Christianity

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  • The divine protest of Pentecost

    From the CCblogs Network
    David Henson
    15 May 2013 | 10:00 pm
    The God of Pentecost doesn’t have an official language.This is the shocking revelation of the day of Pentecost, but one often  lost amid the day’s more bombastic metaphors of rushing winds, descending doves and intoxicated disciples with tongues touched by fire. read more

  • R.C. Sproul's Crucial Questions eBooks Now Free Forever

    Ligonier Ministries Blog
    Nathan W. Bingham
    21 May 2013 | 12:00 pm
    To further help Christians know what they believe, why they believe it, how to live it, and how to share it, from today the eBook editions of R.C. Sproul's Crucial Questions series will be free forever. Can I Be Sure I'm Saved? (Kindle) (iTunes) Can I Have Joy in My Life? (Kindle) Can I Know God's Will? (Kindle) (iTunes) Can I Trust the Bible? (Kindle) (iTunes) Does God Control Everything? (Kindle) Does Prayer Change Things? (Kindle) (iTunes) How Should I Live in this World? (Kindle) (iTunes) What Can I Do with My Guilt? (Kindle) (iTunes) What Does It…

  • 50 common misquotes and misattributed quotes corrected

    22 Words
    Abraham
    23 May 2013 | 8:00 am
    “This is a pretty interesting video. You should check it out.” -Jesus

  • Food and Health: You Are What You Eat

    Sustainable Traditions
    Chérie Guerrant
    30 Apr 2013 | 10:21 am
    When a conversation turns to food and someone mentions eating a more healthy, wholesome, natural diet, silence often ensues... The post Food and Health: You Are What You Eat appeared first on Sustainable Traditions. {This is a content summary only. Visit the Sustainable Traditions blogazine for full links, videos, and more! Shalom! }

  • End of School Year Blessings

    Heart Choices
    20 May 2013 | 1:00 am
    This is the last week of our school year.  I've been going through photos and writing up some of the funny things the children have said this past year.  And now I'm feeling a bit sad.  It's hard to say goodbye to children I've grown to love.  Although most of them will still be at the school, it won't be the same.  It's time to let go ... Heidi and I work so well together.  She gave me a photo album as an end of school year gift.  We think alike as my album to her should be in my mailbox by Tuesday at the latest.  Thank you Shutterfly! In the album I…
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    WORLDmag.com

  • A ‘sad day’ for Scouting

    Warren Cole Smith
    23 May 2013 | 4:45 pm
    The Boy Scouts of America pass a resolution to allow openly homosexual boys to participate in Scouting, forcing opponents to seek alternative programs for boys

  • Hobby Lobby crafts contraceptive mandate appeal

    Leigh Jones
    23 May 2013 | 4:05 pm
    Lawyers for arts-and-crafts chain Hobby Lobby argued again today the company should not be forced to provide employee health insurance that includes abortifacient drugs, something its Christian owners oppose. The Oklahoma-based company, owned by the Green family, is fighting the government mandate that businesses with more than 50 employees must provide coverage for contraceptive drugs, including the so-called “morning-after” pill. Although Hobby Lobby is a business, it’s

  • Obama defends drone policy, promises restraint

    Daniel James Devine
    23 May 2013 | 3:31 pm
    In a speech Thursday afternoon at the National Defense University in Washington, D.C., President Barack Obama defended his administration’s use of drone strikes to kill terrorist suspects, including U.S. citizens. Obama’s drone program has faced criticism for targeting secret terror suspects in countries like Pakistan and Yemen, and for causing civilian casualties and stressing political relations with Middle Eastern nations. “These strikes have saved lives,” said the president.

  • Midday Roundup: British security services knew knife-wielding attackers

    Leigh Jones
    23 May 2013 | 9:15 am
    Terror in London. British security and intelligence forces acknowledged today they knew about the two men accused of attacking and killing a British soldier in broad daylight yesterday. The men, both though to be of Nigerian descent, hacked the soldier to death with knives and a meat cleaver on a relatively busy London street while yelling “Allahu akbar.” They told bystanders they wanted to start a war and that the attack was in retaliation for British involvement in Afghanistan.

  • Needing the cows to ignore me

    Chelsea Kolz
    23 May 2013 | 9:14 am
    Last week I achieved one of my most pressing post-graduation goals: I gazed at some cows for a few minutes … all alone. I’ve been an overstimulated, homesick rural girl for a few years now. My lungs got bored of the college air. I longed for my old hard-hewn country life: for quiet. My feet cried out for fresh callousing. My hands wanted to pick and freeze fruit. My eyes missed the cows. American writer and Pulitzer Prize winner Annie Dillard had this to say about some cows she
 
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    A Holy Experience

  • When You Sort of Feel Like You’re Drowning

    ann
    23 May 2013 | 7:46 am
    It came after a week of rain. After she driven home through the rain, watched the rain come across fields. It’d ponded between rows. It had sheeted and ponded and thrummed the hood of the pick-up like the drumming of everything thrown at her, everything coming down that never stopped, and all the fields along the 4th line, they had flooded. There were soggy towels on the back step. Kids had molted out of muddy boots across the mudroom. There was a a tub of whipping cream half eaten in the bathroom and a long letter from a teacher on the counter and batteries and pliers and wires and…

  • When you’re wondering: How God Feels About Storms?

    ann
    21 May 2013 | 8:55 am
    When the guy on the screen says that he could hear the cries of children underneath the rubble, his voice starts to crack and how in the world does anything stand in a world like this? How do you just put a jug of milk out on the table on a Tuesday and stand there watching your kids eat breakfast, light in their hair, the sky hanging outside the window like a potential Behemoth, when there’s a dad with his heart running liquid down his cheeks  in Oklahoma, waiting for them to dig out the body of his crumpled boy. How does the sky just suddenly spin mad on a muggy Monday afternoon in…

  • How to Live Through the Really Hard Storms

    ann
    20 May 2013 | 1:26 am
    {because my heart is with all the folks living through all kinds of bad storms this spring…} ‘If God really works in everything — then why don’t we thank Him for everything?” She asks me this straight out. My daughter, Hope, and I, we sit in the truck on the field’s hem, waiting to give the Farmer his lunch. The Farmer’s planting bean seeds into earth’s dark bed. The sky’s rising darker in the west. He races rain. “For every drop of rain You keep from falling on us planting— thank you, Lord…” I had murmured the prayer, water splatting hard against the…

  • 25 Things Every New, Middle & Graduating Parent and their Grad Needs to Know

    ann
    17 May 2013 | 9:40 am
    Look… you get what we all get — a lifetime. Just you or none of us ever get to know how long that will turn out to be. So get to it. Because you woke up 18 this week. You sat at the end of the table after barn chores, grinning like you were just getting stretched up for the starting blocks and the race of your life — and somewhere inside I felt this crossing of an invisible finish line, right through the stretched out tape. And I want to go back. I want to go back and hold the whole of you right in palm again and lay you in that kitchen scale and count your every gram, as if…

  • Morning Espresso 16.5

    ann
    16 May 2013 | 5:15 am
    How to make the Perfect Cup of Tea: George Orwell’s 11 Rules The Best Moment of My Day… This. Slows your heart rate down, yes? What’s yours? On living the Unhurried Life.… read. this. slow. What are your sheer acts of defiance? Ten Inspiring Ways to Your Parenting – no matter where you live…… 5 Minute Glory Holy-day -– the whole earth is full of the glory of God and this is nothing short of breathtaking. Like a mini vacation, hol-i-day— what a way to start the day, looking for His gifts… Why you will remember what you read on the…
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    Stuff Christians Like - Jon Acuff

  • That time you got Joe Jonas a date.

    jon acuff
    23 May 2013 | 4:00 am
    Recently, a college senior asked Joe Jonas, of Jonas Brothers fame, to a dance. She made a video describing why he should go with her. Joe Jonas loved the video and made his own. He then said yes to her on The Today Show. At minute 2 of her original video, she points out that she knows he has a girlfriend. She promises that they can leave enough room for the Holy Spirit. She doesn’t say those words, instead she shows the picture of how to properly dance from the Stuff Christians Like book. So I guess what I am trying to say is, Joe Jonas, I’m teaching the youth of this country how…

  • A Letter From Dave Ramsey

    jon acuff
    23 May 2013 | 4:00 am
    (A few days ago my friend Dave Ramsey asked if he could stop by and share a few words with you guys. I thought that was a great idea. So without further ado… Mr. Dave Ramsey.) WOW! That just about sums up how I feel about the incredible success we’ve had with the release of Jon Acuff’s latest book, Start. This thing debuted on the New York Times and Wall Street Journal best-seller lists and Amazon’s overall Top 10 list. It totally dominated Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and just about everything else on social media! This thing is on FIRE, and I can think of two reasons for that.

  • It could have been a hairy-nosed wombat

    jon acuff
    22 May 2013 | 4:00 am
    In Matthew 6:26, Jesus tells us to look at the birds of the air. He intones that “they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” It’s a powerful passage about worry and the future. I’ve written about it before and will write about it again, but something new recently struck me. Have you ever thought about how common birds are? We have some in our backyard, and they sing all day and most of the night. They are in the bushes and the trees and the grass and the everywhere. You probably…

  • Breakdancing.

    jon acuff
    21 May 2013 | 4:00 am
    Turns out someone took a photo of me breakdancing last summer at camp. Whatevs.

  • Hide yo’ wife.

    jon acuff
    20 May 2013 | 4:00 am
    I don’t know who originally created this, with memegenerator, but I know it wasn’t me. Look up the verse and see why this is perfect. Well played. Well played, indeed.  
 
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    Acton Institute

  • Recruiting for Big Government: Food Stamps Run Amok

    Acton Web
    22 May 2013 | 7:40 am
    by Elise Hilton The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is the federal government's "food stamp" program. Despite indications that the national economy is showing signs of revival, SNAP usage is at an all-time high: Business and Society read more

  • Conservatives and the Non-Triumph of Capitalism

    Acton Web
    15 May 2013 | 9:23 am
    by Samuel Gregg In recent contributions to First Things, theologian R.R. Reno and legal scholar Robert T. Miller have debated several questions concerning conservatism, capitalism, and the government’s economic role. Obviously the discussion is complicated by the inexactitude of words like “conservative” and “capitalism.” But fundamentally, their debates address the present-day scope of economic freedom in America and throughout the world. You might also like... Becoming Europe Business and Society read more

  • March/April Notes

    Acton Web
    14 May 2013 | 5:37 am
    Evening Speakers Announced for Acton University Acton University will take place over June 18 – 21, 2013 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The evening speakers for the conference are Acton President Rev. Robert Sirico, Marina Nemat, William McGurn, and William B. Allen. Article read more

  • President's Message

    Acton Web
    14 May 2013 | 5:36 am
    Do you remember Occupy Wall Street? A huge split has occurred within the Occupy movement. Some of the main players wisely saw that they were getting nowhere by camping out in front of skyscrapers and decided to take the cause of social justice into their own hands. They pushed for Occupy members to start doing social projects. They would show up after various calamities such as Hurricane Sandy and help with the clean-up, alongside church groups who are usually among the first responders. Instead of merely demanding social justice, they decided to take real action. President's Message read…

  • Thriving Churches: Flourishing Communities

    mhornak
    13 May 2013 | 10:42 am
    Event Date:  September 19, 2013 - 5:45pmSeptember 21, 2013 - 12:00pm Location:   Weehawken, NJ More Information Register Now How do we shepherd the flock in the search for economically healthy and socially just urban communities? What is the role of the local church in sustainable human development? Where do we find guidance for those facing unemployment and neighborhood displacement? Join us to explore how moral and economic clarity give direction in our mission to be true disciples, fostering effective charity, empowering our congregations and creating a context for…
 
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    Menlo Park Presbyterian Church Sermon-Cast

  • "The Table"

    19 May 2013 | 1:27 pm
    This week John talks to us about the amazing impact of the table, and how relationships and community are formed and maintained around the table throughout the Bible.Featured Scripture:Exodus 25:30, 2 Samuel 9:7-8;11b, Psalm 23:5, Matthew 9:11, Luke 15:2Check out our weekly audio podcast HERE.You can follow us on Twitter: @MPPC_ODC or on Facebook or on Google+.

  • w/God: "Give & Take"

    12 May 2013 | 3:41 pm
    John starts a new subseries, "Give & Take" breaking down John 3:16, and looking at each word to fully understand God's sacrifice sending Jesus to the world.Featured Scripture:John 1:10; 3:16, Luke 2:46, Isaiah 49:15-16, 1 John 3:1, Matthew 23:37Check out our weekly audio podcast HERE.You can follow us on Twitter: @MPPC_ODC or on Facebook or on Google+.

  • w/God: "The Gospel According to Les Misérables"

    5 May 2013 | 2:37 pm
    This week John continues our series, "w/God" by taking a look at the direct scriptural parallels from Victor Hugo's story, "Les Misérables."Featured Scripture:Galatians 6:2, 1 Peter 1:18-19, Deuteronomy 31:19-20, Genesis 33:10Check out our weekly audio podcast HERE.You can follow us on Twitter: @MPPC_ODC or on Facebook or on Google+.

  • w/God: I Want My Life Back: "It's About Joy, Stupid"

    21 Apr 2013 | 1:04 pm
    This week John concludes our subseries, "I Want My Life Back" looking at what it means to have true joy... especially after, "a little while."Featured Scripture:John 4:34;16:16-19;21-23, Mark 1:11, John 15:11, Hebrews 12:2, Matthew 11:19Check out our weekly audio podcast HERE.You can follow us on Twitter: @MPPC_ODC or on Facebook or on Google+.

  • w/God: I Want My Life Back: "Reclaim Your Marriage"

    14 Apr 2013 | 4:55 pm
    This week John continues our subseries, "I Want My Life Back" alongside Rick Blackmon looking at marriage and relational repair and recovery, and what the Bible has to say about handling conflict.Featured Scripture:Proverbs 26:11;29:11, James 1:19;5:16, Colossians 3:13, Ephesians 4:15Check out our weekly audio podcast HERE.You can follow us on Twitter: @MPPC_ODC or on Facebook or on Google+.
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    Brian McLaren EMC

  • Thanks to all who responded yesterday ...

    plushy55@yahoo.com
    23 May 2013 | 7:13 am
    ... to my request for help.If you can't help at this time, you might know someone who can ... it would be great if you could forward the request to them. Over the weekend I'll be responding to all who reply. Again, thanks. Response has been truly gratifying.

  • LinksRoundup

    plushy55@yahoo.com
    23 May 2013 | 4:42 am
    There's a new Walter Brueggemann site up. A great resource! http://www.walterbrueggemann.com/blog/ Back in February, Adam Hamilton wrote one of the shortest yet most helpful pieces on the church's struggle over human sexuality ... here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/guest-voices/post/on-homosexuality-many-christians-get-the-bible-wrong/2013/02/13/2443d062-761f-11e2-aa12-e6cf1d31106b_blog.html An important update on our global climate -…

  • A Request for Help

    plushy55@yahoo.com
    22 May 2013 | 10:38 am
    Readers of my books and blog know that I am a movement person. On this blog, in my speaking, and in my books I get behind a wide array of organizations, causes, and projects that I sense are moving in the same general direction. My great sense of calling has been, and continues to be, to contribute to a broad-based movement that embodies a Christ-like ethos and leads to Christ-like action for the good of the world. Grace and I recently decided to make a significant financial investment in building some behind-the-scenes support structures for this movement to take its next steps. I think the…

  • Q & R: Christ and His Death

    plushy55@yahoo.com
    21 May 2013 | 9:02 am
    Here's the Q: Hi Brian. Great work you doing, Bro. Hang in there. A question about your Christology. Have read several of your books but can't really get a handle on your idea of the need for Christ and His death. If you don't believe in original sin, what do you think was the purpose of the cross then? Thanks and will keep following yr blog. Here's the R: This is an important question. The places I deal with this most pointedly in my writings are A New Kind of Christianity: You're very perceptive to realize that Christ is valuable and essential in what I call the "six lined narrative"…

  • Naked Spirituality

    plushy55@yahoo.com
    21 May 2013 | 5:47 am
    More and more churches are using Naked Spirituality as a basis for sermon series and small groups. Pastor DavidlTinney of Vancouver First United Methodist Church prepared a set of daily devotions based on the book and graciously agreed to share them. You'll find the first ten weeks of devotions below, covering the words Here, Thanks, O, and Sorry. Again, thanks to David! The Beginning of our Journey Theme for the week: Our response to God’s call Day 1 Scripture: Genesis 17: 1-17 Reflection: It is good to know that the Bible is real and not written to hide emotions. I cannot imagine a…
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    byFaith

  • Transition Plans Underway at MTW

    Staff
    23 May 2013 | 2:13 pm
    In March, the Committee on Mission to the World (CMTW) and the MTW senior team began discussions about MTW leadership transitions. It was determined that MTW would begin to plan for new personnel in the positions presently held by Paul Kooistra, coordinator; Roger Kooistra, chief financial officer; and Floyd Simmons, director of home office operations. According to an announcement released May 23, the process of making these transitions has begun, and a complete transition plan will be established by CMTW during its September 2013 meeting. “My desire and prayer is that we bathe this entire…

  • Fifty Million Frenchmen Can’t Be Wrong

    Larry Hoop
    23 May 2013 | 10:44 am
    On May 18, France became the 12th nation to legalize same-sex marriage when President Francois Hollande signed into law a bill that allows same-sex couples to both marry and adopt children. But the bill’s passage didn’t come without a serious fight—a fight that may not be over yet. In the months leading up to a Parliamentary vote, demonstrations drew as many as a million to a million-and-a-half French demonstrators in Paris and at French embassies around the world. The wave of protests has surprised observers everywhere. What is going on here? Are these not the folks infamous for a…

  • Federal Appeals Case Brings Contraception Coverage Mandate Back Into Spotlight

    Larry Hoop
    23 May 2013 | 10:06 am
    Over the past year or so, several dozen business owners have sued the federal government over a provision in the 2010 Affordable Care Act that requires many employers to include free coverage of contraceptive services in their employees’ health insurance plans. The business owners contend that, like religious institutions, they should not be forced to pay for services that conflict with their religiously based objections to birth control, sterilization or emergency contraception. The lawsuits filed by businesses generally have not drawn as much attention as those brought by faith-based…

  • Church of Scotland Votes to Allow Gay Ministers

    Larry Hoop
    23 May 2013 | 8:05 am
    The Church of Scotland has taken a historic step by voting in favour of allowing openly gay men and women to become ministers. Following an impassioned debate lasting almost six hours, its General Assembly voted to affirm its “current doctrine and practice in relation to human sexuality”, which stops gay people becoming ministers. However, under a compromise hammered out during the debate, liberal congregations will be able to opt out of that and appoint gay clergy if they wish. Over the course of the next year, a legal framework will be developed to accommodate the proposals, which will…

  • PCA Offering First-Ever Finance Seminar for Women

    Staff
    22 May 2013 | 8:11 am
    The PCA’s Retirement and Benefits, Inc. (RBI) and Christian Education and Publications (CEP) are joining together to offer a financial planning seminar for wives of teaching and ruling elders. The seminar will take place on June 18th, during the 41st General Assembly in Greenville. “One of the greatest gifts you and your spouse can give each other and your family is a plan for your financial security,” says Bob Clarke, Relief Director for RBI.  And the role of wives in this important matter cannot be overstated. “Most wives will be responsible for their family finances at some time…
 
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    From the CCblogs Network

  • The Trinity is not an appendix to the Christian doctrine of God

    Allan R. Bevere
    22 May 2013 | 10:00 pm
    This Sunday is Trinity Sunday, which is appropriately observed after Pentecost and the coming of the Holy Spirit. It is important that we not treat the Trinity as an appendix to the Christian doctrine of God, which is the unfortunate legacy of too much twentieth century theology. The Trinity is the Christian doctrine of God. read more

  • When bad theology happens to good people

    MaryAnn McKibben Dana
    20 May 2013 | 10:00 pm
    This is almost unfathomable.I lived in Tornado Alley during my teenage years, but they were quiet years for tornadoes. Honestly, I never took them seriously. Teenagers are invincible, after all. Whenever the subject came up we’d make jokes about trailer parks. It was classist privilege—I know that now, wrapped in a candy coating of “it couldn’t happen to me.”It could. read more

  • Faith formation

    Diane Roth
    16 May 2013 | 10:00 pm
    Not long ago I went to visit a woman who had just entered hospice care. I've known her family for several years. I used to visit her with her husband and give them communion pretty regularly. read more

  • The divine protest of Pentecost

    David Henson
    15 May 2013 | 10:00 pm
    The God of Pentecost doesn’t have an official language.This is the shocking revelation of the day of Pentecost, but one often  lost amid the day’s more bombastic metaphors of rushing winds, descending doves and intoxicated disciples with tongues touched by fire. read more

  • The church as blueberry pancake

    John Vest
    13 May 2013 | 10:00 pm
    It was either Rocky Supinger or Greg Bolt that turned me on to marketing guru Seth Godin. I subscribed to his blog and read it with interest. I often find in his posts compelling connections or challenges for the church. I’ve considered writing posts that tease out these connections, so here’s a first attempt. read more
 
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    Prodigal Magazine

  • Looking At Myself In Marriage

    Rhett Smith
    24 May 2013 | 2:00 am
    In the course of my work as a marriage therapist I often see my own story of marriage in the couples sitting on the couch across from me. As therapists we are trained to not share our lives with clients, but the former pastor in me finds it hard to not be authentic and open with my clients. And for most couples, I found hearing a personal story from their therapist that demonstrates how marriage is hard, but there is hope for a transformed one, is a momentary reprieve from the anxiety I often see stretched across their faces. So quite frequently I find myself describing my first few years of…

  • I Don’t Like Church

    Natalie Nyquist
    23 May 2013 | 2:00 am
    I don’t like church. And if I had to make a wager, I’d say the average Christian church doesn’t know what to do with me. My church-attending routine is minimalist: in the door two-and-a-half minutes before the service begins; out thirty seconds after the closing prayer. Until recently, when I escaped before the end of the sermon and did my own prayer in the nursery hallway. “I’m frustrated, God, but it’s not You–it’s Your church!” I spent my twenties tasting a dozen flavors of churches, from Baptist to Catholic. I’d volunteer, build friendships, and tithe. Then my…

  • Embracing Vulnerability

    Stephanie May
    22 May 2013 | 2:00 am
    “Owning our story can be hard but not nearly as difficult as spending our lives running from it. Embracing our vulnerabilities is risky but not nearly as dangerous as giving up on love and belonging and joy—the experiences that make us the most vulnerable. Only when we are brave enough to explore the darkness will we discover the infinite power of our light.” Brené Brown   Several months ago I wrote an article about vulnerability. Standing three feet into a great relationship, I had grand aspirations of beautiful intimacy — seeing each other for who we really are and loving each…

