) An excellent wife, who can find? For her worth is far above jewels. 11 The heart of her husband trusts in her, And he will have no lack of gain. 12 She does him good and not evil All the days of her life.

Listen to the counsel of your friends. Assuming your friends have your best interest in mind (see below), they should be able to provide insight into your decisions.

Prov 27:9 (NASB) Oil and perfume make the heart glad, So a man's counsel is sweet to his friend. 10 Do not forsake your own friend or your father's friend, And do not go to your brother's house in the day of your calamity; Better is a neighbor who is near than a brother far away.

Listen to people who will tell you the truth. Too many people only want to hear what will make them feel good and not be confronted with the truth. Denying reality will lead to terrible decisions. Only seek advice from people who love you enough to be honest with you.

2 Timothy 4:3 (NASB) For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but [wanting] to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires; 4 and will turn away their ears from the truth, and will turn aside to myths.

Numbering Our Days

The topic of insurance can be somewhat intimidating because of the complexity, jargon, and number of different products that are available. Dave did a pretty good job of making the subject enjoyable and explaining what is needed for the average family.

One reason why some people don't like to deal with life insurance is because it forces us to face our own mortality. No one likes to think about death, especially their own. However, Scripture encourages us to be aware to the reality of our finite numbers of days.

"As for the days of our life, they contain seventy years, or if due to strength, eighty years, yet their pride is but labor and sorrow; for soon it is gone and we fly away.

So teach us to number our days, that we may present to you a heart of wisdom." Psalm 90:10, 12

This passage teaches us four important lessons when it comes to our mortality.

1. A life lived for self leads to labor and sorrow. Death is inevitable and has no meaning if there is not an afterlife. The strongest man will eventually die and focusing only on the material world leads to sorrow.

2. We must let God teach us to be aware of days. Our perspective is limited. God sees the beginning and the end. When we let Him inform our understanding of reality, we see life from the proper perspective.

3. Being aware of our days changes our hearts. Purpose and urgency have an interesting effect on our lives. When we know that what we do is making a difference with others and time is short, we are much more intentional about how we invest our time, energy, and money.

4. A changed heart by God brings about wisdom. Being aware of your days leads to different decisions. It is not enough to know that our days are limited, we must let it change how we live our lives.

Let the discussion of insurance help you to "number your days" and live accordingly.

Richard Dawkins Taken To The Woodshed

There is a great article in the Telegraph about Richard Dawkins that you must read. Dawkins has been avoiding a debate with William Lane Craig about Christianity, that was to take place in Oxford. I urge you to go and read the article. However, I do have a couple of observations.

First, the author of the article rips Dawkins for who he has chosen to debate in the past. I was impressed by his honesty about Dawkins avoiding people who are serious thinkers. Too many people assume that the quality of the "opponent" has no bearing on how a debate is done. Dawkins is demonstrating himself to be the light weight that he really is because he only engages light weights in debate.

The second point is his observation about why some Americans are the ones who are the better apologists. He notes that the quality of thinker is often shaped by the marketplace in which his ideas must be argued. A wimpy faith that believes it is more important to be liked that to be truthful produces people who can't make a reasonable statement about the truth of Christianity. A person who is willing to argue for truth, but do so in a winsome and engaging manner, will be much more successful.

The lesson for all believers is to jump in the fight and sharpen our skills as we share the truth of the Gospel. Our content is true, but our presentation skills can and should be sharpened by the public debate. Besides, we have an Ally that the opponents do not have... the Holy Spirit. Remember, the goal is not to win the argument. Instead, the goal is to present the truth so that those who hear may believe in Jesus as Savior.

Of course, it never hurts to win the debate as well!

Al Mohler on Mormanism

Dr. Al Mohler had another great posting on his blog recently. He discusses the issue of Mormonism and how Christians are to tackle this issue from a biblical perspective. I'll let the article speak for itself, especially in regard to whether a Christian can vote for a Mormon. However, I will share are a couple more of my thoughts about the issue.


