In sports, half-time is crucial. It is a moment for a coach to have their entire team together to communicate what is going right, what is going wrong, and the adjustments that will be made in the second half to secure a win. It’s a fresh start in the middle of a game, and for many teams, that half-time break makes a vital difference.

Well, this article is half-time for a series of Webb Weekly articles that I launched in August. At first, I was referring to the series as Two Roads. In the second half, we’re changing the series title to Why Good Men Fall.

Why the change? I’m excited to share with you that this series of articles is in the process of being published as a book. The publisher suggested I needed to rethink the title — hence the change.

I’ve never published a book before, and the learning curve is fairly steep, but progress is being made, and hopefully, the book will be in print before 2025 draws to a close. I’m just entering the editing and re-writing stage, and it is a time-consuming process. Next comes formatting, cover design, and final polishing before going to print.

I’m grateful that Jim Webb encouraged me to use the Faith Conversations column to refine my thought processes and writing. Since transitioning out of weekly preaching and teaching, I’ve lost my main opportunity to put my thoughts into the public square. Writing for the Weekly continues to provide the good pressure I need to keep my thoughts flowing and my writing disciplined.

I confess that the first half of the book has been hard for me to write. I tend to be a positive person, and exploring the reasons Why Good Men Fall has forced me to research and write about the painful and negative side of the dark human story. Frankly, I’m glad to be done with the first half. I’m ready to begin focusing on the other side – the amazing hope and light found in the glorious grace of our loving God.

The title of next week’s article is Awakening. I can hardly wait to share it with you. It introduces the piercing light of God’s miraculous love and grace into the darkness. My friends, the second half of this series is all about hope, and let me assure you, there is hope for every one of us.

And that includes you — and me. It’s possible you feel like a failure. Welcome to the club. Most men struggle with the regrets of what could have been or what should have been. How often have I looked in the mirror and asked myself,

What is wrong with you, Hartzell? Why can’t you get it right? Why do you keep making the same mistakes over and over again?

There is an answer to that question. Romans 3:9-23 reminds us that all of humanity is fallen into darkness. I encourage you to read that passage. Paul pulls no punches. Every word he writes lands a solid blow. It leaves us feeling hopeless and rotten to the core. But then he writes Romans 3:24,

And all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

Paul’s words of hope lead us into the second half of Why Good Men Fall. I pray that it will breathe new life into your weary bones.

Okay, half-time is over. It’s time to get back out on the field. By God’s grace, we can overcome the darkness and win, so let’s get going. The best is yet to come!