  • A God With Sharp Edges

    Billy Coffey
    21 May 2013 | 2:00 am
    “God is never far when you call the country home.” That is the great truth according to both sides of my family. Yet while they are of one accord concerning God’s love for the lonely places, I expect they agree on little else concerning matters of the soul. My mother’s family is Mennonite. Farmers and preachers, for the most part. To them, the secret of life is to remain close—close to home, close to the land, close to one’s faith. Their promise is that if we do those things, God will always grow our hearts. My father’s kin trace their roots deep into the mountains and hollows…

  • The Board Of Education

    Chris Morris
    20 May 2013 | 2:00 am
    DISCLAIMER: This story contains contains strong imagery surrounding abuse. If you or someone you know is suffering abuse please contact your local authorities. Search for the best resources in your area here. Or call 1−800−799−SAFE (7233) __________________________________________________________________________________________ My father’s school breaks were always terrifying for me and my mom. He drank all day for weeks on end and abused us whenever he wasn’t passed out somewhere. We cowered in fear, hoping not to upset him. It never worked. He yelled for me again. “I’m…
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    Business Blessings's Weblog

  • Ruth: an amazing story of provision!

    businessblessings
    2 May 2013 | 4:33 pm
    I know that many people love the book of Ruth and I do to.  It is a story that so often gets referred to in weddings with the theme of wherever you go I will go.  Which is very impacting, however today I would like to look at the fact that Ruth is also a great story of provision and a great testament to how God brings us back into our full destiny. The book of Ruth starts of with the fact that there was a famine in the land, the land given to the children of Israel as a place of provision for them.  In fact it says that Elimelech and his wife Naomi and their two sons were Ephrathites.  It…

  • Business Blessings Radio – #21 – Wesley Leake – Giving Thanks for what you have Brings Multiplication

    businessblessings
    31 Dec 2012 | 2:29 pm
      To listen to today’s episode go to:  www.blogtalkradio.com/businessblessings or download our app at:  http://businessblessings.conduitapps.com Here is a transcript of today’s program for you: It’s January 1, the start of a new year.  Your making your New Year’s resolutions.  You are allowing your imagination to run wild with excitement.  All the goals that you are setting.  The places you would like to go.  The new products you would like to develop.  The business you would like to start.  It’s all down on paper, your excited.  But then reality hits.  You…

  • Merry Christmas from Business Blessings – Declaring 2013 a Year of Abundance!

    businessblessings
    23 Dec 2012 | 5:22 pm
    Looking forward to a Year of Abundance in 2013! With just a day to go to Christmas Day no doubt many of you are preparing for celebrating Jesus’ birth tomorrow. Some of you may have finished work or closed your business for the holidays or others may be up to your eye balls in the busyness of the season. No matter what category you fit into I want to encourage you that during this Christmas/New Year season to take a moment out and reflect. Reflect on the past year, the good, the bad, the ugly. Reflect on Christ and all that He has done for you and all that He has for you. Reflect on the…

  • Business Blessings Radio # 16 – Wesley Leake – Don’t Wait Until all the Ducks are lined up until you take off

    businessblessings
    9 Dec 2012 | 6:15 pm
    So often in business we are waiting for all the ducks to be lined up before we make a decision or before we make the next move. The reality is that ducks don’t wait for everyone to be lined up to take off, they take off and then follow. During this episode we take a look at the following key areas: listen to what God is saying, you are highly favored, God is with us, don’t be afraid, ask God and have a quick response. Enjoy listening.  Comment on it, Share it with others. The Options for listening to the program are: 1.  Blog Talk Radio:…

  • Business Blessings Radio #15 – Patrick Kuwana – So what really is Kingdom Profit?

    businessblessings
    28 Nov 2012 | 12:38 pm
    Following on from yesterday’s discussion, Patrick goes on to share about the principle of Stewardship.  The fact that everything that we have is the Lord’s, we are not owners but stewards.  This is opposed to the world system where the ownership rests with man not with God.  When we begin to understand that God is the owner, that God will set the rules as to how the game is to be played. Therefore our businesses are channels for kingdom purposes.  We must not become the dam that withholds the blessing, but we need to become a river that the blessing of the Lord is following…
 
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    Compassion International - Blog on Child Poverty

  • Spending the Day with a Former Sponsored Child

    Silas Irungu
    23 May 2013 | 11:45 pm
    The Maseno Child Development Center is one of the oldest centers in the Lake Victoria region of Kenya. I am here to meet Evans, one of the first students to be registered back in 1987. Evans arrives at the center’s main office and is dressed in a neat navy blue suit, a patterned shirt and tie to match. His current occupation as a high school teacher has him used to wearing a jacket, even on a sunny day like today. As we sit under the shade of the tall tree outside the office, he tells me of a day he vividly remembers. “When Compassion staff came to visit, I was at Ematsi Primary, my…

  • The Real ‘Iron Man’

    Jayaseelan Enos
    22 May 2013 | 11:36 pm
    Nagaraj is an inspiration who has overcome life’s limitations to achieve great success. Despite a shaky beginning and a ruptured childhood, Nagaraj built his life with determination. When he was younger, his father abandoned the family and his mother, Yeshoda worked tirelessly in a garment factory to provide for them. Her income was so low that there were times they couldn’t pay rent or buy food. Nagaraj tells us, “I am glad that Compassion intervened in my life. All of a sudden, there was somebody to take care of me and give undivided attention to my growth.” After…

  • What Do We Do?

    Web Team
    21 May 2013 | 11:08 pm
    What do we do? Well, that’s a great question! The short answer is, “Releasing children from poverty in Jesus’ name.” But if someone were to ask you what we did, what would you say? Click on the image to view a larger version Read these related posts:Our Mission Statement Expanded and ExplainedWhat is Partnership?Historic Registration in Tanzania: The 50,000 Registered ChildHow Are We Different? My Account l Sponsor a Child l Help Babies and Moms l Crisis Updates

  • Out of the Mouths of Babes

    Shaina Moats
    20 May 2013 | 11:20 pm
    I recently became a mom. It’s been the greatest thing ever…and the hardest thing ever. My daughter has just started copying what I do — it’s the most precious thing in the world! I’ll blow air out of my mouth and she will try to do the same. It makes me proud to see my daughter growing and learning and to watch her little personality blossom. It’s no different with our sponsored children. It’s awesome to watch them grow and get to know them. Just recently, I received a letter from our little boy in Tanzania. He wrote, “I loved the picture of your…

  • What Happens When a Child Isn’t Sponsored?

    Amber Van Schooneveld
    19 May 2013 | 11:58 pm
    A question we sometimes hear from sponsors is, “What happens to unsponsored children?” Do they have to wait to receive benefits until a sponsor is found? What if someone stops sponsoring — does that child lose benefits until a new sponsor is found? The answer to those questions is a resounding “No!” We have some generous supporters who give to the Unsponsored Children’s Fund. Through this fund, children begin to receive benefits as soon as they are registered in our sponsorship program. It can take months — and sometimes even over a year — for a child…
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    Big Is The New Small

  • Re-Defining Greatness – “Everybody Can Serve”

    Scott Williams
    19 May 2013 | 11:18 pm
    Martin Luther King (kinetic typography) from versa on Vimeo. Martin Luther King (kinetic typography) from versa on Vimeo. Awesome video… watch, think, listen, serve. Re-Defining Greatness – “Everybody Can Serve” is a post from: Big Is The New Small

  • Why @SouthwestAir Is Winning #NapkinThoughts

    Scott Williams
    19 May 2013 | 10:27 pm
    I am going to start sharing random  thoughts that I write on napkins. We will call these a #NapkinThought. Todays #NapkinThought is Why @Southwestair is winning. Why @SouthwestAir Is Winning #NapkinThoughts is a post from: Big Is The New Small

  • Changing Generations As We Point Them To Jesus – Watch Me!

    Scott Williams
    17 May 2013 | 6:12 am
    Watch this… Watch Me! Changing Generations As We Point Them To Jesus – Watch Me! is a post from: Big Is The New Small

  • “Girl On Fire” – A Tribute To Mothers

    Scott Williams
    15 May 2013 | 6:47 am
    Check out this tribute to mothers video that my church put together. It will make you chuckle… enjoy! “Girl On Fire” – A Tribute To Mothers is a post from: Big Is The New Small

  • 20 Things You Need To Stop Doing… Right Now!

    Scott Williams
    15 May 2013 | 3:36 am
    Below is a list of 20 Things You Need To STOP Doing… Right Now! 1. Stop placing your job above your family. 2. Stop doubting yourself. 3. Stop believing the lies. 4. Stop settling for second best. 5. Stop procrastinating. 6. Stop making excuses. 7. Stop standing paralyzed in awe of the success of others. 8. Stop tippy-toeing on that line of sin. 9. Stop being consumed with what other people think. 10. Stop waiting until tomorrow to do the things you can do today. 11. Stop limiting your dreams. Dream BIG! 12. Stop treating people how you don’t want to be treated. 13. Stop worrying…
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    Desiring God Blog

  • We Are Far Too Easily Pleased

    22 May 2013 | 10:00 pm
    It’s a beautiful thing when a single sentence reorients a soul for good. When one proposition proves potent enough to be life-changing for the better. Especially when it’s a short one. For me, it was the spring of 2000 — perhaps you have your own story about being rocked by this shorty from Lewis. An older student, who was leading a Bible study on my freshman hall, picked Desiring God as our semester focus. I emphatically did not enjoy reading and had made my way through high school and my first year of college leaning heavily on Cliff’s Notes. It was only a few pages into the book…

  • Those Deleted Tweets

    22 May 2013 | 1:45 pm
    Monday night, in the wake of the devastating tornado in Oklahoma, John Piper posted two tweets at 11:00pm (CST). Both tweets quoted the first chapter of Job. He first cited Job 1:19, and then Job 1:20, and they were posted together consecutively: @JohnPiper: “Your sons and daughters were eating and a great wind struck the house, and it fell upon them, and they are dead.” Job 1:19 @JohnPiper: “Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped.” Job 1:20 Later he decided to take down both tweets. Many of you may be unaware these tweets appeared…

  • The Bible as One Story

    22 May 2013 | 8:45 am
    How does the Bible hold together into a single, cohesive story? It’s an important (and intimidating) question reserved for the discipline of biblical theology, an angle of scholarship that focuses on sections of Scripture, sometimes the whole of the Bible, to show how the texts fits together within the unfolding drama of redemption and consummation in Jesus Christ. Edmund Clowney, the noteworthy theologian and preacher who passed away in 2005, said the lessons most easily transferable from seminary life to pulpit ministry was what he learned in biblical theology. There seems to be a direct…

  • Legalism or Love? Religious or Radical?

    21 May 2013 | 10:00 pm
    If you’re struggling with legalism, don’t fight it by quitting your quiet times. That’s the good advice I remember once hearing from a pastor. In other words, there’s a temptation to presumably fight legalism by running away from good things, whether Bible reading or acts of love, because we mistake them to be part of the problem. We women are susceptible to this temptation. We are bombarded with choices. Between schooling options, birthing styles, what we should wear, and even what we should or shouldn’t eat, it is easy to confuse principle and practice. A confusion can set in on…

  • God’s Sovereignty and Personal Compassion in Public Tragedy

    21 May 2013 | 2:53 pm
    In light of various tragedies in the news, I asked Pastor John a few weeks ago how he personally reconciles what appears to be two conflicting responses when public tragedy occurs: (1) his compassion towards those who suffer and (2) his conviction that Scripture ascribes to God the final control over all calamities and disasters wrought by both nature and man (see Exodus 4:11, Deuteronomy 32:39, 1 Samuel 2:6–7, Ecclesiastes 7:13–14, Isaiah 45:5–7, Lamentations 3:37–38, Amos 3:6, Psalm 135:6–7, Job 1:19–21, 42:11). How a church responds to disaster will be much more complex,…
 
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    Episcopal News Service

  • Seniors work together to bring fresh water, new life to village in China

    23 May 2013 | 10:54 am
    [Episcopal Relief & Development -- Press Release] In Puxi Village, a tiny locale in the Hunan Province of south central China, Liqin (Lee-cheen) greeted her visitors warmly and invited them into her home for lunch.  She had just been packing up a meal to take to her husband, who was doing farm work in the field down the hill from their home.  As she turned on the tap in her kitchen to fill her kettle for tea, she said, “What a good job you have done!  Now we don’t have to worry about fetching drinking water from the ditch down the hill.”  At 72 years old, Liqin often worried…

  • Baptists and Episcopalians celebrate season of combined worship

    By Mary Thomas Watts
    23 May 2013 | 8:43 am
    The Rev. John Paddock and the Rev. Rodney Kennedy, far left, are joined by a combined choir of both congregations for the first worship service together. Photo/Greg Sexton [Diocese of Southern Ohio] The challenges were real, but the opportunities for a bold experiment in ecumenism outweighed them when the clergy and congregations of downtown Dayton’s Christ Episcopal Church and First Baptist Church worshiped together for five weeks in January and February. When Christ Church learned that demolition of two of its deteriorating chapel walls would block the main and only disabled-accessible…

  • Presiding bishop addresses WCC peace conference in Beirut

    23 May 2013 | 7:40 am
    Christian presence and witness in the Middle East Notre-Dame du Mont Monastery, near Beirut, Lebanon 21-25 May 2013 The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori Presiding Bishop and Primate The Episcopal Church             The ongoing tragedy of conflict throughout the Middle East challenges people of faith throughout the world.  As Christians, we share a vision of a healed world where no one lives in fear of death or violence.  We have gathered here to listen to the stories of those who live in the midst of these conflicts, to stand in solidarity with those who suffer, and to…

  • WCC expresses solidarity with Christians in Middle East

    23 May 2013 | 7:36 am
    [World Council of Churches -- Press Release] In an international conference on the situation of Christians in the Middle East, Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, general secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC), highlighted the significance of the cross as a symbol of hope for the global church in solidarity with Christians in the Arab world. “We are called to carry our cross as disciples, but we must also carry one another’s cross, showing how we share this cross as a uniting symbol among one global ecumenical family,” said Tveit at the conference, organized by the WCC in collaboration…

  • Forward Movement launches RenewalWorks center for spiritual growth

    23 May 2013 | 7:30 am
    Forward Movement -- Press Release] Forward Movement is pleased to announce the creation of RenewalWorks, a major initiative to revitalize Episcopal congregations and individual spiritual lives. Based on work that has taken place over the last ten years, RenewalWorks measures spiritual vitality in congregations and then helps local churches map a path to increase spiritual depth. The Rev. Scott Gunn, executive director of Forward Movement, said, “Our historic mission is to reinvigorate the life of the church, and I cannot imagine a better way to do that than to encourage congregations to go…
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    First Things | On the Square

  • Pentecostal Enlightenment

    23 May 2013 | 9:02 pm
    Western Christians celebrated Pentecost last Sunday, while Eastern Christians look ahead to Pentecost in late June. Its the season of the Spirit, a time to muse on the politics of Pentecost. When Israels prophets predict the future coming of the Spirit, their next thought is almost always about the renewal of creation. According to Joel, the Spirits coming will turn Israel into Big Rock Candy Mountain-wine tricklin down the mountains, a restoration of a land of milk and honey (Joel 3:1821). When the Spirit comes, Isaiah writes, the wilderness becomes a fertile field, and the fertile field a…

  • Kindle Highlighting and the American Mind

    23 May 2013 | 9:01 pm
    In a short piece for The New Republic, Noreen Malone examines the most frequently highlighted phrases from books available on the Kindle for what they tell us about the contemporary mind. These include passages from books like The Hunger Games, Pride and Prejudice, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. What strikes her, she writes, is how American the sentiments are": Even the one quotation on the list in French, from Sherlock Holmes, translates to a very American ode to productivity. (The man is nothing; the work is everything.") The American…

  • The Priest Who Stood Up to Mafia

    23 May 2013 | 9:00 pm
    On May 25, a mere twenty years after his murder, the Italian Catholic priest Don Giuseppe Pino" Puglisi will be beatified. A figure much beloved in Sicily, Puglisi will be the first victim of the mafia to be declared a blessed by the Catholic Church. Puglisis beatification is a sign of how a Church once deeply complicit with organized crime came to stand heroically against it. A native of Brancaccio, perhaps the roughest and poorest neighborhood of Palermo, the young Pino Puglisi was exposed to the dangers of the mob since being ordained a priest in 1960. His first assignment was a village…

  • Enduring Graduations

    22 May 2013 | 9:01 pm
    Oh, the things we endure for the sake of familial love: a snoring spouse, the clutter of children, an opinionated sister-in-law, and graduation ceremonies. Graduation exercises are a lot of things, but mostly they are boring. I challenge anyone who has ever been to a graduation to say otherwise. Im only there for one person, but all these other people expect my attention as well. The exercise combines elements of a rite of passage with characteristics of an endurance contest, pitting attendees against overheated (or overcooled) auditoriums, crowded lobbies, middle-aged men who dont use…

  • Debating Desire

    22 May 2013 | 9:00 pm
    Emily Witts report on her experience of the San Francisco BDSM scene in the latest issue of n+1 provokes not only for its graphic descriptions, but also for the questions it raises about lifes meaning. The piece contrasts that radical environment with Witts more conventional desires : I had insisted to myself that I wanted a long-term, committed relationship, of the kind celebrated by the CDC and most happy endings (of the narrative sort). I had decided that any other kind of sexual relationship was a 'waste of time." Yet Witt, like me (and probably you), lives in a world where those…
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    Anne Jackson Writes

  • Is There Joy in Holding on to Grief?

    Anne Marie Miller
    16 May 2013 | 6:30 am
    On July 3, 2012, eight days before my friend Jay Williams turned 32 years old, he was buried in Lebanon Cemetery in Plains, Georgia. The air was still and thick with southern humidity, and sweat collected in the small of my back under the layers of my black dress. My friends and I stood on the brittle grass of the cemetery, waiting in line to say goodbye to Jay one last time. We dodged the sun by shuffling in and out of each other’s shadows and swatted at clouds of gnats with paper fans provided by the local funeral home. In the summer of 2010, Jay, myself, and 15 other people rode our…

  • To The Other Side of the World – We’re Heading to the Philippines!

    Anne Marie Miller
    14 May 2013 | 5:51 pm
    The first photo I ever saw of my husband, Tim (before I met him) was a photo of him on a mission trip to Romania. It just so happened that the day I saw his photo was just a few days after I returned from a mission trip from Africa. Serving overseas as well as serving those overseas by way of telling stories (him: video and photography; me: writing) was one of the first things we connected on. Adoption, reaching those far from God, and The Office were just a few others. Shortly after we returned from our honeymoon, Tim got an email from his friend Matt, asking if we’d like to join him…

  • Do You Want Relief? Or Do You Want To Be Whole?

    Anne Marie Miller
    9 May 2013 | 6:52 am
    (A reflection from 2011…) Last night, after organizing and budgeting, I was packing up my mess from the den, about to head into my room to go to sleep. The family I live with came home, and it was almost as if [the wife's] maternal instinct was on high alert. She came directly up to where I was and asked how my day was. What ensued was not pretty…gobs of mucous flowed like a river. I was struggling. My pile of unexpected bills was growing, and my income is nowhere near what it used to be. More than financially, I was wrecked over the fact I am not spending as much time as I think…
 
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    Godspace

  • Why We Tell Stories: The Science of Narrative

    Christine Sine
    23 May 2013 | 1:09 pm
    Reblogged from Ekostories: I was pleasantly surprised to come across a Wordpress blog titled Why Story Matters by Mike Dimartino, co-creator of Avatar: The Last Airbender, a show I’ve written about previously on Ekostories. Discussing a video from the World Science Festival titled Why We Tell Stories: The Science of Narrative in one of his posts, Dimartino teases out some fascinating insights explored during the involved panel discussion. Read more… 927 more words This is a great article on the power of story.

  • One Million and Counting

    Christine Sine
    23 May 2013 | 9:08 am
    Yesterday the one millionth person visited Godspace. Exciting, amazing and uplifting. Now I know that is not really one million different people as many of you visit several times a week. However I still feel it is quite an achievement. What began as a place for me to share my personal thoughts and ideas five years ago has become a go to place for those looking for resources for creative worship, prayers and out of the box spiritual practices that connect to their every day lives. Many of you have told me about how your faith has been strengthened by the resources provided here. Others…

  • Still Listening to the Celtic Saints

    Christine Sine
    22 May 2013 | 4:02 am
    I am starting to get ready for this year’s Celtic retreat at the site of the future Mustard Seed Village. This is one of my sacred spaces, a thin place where heaven always seems but a breath away. This year’s theme is Celebrating the Newness. There are many new things emerging in MSA and new things that God is giving birth to within all of us. We want to celebrate and encourage this newness. I am working with Ryan Marsh of Church of the Beloved to put our program together. He has wonderfully creative ideas of how to use the voyage of St Brendan in our retreat. I am delighted…

  • Sacred Buildings by Lynne Baab

    Christine Sine
    21 May 2013 | 8:15 am
    This morning’s post in the series Creating Sacred Space Do We Need Churches? is written by Lynne M Baab. Lynne is the author of numerous books on Christian spiritual practices, including Sabbath Keeping, Fasting, and Joy Together: Spiritual Practices for Your Congregation. She teaches pastoral theology in New Zealand. Her website has numerous articles she’s written about spiritual practices, as well as information about her books. When I started this series I asked people to write about how they connected to God outside of church, but I have been reminded by many of the comments…

  • Prayer for Those Impacted by Tornadoes in Oklahoma

    Christine Sine
    20 May 2013 | 9:07 pm
    The following prayer was posted by Bonnie Harr on the Light for the Journey Facebook page this evening.
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    thehighcalling.org

  • Great Expectations

    DavidRupert
    23 May 2013 | 11:00 pm
    Have you communicated clear, written expectations for each of your employees and the jobs they perform? We like to think that everyone knows exactly what they should be doing, but the truth is they often do not. In fact, if you compare your expectations with theirs, you may be surprised at just how far apart they are! Christian Faith at Work   http://christianfaithatwork.com/the-number-one-problem-with-accountability/ Author Name:  Chris Van Patten

  • A 10-Hour Hotel Stay Renewed One Journalist's Faith in America's Economy

    denadyer
    23 May 2013 | 10:41 am
    When Daniel Gross, a reporter for The Daily Beast, stayed overnight during a road trip in a mid-price hotel, he found more than just comfort. He found an ordinary business, doing an extraordinary job. Weary of high prices and faulty infrastructure in his hometown (and in the nation's capital), Gross reveled in all the things that worked, among them: free wi-fi, hot water, king-size beds, a large-screen high-def television, and a simple—but important—wakeup call. Gross says, "[This chain of hotels], and many of its…

  • The Long Nose of God

    DavidRupert
    22 May 2013 | 11:00 pm
    The Hebrew word for "slow to anger" is literally "long of nose." But God is "long of nose," meaning that it takes much longer for his wrath to kindle. Yes, he bristles at injustice, and rightfully so. But he is slow to anger. And he does not hold to resentment indefinitely. Christianity Today   http://www.thehighcalling.org/hcb-community/work/long-nose-god#.UZtjLrX1eSo Author Name:  Christianity Today

  • Leading Future Leaders: An Interview with Tim Elmore

    denadyer
    22 May 2013 | 1:10 pm
    One of the editors at FaithVillage (Blake Atwood) recently interviewed leadership strategist and author Tim Elmore. Elmore is the founder and president of Growing Leaders, an Atlanta-based nonprofit organization created to develop emerging leaders. He has also written over 20 books, including Generation iY: Our Last Chance to Save Their Future. Atwood's questions centered on Elmore's company, millennials, his influences, and the biblical story that most resonates with him. As a parent of a millennial and someone involved in Christian…

  • Calling in Sick When You’re Not

    DavidRupert
    22 May 2013 | 7:21 am
    It’s common for millennials to see their parents, teachers, and managers call in sick when they aren’t. American workers take about 2.8 million days of unplanned absences a year. But one postal worker logged 44 years without missing a day. Reliability is one of the 7 core values that every employer considers a non-negotiable. Reviving Work Ethic.   http://www.revivingworkethic.com/reliable-work-ethic-on-display/ Author Name:  Eric Chester
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    Good Letters

  • David Foster Wallace Kills My Darlings

    David Griffith
    24 May 2013 | 1:00 am
    “You do not have a soul. You are a soul. You have a body.” –C.S. Lewis To be an artist is to be constantly dissatisfied. Many acclaimed artists have said this, and though not acclaimed, I identify. I have habit of sitting on projects for too long, afraid to let go until they’re absolutely perfect, [...]