From just about any definition you want to use for the word cult, as a Christian, Mormonism fits that definition. It is not Christian is it's theology in any way. Just because they want to use traditional Christian words to describe some of their beliefs, the fact that they redefine those terms to suit their needs makes them different than (and opposed to) Christianity.

Mormonism (LDS) is not a Christian denomination! To fully embrace the tenets of Mormonism is to reject such things as the inerrancy of Scripture, the deity of Christ, salvation by faith alone in Jesus Christ, among other central Christian beliefs. The theological differences are inescapable. To say anything different is either disingenuous or ignorance.

Those differences in theology does not mean that Mormons are evil people who are to be shunned. On the contrary, most Mormons I have met are ethical people, who love their families, and are good citizens. On many ethical and moral issues, Christians and Mormons share common ground. However, Christians and Mormons differ sharply in the theological implications of many of those ethical and moral issues.

Don't fall for the media trap in this situation. We can disagree about a person's beliefs and still have a friendship with that person. We can disagree on deeply held beliefs, and still work together towards a common good, such as the betterment of our country. The media would say that to reject a person's belief system is to reject that person. To that I say, "Nonsense." I have friends who disagree with my faith, but we are still friends. We just have areas of disagreement.

Hope When Things Seem Hopeless- 2 Kings 4:1-7

Below is the devotion for people who are struggling with a hopeless situation when it comes to their finances. The point is not that God will perform a miracle for everyone who is in dire circumstances. Instead, what this passage teaches us it to have faith in God, who provides wise counsel and is sovereign in all our circumstances.

Some of you may be struggling right now because of the debt you have. It may seem like the amount is so large that there is no hope of ever getting out from under that tidal wave of red ink. Don’t give up! There is a great passage in 2 Kings 4 that can teach us some things about God and how we are to act in these circumstances.

Go to http://about.esvbible.org/ and look up 2 Kings 4:1-7.

1.       The widow went to a man of God for help in this situation. I hope we are learning that managing finances is as much a spiritual matter as it is anything else. If you are not thinking about your finances from a biblical perspective, seek wise counsel from a trusted Christian friend.

2.       Be aware of what you have available. Dave has said at least three times to “sell so much stuff that the kids think they are next.” The widow didn’t have a lot of resources, but she had one. Elisha recognized that God could use the oil to help this family.

3.       Faith matters when it comes to making it out of difficult circumstances. I hope you caught what happened in verse 6. The oil stopped flowing when they ran out of vessels. The implication is that if the widow had gotten one more vessel, then she would have been able to fill it up as well. Our God has unlimited resources, so we should depend upon Him to meet our needs knowing that He loves us.

4.       God provides the miracles, but we have responsibilities as well. The point of the story is the miraculous way that God provided the oil to this family, but there is another lesson in the story. The widow and her sons had to work as well. They went around gathering the empty vessels to fill with oil. If the family had gathered fewer vessels, they would have had less oil to sell. On the other hand, if they had gathered more vessels, they would have had more oil to sell. Pray and ask God to help you through your difficult time, but be about the things that you can do to provide for your family.

When Joshua was called upon to lead Israel after Moses’ death, he faced the task of leading the people to conquer the Promised Land. As Joshua stood on the edge of this monumental task, God gave him encouragement that applies to you as well.

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:8b-9

The Challenges of a Budget (1 Corinthians 9:25-27)

Our church is going through Financial Peace University right now. This is a devotion I did for those taking Financial Peace University drawing from 1 Corinthians 9:25-27

Week 3 is the toughest of all the lessons in FPU because it is a call to discipline and self-control. Everything up to this point has really been theory, now is when we put the lessons into practice.

As Dave mentions in the video of lesson 3, we must develop the habit of working on our budget every month so that it is ingrained in our lives. As I considered what it would take for me to develop and use a budget, I realized the main issue will be self-control.

Paul wrote to the Corinthian church about self-control. I think 1 Corinthians 9:25-27 provides a great help for us to know why we must use a budget in our lives. Paul says that we must exercise self-control “in all things.” Failure to do so disqualifies us.