  • Why We Can’t Look Away

    Allison Backous Troy
    23 May 2013 | 1:00 am
    The morning I learned about the women in Cleveland, I knew from a single headline that there was more to be said, and horrified by, than I wanted to know: Cleveland Women Rescued From Ten Years’ Imprisonment in Captor’s Home. As the news poured in, the photos of balloons flapping from Amanda Berry’s porch and [...]

  • Before the Fall of Baseball

    Chad Thomas Johnston
    22 May 2013 | 1:00 am
    As a child, school did not rank high on my priority list, which meant my report cards led my parents to believe that, intellectually, I was probably about as dense as a baseball. While watching a Kansas City Royals game on TV with my father one day, however, I made the mistake of reciting the [...]

  • Controlling the Shot

    imageadmin
    21 May 2013 | 1:00 am
    Guest Post By Tyler McCabe We set sail for Robben Island prison at noon amid five-foot swells. The Atlantic was dark and agitated like a clubbed fish, and my camera pitched around my neck. We would be attending the official educational tour of the island. Viewing, that is, the whole God-awful shebang: communal cells which [...]

  • Why We Make Art

    Richard Chess
    20 May 2013 | 1:00 am
    “Who you actually are is far bigger than the narrative you construct about who you are,” writes Jon Kabat-Zinn in Mindfulness for Beginners. At this moment—end of semester, grades in, annual faculty record due, next year’s budget due, meetings to schedule, e-mails to respond to, office to clean, and the thousand and one things to [...]
 
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    Tod Bolsinger

  • Burned out or Soul-Starved?

    Tod Bolsinger
    9 May 2013 | 6:47 am
    A recent blog post  by Philip Wagner on "The Secret Pain of Pastors" has created some good--and really necessary--conversation about the challenge of pastoral leadership today.  I'll add my two cents with a few re-posts  of blogs I wrote after the NY Times ran a similar article in 2010. These posts were written right at the time that I started coaching pastors and working on a book on leadership development.  Today, after 200 conversations with pastors, I'm more convinced than ever that there is a clergy leadership crisis that is only increasing.  In the Greek myth,…

  • Worn Out from Wearing the Collar

    Tod Bolsinger
    8 May 2013 | 6:17 am
    A recent blog post  by Philip Wagner on "The Secret Pain of Pastors" has created some good--and really necessary--conversation about the challenge of pastoral leadership today.  I'll add my two cents with a few re-posts  of blogs I wrote after the NY Times ran a similar article in 2010. These posts were written right at the time that I started coaching pastors and working on a book on leadership development.  Today, after 200 conversations with pastors, I'm more convinced than ever that there is a clergy leadership crisis that is only increasing.  I’ll never…

  • Clergy Burnout: What’s really causing it?

    Tod Bolsinger
    7 May 2013 | 6:43 am
    A recent blog post  by Philip Wagner on "The Secret Pain of Pastors" has created some good--and really necessary--conversation about the challenge of pastoral leadership today.  I'll add my two cents with a few re-posts  of blogs I wrote after the NY Times ran a similar article in 2010. These posts were written right at the time that I started coaching pastors and working on a book on leadership development.  Today, after 200 conversations with pastors, I'm more convinced than ever that there is a clergy leadership crisis that is only increasing.  "The antidote…

  • Clergy Burnout: And Why I am Taking on MORE work.

    Tod Bolsinger
    6 May 2013 | 6:05 am
    A recent blog post  by Philip Wagner on "The Secret Pain of Pastors" has created some good--and really necessary--conversation about the challenge of pastoral leadership today.  I'll add my two cents with a few re-posts  of blogs I wrote after the NY Times ran a similar article in 2010. These posts were written right at the time that I started coaching pastors and working on a book on leadership development.  Today, after 200 conversations with pastors, I'm more convinced than ever that there is a clergy leadership crisis that is only increasing.  I didn't need…

  • Mind the Gap: The Practices of Adaptive Leadership

    Tod Bolsinger
    13 Apr 2013 | 7:26 am
    I spent the past week in the beauty of Mount Hermon Christian Conference Center at the West Coast Presbyterian Pastors Conference.    I am uploading my speaking notes here for the attendees and others who want to follow along.  Download 1-Canoeing the Mountains_Leading Through Adaptive Change_WCPP Download 1_Change or Die_understanding adaptive leadership_Leading into uncharted territory #2   Download Back to the Pass_Core Capacities "Adaptive Leadership consists of the learning required to address conflicts in the values people hold, or to diminish the gap between the values…
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    Mere Orthodoxy | Christianity, Politics, and Culture

  • Summer Reading for College Graduates

    Brett McCracken
    23 May 2013 | 8:34 am
    It’s late May, which means that across the world, twentysomething college students are graduating or preparing to graduate: departing campuses and communities that have shaped them deeply and venturing off into the wide open spaces of adulthood in a way that is (for most of them) wholly new. The transition from college to post-college life is a significant one for many reasons, not least of which is the fact that for many college grads, being a student (that is: being forced to read things, write papers and take exams for coveted grades) is all they have known for the last 17 or so years.

  • Why Cities Matter: A Review

    Keith Miller
    20 May 2013 | 6:00 am
    My latest post on hating suburbia precipitated a great number of substantive responses. I want to continue the discussion by reviewing the new book, Why Cities Matter by Stephen Um and Justin Buzzard. Both men are pastors of Gospel Coalition-ish churches in Boston and Silicon Valley, respectively. They are also aspiring Kellerites. Not only does Keller pen the foreword, but there are nearly twenty citations to his book Center Church, several attributions to his articles like “A Biblical Theology of the City,” and even one reference to his unpublished notes. The book’s title encapsulates…

  • On Why We should Love and Hate the Suburbs

    Matthew Lee Anderson
    9 May 2013 | 11:07 am
    Like most kerfuffles, the recent dispute over Christianity and the suburbs has teetered on engendering far more heat than there has been light. Some of that was due to our own Keith Miller’s post, which self-consciously provoked and explored questions rather than laid out definitive hypotheses.  (Mission accomplished.  The comments have been wonderful.)  But one gets the sense that the discussion has been fueled by vagueness, that it’s full of heuristic caricatures set up to illuminate more fundamental points.  And heuristic caricatures often breed defensive responses, and around the…

  • Why Do We Hate the Suburbs?

    Keith Miller
    7 May 2013 | 7:56 am
    Anthony Bradley struck a nerve in his probing post on the dysfunctions of Evangelical twenty-somethings. He blames two salient ideas: the “missional narcissism” of the Radicals and the anti-suburban dictates of the Metro-Evangelicals. Both trends are animated by the conviction that the comfortable, consumer-driven suburban life of the previous generation of Evangelicals was a travesty. The young people Bradley is encountering are paralyzed for fear that they will recreate their parents’ lifestyle choices and hold down hum-drum jobs in a peaceful ‘burb. Bradley, while spurring these…

  • What is to be done about the evangelical industrial complex?

    Jake Meador
    3 May 2013 | 4:15 am
    Before the church wrestled with how the internet would shape our church culture, we wrestled with how the printing press would shape our church culture. This essay from Carl Trueman is gold: It is probably a year or so since I raised the question of the impact of celebrity on evangelicalism. As I was told then, celebrity either does not exist in the evangelical subculture or is of no real importance there. Thus, I suspect the Evangelical Industrial Complex either does not exist or exerts no influence; but it is entertaining to imagine what would the signs be that it was a real issue (which,…
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    jeremy bouma

  • You are God’s Handiwork. Now Stop Running and Get To It!

    Jeremy Bouma
    23 May 2013 | 5:09 am
    For several months now I’ve been running. And I’m exhausted. I originally wrote that i was running from myself. Running from my story. Running from what makes me, me. Running from what makes my heart leap like a gazelle. But that’s not what it is. It’s way deeper. Because what I’m realizing is that I’ve been running from God. No, not running in the traditional angsty I-don’t-believe-in-a deity-anymore sort of running—the kind of running that trades one God for a whole host of other gods. The apostle Paul wrote in a letter to Christians in Ephesus…

  • Church: Knock The Socks Off Your World! A Message on Acts 19

    Jeremy Bouma
    20 May 2013 | 2:37 pm
    This is a message I gave a few Sunday’s ago on Acts 19:23-41. The story tells of this “great disturbance of The Way.” Apparently the early church was creating a ruckus in the way it was living and loving. Which makes sense. Because Jesus lives we have hope—and the world has hope, because the Church is the hope of the world. And because Jesus lives we’ve got work to do! So what’s that “one thing” you can do to knock the socks of your world and create a ruckus in your community, so that they experience new life in Jesus?

  • Gay Marriage is Not a Justice Issue: Rawlsian vs. Christian Justice

    Jeremy Bouma
    27 Mar 2013 | 4:11 am
    I am reposting this today in light of the two historic Supreme Court cases involving California’s Prop 8 and DOMA. While gay marriage might be a constitutional imperative in a democratic republic, it certainly isn’t a Christian or biblical one. And here’s why: Over the past several years, several pro-gay Christians have sounded the drum beat, along with the rest of culture, that gay marriage is an issue of justice. Particularly over the past few months as things have heated up in North Carolina and now in the White House, liberal Christians who advocate for same-sex…

  • How Do You Talk About Sin with Adolescents? Thoughts from Andrew Root’s New Book

    Jeremy Bouma
    14 Mar 2013 | 6:41 am
    Here is a Monday column at Zondervan’s Engaging Church blog, a wonderful resource for ministry leaders. It’s another post on the new must-read set of resources for youth workers by youth practitioner and expert, Andrew Root. Last time we talked about taking the cross to youth ministry; this time we’re talking about how to talk about sin with adolescents. I grew up in a conservative church in the buckle of the Bible-belt. While my vein of conservatism wasn’t as constricting as some people I’ve come to know have experienced, I still share a common bond with them because of…

  • The Gospel of Brian McLaren: A New Kind of Christianity for a Multi-Faith World

    Jeremy Bouma
    12 Mar 2013 | 4:55 am
    Three years ago I had had enough. I was a seminarian, making my way through Master of Divinity and Master of Theology programs, and I’d begun to realize I’d been hoodwinked by one of the hottest post-evangelical movements of the time: the Emerging Church Movement. Up until then I had drunk from the wells inhabiting Emergent Village with abandon: I attended Brian McLaren’s church; helped host Pagitt’s, Jones’s, and Scandrette’s Church Basement Roadshow; attended most Emergent West Michigan gatherings; and defended Emergent to my concerned parents and…
 
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    Gordon Atkinson

  • Where is Real Live Preacher?

    gordonadmin
    21 May 2013 | 9:23 am
    Greetings to those who were forwarded to this site from RealLivePreacher.com. The Real Live Preacher blog lived from 2002 until 2013. I stopped writing for it in 2010. It was a complex site with a massive database resulting from years of entries, comments, etc. It survived three or four Drupal upgrades, but it required work and expense to keep it online. And honestly, no one needed or wanted to see everything I ever wrote and every comment ever left there. I do have the entire site archived safely, in case I ever want to bring it back. That is doubtful. I just can’t imagine a scenario…
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    Red Letter Believers

  • Is it better to burn out, or simply fade away?

    David Rupert
    20 May 2013 | 4:02 am
    It was spectacular! In college, a bunch of us bored underclassmen went out to the vacant BLM land and collected all kinds of fallen timber, left over boards and trash into a single heap. Then, one of my brilliant classmates took a gallon of gasoline and doused the wood pile. An even smarter fellow, I think he’s a firefighter now, threw a cigarette into the mass and with a whoosh it exploded, sending all of us scurrying. The flames burned for hours as we stood around, laughing and marveling at our feat. But before midnight, the fire was gone and there were just some smoldering coals. The…

  • Four things to do when you make a mistake at work

    David Rupert
    14 May 2013 | 8:00 am
    (From today’s post over at The High Calling. Won’t you join the conversation over there?)  As a college-bound teenager, I was determined to make as much money as possible during summers. And my dad – a roofer – needed the help. There were perks — free transportation in Dad’s 52 Chevy, a lunch packed by mom, and a paycheck that didn’t bounce. Reality is, I wasn’t a good roofer. My lines were often crooked – which if left uncorrected would ruin the run of shingles going all the way up the house. So, my patient dad would help me rip up the offending row and…

  • With Dirt On Her Hands: For the Mother’s Who Toil

    David Rupert
    10 May 2013 | 4:00 am
    (A repost of an article I wrote that was published in The Story Jar. A tribute to my mom, who now has all the flowers she can handle) Flowers. Mom has always had a passion for flowers. She believed they could brighten any drab room, liven any conversation, and change any dour mood. For 20 years, she took this vision earnestly each Sunday at the First Baptist Church. As the flower coordinator, she turned the plain wood altar at the front of the church into a dazzling display of God’s creation. A negligible budget prevented floral shop arrangements, only provoking the creative mind of this…

  • Stealing Ketchup

    David Rupert
    9 May 2013 | 4:30 am
    So it’s finally time to come clean. I worked at a restaurant once as a teenager. It was the Nugget, on the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe. It was a small casino with a few 21 tables, a row of slots, and lots of bleary-eyed people pulling nickle slot machines. The back of the casino had a small resturant where we served $2.99 stacks of pancakes and $7.99 prime rib. It was my first real job as I bussed tables, poured water and made it easy for the waiterresses to chat up the “high rollers” for big tips. The boss — a man shorter than I with a wax moustache — was…

  • What Will God Hang on His Refrigerator?

    David Rupert
    1 May 2013 | 4:30 am
    I remember coming home from work and there was my son, lying on his stomach in the living room. He was surrounded by crayons and pieces of paper. “What are you doing, son?” “I’m working,” he said resolutely, his tongue pushed toward his cheek with a look of intensity that meant business.  “Really hard.” 20 minutes later he produced an elaborately colored picture. “I used every crayon,” he announced. “Do you like it?” “Of course I do,” I said, surveying the elaborate details of the labor of love. “It’s the best! “Do you see Josh?” referring to his baby…
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    Reformissionary

  • Books On The Parables

    Steve McCoy
    23 May 2013 | 8:59 am
    I'm preaching on the parables of Jesus over the summer. Here are some key books I'm using...  Stories With Intent by Klyne Snodgrass | [Amazon | Kindle | WTS] I got a lot of recommendations to pick up this book after a tweet asking for the best resources on the parables. After wading into the first bit, I've already collected a number of insights and quotes. And it's a massive resource. Excited to read more. Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes by Kenneth Bailey | [Amazon | Kindle | WTS] Kindle version is 1/2 the price of the paperback. I've read the introduction to the section on the…

  • Jerram Barrs | Echoes of Eden

    Steve McCoy
    21 May 2013 | 10:49 am
    Very excited about Jerram Barrs' new book, Echoes of Eden: Reflections on Christianity, Literature, and the Arts. Been looking forward to it for a while, on an important topic that I think Barrs is well-equipped to tackle. Barrs was formerly involved for 18 yeas with Francis Schaeffer and L'Abri. Now he teaches at Covenant Theological Seminary and is Resident Scholar at the Francis A. Schaeffer Institute   You can get Echoes of Eden now at Amazon (Kindle), WTS, and amazingly for $2 you can get the eBook from Crossway!

  • New Music Tuesday 5.21.13

    Steve McCoy
    21 May 2013 | 9:53 am
    The National: Trouble Will Find Me | 8.4 Pitchfork "Best New Music"  Delusions of Adequacy: "The National are such a powerfully gifted band, they need no theatrics to deliver an absolutely stone-cold beast of an album. With the music that is on here there is yet another thirteen songs to savor and salivate over until the next batch of songs comes about." Daft Punk: Random Access Memories | 8.8 Pitchfork "Best New Music"  The Telegraph: "Their return should be heralded from on high, because it is the boldest, smartest, most colourful and purely pleasurable…

  • Study Group for Pastors

    Steve McCoy
    17 May 2013 | 9:26 am
    My friend, Darryl Dash, attends a study group for pastors that I've known about for a while and is a great idea. Here's a blurb... Every May I gather with a group of pastors from Monday to Friday. The agenda is simple: to work through a book of the Bible together as we think about preaching it. Every year we bring in a different scholar who has written a commentary on that book. We also have our former preaching professor (Haddon Robinson) help us think through how to preach that book. We've had Bruce Waltke, George Guthrie, Douglas Moo, Daniel Block, and more. This week we've had D.A.

  • Stephen Um & City Mission

    Steve McCoy
    16 May 2013 | 8:22 am
    Stephen Um, coauthor with Justin Buzzard of the new book Why Cities Matter: To God, The Culture, & The Church (Amazon | WTS), writes on Resurgence about how to be on mission in the city. Here are his 5 points. Get Grounded In The Gospel Learn Your City's Story Engage In The Life Of Your City Discern Your City's Idols Retell Your City's Story With The Gospel Go read the rest of the post.
 
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    The Scriptorium

  • When the joy of sex gets replaced by the fear of not being sexy enough.

    janelleaijian
    17 May 2013 | 10:12 am
    Here’s a little meditation on marriage I wrote for the Christianity Today blog Her.meneutics.

  • Doubting 101

    janelleaijian
    29 Apr 2013 | 10:12 pm
    This week Fred Sanders posted a link to a meditation on Barth and the experience of doubt in the life of a Christian, and especially of a theologian. The article deals with two forms of Christian doubt, one innocuous, one dangerous, but both negative. While this post rightly identifies two ways doubt can go wrong, [...]

  • Divine Education

    Fred Sanders
    24 Apr 2013 | 10:10 am
    One of our semesters at Torrey Honors Institute is called On Learning and Knowledge, and it is an excellent thematic investigation of epistemology, philosophy of education, and even pedagogy, among other things. Our juniors in this course read Plato and Aristotle, Augustine and Aquinas, Frederick Douglass and John Henry Newman, along with Descartes, Pascal, Locke, [...]

  • Whither Trinitarian Theology (Holmes pt. 3)

    Matt Jenson
    24 Apr 2013 | 12:33 am
    Fred Sanders and Matt Jenson finish their series of posts on Steve Holmes’ new Trinity book (the others are here and here) with a discussion about his overall project and what it suggests for trinitarian theology.  Jenson: Holmes steers awfully close to despair at the end of his book, Fred. On the last page, after a [...]

  • A University Should Be a University

    Greg Peters
    22 Apr 2013 | 10:17 am
    I am fairly certain that John Henry Newman’s The Idea of a University has been on the required reading list of the Torrey Honors Institute since I began working here eight years ago. Given how we teach in Torrey, however, I had never had the opportunity to lead sessions on the text. So, back in [...]
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    Chris MarlowChris Marlow | Empowering leaders (and tribes) to launch movements for doing good.

  • The !deacamp is Back

    Chris Marlow
    6 May 2013 | 8:30 am
    Have you heard the news that the !deaCamp has been resurrected? It is true;  I’m thoroughly excited and a little scared. Why? Well, these sorts of things tend to require a lot of work. It all started a few months ago when Lindsey sent an email saying, ” Hey, I think it’s time for another !deaCamp.”  After an email or two and a quick conference call with Mike, Lindsey and Charles Lee, we decided to move forward. We quickly agreed that his !deacamp should be held in Austin. I mean, the !deacamp and Austin were made for one-another. Why !deacamp? Now, to be frank, the…

  • Wrecked Raleigh – Jeff Goins Live

    Chris Marlow
    25 Apr 2013 | 3:49 pm
    A few years ago I had coffee with Jeff Goins in Nashville. Jeff had just launched his new blog on how to be a better writer. It has been fun seeing his blog gain so much traction in such a short amount of time! Jeff has become an authoritative voice on writing. I have a ton of respect for people who are focused, disciplined and add value to the world — Jeff is that guy! His blog has been an inspiration to myself and to thousands of others. Jeff has also created some killer resources for writers, wrote a book or two and has been featured on some of the most popular blogs, such as…

  • Orphan Justice Interview

    Chris Marlow
    2 Apr 2013 | 3:44 am
    Last year, I had the honor of endorsing Johnny Carr’s new book, Orphan Justice. If you care about the gospel, orphans and justice, you need to read this book. Below, Johnny answers some key questions about the book. Oh, and if you want to win a free copy, see below. 1) Why did you write the book? I felt like we had unique idea and approach that might cross over and expand the idea of orphan care to be more than just an area of ministry for a fringe group of people. I wanted to show the connection between orphan care and so many others areas of everyday life. When I first started…

  • A New World for Nonprofits

    Chris Marlow
    19 Mar 2013 | 4:43 am
    If you lead or are involved in a nonprofit, you must watch this video. I wholeheartedly agree with the principles and I can’t imagine the possibilities if we embrace this sort of model. Nonprofits are trying to solve the worlds greatest problems on shoestring budgets, it simply won’t work!