He uses two analogies to help illustrate the benefits of self-control. First, he says, “I run in such a way, as not without aim.” A budget gives us a target to aim for each month. This target provides the purpose necessary to know where our money is going each month.

Some are lamenting how much detail is expected with the monthly cash flow statement. A common question is “Why do I have to be so detailed?” There is a great line in “The Patriot” about shooting a gun that applies to cash flow planning: “Aim Small: Miss Small”. If your aim is precise, your misses will be much closer to the target.

The second analogy is “I box in such a way, as not beating the air.” There are several ways this could be applied, but one meaning would be tied to the issue of futility. I have a twin brother. Let’s just say we would sometimes have disagreements that would lead to the need for finding a solution. One way to settle our issues were boxing gloves. Taking a lot of swings and missing tires you out much faster than if you connected your punch. Missed punches waste energy and open you up to a counter-punch that can knock you out.

Living without a budget does the same thing as boxing and missing your punches. Your money does not go as far because it is wasted on unimportant things. In addition, it opens you up to not having money available when unexpected events happen in life, or you’re not prepared for big events.

Don’t get discouraged. Do the hard work of putting together your budget, knowing it will lead to a better sense of security and purpose about financial issues in the future.

Galatians 6:1-4: How To Mend Damage To A Relationship

This is a devotion for people who are taking Financial Peace University at the church. The lesson in FPU dealt with how people have different personalities when it comes to dealing with money. These differences can lead to conflict.

Galatians 6:1 (NASU) Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; [each one] looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted.

2 Bear one another's burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.

3 For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
4 But each one must examine his own work, and then he will have [reason for] boasting in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another.

Lesson 2 is about relationships, preparing families for Week 3 and being honest about where your family is financially. It may create some hard feelings, but the Bible tells us how to handle those difficult moments.

Galatians 6:1-4 tells us how we are to handle the relationship after the realization that mistakes have led to some bad results. There are five things to keep in mind as you start working through issues.

1. Check where you are at spiritually before launching into a fight. Let the Holy Spirit reveal to you where you are failing and broken before you examine your spouse's situation. Read Luke 6:41-42.
2. Restore with gentleness not anger. Seek to build up your spouse, not tear them down. 
3. Bear the burdens of your spouse. Sometimes, you just have to suck it up and put up with their failings. Instead of heaping guilt on them, help them by carrying some of that burden for them.
4. Be humble. We all have our flaws. Be aware of your own failings.
5. Own up to your own sins when it comes to finances. Your family didn't get in your current circumstances through one person, and you won't change things alone either.

Please note that these verses do not call on you to ignore the financial issues facing your family. The goal is to tackle the hard questions facing your family's finances, but to do so with husband and wife working side-by-side, not as adversaries.

1 Timothy 6:10: Proper View of Money

This is a devotion I did for those who are taking Financial Peace University at the church.

One of the issues that should be addressed when it comes to finances is to settle once and for all in your mind what money is and is not. People can fall into one of two extremes, and the Bible has a word to say about both. Today's devotion looks at those who believe money is "bad."

Is the following statement true or false? "Money is the root of all sorts of evil." Your answer affects the way you view finances, so think about your answer for moment. Is money the root of all sorts of evil?

Read 1 Timothy 6:10. What does the Bible say about money? Does it say money is the root of all sorts of evil? No, it says "the love of money" is a root of all sorts of evil. There are two ways this can be seen. One issue is greed and a consuming desire for something other than God. Another way this is demonstrated is seeing money as the source of security rather than God: a misplacement of faith.

Money itself is neutral. It is neither good or evil; it is a tool to help facilitate the exchange of goods and services. Jesus used money to pay his own taxes, and taught lessons about giving without condemning the use of money. The proper way to view money is to keep it in its proper perspective, a tool that is neutral. 

Importance of Adam and Eve

I know I have Dr. Mohler's blog linked here, but I wanted to specifically direct you to two of his recent blogs about Adam and Eve. He frames very well the critical importance that Christians understand the historicity of Adam and how it influences our understanding of Jesus and the Gospel.

His articles speak for themselves. I will add a couple of notes. First, I read Brian McLaren's book that he references and it may be one of the saddest books I have ever read. It is sad because Mr. McLaren is like the person described in the Bible who has eyes but does not see, has ears but does not hear. He completely misses the point of the Bible. Additionally, it is sad because he has influence and leads others to his wrong understanding of the Bible. For some, that means he is helping to seal their doom because they will die without knowing Christ as their Savior.

The other point I will make about this controversy is how it makes clear that a proper understanding of the Bible is critical to our faith. We must practice proper exegesis of the Bible (reading out of the Bible what it says), rather than practicing eisogesis (reading into the Bible what we think or want it to say.)

It is so easy to buy into the world's lies about how the world came into existence because the pressure is great to conform to what everyone knows to be true. However, the Bible gives us an objective anchor on which we stake our understanding and worldview. Our faith is not in the Bible though, but in the Author of that Bible and His character and nature as a truthful, creative, and loving God. Read your Bible and understand.

I will end with a few axioms to help you keep from falling into problems. Believe these are true until proven otherwise.

"The gun is loaded."
"The microphone is on."
"Hope for the best, but plan for the worst."
"Words matter"

Death of bin Laden

As the news is declaring all over the world, Osama bin Laden was killed recently by US forces. It has been fascinating to see the reactions being shown on television. If you saw just one individual city's reaction, you would not be able to tell the difference between this celebration and celebrating a sports team winning a title.

This reaction got me to thinking what the biblical response should be to news like this. First, and I believe foremost, we should feel a sense of relief that justice has been served. God is a just God. He is the defender of poor, the weak, and the innocent. When a person intentionally inflicts pain on others, justice must be meted out. Paul states in Romans 13:4 that "the state bears the sword" indicating that God has given the state the responsibility for carrying out justice as God's representative.

A second reaction that I had to the news was some of the Psalms that David wrote. He seemed to ask for and even celebrate at the destruction of his enemies. I have not studied all of the relevant Psalms, but I noticed a couple of things in a cursory look at a few of the relevant Psalms. David's celebration is in connection with God's glory and vindication, not the destruction of others. Also, David asks for the enemies destruction from the position of God defending His name and His people.

My third reaction is less biblical and more experiential in nature. It is hard to celebrate with a party like enthusiasm when it involves the death of a human being. I have been in the room on several occasions when a person has died. It does not matter if it is a family member or a stranger, Christian or non-Christian, there is a sense of sadness to the passing of another human being. With a non-Christian, it is even worse because you know they will spend eternity being punished for their sins.

I can't help but feel people are celebrating the misery of others. As Christians, we must always be aware of our motives. If what brings us joy is the misery of others, that is not really joy. We should be pleased that bin Laden was brought to justice. The families who lost loved ones should be relieved and have some closure at the perpetrator of 9-11 being brought to justice. We should even feel a sense of relief at the closing of a chapter in our nation's struggle against a sworn enemy. We should not let those emotions cause us to be indifferent to the taking of a life.

Article about Role of Scripture in America's Founding

Just read a good article about the importance of a biblical foundation has had on our country. I would suggest you read the article to see how the author lays out his argument.

The most intriguing aspect of his article is how he adeptly argues that a democracy without a spiritual grounding is doomed to failure. We are seeing the slow decline of our culture as an ethic grounded in Scripture and God's providence is replaced with a secular humanist worldview the is based upon "rights" that somehow appeared without any grounding in God.

Christianity is first and foremost about God doing for man what he could not do for himself.  Jesus came and died for all who would believe in His death on the Cross as our substitute. Along with that faith in Him, God calls us to live responsibly, provide for our family, care for those in need, and to love our neighbor.

This is the kind of article that should serve as a reminder to all believers that our worldview must be shaped by Scripture. Once we let other influences be the primary filter of how we view the world, we will slide into an ethical pit from which we can never recover.