  • Why I need to be Coached

    Chris Marlow
    17 Mar 2013 | 6:34 pm
    Why I need to be coached Yesterday, I spent the entire day with an executive coach. This coach does not accept many new clients, so I was excited when we reached out to him and he said yes! Help One Now has grown rapidly. We doubled our growth in 2012 and growth opportunities in the next 18 months will be massive. I do not take this for granted and I feel the weight of being responsible for the work that we do. Therefore, I must be able to spend time with leaders who have much more experience and wisdom than I. My coach has “coached” the best of the best in corporate America,…
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    Tall Skinny Kiwi

  • 5 Events at Kirchentag you dont wanna miss

    Andrew
    1 May 2013 | 2:31 am
    Kirchentag Festival is off with a bang. Not sure how many people came out last night for the Opening Ceremony but estimates have been as high as 300,000. Who knows? Counting church people is a tricky affair, as I have blogged about before, so I will leave it to the experts. Here are my Best Bets for Internationals at Kirchentag 2013 1. Germany's Federal Chancellor Dr Angela Merkel and Helen Clark, New Zealand's ex-PM and now spicing up the UN Development Programme with some kiwi ingenuity, discuss the value of creation in a globalised world with "And God saw that it was Good". If you cant get…

  • In Los Angeles to see blood

    Andrew
    26 Apr 2013 | 8:16 pm
      This Sunday I will be at the Brewery Art Walk in Los Angeles to see my friend Kevin do a live art installation based on the Book of Judges. He tells me there will be blood. I told him I will bring my diving mask. It all happens at 3pm at Studio 624. If you see me, please say hello and take me out for an In-and-Out Burger.  Posted with Blogsy

  • Enough for All - My Bible Study

    Andrew
    24 Apr 2013 | 4:57 pm
    If you are in Germany then you might be joining the 100,000+ people in Hamburg for Kirchentag 2013 (Church Day) on May 1-5. If you make it to my session, please say hello afterwards. The Kirchentag folk do an absolutely incredible job of organizing and hosting a massive scale festival  - the best organized I have ever seen - and they invited me to teach over a year ago. Here is the info they sent me. Information about your Bible study at the 34th German Protestant Kirchentag from 1st to 5th May 2013 in Hamburg Dear Mr. Jones, "As much as you need” – is the theme for the 34th German…

  • Rick Warren sets up memorial fund

    Andrew
    9 Apr 2013 | 6:05 pm
    I have been thinking of Rick Warren all week. A dreadful loss. Praying peace on the family after the tragic suicide of their son Matthew. Rick Warren just set up the Matthew Warren Memorial Fund for Mental Illness. I hope the fund does well in raising awareness of this issue that affects so many, including many ministry families. It's a hard issue to talk about without creating disrespect for the individual involved. I hope there is a way forward.  Rick is an incredible man and I respect him a hell of a lot. In the early days, we in the emerging church gave the seeker-sensitive pastors a…

  • Thoughts on Pope Francis

    Andrew
    14 Mar 2013 | 6:18 pm
    GREAT to hear waves of excitement over the new Pope. I am also excited about the appointment of Pope Francis, because . . . - he is from South America. - he is a humble man, riding the bus to work and refusing ecclesiastic titles.  - he has a heart for the poor. - he wants renewal of the church, which is awesome. - he is a Jesuit, and those guys are really cool! - the charismatic Catholics really like him. In Italy a few years ago, some friends and I met with Matteo Calisi, who heads up the 150 million people in the Charismatic Catholic Renewal, known as the Catholic Fraternity, and reports…
 
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    The Lutheran

  • Why Can't We Talk?

    31 May 2013 | 10:00 pm
    What is dialogue? John Backman, creator of "The Dialogue Venture," says it is sharing, exploring, aiming for the truth and involves self-transcendence. Dialogue is not debate, negotiation, conversation or persuasion. This "habit of the heart" was modeled by Jesus and Paul.

  • End-times

    31 May 2013 | 10:00 pm
    If a pollster asked you about the likelihood that Jesus Christ will return to earth in the next 40 years, how would you answer?According to a 2010 survey by the Pew Research Center on "Life in 2050," a majority of American Protestants believe Jesus will "definitely" or "probably" return to earth by that year. One-eighth (15 percent) responded that they "don't know" — even though that is the answer most in accord with Jesus' own teaching.Recent end-time billboards and predictions — whether radio preacher Harold Camping's May 19, 2010, prediction of the rapture or the supposed Mayan…

  • The trouble with food

    31 May 2013 | 10:00 pm
    Picture this: It’s January in Minnesota. You go to the grocery store and buy strawberries. Not frozen, canned or jarred strawberries, but fresh ones — big, luscious fruits that drip with sugary sweetness. OK, so these strawberries weren’t exactly grown down the street, but come on … what’s a little guilty pleasure for a sun-starved and shivering Midwesterner in the middle of winter? (Full disclosure: I’m from Minnesota and no doubt have eaten strawberries in January.) The trouble is that the food in our grocery stores has “background.” It has…

  • Bless this food

    31 May 2013 | 10:00 pm
    When Venice Williams saw the woman walking down the street with three children in tow, she had one thought: Get the strawberries. For months the director of Alice’s Garden had been trying to coax the young mother and her family into the 2-acre community fruit and vegetable garden in Milwaukee. But now it was strawberry season. Williams felt sure their sweet taste could succeed where all her talking had failed. She offered some to the kids and their mom. After they’d eagerly eaten the fruit and asked for more, “I said, ‘Well, come on in, we grow those here,’…

  • Let?s gear up to celebrate

    31 May 2013 | 10:00 pm
    Turn to this issue’s back inside cover (page 51) to consider a call for a day of service in recognition of the ELCA’s 25th anniversary. Save the date, as the saying goes, of Sept. 8, 2013. The case for such an observance is highlighted in an eye-catching black and gold ad asking the church to “join together as 4 million members and nearly 10,000 congregations for a dedicated day of service. Let’s clean up neighborhoods, deliver meals, collect supplies for refugees overseas, visit our neighbors or help children learn to read.” Why not celebrate? Recall that the…
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    Century Blog

  • The Trinity is not an appendix to the Christian doctrine of God

    Allan R. Bevere
    22 May 2013 | 10:00 pm
    This Sunday is Trinity Sunday, which is appropriately observed after Pentecost and the coming of the Holy Spirit. It is important that we not treat the Trinity as an appendix to the Christian doctrine of God, which is the unfortunate legacy of too much twentieth century theology. The Trinity is the Christian doctrine of God. read more

  • Thursday digest

    Steve Thorngate
    22 May 2013 | 10:00 pm
    New today from the Century: Valerie Weaver-Zercher reviews Amy Andrews and Jessica Mesman Griffith,  David Heim on Foyle's War, more. read more

  • What would Christopher Foyle do?

    David Heim
    22 May 2013 | 10:00 pm
    I’ve seen a bumper sticker that says, “What would Atticus do?”—a tribute to Atticus Finch, the saintly lawyer in To Kill a Mockingbird.Having finished watching (via Netflix) six seasons of the BBC TV series Foyle’s War, I’m ready to slap on a  “What would Christopher Foyle do?” sticker. read more

  • Wednesday digest

    Steve Thorngate
    21 May 2013 | 10:00 pm
    New today from the Century: Sam Wells on the people who sleep outside his church, Dennis O'Brien reviews A. C. Grayling, more. read more

  • Cooking from scratch

    Carol Howard Merritt
    21 May 2013 | 10:00 pm
    Frozen lasagna is also a pretty good metaphor for how church has been working for many communities. read more
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    theologer

  • Adoption is Hard Work - Part 4

    Roger Mugs
    29 Apr 2013 | 10:17 am
    I'm actually writing this from the front porch of my guest house room in Ethiopia. The boys are asleep in the room as I sit out and relax at night. Now you'll notice a few things in that sentence. First, yes I have my boys. I've signed the final papers and no one can take them away from me (legally that is). Also, it's "I" not "we" that's here to pick them up. My wife is back home with our daughters for a number of reasons. It's fun to be with them. But hard to be with them alone. I have a visa for them to enter the United States but do not yet have a visa for them to enter the country we…

  • Adoption is Hard Work - Part 3

    Roger Mugs
    2 Apr 2013 | 8:34 pm
    Six months ago I stood in court in Ethiopia and declared before the judge my intention to adoption two boys. Six months ago. That was a year after being paired with them through a referral. One of the most important decisions (probably THE most important) you make in the adoption process is which agency you will choose to go with. Our agency has been fundamentally incompetent for two and half years now.Two weeks ago our paperwork was submitted to the U.S. Embassy in Ethiopia and I did a dance thinking the agency was finally out of the equation. But I was wrong. Turns out the agency is still…

  • Preach the gospel to yourself daily, and since it's necessary, use words.

    Roger Mugs
    26 Mar 2013 | 8:04 pm
    I've been blogging for a while now. In fact it's been over five years since this blog started. It's been interesting to think about all I've written, some good and some plainly not so. In fact, back when comments where enabled I recall at least one or two times where someone called me out for writing something blatantly void of the gospel. I'm sittin here now thinking about how easy it still is for works-righteousness to seep in to my bones. The gospel has gotten deeper and deeper in there, yet my own foolishness still comes out. I'm still chewing on how much of a theme this is the Bible. The…

  • On Pipe Smoking: or Extreme sports for rocking chair athletes.

    Roger Mugs
    10 Mar 2013 | 3:51 am
    When I was ten years old my brother and I sat around the kitchen table with my parents and explained, like everyday, what we had learned in school. It was a Tuesday which means a police officer representing DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) had come to our school to speak about the horrors of drugs (mostly tobacco) and alcohol. My brother and I shared that we now better understood that if we smoked a cigarette we would become addicted to smoking and probably die within a few months of emphysema. Additionally if we so dared (ahem) to take a drink of alcohol we would quickly spiral in to…

  • Denominations and Division

    Roger Mugs
    8 Mar 2013 | 12:03 am
    "What I mean is that each one of you says, "I follow Paul," or "I follow Apollos," or "I follow Cephas," or "I follow Christ. Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?" - 1 Corinthians 1:12-13Last week I was with some friends of mine and a good buddy who is a Lutheran minister (only mildly relevent), pressed me to tell him with whom would most identify if I HAD to be put in to one camp—or denomination if you will—as it pertains to my theology. Typically I will not respond to this kind of questioning. But this time I regret that I answered.But…
 
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    Think Christian Articles

  • Why church-affiliated Boy Scouts should be first to welcome gay members

    Tim Fall
    23 May 2013 | 4:48 pm
    Posted on 05/23/13 The Boy Scouts voted today to drop their long-standing prohibition on gay members (gay adult leaders will still not be allowed). A lot of scout troops are sponsored by churches, many of which have taken stances on homosexuality. Apparently, for some churches, that stance will now include dropping their Scout affiliation. Essentially, these churches are saying that if LGBTQ kids want to join scouts, they're not welcome. They're not welcome because the church doesn't want them in their troop. The kids aren't welcome because apparently the church thinks that…

  • Glowing trees and the divine wisdom of species barriers

    Rolf Bouma
    23 May 2013 | 1:41 am
    Posted on 05/23/13 Turn into almost any suburban street after dark and streetlights cast globs of light every 250 feet or so. Now imagine the streetlights gone, but in their place light emanates from every tree on the block. Not twinkling Christmas lights or mere specks of radiance, but trees that literally glow - every leaf and twig emitting a soft, effusive glow. That image came to mind while reading a recent article in the New York Times describing a project tinkering with the genetics of a tree to make it emit light. It’s a biotech novelty on a somewhat grander scale than aquarium…

  • Will we ever stop labeling bands Christian?

    John J. Thompson
    21 May 2013 | 11:12 pm
    Posted on 05/22/13 Did you know that the members of U2 are Christians and that they frequently explore issues of faith in their songs? Shocking, right? I know! A recent BuzzFeed piece got way too many views with the irritating title “11 Bands You Might Not Realize Are Christian.” Author Matthew Perpetua seems to be trying to “out” people of faith in the music world by making over-reaching assumptions about the members’ beliefs based on lyric snippets and his own editorializations. For Perpetua, it seems the inclusion of any kind of Biblical imagery is reason…

  • What pastors really think about science and human origins

    Stephen Mapes
    20 May 2013 | 11:08 am
    Posted on 05/20/13 What do today’s pastors think about science? What views do they hold on creation and evolution and how strongly do they hold them? How do origins issues impact their ministries? These were just a few of the questions that motivated us at BioLogos to commission a survey of pastors on origins. In 2012, the Barna Group conducted 743 telephone interviews with pastors from across the United States, from churches big and small, and from all Christian denominations. This comprehensive, in-depth survey provides a fascinating analysis of views held by clergy today. Here are…

  • Star Trek’s elusive utopia

    Josh Larsen
    18 May 2013 | 9:05 am
    Posted on 05/18/13 There really shouldn’t be this much strife in the Star Trek universe. From the early episodes, created by Gene Roddenberry in the 1960s, to Star Trek Into Darknessthe newest film in the franchise, the series has sold a world in which advanced technology, human intellect and a reliance on reason have resulted in unprecedented cooperation – an interstellar United Federation of Planets, no less. But why, then, does conflict still exist, be it in the form of savage Klingons or evil clones? Considering all the advances it celebrates, it’s something of an irony…
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    All Blogs - XXXchurch

  • Life Is Better When You Don't Jack Off

    24 May 2013 | 6:20 am
    Years ago we created a page on our site called "Operation Save The Kittens" Years later Russ wrote a blog called "How To Stop Masturbating."  Last night, I saw a Kickstarter campaign called  "Life Is Better When You Don't Jack Off"   If you are up this late on the Internet you have time to go check out each of those links I just posted. Each of them in your own way might bother you, make you uncomfortable and even make you laugh. I am fine with all three of those emotions because at the end of the day, I just want you to talk about a real issue that most people are dealing…

  • Evolution: Eugene's Story

    23 May 2013 | 6:03 pm
    Eugene shares this story of when he realized he could do better for the sake of the women and girls in his life. My little girl was 27 when she confronted me about my wandering eyes.  She, her mom, her sister and I were at the mall for a little family shopping time before she brought our third granddaughter into the world. My wife and I love being able to treat our girls to some of these special outings since they are still finding their footing financially with their husbands and young families, and doing a little baby shopping was one way I could get involved with some of the girl…

  • Live Like You Are Dying - Zach's Story

    23 May 2013 | 6:14 am
    Zach Sobiech, at the age of 14, found out he had a rare form of terminal cancer. So he became a rock star, and millions of people got to see his music before he passed away on May 20, 2013. This is his beautiful story. Good luck getting through this without tears. So moving.... Thank me later - Craig

  • Acceptance At Last: Nick's Story

    22 May 2013 | 6:37 pm
    I was reared in a small town. You have got to love your small southern towns. I was raised in a very conservative, Christian household. Although I live in the heart of the Bible belt, my story is one of a kind, but my absolute hope is that you will see your reflection in my words. Let’s jump in. I was first introduced to pornography at a very young age. I was so young that I do not even recall my age, and it was all by a complete accident . . . but I will remember that image until the day that I die. I was realistically around six or seven years old, and I was plundering in my older…

  • What's Up (in the Media) Wednesdays. 05.22.13

    22 May 2013 | 4:31 pm
    Let's see...if I can keep this week (relatively) short 'n sweet. 1) Fellas, I would like your take on an article I read from the former Victoria's Secret model Kylie Biscutti who has been on the media tour circuit to promote her book I'm No Angel: From Victoria's Secret Model to Role Model. In one interview, she said this: "I believe that the types of images I took when I was a lingerie model brought a lot of men into temptation. And I do know that a very high percentage of men fall into porn addiction through looking at their mom’s or wives' lingerie catalogues.” A part of the…
 
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    TerraceCrawford.com

  • Free Webinar: Parent’s Guide to Social Media

    terracecrawford
    21 May 2013 | 7:50 am
    Since I’ve written Going Social, a practical guide on Social Media, there have been several other really great resources released.  One of those is a great book by my friend, Adam McLane on helping parents (and teens, really) navigate life online. … Continue reading →

  • Live from the Orange Conference!

    terracecrawford
    24 Apr 2013 | 8:42 pm
    I always enjoy being a part of the Orange Conference. The last couple of years I’ve participated as a LIVE blogger. This year I’m speaking also. I’m looking forward to connecting with other church leaders and I hope to see … Continue reading →

  • A Defining Moment in Youth Group

    terracecrawford
    22 Apr 2013 | 5:27 pm
    I’ve had some proud moments as a leader over the years.  Some defining moments too. Yesterday I shared a moment on twitter that was not only a defining moment for our youth ministry but a proud moment for me.

  • Do You Need a #YouthMin Coach?

    terracecrawford
    15 Mar 2013 | 8:04 am
    I’m launching my next round of Coaching for youth workers\pastors who have only been in the field for 5 years or less and I’m wondering if YOU or someone you know might need a coach?  [Apply now] Here’s a video that’ll … Continue reading →

  • Free Q&A Webinar with Jim Burns

    terracecrawford
    15 Mar 2013 | 6:09 am
      My friends at ParentMinistry.net will host a special Q&A webinar with Dr. Jim Burns this Tuesday, March 19th at 2PM Central.  This is a great chance for you to ask any burning question you have about parenting teens. Register … Continue reading →
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    Deep Thoughts by Gman

  • Junior 2 week of Camp - Oak Hill Christian Service Camp

    22 May 2013 | 11:53 am
    I'm going ...how about you?http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/ZioO

  • Hebrews Sermon Series

    22 May 2013 | 11:52 am
    http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/ZioO

  • Controversial surrounding a Terrorist ... or Why we should love our enemies ....

    17 May 2013 | 9:59 am
    By now you've heard that last month there was a bombing in Boston. And in central Virginia one of the terror suspects was buried a few miles from where I currently live. So why the controvery? I. No one wanted a shrine for a terrorist. II. It is always hard to bury bad people. III. We can identify with Bad people - for without God's grace so go I. IV. We need to love our enemies. The end of Romans 12 reminds us of this and to show kindness even to those who mean you harm. Ultimately God will be the Judge. V. There are 3 things that make up a person. 1. Physical makeup (Genetics) 2.

  • May the 4 be with you.

    4 May 2013 | 9:52 am
    http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/ZioO

  • Current Sermon Series: Hebrews

    3 May 2013 | 9:50 am
    So far it has been on the Greatest Commandment, Palm Sunday, the Resurrection and a study through Hebrews. Wednesday nites have included: Favorite Memory Verses (and testimony), Names of God, and a Current "One Another" series on lessons for Christian Discipleship. Our Summer Sermon Series will be topical: "Not a Fan." What are you teaching on?http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/ZioO
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    Digging The Word

  • Salvation: Made A Reality By Jesus

    Rick Morgan
    22 May 2013 | 10:05 am
    God's plan of salvation is fulfilled by Jesus sacrifice on the cross. Ephesians 1:7-12  He is so rich in kindness and grace that He purchased our freedom with the blood of His Son and forgave our sins.  8  He has showered His kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding.    9  God has now revealed to us His mysterious plan regarding Christ, a plan to fulfill His own good pleasure.  10  And this is the plan: At the right time He will bring everything together under the authority of Christ, everything in heaven and on earth.  11 …

  • Salvation: Planned By God

    Rick Morgan
    20 May 2013 | 8:33 am
    God's plans started a long time ago and they have never changed. Ephesians 1:1-6  This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus. I am writing to God's holy people in Ephesus, who are faithful followers of Christ Jesus.  2  May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace. 3  All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ.    4  Even before He made the world, God loved us and chose us in…

  • Praying? Don't Be Shy!

    Rick Morgan
    17 May 2013 | 10:53 am
    God's people are encouraged to pray boldly. Nehemiah 1:3-7  They said to me, "Things are not going well for those who returned to the province of Judah. They are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem has been torn down, and the gates have been destroyed by fire." 4  When I heard this, I sat down and wept. In fact, for days I mourned, fasted, and prayed to the God of heaven.  5  Then I said, "O LORD, God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps His covenant of unfailing love with those who love Him and obey His commands,  6  listen to my…

  • The Hardest Prayer

    Rick Morgan
    8 May 2013 | 7:19 am
    Praying for the problem people can be frustrating. Matthew 5:43-45  "You have heard the law that says, 'Love your neighbor' and hate your enemy.  44  But I say, love your enemies! [Bless those who curse you. Do good to those who hate you.] Pray for those who persecute you!  45  In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For He gives His sunlight to both the evil and the good, and He sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. We love to pray for the people that we love, it is so easy to pray for your parents, nana and papa, or your…

  • Getting Enough Spiritual Oxygen

    Rick Morgan
    6 May 2013 | 9:08 am
    A healthy Christian needs prayer just as much as he needs air. Ephesians 6:18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere What is true about Bible study is also true about prayer, we know we should do it, we know that it is good for us but we still avoid doing it. We can feel drawn to do it yet we can find so many reasons to avoid doing it. We may decide that we don't know how to pray or we may question our motives for praying. The new Christian starts out using everyday words and their prayers sound like…
 
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    Human3rror

  • 10 Years of WordPress

    John
    23 May 2013 | 4:17 am
    It’s hard to imagine that WordPress is 10 years old. I can’t believe it. I’ll be honest, it hasn’t been all rainbows and sunshine though – WordPress has gone through some big changes from nearly every angle. In the end I’m just thankful to be a part of a technology ecosystem that doesn’t appear to be slowing down at all and that has changed millions of peoples’ lives. It’s worth celebrating. I hope you can make it to our party if you’re in the Atlanta area. If not, go join another one that’s closer to you. 10 cheers to you…

  • Recovering from Failure

    John
    22 May 2013 | 6:37 am
    I was asked the other day by Seth via Twitter if I had ever written anything specifically on how one can recover emotionally from project failure. My assumption is that his question was a personal one and that he was looking for advice on how to move on to the next big thing. A quick scan reveals that I’ve shared a few things here and there about “failure”: More Bloggers Need to Fail A Positive Attitude as Strategy Get Fired Fighting Irrational Fears Worth the Price of Admission Broken Promises You are Not Your Blog How the Mighty Fall My 2012 Year in Review Those are just a…

  • Interview: Blogging Nerds

    John
    21 May 2013 | 3:39 am
    I answered a few questions over at Blogging Nerds recently.The post Interview: Blogging Nerds appeared first on TentBlogger.

  • A Clear Calendar

    John
    20 May 2013 | 4:36 am
    I bet my calendar is prettier than yours. I bet that I have a “lighter” and “more clear” weekly calendar than most of you. And therein lies one of my secret weapons of productivity. You see, I hate meetings. I. Fucking. Hate. Meetings. People ask me how I get so much done and although there may be a few tricks here and there the “magic” is pretty simple – I don’t waste time all my time talking to people. I shared this gem of an idea at a conference keynote last week (I’m not sure I’ll be invited back) which was counter-intuitive and…

  • Glimpse Chrome Extension

    John
    19 May 2013 | 4:03 am
    Killer Chrome Extension here. Quickly see what the “mobile view” of any website. I like.The post Glimpse Chrome Extension appeared first on TentBlogger.
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    Thinking Out Loud

  • Book Review: These are the Days of Elijah

    paulthinkingoutloud
    23 May 2013 | 4:22 am
    Much as I hate to admit it, while I’ve been aware of him for many years, this week was the first time I finally got around to reading one of the more than fifty books by R. T. Kendall. The American born author and pastor is best known for being the pastor of London’s Westminster Chapel where he succeeded the likes of Glyn Owen, G. Campbell Morgan and Martyn Lloyd-Jones. The book I asked to review is These Are The Days of Elijah: How God Uses Ordinary People to Do Extraordinary Things (2013, Chosen Books) which was compiled from a series of Sunday evening sermons given at…

  • What Not To Post Online During a Crisis

    paulthinkingoutloud
    23 May 2013 | 4:21 am
    When tragedies happen, you want to post something like this: not something like this: Michael Frost was kind enough to post on Twitter: ‘John Piper should sack whoever writes his tweets for him.” giving Piper a pass on the responsibility. Tuesday night the post had been removed from JP’s feed.

  • Wednesday Link List

    paulthinkingoutloud
    22 May 2013 | 3:35 am
    Welcome to yet another installment of “Let’s see what everybody else is doing online.” Actually there are some really strong links here this week, you won’t be disappointed, but I think both guys in the above cartoon are going to be. Our lead link this week isn’t lighter fare. The Dictionary of Christianese worked hard to provide you with the meaning of all things kairos, such as kairos time, kairos season, kairos opportunity and kairos moment. Todd Rhoades invites you to play: Who Said It? Oprah or Osteen? Before peeking at the answers, why not phone a friend or…

  • Internet Graphics in a Post-Biblical Literacy Environment

    paulthinkingoutloud
    22 May 2013 | 3:33 am
    This is oh so very realistic. Sourced at Cake or Death in case you want to contact Alex Baker about using it.   Last week I was trying to explain the basics of grace to someone who is searching through a number of spiritual options. I alluded to the story of the woman caught in the act of adultery, and also the story of the lost (prodigal) son, and realized in both cases that the person I was speaking with was not conversant with either story, so I had to backtrack and fill in the details. Honestly, it felt strange to have to go back and say, “So there was this woman who was caught in…

  • Firsthand Faith: Making the Family Beliefs Your Own

    paulthinkingoutloud
    21 May 2013 | 5:06 am
    Like authors Ryan and Josh Shook, I grew up in a Christian home. Years ago, I remember giving my testimony to the church high school group and being very clear that it wasn’t enough to simply ‘adopt’ the faith of your father and mother because that’s all you had; you had to take ownership of it in a more objective sense. Just because you were born in McDonald’s doesn’t make you a hamburger. The Shook brothers — sons of Kerry Shook whose book One Month to Live attracted much attention — have developed this concept into Firsthand: Ditching…
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    Just A Thought

  • Finding God In The Dark

    21 May 2013 | 7:07 pm
    Finding God In the Dark is a new book by Ted Kluck and Ronnie Martin.  The tag line says "Faith, Disappointment, and the Struggle to Believe." Well this was the perfect book for me to read going into my vacation from work.  In fact, it felt like I was reading my life story of late.  Which is what I like about this book.  Kluck and Martin have written a book that is relatable on so many

  • Celebrate Pentecost, Celebrate!

    18 May 2013 | 4:58 pm
    When Pentecost, the Fiftieth day after Passover, came, all the believers were together in one place.  Suddenly, a sound like a violently blowing wind came from the sky and filled the whole house where they were staying.  Tongues that looked like fire appeared to them.  The tongues arranged themselves so that one came to rest on each believer.  All the believers were filled with the Holy Spirit

  • Resting Well - Just A Thought #57

    1 May 2013 | 6:08 pm
    Mark 6:30-32, "The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves." Sounds like the apostles were busy and Jesus knew they needed a break.  Do you

  • God of Wonders

    19 Apr 2013 | 8:33 pm
    God is so amazing. "How great are His signs, how mighty His wonders! (Daniel 4:3a) How mighty His wonders.  I like that.  I remember visiting Niagara Falls a few years back.  My daughter wanted to go on the Maid of the Mist boat ride which takes you up to the base of the water falls.  Now I hate boats but, being a dad, I went along for the ride. I must say I was not only impressed, I was

  • God of the Impossible

    9 Apr 2013 | 9:31 pm
    <!--[if gte mso 9]> <![endif]--> My 3-year old was asked recently how high he could count.   He then proceeded to work through the numbers 1 through 13.  His next words were, “Hey, I almost made it to 14!” He then proceeded to finish counting all the way to 20. Have you ever been in that place where it feels you can only go so far and no further? Maybe you have felt like giving up or
 
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    Eric Bryant - Blog

  • 5 Things Your Sponsored Child Can Never Tell You by Margaret Feinberg

    Eric Bryant
    23 May 2013 | 3:35 pm
    As someone who has sponsored a couple of kids through Compassion since 1994, I can tell you they do great work. Margaret Feinberg traveled to Kenya to meet her sponsored child, and she verified how great Compassion truly is. Read her great article below: “As we’ve spent the week in Kenya, I’ve had the privilege of getting a close up look at the work of Compassion. I can literally walk into any project, point at any kid, and ask to see their file—a thick, 3-ring binder filled with monthly, quarterly, and yearly reports on the child’s health, academic progress, spiritual…

  • Overcoming Anxiety

    Eric Bryant
    22 May 2013 | 8:02 pm
    We had a great time with our Gateway Small Group as we considered how to overcome anxiety. Here were some of our thoughts: Have you ever found yourself easily angered and annoyed only to realize your real issue was anxiety? Or have you ever been so overwhelmed by anxiety you weren’t able to move forward? Have you ever tried to stop worrying and just find yourself worrying about worrying? Anxiety competes with faith because they occupy the same space in our hearts and minds. We cannot fully trust God and remain anxious. Anxiety is often our attempt to control things that are beyond our…

  • Decisive in the Gray Areas

    Eric Bryant
    21 May 2013 | 5:06 am
    “What roles are appropriate for a Christian girl to pursue or accept as actor?”  The parents have a daughter in Los Angeles who has started getting work as an actor. They listed different possibilities – particular shows, particular themes, and so on. As a parent, it is tempting to tell our kids what to decide in every case. In some cases, that is exactly what our role requires, especially when they are young. As they get older and more mature, we have to shift more and more to help them learn how to make wise decisions on their own. Here was my response: “I keep…

  • Life Giving Life: An Update

    Eric Bryant
    20 May 2013 | 4:06 pm
    Life Giving Life is Gateway Austin’s focused efforts to invest in the needs in our city (relationally, physically, and spiritually), make a difference in the most impoverished parts of our world in places like Haiti and India, and move into a new South Campus Check out the update here: Gateway Minute :: Life Giving Life Update from g8waypro on Vimeo.

  • Servolution by John Burke

    Eric Bryant
    19 May 2013 | 10:49 am
    Today, John Burke spoke at Gateway Church‘s McNeil campus and to the Internet campus, and I spoke at the South Campus on the theme: “Servolution.” To watch or listen to John’s message, go to www.gatewaychurch.com/podcast. Here are some of the insights we shared: “We never look so much like God as we do when we serve one another. Those of you who give to Gateway Church may not realize it, but you’ve helped start 30 churches like Gateway in the last 10 years. One of those is in St. Louis. A guy from St. Louis was telling me about a woman he met one hot summer…
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    GetReligion

  • Yes, Pope Francis said: All are ‘redeemed!’ Is that news?

    TMatt
    23 May 2013 | 2:57 pm
    Let’s start with the actual words spoken by Pope Francis, in his much quoted, and often warped, sermon on Mark 9:38-40 and the work of Jesus Christ in redeeming all of creation, including the people in it. The Lord created us in His image and likeness, and we are the image of the Lord, and [...]

  • Pope Francis’ ‘obsession’ with the devil

    mollie
    23 May 2013 | 8:03 am
    It’s kind of charming that all popes have to deal with bad media coverage and global press frenzies. This week we’ve seen some awful media coverage of Pope Francis, including coverage of his blessing of a man after Mass on Sunday. Part of the blame must go to the Italian press, which really went crazy [...]

  • Scotland the confused: Did the Presbyterians endorse gay clergy?

    geoconger
    23 May 2013 | 4:52 am
    Something happened on Monday at the General Assembly the Church of Scotland — they appear to have become Anglicans. No — they didn’t change from a Presbyterian to Episcopal form of church government. They did something more Anglican than combining bishops with Calvinism.  They’ve accepted the sacred “yes/but”  Anglican doctrine of deliberate confusion,  and have [...]

  • Oklahoma tornado doctor: a bundle of vague faith

    Bobby Ross Jr.
    22 May 2013 | 2:58 pm
    The Oklahoman, my hometown newspaper and former employer, is rising to the occasion in its coverage of this week’s Moore, Okla.,tornado. That’s no surprise for a newspaper that has gained way too much experience covering major tragedies — including the Oklahoma City bombing and the May 3, 1999, tornadoes. Nonetheless, I’m going to provide a little constructive [...]

  • A quiverfull of kudos for the BBC

    Joe Carter
    22 May 2013 | 8:54 am
    As an Evangelical in the media, I’m sympathetic to the struggle journalists have with reporting on our peculiar tradition. When simply defining what the term “Evangelical” means poses a challenge, it can be difficult to know how to report on shared beliefs within Evangelicalism, much less the on the more controversial sub-movements within the tradition. The BBC [...]
 
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    Ragamuffin Soul

  • Reason #456 I’m Better Than You. WAY Better Than You.

    loswhit
    23 May 2013 | 9:52 am
    “Hey dad? Are you done pooping yet?” This was Losiah’s question as I am in the last stall in the restroom and he apparently was all done in the stall next to mine. “Hey bro. Relax with the poop verbiage man. I’m almost done.” I responded. “OK Daddy.” Thank God we were the only people in the restroom. “Daddy? Are you almost done? Why is it taking so long?” This time his tiny little head pops in under my stall. “Seriously dude. Let dad finish! I’m almost done. I’ve cooked up something big ok?” At this moment I…

  • These 20 minutes will change everything about you. Trust and watch…

    loswhit
    22 May 2013 | 6:54 am
    Thanks Zach… Los

  • Question for NON WORSHIP LEADERS

    loswhit
    21 May 2013 | 7:57 am
    This question is for all you people who sit in the crowd on Sunday. Not all you stage prima donnas like me. Funny thing is that “church professionals” often think they know what songs connect best in the crowd. I have a better idea. Ask the crowd… What is the current song, that when the band begins to lead, accelerates you to a closer place with God? I’m fairly certain it is a different song than your worship leader thinks of. Speak Los

  • Caption Please…

    loswhit
    20 May 2013 | 8:39 am
    Caption Please…                  

  • Worship Leader or Cover Band Singer?

    loswhit
    20 May 2013 | 8:26 am
    Worship Leaders vs. Cover Band Singers. They are different you know. One is not better than the other. But they serve different purposes. So I think I have come up with a list of questions that can help you figure out what you have at your church or what your church culture is raising up. Have you ever heard them talk about Jesus offstage? Like ever? Do they smile bigger during the opening cover song than they do during the worship set? Have you ever seen them live like Jesus offstage? Like ever? Does anybody willingly follow them during the week? Who would be more impressed at the end of a…
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    internetmonk.com

  • Michael Newnham: God and Disaster

    Guest Author
    23 May 2013 | 9:01 pm
    Note from CM: We will give the last word on this stormy week to one of our friends. One of the blogs in our Blogroll that I go to regularly is Phoenix Preacher, Michael Newnham’s simple yet provocative and readable site. He is the author of Make Your Own Application. In the aftermath of the heartbreaking devastation in Oklahoma earlier this week, he wrote one of the best pieces I saw. One line says it all: “…the theologian is no match for a grieving parent.” I am grateful for his permission to re-post this poignant piece here. God and Disaster by Michael Newnham I saw…

  • John Piper, Miserable Comforter

    Chaplain Mike
    23 May 2013 | 9:00 am
    @JohnPiper: “Your sons and daughters were eating and a great wind struck the house, and it fell upon them, and they are dead.” Job 1:19 @JohnPiper: “Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped.” Job 1:20 As expected, John Piper, retired pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, MN, weighed in on the destructive tornadoes in Oklahoma. That same night, while first responders were heroically combing through the damage trying to find survivors, Piper sat comfortably at his computer and posted two theological tweets, texts from the…

  • Playing God With Tornadoes

    Jeff Dunn
    22 May 2013 | 9:53 pm
    And the idiots have landed. Monday I watched with great terror and shock as a massive tornado roared through Moore, Oklahoma, leaving at least 24 people dead. I was at work when someone said “the City is getting storms.” I live in Tulsa, 100 miles east of the City—Oklahoma City—and was trying to keep an eye on the weather. The City had a “moderate” risk of severe weather according to the Weather Channel, while Tulsa was in the “exceedingly high” risk area. I knew that when the City started to see storms, they would be on their way eastward to…

  • Midweek Monkery 5/22/13

    Chaplain Mike
    21 May 2013 | 10:08 pm
    Yesterday, we learned that some denominations are considering making 45 the age cut-off for ordination. Since I haven’t seen 45 for a few years and am much closer to many higher numbers (that will remain unmentioned), today’s Midweek Monkery features some smiles and laughs I’ve had lately with regard to the subject of getting older. Jack Benny didn’t set his sights low enough I get to serve some of the most delightful people in the world. The other day I was visiting a man who was enjoying his 95th birthday. Reminding him of Jack Benny’s famous “stuck on…

  • Ageism in the Church?

    Chaplain Mike
    21 May 2013 | 9:00 am
    Some days more than others, and for various reasons, I’m glad I’m not a Methodist anymore. No, seriously, the trend this article from CT’s Live Blog reports is happening in many church bodies and denominations. I wonder what you think of it. As for me, I’m all for young pastors — after all, I was one for many years — but is this wise? When you consider longer life spans, healthier living, and the advantages of having people with experience and wisdom in leadership positions, why would a church body ponder a decision like this? Methodists May Discourage…
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    Tall Skinny Kiwi

  • 5 Events at Kirchentag you dont wanna miss

    Andrew
    1 May 2013 | 2:31 am
    Kirchentag Festival is off with a bang. Not sure how many people came out last night for the Opening Ceremony but estimates have been as high as 300,000. Who knows? Counting church people is a tricky affair, as I have blogged about before, so I will leave it to the experts. Here are my Best Bets for Internationals at Kirchentag 2013 1. Germany's Federal Chancellor Dr Angela Merkel and Helen Clark, New Zealand's ex-PM and now spicing up the UN Development Programme with some kiwi ingenuity, discuss the value of creation in a globalised world with "And God saw that it was Good". If you cant get…

  • In Los Angeles to see blood

    Andrew
    26 Apr 2013 | 8:16 pm
      This Sunday I will be at the Brewery Art Walk in Los Angeles to see my friend Kevin do a live art installation based on the Book of Judges. He tells me there will be blood. I told him I will bring my diving mask. It all happens at 3pm at Studio 624. If you see me, please say hello and take me out for an In-and-Out Burger.  Posted with Blogsy

  • Enough for All - My Bible Study

    Andrew
    24 Apr 2013 | 4:57 pm
    If you are in Germany then you might be joining the 100,000+ people in Hamburg for Kirchentag 2013 (Church Day) on May 1-5. If you make it to my session, please say hello afterwards. The Kirchentag folk do an absolutely incredible job of organizing and hosting a massive scale festival  - the best organized I have ever seen - and they invited me to teach over a year ago. Here is the info they sent me. Information about your Bible study at the 34th German Protestant Kirchentag from 1st to 5th May 2013 in Hamburg Dear Mr. Jones, "As much as you need” – is the theme for the 34th German…

  • Rick Warren sets up memorial fund

    Andrew
    9 Apr 2013 | 6:05 pm
    I have been thinking of Rick Warren all week. A dreadful loss. Praying peace on the family after the tragic suicide of their son Matthew. Rick Warren just set up the Matthew Warren Memorial Fund for Mental Illness. I hope the fund does well in raising awareness of this issue that affects so many, including many ministry families. It's a hard issue to talk about without creating disrespect for the individual involved. I hope there is a way forward.  Rick is an incredible man and I respect him a hell of a lot. In the early days, we in the emerging church gave the seeker-sensitive pastors a…

  • Thoughts on Pope Francis

    Andrew
    14 Mar 2013 | 6:18 pm
    GREAT to hear waves of excitement over the new Pope. I am also excited about the appointment of Pope Francis, because . . . - he is from South America. - he is a humble man, riding the bus to work and refusing ecclesiastic titles.  - he has a heart for the poor. - he wants renewal of the church, which is awesome. - he is a Jesuit, and those guys are really cool! - the charismatic Catholics really like him. In Italy a few years ago, some friends and I met with Matteo Calisi, who heads up the 150 million people in the Charismatic Catholic Renewal, known as the Catholic Fraternity, and reports…
 
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    AlbertMohler.com » Blog

  • Boy Scouts at the Brink — The Moment of Decision Arrives

    Albert Mohler
    22 May 2013 | 12:20 am
    Meeting Thursday in Grapevine, Texas, the National Council of the Boy Scouts of America will decide whether it will retain or revise its historic membership policy on the issue of homosexuality. The 1,400 voting members of the B.S.A. National Council hold the future of one of America’s most iconic organizations in their hands. In reality, they are not only deciding a matter of membership policy. They are actually deciding the future of the entire organization. The culture wars came to the Boy Scouts many years ago. For the last few decades, the Boy Scouts have had to fight battles with…

  • The Goodness of God and the Reality of Evil

    Albert Mohler
    21 May 2013 | 12:07 am
    Every thoughtful person must deal with the problem of evil. Evil acts and tragic events come to us all in this vale of tears known as human life. The problem of evil and suffering is undoubtedly the greatest theological challenge we face. Keep Reading

  • “By What Power or by What Name Did You Do This?” The Question Every Minister of Christ Must Long to Be Asked

    Albert Mohler
    16 May 2013 | 10:51 pm
    And so, you graduate. The Seminary Lawn is filled with hundreds of graduates, faculty, family, and friends. Everyone is playing his or her part. Parents are proud, spouses are glad, friends are happy, and a good number of infants are hungry. The faculty is feeling old and the graduates are feeling wise. And you are wise, for you have completed demanding courses of study that are rightly respected and widely envied. You are wiser for the knowledge that what you have learned thus far is only a prelude to a life of consecrated learning for the cause of Christ and the aim of faithfulness in…

  • Kermit Gosnell’s America — What His Trial Really Reveals

    Albert Mohler
    14 May 2013 | 1:52 pm
    The doctor is a murderer. The trial of Dr. Kermit Gosnell ended yesterday, with the infamous abortion doctor convicted of three counts of first degree murder and one count of involuntary manslaughter. The doctor’s abortion clinic, described by a Philadelphia prosecutor as a “house of horrors,” is no more, but the truth revealed in his trial remains. He is not the only one with blood on his hands. Keep Reading

  • Sneering at Parents, Hiding Behind “Science” — The Emergency Contraception Controversy

    Albert Mohler
    9 May 2013 | 12:13 am
    Looking for evidence that our society is losing its mind? Just look at the controversy over so-called “emergency contraceptives” and a federal judge’s effort to make these drugs available, over the counter, to girls of any age. Last month, Judge Edward Korman of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York handed down an order forcing the Food and Drug Administration to make emergency contraceptives, sometimes called the “morning-after pill,” available without a doctor’s prescription or parental permission to girls without any…
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    Pete Wilson

  • The Truth About Prayer

    Pete Wilson
    22 May 2013 | 6:48 am
    This past Sunday at Cross Point, we continued our series on the 5 Lies We Believe where we focused on prayer. I received so much feedback from all of you and countless others so I couldn’t narrow it down to just one central lie that we buy into when it comes to prayer, but I touched on 3 different lies. We put together a quick video recap for you. I really hope it will help some of you to know the truth about prayer. Your prayers DO matter to God. Your prayers DO change things.
 
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    Quieted Waters

  • 10 Books to Read Before Turning 25

    Josh
    22 May 2013 | 11:01 pm
    Last week, Relevant Magazine posted an article entitled, 10 Books Everyone Should Read by 25-ish. In that article, Nicole Unice included books like Mere Christianity and Gilead, two of my favorites. On the heels of that article, Tony Reinke tweeted his own list of 10 books to read by 25. You should check out the entire list, but it included Don’t Waste Your Life and Counterfeit Gods. On the heels of those great lists, I thought I would offer my own. I’m a couple years past 25, so I write this post partly as a reflection on 10 books to read, based on my own first 25 years. 10 Books…

  • Is God Constrained?

    Josh
    19 May 2013 | 11:01 pm
    I wrote last week about my class on the philosophy of religion. I am only a week into the class, but so far I have enjoyed both the readings and the online discussions with classmates. One of the topics we are considering is the nature of God’s immanence and his transcendence. In other words, how can God be omnipresent in our world but also unconstrained by its laws. For example, how can God be everywhere but not be subject to gravity, or entropy? My classmates come from all walks of life, and they each have a different stance on whether God exists. For that reason, our discussions have…

  • A Review of When Jesus Wept

    Josh
    15 May 2013 | 9:01 pm
    Title: When Jesus Wept Author: Brock and Bodie Thoene Publisher: Zondervan (2013) My Rating: 4/5 I received a copy of this book thanks to the Booksneeze program, in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to their generosity, I was able to read my first book by the Thoenes, a couple known for their brilliant fiction. Although I’ve known people to read and love books by the Thoenes — my mother-in-law among them — this was my introduction to their work. This story, When Jesus Wept is a fictional retelling of the life of Lazarus. Although I didn’t go back to the gospels…

  • Philosophy of Religion

    Josh
    12 May 2013 | 11:01 pm
    One of my dreams in life is to study at Oxford. I would prefer to study philosophy while I’m there, but the dream itself is to study absolutely anything in that fabled academy. While I don’t get to visit England just yet, today I started taking an Oxford class online. I will be studying the philosophy of religion, a subject I focused on in college. Although some of the material will be familiar, I look forward to learning in a new environment, through a new university. We’re also focusing on a textbook I haven’t seen before, Belief in God, by T. J. Mawson. I am very…

  • My Review of Friends and Lovers

    Josh
    8 May 2013 | 9:01 pm
    Title: Friends and Lovers Author: Joel R. Beeke Publisher: Cruciform Press (2012) My Rating: 4/5 To start, let me say that Kim Shay already reviewed Friends and Lovers, and if you haven’t seen that review, go check it out and skip this post. I’m writing a review as a direct result of reading her book review. Until reading Kim’s thoughts, I had been on the fence about this book. After reading them, I had to pick up a copy. - – - Joel Beeke is the President of Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary, and he has served as pastor of a local church for nearly three decades.
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    Kary Oberbrunner

  • What’s your melody line (18 of 40)

    Kary Oberbrunner
    12 May 2013 | 3:48 pm
    It’s a beautiful day, don’t let it get away. - U2 Whether or not you’re a fan of the Dublin-based rock band U2, if you’ve heard their song “Beautiful Day” on your iPod or over the airwaves, you might automatically recall the melody line. For others, maybe we needed the sticky nine words above to conjure up the melody line, and now we’re in another world, singing the entire song. Melody lines wield that type of power and that type of potential. As we might expect, Bono, humanitarian and main vocalist of U2, is often associated with the term melody line. He’s a singer, after…

  • Are you more scared of the dark…or the light?