Hope Women's Center Banquet Follow-Up

I wanted to give a follow-up to the banquet which occurred April 4. We met our giving/pledge goal at the banquet this year! God graciously has provided needed resources to not only continue the ministry at Hope, but there appears to be opportunity to consider expansion and try to reach more women who desperately need hope.

If you attended and gave, thank you. If you would like to know more about Hope and join the fight to defend the helpless and provide hope to women who feel trapped, go to Friends of Hope and give today. This is a ministry that First Baptist Church at Weston wholeheartedly supports.

If you are pregnant or if you have had an abortion in the past, you can find help and hope here. Go to There Is Hope to learn more.

Hope Women's Center Dinner

Hope Women's Center is a ministry in Broward County Florida that helps women and families who are considering abortion to consider and choose life. Unlike abortion mills that claim to be "pregnancy centers", Hope does not use pressure. Instead, we choose to use ultrasound pictures, God's Word, and the truth about the unborn child to speak to these women.

Last night, Home Women's Center held our annual dinner at Signature Grand with Pam Tebow as the keynote speaker. As you may know, Pam Tebow is the mother of former Florida Gator Quaterback and current Denver Bronco Tim Tebow. Setting aside all of the Gator references, she did an excellent job.

She is not a "power" speaker or even a motivational style speaker. What she does really, really well is to share her family's story and the Gospel authentically. There is a depth of sincerity and wisdom as she talks about how she was advised to abort "Timmy" early in the pregnancy. If you were unable to attend, I hope you will find an opportunity to hear Pam Tebow.

If you would like to support Hope Women's Centers, you can click on the name, and that link will take you to the Friends of Hope website or skip the pretenses and donate here.

The Difference Between Being "For" Something or "Against" Something

Recently, I attended the Hope Women's Center board meeting, which I have the privilege of serving on right now. As we were discussing various issues about what is happening with Hope, one of the people in the meeting reminded me of an important lesson we Christians need to always be learning and applying.

One of the great things about Hope Women's Centers are their commitment to promoting life. Everything the centers do are intended to help women (and men) who are considering abortion or have decided to pursue abortion to instead choose life. The centers do this through clear information that the unborn child the mother is carrying is a human being.

Not to speak for others at this point, I believe in promoting life because I firmly believe that abortion is the unjust taking of a human life of the unborn child and a physically, psychologically, and spiritually traumatic event for the mother and father. Abortion is morally and spiritually reprehensible because it is an affront to God's determination that every human life is of value and worth.

Hope opposes abortions by promoting life in a positive manner. The women that feel like they must consider abortion tend to be under a great deal of stress, and they may feel pressure from others to make a decision they don't really want to make. A negative confrontation does not lower the stress, but increases it. A positive view of life, rather than a negative view of abortion, leads people to have hope instead of despair.

This is contrasted with others who focus on the negative aspects of abortion. They may use a variety of techiques to get their point across like coercion, guilt, railing against abortion, holding up pictures of aborted babies, screaming at people who are entering an abortion clinic, or any of the other confrontational methods that people choose to use. Though I used some "loaded" terms that paint some of their actions in a negative light, I would agree with their position that abortion is wrong. There may even be times that those methods are effective, though they often come at a high cost.

The reason why I bring this up is because the contrast of being for life or against abortion is more than just semantics. How you present a position and how others perceive that position matters. I heard Allan Lockerman, pastor at First Baptist Church in Cleveland, Tennessee, make a comment about this issue. To sum up his statement, "When I die, would I rather be remembered as someone who was for grace, or be remembered as someone who was against something."

Being remembered as a person for grace (or life, or Jesus), rather than being someone who was against a myriad of topics is so much more positive. Being "for" something tends to attract people to the cause for the right reasons. Those people tend to be easier to work with and uplifting in how they pursue life. On the other hand, people who center their life around what they are against tend to be negative in how they approach life. The people they draw to their cause tend to be confrontational in their manner and difficult to work with.

How do you frame the things you are passionate about? Are you a person who is "for" something or "against" something? I would urge you to stop being against things are start promoting the positive alternative.