    Kary Oberbrunner
    8 May 2013 | 6:48 pm
    We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when adults are afraid of the light. -Plato

  • She’s 79. He’s 76. What’s your excuse?

    Kary Oberbrunner
    1 May 2013 | 6:45 am
    Nothing fires me up more than people on fire. Recently, I met some old people on fire. The thing is they’re not really old. They’re more alive than many twenty year-olds. You see most people are dead, they’ve just never made it official. Watch Pete and Pat Gano in the video below. They’ll fire you up. Click here to view the embedded video. They’re both working on their first book and they’re starting a business/ministry to help others. They’re enrolled in a Deeper Path cohort and yesterday they took the next step to become certified. They join 58…

  • Why we want you to land safely (17 of 40)

    Kary Oberbrunner
    15 Apr 2013 | 7:16 am
    The choice is ours: Do we want to shake the dice and wait until our unexpected bird strike before we determine our response? If Captain Sully had waited, he, the crew, the passengers, and the plane would have gone down in flames like other flights before him. The world is waiting on you to get past what you’re waiting for. We need you to convert your apprehension into productive energy. We need you to dig Deep and act today. We need you to take The Deeper Path. Tomorrow could be your defining moment, the day when your number is drawn. Use today to prepare for tomorrow. Know that we’re…

  • Here’s what’s at stake (16 of 40 )

    Kary Oberbrunner
    11 Apr 2013 | 7:09 am
    Know this: your number will come up. I can’t tell you the exact day of your defining moment, but trust me, it’s coming. And it doesn’t care if you’re ready. Now our friends and family, they do care. They’re rooting for our success and want us to land safely. But let’s be honest: they have a vested interest too. None of us is flying alone. We all have passengers with us. They’re belted in behind us, praying that our response will prove to be the right one. But this is much bigger than even the “passengers” directly connected to us. Consider that US Airways Flight 1549 landed…
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    Ligonier Ministries Blog

  • $5 Friday: The Arts, Islam, & Assurance

    Nathan W. Bingham
    23 May 2013 | 9:00 pm
    It's time for our weekly $5 Friday sale. This week's resources cover such topics as the arts, Islam, assurance, providence, theology, ministry, and more. Sale runs through 12:01 a.m. — 11:59 p.m. Friday ET. View today's $5 Friday sale items.

  • A Special Panel Discussion on Christology

    R.C. Sproul
    23 May 2013 | 10:00 am
    "The Son of God should also become the Son of man, and so receive what is ours as to transfer to us what is his, making that which is his by nature to become ours by grace" (Institutes of the Christian Religion 2.12.2). John Calvin wrote those words nearly five hundred years ago, and they remain one of the most profound yet simple summaries of biblical Christology. Our faith is in the one true Creator, the God of Scripture who exists eternally as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This Holy Trinity is made known to us most fully in the incarnation of the Son of God, the God-man Jesus Christ. In…

  • The Church and Psalm 81

    Nathan W. Bingham
    23 May 2013 | 3:00 am
    Here's an excerpt from The Church and Psalm 81, Robert Godfrey's contribution to the May issue of Tabletalk. What does the church most need today? In answering this important but rather general question, Psalm 81 is uniquely important and helpful. This psalm obviously contains beautiful promises and clear directions to help the people of God. But careful study of this psalm will deepen our appreciation of it, increase its value for us, and show us how distinctive it is for helping the church. As we study psalms, we soon learn that the central verse of a psalm is often significant as a key to…

  • Husbands, 8 Admonitions to Love Your Wife

    William Boekestein
    22 May 2013 | 3:00 am
    "Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them." (Col. 3:19, NKJV) When God says, "Husbands, love your wives," he speaks of the woman as a complex being. He calls every man to love his whole wife just as every man loves his whole self (Eph. 5:29). This means that a husband must do all he can to understand his wife's world. What follows are eight admonitions to love our wives with respect to their various facets. 1. Love Her Heart—Emotional Love The Bible uses the word "love" over 350 times. Almost 10% of these times are in the Song of Solomon (which comprises less than…

  • R.C. Sproul's Crucial Questions eBooks Now Free Forever

    Nathan W. Bingham
    21 May 2013 | 12:00 pm
    To further help Christians know what they believe, why they believe it, how to live it, and how to share it, from today the eBook editions of R.C. Sproul's Crucial Questions series will be free forever. Can I Be Sure I'm Saved? (Kindle) (iTunes) Can I Have Joy in My Life? (Kindle) Can I Know God's Will? (Kindle) (iTunes) Can I Trust the Bible? (Kindle) (iTunes) Does God Control Everything? (Kindle) Does Prayer Change Things? (Kindle) (iTunes) How Should I Live in this World? (Kindle) (iTunes) What Can I Do with My Guilt? (Kindle) (iTunes) What Does It…
 
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    Geoffrey Janes

  • Garren's Latest Swallow Test

    20 May 2013 | 1:01 pm
    It's a long journey. We continue to pray, as I know many of you do, that Garren will one day learn to swallow again. I never get tired of the parents who come up to me and say "My son/daughter won't go to bed at night until they have prayed for Garren!" Thank you.The other day, someone asked me about prayer. They weren't sure if maybe after asking God for something so many times, without getting an answer, if maybe we should stop. I looked him in the eye and said "I have an alarm on my phone that reminds me every hour to pray for Garren's swallowing. I don't plan to stop." We will continue to…

  • Vote for Kara

    1 Mar 2013 | 4:20 am
    Our oldest daughter, Kara, is a senior this year at CATA High School in Monroe. She has really made us proud with her passions and achievements. She has recently been accepted to the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. It is her dream to go into acting. We are all very excited about this opportunity.However, as you well know, opportunities like this cost money! Apparently quite a bit of money! So Kara has been tasked with seeking out and applying for scholarships. Lots of scholarships. She recently submitted an essay to WyzAnt College Scholarships. The finalists for this scholarship are chosen…

  • Twists and Turns

    28 Feb 2013 | 7:54 am
    Life is full of twists and turns. As I look back and reflect over the last couple of years, I think about the things that we have seen and experienced that I never could have dreamed were even possible, things that are just bizarre. Watching my only son go through a near death experience, come out of a coma, and begin the path of recovery from a brain injury. It's just bizarre! An unexpected twist on the path of life. Then to walk through the most stressful and heartbreaking church crisis I have ever been a part of. To see people turn on each other, watch people get hurt, watch pride…

  • Happy Birthday Garren!

    18 Feb 2013 | 2:12 pm
    Last Tuesday was Garren's 16th birthday. So hard to believe! Garren continues to progress and get stronger. Our greatest prayer continues to be for him to swallow.On Saturday Garren invited some friends over for a birthday party. It was so much fun to have these guys come and hang out. While they were here, the "blizzard" hit outside. Next thing we knew, they were all outside playing basketball in the snow! Several of them (including Garren) refusing to wear a coat!O well, boys will be boys! They had a good time.

  • 2 Years Ago Today...

    4 Feb 2013 | 4:37 pm
    2 years ago today our lives were traumatically rocked when Garren was rushed to the ER with a bleed in his brain. So much has happened. Garren has come such a long way. Here is a picture of him one year ago:Here is what I wrote about that picture: "Here's Garren today. He can stand with the help of his crutches all by himself for about a minute or so. He did this for the first time this week!"It's amazing to look back over even the past year and see the amazing progress that has been made. As I've mentioned before, when you are in the middle of it everyday, it can seem slow and agonizing. But…
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    United Church of God

  • BT Daily: Encouragement!

    23 May 2013 | 2:36 pm
    Here's a passage to keep in mind when you wonder "Where is God?"

  • "Let This Mind Be in You." What Mind?

    23 May 2013 | 2:36 pm
    The apostle Paul wrote to the Philippians about having another person's mind. "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 2:5). What does that mean?

  • Nuts!

    23 May 2013 | 2:36 pm
    The Bible is full of stories. I especially like the ones that cover a pivotal event that changed the course of the future.

  • The Towel of Jesus Christ

    23 May 2013 | 2:36 pm
    hree things to remember in our quest to become more Christ-like, and to serve more as Christ serves.

  • Bible Study: The Book of Hebrews - Chapter 4 & 5

    23 May 2013 | 8:57 am
    Join us as we continue an in-depth study of the Book of Hebrews. These chapters cover some very important biblical beliefs. What does the writer of Hebrews mean when he writes: "There remains therefore a rest for the people of God"? And who is our priest according to the order of Melchizedek?
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    Tim Archer's Kitchen of Half-Baked Thoughts

  • What’s in a label?

    Tim Archer
    23 May 2013 | 6:00 am
    There’s a tried and true tactic in social movements, and that’s the proper use of naming. Give your movement the right name, and you’re well on the way to success. Stick your opponents with a poisoned moniker, and they’ll struggle to overcome that disadvantage. A few examples come to mind: Gender justice. If you hold to a certain point of view regarding the participation of women in Christian worship, you can lay claim to speaking for gender justice. That means that any who disagree with you are opposing justice. Wow! That’s powerful. Homophobia. If you feel that…

  • Thursday’s Links To Go

    Tim Archer
    23 May 2013 | 5:30 am
    Christian leaders seek to overcome polarization As religious leaders, they agreed, they are called to move politicians, congregants and Americans in general to understand that mean-spirited debate makes it all the harder to solve the nation’s problems. Sometimes, they said, that may mean calling out people — including themselves — who debate disrespectfully through name-calling or by questioning the motives of their political opponents. What the Church Could Learn from Google CEO Larry Page Last week Google CEO Larry Page took the stage at the I/O keynote and shared some personal…

  • The Diaspora

    Tim Archer
    22 May 2013 | 6:00 am
    Once concept I might add to yesterday’s look at the theology of foreignness is the concept of the Diaspora. Originally, the term “diaspora” just meant scattering. Then it came to refer to the scattering of Jews away from the Promised Land. Christians appropriated that term to refer to themselves. James uses the term in the first verse of his letter, though given the Jewishness of his writing, he may have been addressing Jewish Christians primarily. But there’s no doubt of the meaning when Peter uses it at the beginning of his first letter; a quick read of 1 Peter shows…

  • Wednesday’s Links To Go

    Tim Archer
    22 May 2013 | 5:30 am
    Tweet by Preacher John Piper After Oklahoma Tornado Meets Major Backlash Preacher and author John Piper, best known as the leader of DesiringGod and author of many best-selling Christian books, has met criticism of Internet-sized proportions after a post on Twitter yesterday. The Pentagon’s Problem With Proselytizing Mr. Weinstein, whom the Associated Press once quoted as saying that a Christian-themed bumper sticker on an officer’s car or a Bible on an officer’s desk can amount to “pushing this fundamentalist version of Christianity on helpless subordinates,”…

  • A Theology of Foreignness

    Tim Archer
    21 May 2013 | 6:00 am
    I’m working on a summary of the biblical teachings on “foreignness.” Here are some initial thoughts. I’d really like your feedback: The theme of aliens and strangers courses throughout the biblical narrative. Many of God’s people lived as aliens. Some emigrated to other countries for economic reasons (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob); some were taken forcibly (Joseph, Daniel, Ezekiel, Esther, Ezra, Nehemiah); some moved from a desire to form part of God’s people (Rahab, Ruth); others went seeking refuge from violence (Moses, David, Jesus’ family). The willingness to live…
 
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    GoingToSeminary

  • Choosing a seminary – a pastor’s opinion

    Brian Schmitt
    2 May 2013 | 11:39 am
    In my never ending quest to provide information that will help you decide on the right seminary for you, I occasionally find other people who have weighed in on the subject. Today I came across an older post by Mark Dever at togetherforthegospel.org. In his post, Mark explains five factors to consider when choosing a seminary. They are: Confession of Faith – “…Look to be trained at an institution which seems to be committed to a right understanding of God’s Word…“ Quality of Education – “…While there is no precise way to measure such…

  • Seminary Scholarships

    Brian Schmitt
    2 May 2013 | 11:37 am
    By far our most popular post over time has been our Seminary Scholarship post. The problem with this post is how narrow it is, and without great amounts of effort and time it would never be very inclusive. Not to mention how dated it has become. So, we decided it might be best to let our readers build the listing. Please email GoingtoSeminary@Logos.com with any scholarship submissions. As new submissions come in they will be added to the list. Of course we can’t verify all the details of each scholarship submission, that part will be up to you if you decide to apply for a specific…

  • Saints Don’t Wear Tights

    Nick Ng
    28 Feb 2013 | 4:44 pm
    When we hear the word “sainthood,” we are likely to associate it with the longstanding tradition of acknowledging those who have demonstrated a remarkable degree of spirituality. It may also remind us of beautiful, ancient artwork illustrating Church fathers (with awesome-looking beards) and mothers (with awesome lack thereof). The past figures inspire living Christians to imitate their traits, whether their examples be generosity, prayer life, or humility. Heroes & Saints My appreciation for them grew after taking a course in ancient Christianity, covering the development of…

  • 3 Christ-Centered Graduate Degrees

    Amanda Olson
    12 Feb 2013 | 1:36 pm
    Guest post by David Davidson, communications editor for the marketing department at Logos Bible Software. Knox Theological Seminary, with Logos Bible Software, offers three world-class graduate programs that let you study what you love without giving up your job and church. Knox’s Master of Arts (Biblical & Theological Studies) prepares you for lifelong ministry, church leadership, and Bible study. Not only will you learn sound theology, church history, ethics, and more; you’ll learn to explain and defend your faith. And you’ll do it using Logos largest, smartest…

  • Resolved to Resolution; or, Relying upon Christ

    Seth Ross
    14 Jan 2013 | 8:23 pm
    . . . And all the people shouted with a great shout when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid. But many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers’ houses, old men who had seen the first house, wept with a loud voice when they saw the foundation of this house being laid, though many shouted aloud for joy, so that the people could not distinguish the sound of the joyful shout from the sound of the people’s weeping, for the people shouted with a great shout, and the sound was heard far away. (Ezra 3:11b–13 ESV) . . . the people…
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    Trinity Presbyterian Church (OPC) in Novato, Marin County » Podcast Feed

  • For the Kingdom of God is not Eating and Drinking

    Pastor Reid Hankins
    19 May 2013 | 5:30 pm
    Sermon preached on Romans 14:13-23 by Rev. W. Reid Hankins during the Morning Worship Service at Trinity Presbyterian Church (OPC) on 5/19/2013 in Novato, CA. Rev. W. Reid Hankins, M.Div. Romans 14:13-23 5/19/13 “For the Kingdom of God is not Eating and Drinking” Last week we talked about the common situation where there is conflict [...]

  • Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 43

    Pastor Reid Hankins
    19 May 2013 | 5:04 pm
    Adult Sunday School class led by Rev. W. Reid Hankins at Trinity Presbyterian Church (OPC) on 05/19/2013 in Novato, CA. This week we continued a series through the Heidelberg Catechism, studying Lord’s Day 43.

  • God Has Received Him

    Pastor Reid Hankins
    12 May 2013 | 1:50 pm
    Sermon preached on Romans 14:1-12 by Rev. W. Reid Hankins during the Morning Worship Service at Trinity Presbyterian Church (OPC) on 4/21/2013 in Novato, CA. Rev. W. Reid Hankins, M.Div. Romans 14:1-12 5/12/13 “God Has Received Him” Quarrels and conflicts and cliques in the church. Factions, schisms, and church splits. Unfortunately, these sorts of things [...]

  • Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 42

    Pastor Reid Hankins
    12 May 2013 | 1:37 pm
    Adult Sunday School class led by Rev. W. Reid Hankins at Trinity Presbyterian Church (OPC) on 05/12/2013 in Novato, CA. This week we continued a series through the Heidelberg Catechism, studying Lord’s Day 42.

  • Knowing the Time

    Pastor Reid Hankins
    21 Apr 2013 | 9:04 pm
    Sermon preached on Romans 13:11-14 by Rev. W. Reid Hankins during the Morning Worship Service at Trinity Presbyterian Church (OPC) on 4/21/2013 in Novato, CA. Rev. W. Reid Hankins, M.Div. Romans 13:11-14 4/21/13 “Knowing the Time” In our message two weeks ago we said it was important to understand the times. That we are living [...]
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    Vision Baptist Church

  • Welcome Seifu and Thomas Families

    Robert Canfield
    26 Apr 2013 | 1:40 pm
                  Last Sunday Vision Baptist Church accepted the Thomas and Seifu families to be part of the Vision Family. Haile and Valeria have been going to Vision now for almost two years now and this last Sunday they decided to make Vision their church. The Thomas’ moved to Cumming/Alpharetta area last year and they too made the decision to make Vision their Church. We have been so blessed as God continues to add to Vision. Please join me in welcoming the Seifu’s and the Thomas’s.  

  • Welcome the Smith’s and McCurry’s

    Robert Canfield
    14 Apr 2013 | 8:24 pm
    Join me by welcoming two new families to Vision. Last week we added Matt and Julianna Smith to the Vision family and this week week we added Trey and Rachel McCurry. The Lord is blessing Vision with wonderful couples. Please join me in welcoming the Smiths and the McCurrys.

  • Welcome John De Luz and Philip Ferguson

    Robert Canfield
    1 Apr 2013 | 4:58 am
    We want to extend a warm welcome to our newest members, Philip Ferguson and John De Luz! Philip came down from Dayton, Ohio to study in the Our Generation program. John is local here in the Cumming area and was saved two years ago. We are very excited that these men have decided to become part of the Vision family. God is truly good to us, and we are thankful to have such wonderful servants of God.     On Sunday, March 31, 2013, Vision Baptist Church welcomed our newest members.

  • India Documentary

    Robert Canfield
    19 Mar 2013 | 7:24 am
    This is such an exciting opportunity for the Come and See India team! It is a huge endeavor but we are excited to work with Fundamental Media on this project we both feel so strongly can be used of God to help awaken people to the incredible need in northern India. A God-given desire. I would hope, pray, and expect that by now if you know me you know I have a great desire to see Gospel-preaching churches planted among the people of northern India. My desire is the same for the whole world but with special emphasis in places where so little is being done, as is the case in northern India. I do…

  • Welcome Sherry Penland

    Robert Canfield
    14 Mar 2013 | 6:30 pm
      Please join in welcoming Ms Sherry P. our newest member to the Vision family. Mrs Sherry has been coming to our church for some time now and she is always helping out in whatever she can. We are proud to have such a sweet lady to be part of our family. Welcome Ms Sherry.
 
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    LifeVesting

  • When You Feel So Far Away

    Andy Wood
    22 May 2013 | 10:28 am
    Jordan’s heart is still awake, even though his body surrendered to sleep an hour ago. He’s restless. Anticipating. Watching and listening for that heart connection he once knew. In the psalmist’s language, Jordan is thirsty like a deer panting for streams of water.  He knows what he’s thirsty for, and He knows that God is faithful.  And yet in this dry season, He feels so far away. Caitlyn waits all the time, but the nighttime seems the rudest. She waits for a change in her mother’s prognosis, even though no change is coming. She waits for that dreaded decline in respiration,…

  • Why Are Americans So Interested in Leadership?

    Andy Wood
    19 May 2013 | 10:06 pm
    Our Thai friend Gift is back. She visited us for the first time last year and has returned with her sister Goy.  It’s always a delight to spend time with our Thai friends because of their contagious joy, their delight in serving, and in the case of Gift, her husband Dui, and Goy, their deep love for Jesus Christ. It also always leads to some interesting conversations.  Gift is many things – a deep thinker, a shrewd businesswoman and entrepreneur, a disciple in every sense of the word.  She told me that this time while she was here, every once in a while she wanted some time to ask some…

  • A Sissy’s Guide to Dangerous Praying

    Andy Wood
    16 May 2013 | 11:11 pm
    (If you never read another thing I write, before going any further, please read this short piece my daughter wrote to her children, ages 5, 2, and ten months. Click here, if you dare, and brace for impact.) Okay.  Back?  Let’s get to it. You don’t have the luxury of praying for people you love – especially your children or grandchildren – like a sissy. The time is too short… The enemy is too cruel… The church is too powerless… The Lord is too near His return… …for you and me to sit on an arsenal mightier than a nuclear weapon and ask God to make their lives more…

  • The Two Most Important Words in the Bible

    Andy Wood
    15 May 2013 | 7:47 am
    Okay, let’s start an argument. What would you say are the two most important words in the Bible? You’re wrong. I know because my two words are (probably) different, and I know I’m right. Yeah, yeah, I know, they’re all important. But the way I figure it, if the Lord took the time to repeat something over and over and over, He must be getting at something. Now I have to admit, it took me about 40 years to realize this. Which is about how long it took Moses to figure some things out, too, but I digress. The reason I took so long is because I let my brain check out when it should have…

  • Hanging Out with Walter

    Andy Wood
    12 May 2013 | 11:51 pm
    Can’t believe it’s been a whole year, but I got to see Walter again yesterday. We took a little ride and shared a little fellowship. It was good to catch up. Two years ago Walter was going through a severe depression.  He had been through a series of deep losses, including his job and health benefits. That’s tough enough for anybody, but at Walter’s age new careers don’t just grow on trees.  I really don’t know how old Walter is, but I’m 54 and he’s a good five-to-ten past that. I have to say, though, he makes it look good. There is none of that suicidal darkness remaining…
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    Shawn Wood Writes...

  • The Measuring Dilemma

    shawnwoodwrites
    22 May 2013 | 5:00 am
    White collar workers punch in at 8 o’clock and punch out at 5. In between they have a routine set of responsibilities, most of which revolve around managing people who are responsible for tasks. Blue collar workers are also punching the clock but spend their days producing very tangible results that directly correlate to the [...]

  • Blue Collar. White Collar. New Collar.

    shawnwoodwrites
    20 May 2013 | 12:14 pm
    I had two conversations recently that caused me to consider a question: Are pastors blue collar workers or are pastors white collar workers?  The question first came in a conversation with a mentee who was concerned maybe he doesn’t put in enough “time” at his job. As I was talking to him I figured out that [...]

  • Practical Steps for Stepping Up Volunteer Recruitment This Summer

    shawnwoodwrites
    17 May 2013 | 6:00 am
    I hope you’ve seen this week that summer truly doesn’t have to mean shutdown. The natural change in rhythm that happens this time of year is a great opportunity to develop new leaders and recruit volunteers. There are a few practical steps you can do to get started: Make a list of people of the [...]

  • Use Extra Summer Margin to Coach

    shawnwoodwrites
    16 May 2013 | 6:00 am
    Many pastors and other staff leaders spend a great deal of their time working in the church, sometimes at the expense of working on the church. Summertime often provides opportunity for sabbaticals from preaching, teaching, or other responsibilities. The result is margin to work on the church. Working on the church should include coaching and [...]

  • Using Vacations as Training for New Leaders

    shawnwoodwrites
    15 May 2013 | 6:00 am
    “Pastor, we’re going to be taking 3 vacation trips over the next three months so we’ll need to step down from leading our small group for the summer.” You may not have heard those exact words but chances are you’ve heard something very similar. If you’re a good leader you’ve also been told, and therefore [...]
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    Worship.com » Worship.com

  • Third Day – You Make Me Mad

    Worship.com
    23 May 2013 | 10:47 am
    Third Day – You Make Me Mad: Music video by Third Day performing You Make Me Mad. (C) 1997... Please visit the original post if the links and video clips are not visible, or if the complete article does not appear.

  • Preach the Word

    Worship.com
    23 May 2013 | 7:33 am
    Message from Alistair Begg. Summary: Many Christians today have been placed on a spiritual... Please visit the original post if the links and video clips are not visible, or if the complete article does not appear.

  • Hearing Harmony II (Rehearsal Tool Box 37)

    Worship.com
    23 May 2013 | 6:28 am
    Hearing Harmony II (Rehearsal Tool Box 37): What does it take to create good harmony? Is it how we... Please visit the original post if the links and video clips are not visible, or if the complete article does not appear.

  • Wonder of the World

    Worship.com
    23 May 2013 | 5:03 am
    Wonder of the World: Watch Rush of Fools as they teach their new song "Wonder of the World"... Please visit the original post if the links and video clips are not visible, or if the complete article does not appear.

  • Lord, I Need You – Matt Maher

    Worship.com
    22 May 2013 | 1:28 pm
    Lord, I Need You – Matt Maher: This song by Matt Maher is from his “Lord, I Need... Please visit the original post if the links and video clips are not visible, or if the complete article does not appear.
 
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    Reformation21

  • The Blessed Cursed Tree

    20 May 2013 | 11:55 am
    An important biblical theological idea emerges out of Paul's use of Deuteronomy 21:23 in Galatians 3:13. In the middle of the most polemical book in the New Testament, Paul made the astounding declaration: "Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, 'Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree')." The immediate context shows that the curse to which Paul is referring is the curse of the law (Gal. 3:10-11). Returning to Deuteronomy 21, out of which Paul takes the command for capital punishment and applies it to Christ, we discover the…

  • Chesterton: The Nightmare Goodness of God

    20 May 2013 | 6:10 am
    Ralph C. Wood, Chesterton: The Nightmare Goodness of God (Baylor University Press, 2011)$34.95, hardcover, 325 pagesIn Book eight, Chapter twelve of his Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle asserts a seemingly common-sense truth that has been progressively forgotten, ignored, or repressed over the course of the last two centuries: "the household is earlier and more necessary than the city." Not only in the totalitarian regimes of Hitler, Stalin, Pol Pot, Mao, and Castro, but in the western democracies of Europe and America, the state has grown increasingly larger and more invasive, at times…

  • Communion with Christ and His People: The Spirituality of C.H. Spurgeon

    16 May 2013 | 12:58 pm
    Peter J. Morden, Communion with Christ and his people: The Spirituality of C. H. Spurgeon, Centre for Baptist History and Heritage Studies (Regent's Park College, Oxford), 2010, 318pp., paperback, £25Peter Morden, tutor in Church History and Spirituality at Spurgeon's College, has given us a treatment of Spurgeon that picks up the theme of communion with Christ and his people as a central and constraining element of Spurgeon's faith and life. It is a treatment that, in this reviewer's estimation, is equally stimulating, instructive and frustrating.Morden does an outstanding job of…

  • Logic

    13 May 2013 | 11:23 am
    Vern Sheridan Poythress, Logic: A God-Centered Approach to the Foundation of Western Thought (Wheaton: Crossway, 2013), 730pp., $45.00I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Crossway for their gracious provision of a review copy of this book.The term "polymath" seems to have arrived in English by way of Greek; it combines the Greek words for "many" and "learner." Hence, it means someone who is learned in many different areas. Curiously, the word for "learner" is also the word commonly translated "disciple" in the New Testament.In Prof. Vern Poythress all three terms meet: he is a…

  • Vatican Files no. 20

    13 May 2013 | 6:40 am
    "The Word of God Precedes and Exceeds the Bible:" Pope Francis on Scripture and the ChurchAfter a couple of eventful months surrounding the Vatican, the time has come to shift into a more routine mood. Pope Francis has attracted a lot of attention from the media and has sent various messages of change and renewal. After the initial surprise, the various Vatican departments are coming to terms with a less pompous papacy, and the Pope himself is beginning to shape his own views on a number of open issues that are on the Vatican agenda.The first weeks of the new papacy were marked by what seemed…
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    Desperate for More of Him

  • Prayers for our Church

    Robin
    2 May 2013 | 8:23 am
    Today as I was preparing for the National Day of Prayer at my own church, God reminded me of a prayer sheet that I created years ago when I was on a church prayer team.  I quickly tweaked it to my context and we spent today praying it.  I then wanted to bless and encourage pastors I new on facebook, so I sent it to them. Then the Lord told me to post it here on my blog for others to use in their church contexts as well. So what followers is a prayer sheet for God’s Church. I truly believe that pray has to start with the local Church.  As someone who desperately longs to see…

  • Do You Trust Me?

    Robin
    19 Apr 2013 | 12:01 pm
    If you’ve ever watched the Disney movie Aladdin, you may recall this clip, where Aladdin asked princess Jasmine to go on a magic carpet ride. Will she trust him in this new experience? In the same way that she takes Aladdin’s hands, hops up on the carpet and gets whisked away into an endless night sky, God comes to each of us every day and asks the same question “your name, Do you trust me?” Do you trust my skills and abilities to not let you fall? Do you trust me to guide you ever safely on this adventure? Do you trust me that I will get you where you need to be safe…

  • If Today You Hear His Voice…

    Robin
    8 Aug 2011 | 9:47 am
    Already this morning I have read two articles and watched a video via 3 different facebook friend’s status on the church and what is wrong with Christians and how we need to fix the problem, as if it’s really that easy? Yes, actually it is, but we aren’t willing to really pay the price. We aren’t really willing to fully surrender to the will of God like Jesus did. We can talk about taking up your cross, making disciples, or just jump on the next leadership bandwagon that is rolling by our churches, but they will all be temporary fixes, like trying to put a band-aid on…

  • Washed By The Word

    Robin
    30 Jul 2011 | 10:29 am
    As Christian’s we are constantly growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord, Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18). This is our calling from God as believers. 2 Peter is warming the people of the evils of this world, and stating that we must stand firm in what the Lord is teaching us. Peter lays this fact before his audience when he states the purpose of his letter in 2 Peter 3:2 “that you should remember the words spoken beforehand by the holy prophets and the commandments of the Lord and Savior spoken by your apostles. The Word also reminds us in Hebrews 12:1-3 to throw off anything…

  • He Is Well Pleased With Us!

    Robin
    29 Jul 2011 | 7:05 am
    This morning as I started my day, I hear the Lord sing over me. He has said He is well pleased with me!  What a joy it is to be in the  Army of God!  What a joy it is to rest in His goodness.  I think so often the devil beats me down with lies, and I get all messed up.  I start believing them, and I loose my focus, my hope and my identity in Christ.  Has is ever happened to you?  I think it happens to all of us at time.  It kind of goes back to being in the valley and growing in the valleys.  This morning He stopped me and said, “Robin, I know you want so much to please me,…
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    Connecting to Impact

  • Looking out for #1

    jason@church4allnations.com
    23 May 2013 | 6:00 am
    “I may care about myself till I grow morbid; I may watch over my own feelings till I feel nothing; and I may lament my own weakness till I grow almost too weak to lament. It will be far more profitable for me to become unselfish and out of love to my Lord Jesus begin to care for the souls of those around me.” –Charles H. Spurgeon, Faith’s Checkbook In the midst of natural disasters, tragic accidents, and all sorts of trials, we may convince ourselves “the only one looking out for me, is me” and that thinking shapes our lives and actions. You and I cannot bear…

  • Authority and Quality of Life

    jason@church4allnations.com
    22 May 2013 | 6:00 am
    The child born under the regime of a cruel dictator is subject to the whims and laws of that dictator. Another born in a more democratic society has other opportunities and freedoms. In either case, the authority over the person determines the quality of life. That’s not all, of course. How they interact and follow the laws and freedoms given also determines their quality of life. Those who decide the “no stealing” law is stupid and decide to break in and rob their neighbor will be subject to the ruling authorities for their disobedience. There is fear of being caught and…

  • No Child Left Behind

    jason@church4allnations.com
    21 May 2013 | 6:00 am
    Today my kids will participate in a “fun run,” one of the activities for the last week of school. In preparation, the older three (ages 8, 10, and 12) wanted to do a practice run on the trail I jog behind our house. It wasn’t the pace I was used to, of course, but we had a blast. Saw a mama bear and two cubs (don’t worry, in the distance), talked, laughed, and conquered the mountain. Well, three miles of it anyway. On the way back, my little girl was mostly right behind us in line, and every so often, I would call back, “Alicia, you there, baby?” One of the…

  • Sometimes the Truth

    jason@church4allnations.com
    20 May 2013 | 6:00 am
    Sometimes the truth Doesn’t come in bright joy Like the baby born To a world of possibilities Parents beaming Sometimes the truth Doesn’t look respectable Like the white-haired man Leaning on the cane Sagely pronouncing Sometimes the truth Doesn’t grab you by the throat Like a crafty mugger Attention demanding Sometimes the truth Looks like a homeless beggar Or a dirty orphan Or a nursing home patient Un-obvious, unassuming Patiently watching passerby until Someone stops, takes time to notice Nurtures the forgotten You look the fool Embracing the disreputable Reaching the…

  • Sanctuary: Crown the Peaks

    jason@church4allnations.com
    18 May 2013 | 2:00 pm
    Sanctuary– 1 : a place (as a church or a temple) for worship 2 a place of refuge and protection Meditating on the beauty He’s created and the power of His words… Psalm 65:9-13 (MSG) Oh, visit the earth, ask her to join the dance! Deck her out in spring showers, fill the God-River with living water. Paint the wheat fields golden. Creation was made for this! Drench the plowed fields, soak the dirt clods With rainfall as harrow and rake bring her to blossom and fruit. Snow-crown the peaks with splendor, scatter rose petals down your paths, All through the wild meadows, rose…
 
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    www.frcblog.com - Latest entries

  • The Nidal Hasan Case: Justice Delayed

    robert-morrison
    23 May 2013 | 9:40 am
    It could hardly be more of what we used to call an “open and shut” case. Nidal Hasan, an active duty Army major and psychiatrist, walked into a room at Fort Hood, Texas, shouting “Allahu Akbar!” and shot thirty people, killing fourteen. One of his victims, Francheska Velez, was pregnant at the time. She cried out “My baby! My baby!” but Hasan killed her and her unborn child anyway. The Obama administration has elected not to charge Hasan with violation of the Unborn Victims of Violence Act, even though the law was passed explicitly to cover such instances.

  • The Social Conservative Review: May 23, 2013

    23 May 2013 | 7:08 am
    Click here to subscribe to The Social Conservative Review. Dear Friends, Earlier this week, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to determine whether or not prayers can be offered at government meetings (local, state, and federal). The act of prayer being offered at the beginning of official government meetings is as old as the Republic, and as important as ever. On January 8, 2013, FRC submitted an amicus brief on behalf of 49 Members of Congress supporting the Alliance Defending Freedom's petition to the U.S. Supreme Court in the case, Town of Greece v. Galloway. In Galloway, the U.S. Court of…

  • TONIGHT: FRC Webcast -- "Inhuman: Undercover in America's Late Term Abortion Industry"

    21 May 2013 | 10:00 am
    The gruesome practice of late-term abortion in the United States was brought to the forefront recently in the murder trial of abortionist Kermit Gosnell. While Gosnell’s facility has become well-known, it is important to point out that there are many other late-term abortion facilities operating throughout the United States. The horrific practices of these facilities were recently highlighted in a series of undercover videos by Lila Rose of Live Action. Late-term abortion facilities are aborting children well into the second and third trimesters – subjecting unborn children to…

  • Update on Murder Prosecution in Tampa, Florida

    19 May 2013 | 6:57 pm
    Earlier today, I posted a comment on the use of the federal Unborn Victims of Violence Act (UVVA) in a Tampa, Florida, case.  Since then I have been alerted by Doug Johnson (National Right to Life) to an article he posted that contains a great deal of additional information about the application of the UVVA and the facts of the Welden case.  It is worth reading. It turns out that charges have been brought under the UVVA on two occasions.  The first involved a 2010 New Mexico case in which the UVVA-based charge was dropped after Frederick Beach pleaded guilty to a second-degree…

  • Unborn Victims of Violence Act Used in Tampa

    19 May 2013 | 4:36 am
    History may have been made last week when federal prosecutors used the Unborn Victims of Violence Act (UVVA) to indict a man who is alleged to have killed his own unborn child.  It is quite likely that this is the first use of the UVVA. The news of this terrible crime spread across the nation after the federal government announced an indictment of John Andrew Welden in Tampa, Florida.  Welden tricked his pregnant girlfriend, Remee Lee, into taking a drug, misoprostol (Cytotec®), which produces abortions in early pregnancy.  Lee was six weeks pregnant and refused to have an…
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    Blogging Theologically | Jesus, Books, Culture, & Theology

  • Links I like

    Aaron Armstrong
    24 May 2013 | 2:00 am
    You Need Others’ Voices Josh King: When God called you to the position you now have, He gifted you with what you need to get that job done. One of those gifts is the experience and perspective that those you are leading bring to the table. Their opinions are instruments for success not barriers or annoyances. With nearly every feedback you receive or comment you overhear there’s at least a grain (and sometimes a mountain) of truth. It is your obligation to receive that truth with grace.   Get Crucial Questions for $5 at Ligonier.org A three-book set from the Crucial…

  • When confusion is fatal

    Aaron Armstrong
    23 May 2013 | 3:30 am
    One doesn’t have to look to hard to see we evangelicals are increasingly a confused bunch. Consider many of the questions we ask: Can’t we affirm same-sex marriage? Do we really need to talk about Hell, judgment, blood and all that nasty stuff? Does God really control everything—and if he does, doesn’t that mean he’s a tyrant? With any of these, and a host of others, it’s extremely tempting to look at the historic responses to any issue—and indeed to look at what the Bible says—and say, “well that was for then, not now,” or “does it really…

  • Links I like

    Aaron Armstrong
    23 May 2013 | 2:00 am
    Those Deleted Tweets Tony Reinke: Whatever final conclusion you draw about the tweets is between you and the Lord. But we wanted to take a moment to address misinformation online as you make your own conclusions on the matter. We appreciate those of you who have come to Pastor John’s defense online, but our sense is that this isn’t a matter worth debating. Our purpose in posting here is simply to provide you with more information. TGC13 Media Now Available The media for The Gospel Coalition’s 2013 National Conference is now available. Go check it out. How not to miss the visitation…

  • God is not glorified in goofiness

    Aaron Armstrong
    22 May 2013 | 3:30 am
    A topic I’ve written on many times over the last year or two is excellence. As followers of Christ, excellence is demanded of believers in all we do. Because we follow the Excellent One, we are to pursue excellence with vim and vigor. Christians should desire to be the most excellent writers, filmmakers, businesspeople, chefs, parents, carpenters… And yet it’s not hard to look around and see we fall far short of this ideal. Most of the time, I think you can fairly chalk up our failures to the curse at work. From the moment we fell, our work became hindered by thorns and thistles…

  • Links I like

    Aaron Armstrong
    22 May 2013 | 2:00 am
    R.C. Sproul’s Crucial Questions eBooks Now Free Forever To further help Christians know what they believe, why they believe it, how to live it, and how to share it, from today the eBook editions of R.C. Sproul’s Crucial Questions series will be free forever. Hell Awakened Me Joe Thorn: I didn’t go to church as a kid, but I did watch a lot of horror movies so I felt pretty educated when it came to the subject of hell. From the The Gates of Hell (1980) to Hellraiser (1987), and everything in-between, Hell was a scary but fictional place. Hell didn’t bother me. It was…
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    The Wandering Shepherd

  • Strength for the Journey: “Shooting Blanks” – Numbers 18

    ctsp
    11 May 2013 | 9:44 am
    Many Christian mothers – real followers of Jesus in the US today, admit to having a sinking feeling when they watch the news regarding the family. When the leader of our nation stood to proclaim “God bless Planned Parenthood!” many of them turned our heads, and across the nation – mom’s mouths dropped open. One of the most desperate injustices in our nation since the enslaving of the black man was just enshrined in a “Christian blessing” – and the sense of outrage for many was nearly unbearable. “What are we to do?” they asked across the web. No… this isn’t a…

  • One Hour, One Book – Ephesians

    ctsp
    4 May 2013 | 12:06 pm
    Introduction The situation in the Roman Empire grew more tense with each passing month. Taxes were rising as the need to supply the expansion of the army became a growing strain. The once great “land owner” armies of the Republic had slowly given way to a professional fighting force from the time of Scipio Africanus and the Carthaginian Wars to the time of Nero (when Paul was writing). The Roman pubs (popinae) were filled with soldiers discussing the new fronts and continual offensives that had stretched the army to the breaking point. By the time of Paul, the Roman army could not…

  • Paul in the Bath Tub? Lessons from a Roman Bath (4 min. video)

    ctsp
    4 May 2013 | 11:45 am
    Paul taught the Ephesians how to walk as a believer by references to the changing room (apodyterium) of a Roman bath?

  • Paul used a Slave Market to Teach Believers (4 minute video)

    ctsp
    3 May 2013 | 2:51 pm
    The slave market of ancient Rome and cities like Ephesus were as common a sight to first century Roman citizens as the “golden arches” are to modern Americans!

  • Strength for the Journey: “Redirection” – Numbers 17

    ctsp
    27 Apr 2013 | 6:27 pm
    Every good parent knows the idea, if not the term “redirection”. This is the notion of moving a child’s attention from the forbidden thing they are fixated on, to something that will attract him or her back to a safe and secure activity. Let me illustrate: You are getting ready for a big party. The whole family will be coming, and you have put out the best dishes, and set a beautiful table. You have candles and the nicest platters. You are serving the best foods, and the setting would have made Henry VIII sit down and gird on his napkin. With all the attention focused on the details of…
 
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    Standing On Giants | Looking to Stand on the Shoulders of Giants

  • The Truth About Prayer

    Kyle Reed
    24 May 2013 | 3:07 am
    Here are 3 lies we tell ourselves about prayer from Pete Wilson: I struggle with the second lies the most. What about you? Watch the full message here:

  • As I Get Married

    Kyle Reed
    22 May 2013 | 3:00 am
    Life has many phases to it, I like to think of them as chapters. I remember the chapter I closed when I moved out of my parents house and started my freshmen year of college. Or the most recent one of moving to an entirely different state. I closed one chapter and moved to the next exciting chapter of life only to be met with many new revelations and life lessons. And as I have looked back at the different chapters of my life I can see that a new chapter is about to begin. In July I am getting married. A few thoughts as I am about to get married… 1. Doing life alone is much different…

  • Let The 20 Something’s Play

    Kyle Reed
    20 May 2013 | 9:50 am
    The platform that you are reading this blog on has something in common with all social networks…it was started by a 20 something. Matt Mullenweg started wordpress almost 10 years to the day (May 27th, 2003) in his early 20′s which was not a unique thing for a 20 something in those days. In fact, facebook, twitter, tumblr and many more social networks were all started by 20 somethings who had a new way of envisioning the web. With the recent news that yahoo has acquired tumbrl for 1.1 billion dollars it was another ringing endorsement for a social network that people doubted was…

  • 3 Must Have iPhone Productivity Apps

    Kyle Reed
    16 May 2013 | 8:57 am
    In the good ole days I had a pretty good memory. The good ole days were before iPhone’s, Moleskins, and any other cool thing I could use to write things on. Today, in my older age I have to write things down. In fact if I don’t write it down it likely will never happen. On the left is a picture of my iPhone home screen. I have been on a hunt over the last 3 months trying to find a nice blend of productivity/calendar apps that help me remember as well as execute ideas, commitments and meetings. Here are the three that are making it work.   Continue reading…    …

  • Anderson Design Company

    Kyle Reed
    16 May 2013 | 4:00 am
    Love these posters created by Anderson Design Company located here in Nashville, TN.
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    Heart Choices

  • End of School Year Blessings

    20 May 2013 | 1:00 am
    This is the last week of our school year.  I've been going through photos and writing up some of the funny things the children have said this past year.  And now I'm feeling a bit sad.  It's hard to say goodbye to children I've grown to love.  Although most of them will still be at the school, it won't be the same.  It's time to let go ... Heidi and I work so well together.  She gave me a photo album as an end of school year gift.  We think alike as my album to her should be in my mailbox by Tuesday at the latest.  Thank you Shutterfly! In the album I…

  • Arcadia's Edible Garden Tour

    13 May 2013 | 6:07 am
    Arcadia is one of the older neighborhoods in Phoenix.  Many people have lived and grown up here.  But a growing number of younger families are moving in.  They're making improvements to their homes while still staying true to the original character of the area. Many are creating their own edible gardens in their backyard, with organic vegetables and a variety of fruit.  Orange, lemon and grapefruit trees line the streets and yards. I love Arcadia!  It's where Greg and I relocated a little over one year ago. When I read about Arcadia's Edible Garden Tour, I knew I had…

  • Celebrating Nurses & Teachers

    10 May 2013 | 6:10 am
    This has been the week for celebrating nurses and teachers.  I've been privileged to be a part of both professions. To be a nurse or a teacher requires dedication and caring for others.   I worked as a nurse for 25 years.  After personally experiencing open heart surgery as a child of seven, I knew what it felt like to be a patient.  I wanted to give back.  So I became a cardiovascular nurse specialist.  I met so many amazing people and had many life experiences. However, I came to a point in my life when I was able to retire.  I thought I'd spend the rest…

  • Where Do You Turn When You're Hurting?