Just a reminder that Hope Women's Center fundraising banquet is April 4 at the Signature Grand at 7:00 pm. You can contact me if you have questions or would like to donate or go to Hope's Website.

Al Mohler and Russell Moore on Rob Bell's Book "Love Wins"

Not to go overboard on this topic about Rob Bell's book, but the issue of salvation, hell, and the sacrifice of Christ on the cross are critical doctrines for the Christian faith. Two more "heavyweights" have written about Bell's new book.

Al Mohler's review is good because he paints the picture in a historical context. He ably demonstrates that Bell is another in a long line of people who have attempted to save Christianity from itself.

Russell Moore's review takes an entirely different direction. He points out that Bell's view of salvation and judgment robs the Gospel of the significance of Christ's atonement for sin. I appreciate Dr. Moore's observations on the book because it adds some significant theological "weight" to the argument.

I would recommend both reviews for your reading because of the knowledge their blogs impart that go beyond just a book review.

Review of Rob Bell's New Book 2

Click on the title above to read the review of Rob Bell's book found on the Baptist Press website.

If you were to look at the posts on the site, you can tell I have been in blogosphere slumber for a while. School and a trip to China to get our daughter will change your priorities. However, Bell's book has awakened me from my hibernation because of the grave danger it poses to orthodox Christians.

Bell is like most of the emergent church leadership today. They use many of the same terms that we use to discuss their faith, but they define their terms differently. For example, Bell defines hell as the vast suffering due to evil that occurs here on earth (not exactly his words, but a generalization), while traditional Christian faith calls hell a literal place that will be a place of eternal torment (again, a generalization.) What makes this dangerous is the following Bell and other leaders have gained among evangelicals, especially younger evangelicals, and influence that he carries.

I do not agree 100% with every pastor or leader that I follow, read, or listen to. However, we do agree on the essentials of the faith. Any major deviation from issues like salvation, nature of God, work of the Cross, or nature of Christ are reasons to no longer allow that person to teach me about spiritual truth. Or, at the very least, to highly filter what they are teaching to be sure it is biblical. So many have placed their trust in the teaching of Bell, that they may not realize how severe his deviation is from biblical truth.

My word to you is to be cautious about Bell and his teaching, and advise those who are in your circle of influence to be cautious as well.

Review of Rob Bell's New Book

Rob Bell is releasing a new book this month that addresses the topic of heaven and hell. I have not read the book, but the reviews are disturbing to say the least. I wanted to put a review out there for those who are interested.

The quotes that are pulled from the book are not encouraging. The issue is that many people today want to avoid hard doctrines like judgment and hell because they are not palatable to the modern/postmodern person. Ultimately, many popular pastors today are happy to talk about the love of God, but are reticent to talk about judgment and the wrath of God.

As you look at this article and the included link to Al Mohler's blog about hell, let me be clear about my view on sin, salvation, and hell. Al Mohler's Blog

All people are born with a sin nature. Amazingly, I did not have to teach my infant daughter to be defiant, it just comes naturally to her. Sin separates us from God because He is a Holy and Righteous God. He is so Holy, that any sin is an affront to Him and deserves punishment.
Sin is so pervasive in man that he is incapable of saving himself. Man can never be good enough or resist sin so as to not offend God's holy nature. God, in His wisdom and mercy, knew that man is incapable of saving himself. Jesus, part of the Triune God, came in flesh and lived a sinless life on earth and willingly died on the Cross to be the sacrifice for our sins. Jesus rose to life after three days to signify the defeat of death and hell through his sacrifice. Man must place his faith in the sacrificial, atoning death of Jesus on the Cross in order to be saved.
Hell is a real place that God will send all people who die without accepting Christ as their Lord and Savior. The descriptions of hell are that it is eternal, painful, and people are separated from God as punishment for their sins.

There are many passages in Scripture from which I derive the above perspective. The short version is read Romans 1, 3, 8 & 10. Read 1 Corinthians 15:1-19. Read Matthew 25:31-46. Read Revelation 20-22.