    7 May 2013 | 5:10 am
    Working with little children is a delight.  However, they love to run up to me every day to show me their latest boo-boos.  They lift up their pant leg so I can see a tiny scrape.  Or they hold up their finger to show me their princess band-aid.  When the other children see this they have to run over to show me their boo-boos too. But are we adults so different?  Where do you turn when you're hurting?  Do you pick up the phone to talk to a friend? To continue reading, click over to Laced with Grace ... Blessings and love,

  • Sweet Blessings This Week

    6 May 2013 | 1:00 am
    Observing children can be so much fun.  They have much to teach us about enjoying the moment.  I couldn't help but smile when I caught Eric putting his arm on his buddy Sawyer's shoulder. The little ones love to play red light, green light during PE.  They laugh and laugh as Hadley changes the sign from green to yellow to red.  I think she enjoys being in charge. It can be dangerous to wear a dress when working with 3 and 4 year old children!  Miss Annie had two boys clinging to her and one decided to poke his head under her dress.  All very innocent but we had a…
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    Captain’s Blog

  • High and Low Lights this Week with The Reveal Mission

    Chad Estes
    4 May 2013 | 12:42 pm
    A hotel in downtown Boise holds a once-a-year art show. Local artists are encouraged to submit their ideas on how to transform one of their rooms into a miniature art gallery. Two of the Breast Cancer Survivors I’ve been working with had an idea to create a “Breast Room.” It would encorporate the portraits and stories that I’ve been working on, live readings by Survivors, multi-media presentations by other artists working with Warriors and Survivors, and art created by these women that expressed their losses, emotions, and their strengths. We even had a local chocolate…

  • Nicole’s Story: Life After Cancer

    Chad Estes
    16 Apr 2013 | 6:16 pm
    The following is one of The Reveal Mission stories. We could use your help to keep this work moving forward, there will be a few details at the end of this post. Nicole discovered she had cancer in August of 2009. The lump that her health care providers had told her for two years was just a cyst, ended up being much more. It was the eyes of the ultrasound tech that gave her the terrifying news that there was something wrong. Three days later she had a biopsy. Four days after that she had a diagnosis, Invasive Ductal Carcinoma – stage 2 breast cancer. She was just 24 years old, a wife of…

  • Brennan Manning – Our Raggamuffin Pope

    Chad Estes
    14 Apr 2013 | 2:55 pm
    “When I get honest, I admit I am a bundle of paradoxes. I believe and I doubt, I hope and get discouraged, I love and I hate, I feel bad about feeling good, I feel guilty about not feeling guilty. I am trusting and suspicious. I am honest and I still play games. Aristotle said I am a rational animal; I say I am an angel with an incredible capacity for beer.” – Brennan Manning There is a lot to say about Brennan. His life has affected many, not so much for his successes, but from the healing he found from his failures. He has a crazy background – “Born and raised in…

  • Just Like Judas’ Kiss

    Chad Estes
    29 Mar 2013 | 4:35 pm
    I’m reflecting on the Easter story this season and without fail for the last ten years I have had images in my head of “The Passion of The Christ.” At one point early in the movie you see Judas fleeing from the trial that he had helped set up for Jesus with the Religious Leaders. His mouth is scraped and bleeding, yet I didn’t remember any scene where he had been in a fight and had someone pop him in the kisser. The next time I saw the movie I watched Judas more carefully. He was in the crowd at the trial that night, but his actions behind the pillar were not just ones of trying to…

  • Tradition vs Flip-Flopping on the Great Gay Debate

    Chad Estes
    16 Mar 2013 | 12:25 pm
    Politicians flip-flop on issues all of the time, usually it is because it is the politically advantageous move to make, or the one that will benefit their campaign the most financially. We laugh at these lukewarm legislators as they attempt to explain away these shifts when it is obvious to us in the peanut gallery that we’ve all sent nincompoops to Washington. So when a politician reverses a stance and honestly comes clean to why they have made a change I am eager to listen and learn. This week Sen. Rob Portman, a Republican from Ohio reversed his stance on same-sex marriage. This is a…
 
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    Here I Blog

  • Preaching Effectual Sermons by Andy Hynes

    Mark
    23 May 2013 | 10:30 am
    Advertise here with Beacon AdsGuest blogger Andy Hynes (@ABHYNES) is a PhD candidate at Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary. The Puritans understood the power of the sermon.  Effectual sermons opened the door to the Father’s work.  John Flavel supposed that hearing God’s Word regularly was necessary for Him to draw a man toward Himself.  The Father consistently drew the elect to Himself through the Son.  General revelation was insufficient to allow this to happen. When Paul wrote Ephesians 4:20-21 Flavel understood, Of necessity of divine teaching, in order to believing, the…

  • Here I Link

    Mark
    23 May 2013 | 6:18 am
    Advertise here with Beacon AdsDisaster Relief: If you’d like to donate to Southern Baptist Disaster Relief to help those affected in Oklahoma City click here to donate online or call 1-866-407-NAMB (6262). Defending John Piper: Rachel Held Evans Denies the Cat. John Piper Explained: Desiring God explains Those Deleted Tweets. Legalism: Fourteen Characteristics of Theological Legalism. On Preaching: 21 Skills of Great Preachers. Dear Obama: Is There a Nathan in the Land? A Response to President Obama’s Morehouse College Speech (by Wm Dwight McKissic, Sr). Free Books: R.C. Sproul’s…

  • R.C. Sproul’s Crucial Questions Series Free on Kindle

    Mark
    22 May 2013 | 11:23 am
    Advertise here with Beacon AdsLigonier Ministries has made R.C. Sproul’s Crucial Questions series eBooks free – forever! Download the Kindle editions below. What Is the Trinity? Who Is Jesus? Who Is the Holy Spirit? What Is Faith? Can I Be Sure I’m Saved? Can I Have Joy in My Life? Can I Know God’s Will? Can I Trust the Bible? Does God Control Everything? Does Prayer Change Things? How Should I Live in this World? What Can I Do with My Guilt? What Does It Mean to be Born Again? What Is Baptism? (For my Presbyterian friends. ) These eBooks are also free on iTunes or you can get…

  • Ethics: Pastor Called to Church is on Third Marriage

    Mark
    22 May 2013 | 9:35 am
    Advertise here with Beacon AdsWhat would you do Wednesday! There are differing views within Christianity on marriage, divorce, and re-marriage. Some are black and white on these issues while others take into account when the people involved became Christians. And there are those who question whether divorce and/or re-marriage is ever permissible for pastors. That said, I thought this would be an interesting topic for today’s scenario. The situation takes place in a Baptist church which uses a pastoral search committee. The committee has agreed upon a candidate who has accepted the…

  • Faith-Based FEMA

    Mark
    22 May 2013 | 9:05 am
    Advertise here with Beacon AdsCheck out the short interview below in devastated Oklahoma where the tornado struck. Brian Williams, the reporter, mentions that “there’s FEMA and then there’s the faith-based FEMA.” The man being interviewed explains that we can’t wait on the government to help in this situation, but the Baptist men are going to “get it done tomorrow.” If you’d like to donate to Southern Baptist Disaster Relief to help those affected in Oklahoma City click here to donate online or call 1-866-407-NAMB (6262). Related Posts: Want to…
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    Coffee Shop Journal

  • Storytelling

    marla
    2 May 2013 | 9:20 am
    I’ve spent a good chunk of my life telling stories in one form or another. What time I didn’t spend telling stories was spent reading them. I could consume good books at a rate that would have bankrupted my parents if I didn’t know where the library was! David likes the story of my 8 year old self declaring I was going to read the entire children’s library in my town of Belmont. I smile now, but I’m also proud of the fact I made it through the A’s and had made headway into the B’s before I realized I’d bitten off more than I could choose. Go…

  • 27 Apr 2013 | 5:33 pm

    marla
    27 Apr 2013 | 5:33 pm
    Encouragement is like oxygen to the soul. – Julie Mullins

  • 24 Apr 2013 | 12:15 pm

    marla
    24 Apr 2013 | 12:15 pm
    Design determines destiny. — Chris Hodges

  • Home

    marla
    23 Apr 2013 | 7:15 pm
    I sat outside on the hammock tonight, ignoring the incessant clatter of my to-do list. Since launching our new company (have you seen our Visual Creatives website yet? We’re really pleased with it!) these moments have been few and far between. Travel, connecting, doing, creating: these are the new words of my days. But not tonight. Tonight I sat and watched the one lone doggy left living in the house. I watched the branches of my favorite tree and realized they were a stage play of birds and squirrels locked in never-ending battle. I listened to the peacocks, haunting, but so familiar.

  • Just a moment in time… Q LA

    marla
    15 Apr 2013 | 9:45 pm
    Walking home from a film viewing tonight David and I saw a homeless (?) man going through a garbage can on the street corner. He looked pleased as he pulled a book from the trash. It was a Q group study booklet. The title was “Engaging Culture in a Post-Modern World.” He put the book in his backpack and wandered off. There was something surreal about the moment. I’m still wondering what he thought about the message of the book.
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    BibleDude.net

  • i’m home. now what?

    Alene Snodgrass
    22 May 2013 | 3:00 am
    You're reading the month of #missions series.  Read more: may = month of missions bless the mamas 6 ways to ruin a mission trip the long-term impact of short-term missions i'm home. now what? It was my first mission trip, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. Many of my friends ribbed me before I left saying this trip was just a “glorified vacation.” I wasn’t really sure how to respond. Arriving in Guatemala, I can tell you that my trip was anything but a glorified vacation. We served continually that week. By week’s end I didn’t think I had one ounce…

  • in which i can’t breathe

    Sandra Heska King
    21 May 2013 | 3:00 am
    I can’t tear myself away from the Weather Channel. Away from the photos and videos of devastation and heartbreak. I can’t breathe for the weight on my chest and the ache in my heart. And I’m stunned by the power. Oklahoma. Where the wind came sweeping down the plain. Fast and furious. The massive twister turned and churned and carved up the landscape in a swath at least a mile (some say two miles) wide and at least twenty miles long. It tore down the power. It pulverized ten-inch cinder block walls, stacked up cars like matchboxes, and made TinkerToys of buildings. It spun debris like…

  • when you teach without words and find yourself the learner

    Kelli Woodford
    20 May 2013 | 3:00 am
    My front porch is a healthy slice of heaven. Oh, it’s not perfect by a long shot. The paint is chipping, the swing has been permanently tattooed by someone I have never met, and the renegade dandelions sprout up audaciously between framing hostas. But these things do not outweigh its charm. It faces northwest, the perfect angle toward which we can watch the sunset and drink long draughts of that enchanted northern breeze. Tractors circle the house on every side, kicking up pixie dust wherever they plow. The swing is wide enough for me and four children, and we often use it as our time…

  • the long-term impact of short-term missions

    Amy L. Sullivan
    15 May 2013 | 7:10 pm
    You're reading the month of #missions series. Read more: may = month of missions bless the mamas 6 ways to ruin a mission trip the long-term impact of short-term missions i'm home. now what? We are so happy you found yourself here today. We know you have a desire to serve others, and we are pretty sure  mission related topics make your heart pitter-pat a little bit faster. May is Missions Month here at Bibledude.net. Last week, Ray schooled us in ways to ruin a mission trip. This week he’s back. Ray is making us think about mission work, handing out candy, and the cycle of…

  • to be content in every condition

    PatriciaHunter
    14 May 2013 | 3:22 am
      God sends the stormy wind of his providential and painful visitations, to sweep away the clouds and cause the hidden luminary to shine forth. ~ John Angell James, Benefits of Affliction Every day I have a choice – to choose despair or delight, grumbling or gratitude, pugnaciousness or peace – despite my circumstances. And honestly? I don’t always choose well. I’m anxious to make my way out to the edge of the pasture where the patch of black-eyed susans reach for the sun, but it may as well be at the end of a rainbow. I’m not going to make it and I’m frustrated and angry and…
 
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    Biblical Preaching

  • Dangerous Assumption 5: Other Options

    Peter Mead
    23 May 2013 | 11:13 pm
    This week we have looked at two dangerous assumptions that can override good preaching preparation.  One is overtly too human-centred, leading either to striving or enabled independence.  The other is apparently God-centred, yet perhaps open to the charge of misrepresenting the God-centred reality presented in Scripture.  One variation of this latter assumption makes God profoundly selfish, the other makes Him non-relational in His controlling.  Let’s finish the week with a few miscellaneous other assumptions that could be causing us to misrepresent the Bible text we are preaching.

  • Dangerous Assumption 4: God (continued)

    Peter Mead
    22 May 2013 | 11:08 pm
    After pondering variations on the assumption that it is all about me (either in the direction of striving or divinely enabled successful independence), yesterday we probed the issue of an “all about God” assumption – namely, the glory filter.  Here’s another “all about God” filter that may be corrupting our reading and preaching of the Bible: 6. The takeover filter.  There is no question that God wants to be God in the life of the listeners.  The Bible says a categorical No! to our autonomy from God.  But we must be careful not to misrepresent the…

  • Dangerous Assumption 3: God

    Peter Mead
    21 May 2013 | 10:44 pm
    Dangerous assumptions lurk below the surface of our preaching preparation, always ready to undermine our most diligent exegesis and expositional planning.  We can diligently do everything well in our study and message preparation, but the tinted glasses of our own dangerous assumption will colour the end result and undermine the preaching process.  Our goal in pondering these assumptions is not to throw stones at others, but to prompt us to pray and ask God to help us see where we aren’t seeing clearly.  It can be painful to discover an errant agenda in our preaching, but if our goal…

  • Dangerous Assumption 2: Me (Continued)

    Peter Mead
    20 May 2013 | 10:41 pm
    The assumption that Christianity is all about me has many variations.  Whatever version we propound, there will be problems as we try to preach the Bible faithfully.  Yesterday we considered the duty and guilt filters – two ways that preachers can reframe any passage to preach pressure on those present.  In these approaches, the Bible comes across as a whip to stir the lazy or the guilty into striving action.  But there is another pair of angles to consider here: 3. The selfish filter.  Here is a perversion of the same problem.  Instead of turning the listener inwards with guilt…

  • Dangerous Assumption

    Peter Mead
    19 May 2013 | 10:07 pm
    Good preachers will preach the passage they claim to be preaching.  Even in a topical message with several passages being presented, the preacher should be sure to say what that text is actually saying.  Using texts to say what the preacher wants to say is an indication of a pride problem in the preacher.  However, even the diligent preacher of the passage before them can undermine their good work by dangerous assumptions that undergird their work. These assumptions come various sources, but they tend to be theological paradigms that cause the preacher to see any text in a certain way.
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    maxgrace.com

  • First Mother

    maxgrace
    10 May 2013 | 8:32 am
    I’m happy to welcome guest blogger today, Brenda Aman. As Lead Director of Operations, Brenda shares the second-highest leadership role at Neighborhood Church with Todd Skinner. She is one of the best leaders I have ever met, with a passion for health in the church. She is also a wise mentor, and just a lot … Continue reading →

  • They Always Blame the Christians

    maxgrace
    1 May 2013 | 10:40 am
    The corrupt leaders of ancient Rome wagged the finger of blame at Christians, making them convenient scapegoats for society’s ills, ranging from run-away taxation to crop-failure. Because Christians have a built-in mechanism to admit their imperfections, they didn’t defend themselves very well. This, in turn, made them food for lions. I witnessed yesterday yet another … Continue reading →

  • Thinking Like a Renter

    maxgrace
    24 Apr 2013 | 8:22 am
    “Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. (Matthew 13:22, NKJV). My wife and I own our house — at least the part of if the bank doesn’t own — and … Continue reading →

  • It’s the Church, Stupid

    maxgrace
    16 Apr 2013 | 6:21 am
    In Bill Clinton’s first campaign for president, chief advisor George Stephanopoulos, famously wrote, IT’S THE ECONOMY, STUPID in a prominent place on a markerboard. By keeping the main thing the main thing, he kept the campaign on message and won the victory. As a Christian, I look at a world in its accelerating swirl down … Continue reading →

  • Sunday: Why the Resurrection?

    maxgrace
    4 Apr 2013 | 6:28 am
    Scripture is clear: if Christ was not raised from the dead, the Christian faith is worthless. And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! (1 Corinthians 15:17, NKJV). What does the resurrection of Christ accomplish that his cross didn’t? 1. The resurrection puts the stamp of truth … Continue reading →
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    Crossway Blog

  • Five Ways Peace with God Changes Our Lives

    Ted Cockle
    22 May 2013 | 7:04 am
    Adapted from Andy Farmer’s Real Peace: What We Long for and Where to Find It. That peace is hard to find shouldn’t be a surprise. Peace is the elusive human goal. We want peace. Really, we need peace, because we’re alienated from the one source of true peace in the cosmos—our creator God. And peace has come through the intervention of God in his own self-sacrifice—a divine atonement—that resolves the enmity between us and God. What does it mean for me, and for you? We all have a story. What I hope you see is that all of our stories ultimately lead to the question of…

  • Discounted Ebooks You’ll Actually Read

    Ted Cockle
    21 May 2013 | 6:53 am
    Last month we featured the existing A Book You’ll Actually Read series alongside the release of the newest volume—On the Grace of God. Given the helpful nature of the series, we wanted to make it available to as many people as possible in its entirety. That’s why we’re pleased to offer the complete series digitally (including Justin Holcomb’s newest volume) for $1.99 each. To learn more about each book, click on the covers below to find them at Crossway.org. You will also find the ebooks at their reduced prices on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshout,…

  • Will there be Sex in Heaven?

    Lindsay Tully
    20 May 2013 | 8:07 am
    Are miraculous gifts for today? Does God ever change His mind? Such tough topics intrigue us, readily confuse us, and sometimes disturb us. In his newest book, Tough Topics, pastor-scholar Sam Storms draws on his 40 years of teaching and ministry experience to answer 25 challenging questions Christians are hesitant to ask—thorny issues ranging from the eternal destiny of infants to the roles of demons and angels. Learn more | Buy now Preview an Excerpt from the book, including the complete list of questions. Download a PDF of the excerpt

  • Video: Knowing the Bible Book Introductions

    Ted Cockle
    17 May 2013 | 6:29 am
    We asked the authors of each of our Knowing the Bible studies to provide a brief video introduction to their study. These introductions are now posted on the Knowing the Bible series website. Mitchell Kim’s introduction to his study on Genesis: Drew Hunter’s introduction to his study on Isaiah: Dane Ortlund’s introduction to his study on Mark: Justin Buzzard’s introduction to his study on John: Jared Wilson’s introduction to his study on Romans:    

  • Crossway Flood Update: Help Still Needed

    Andrew Tebbe
    15 May 2013 | 12:01 pm
    Dear Friends of Crossway, You may have recently heard from us about the flood at Crossway and its impact on our ministry. Last week, we reached out to ask for help at this challenging time, and we wanted to send this update on our progress. Over 1200 people have responded to offer prayer and gifts of support. These gifts have enabled us to reach 53% of our goal, which was to raise $360,000 by May 31st so that we could pursue necessary repairs and maintain progress with key ministry initiatives. We’re humbled and encouraged by the Lord’s provision and the response so far, but still…
 
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    jonathancliff.com

  • Yancy Music: Roots for the Journey

    Jonathan Cliff
    21 May 2013 | 4:45 am
    Roots for the Journey is available TODAY! What started as a lullaby CD for Yancy’s son with songs all based on scripture, soon became a really nice, relaxed worship experience. The music, organic, unplugged and simple featuring upright bass, glockenspiels and cello in addition to acoustic guitars and piano, nicely accompaniments the eternal Word of God.  These songs have the power to strengthen the faith of all Christians, young and old. “Taking key scriptures and truths that I wanted to pass on to my son and make sure he knew and understood the direction and answers these scriptures…

  • 5 Things that Matter to Families

    Jonathan Cliff
    20 May 2013 | 9:30 am
    There are days that I’m parenting, and think…“This really matters. Right now, what I’m doing matters. I wish other parents knew how much this really mattered!” It was a collection of those moments that led me to start tracking them more closely. Of course, there were way too many of them to list on any one blog page. So I boiled them down to these 5 things. Here are 5 Ideas that Matter for my Family:  Adventure matters. Building faith by taking risks, doing things that hurt and cause pain, venturing into the unknown, and holding hands as a family throughout big…

  • The Friday Family Bag

    Jonathan Cliff
    17 May 2013 | 5:00 am
    As Friday’s lend themselves to playing catch-up, here is some Internet Gold that I’ve loved over the past few weeks. The Gospel and the (Im)perfect Marriage - “Depending on how well we do in our own eyes, perfectionism can play out in a variety of negative responses: feelings of worthlessness, inordinate preoccupation with the opinions of other people, paralyzing fear, impatience with others, and a sense of superiority.” Shaping a Child’s Soul: A task to Important to be Entrusted to a Professional -  “Efficiency is not the goal of gospel-motivated…

  • Celebrate the Differences

    Jonathan Cliff
    16 May 2013 | 7:02 am
      One is hyper organized, moderately controlling, quick to ask forgiveness, and genuinely compassionate with others. The other is charming, a rock solid friend, super fun, and is not ashamed to give out a hug when it’s needed. The third one has a deep desire to be a good friend, is a strong and vocal leader and reminds us all the most of her mother. These are my 3 children in a nutshell. So many different qualities, and so many easy to assume futures. I understand birth order, but I don’t buy it entirely. Just because my middle child is funny and gregarious, doesn’t…

  • Lighten Up

    Jonathan Cliff
    6 May 2013 | 4:15 am
    Special Guest Post from my wife Starr. She is the mother of my 3 children, and the woman I've been married to for almost 15 years! If you like this post, then you can just imagine how genuinely blessed I am to share a house with this woman everyday.I was agitated. I had a long day at work. The lasagna I made took 4x as long to make and clean up than it did to eat, and no one was even all that impressed by it. I was busy getting the last of dinner put away before we needed to jet out the door to get to my 5th grade son Ryan’s baseball game. As I rinsed the final dish I said to my 1st grade…
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    Shooting the Breeze

  • Direction determines destination

    Kevin Martineau
    23 May 2013 | 9:05 am
    I am a person who gets lost easily. I must say that I come by it naturally though because my mom is the exact same way. It is a dangerous combination whenever it is just the two of us! Thankfully I have a wonderful wife who helps me with directions. Without her I would be totally lost (in many many ways)! I am not alone though in my directional challengeness (is that a word?) Mega church pastor and author Andy Stanley shares this “burden” too. In his book “The Principle of the Path: How to Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be” he shares his struggle with…

  • Put first things first

    Kevin Martineau
    22 May 2013 | 9:10 am
    In order to have our priorities right we must take care of first things first.  In other words, we must take care of what is most important first.  If we don’t, it won’t really matter what we end up doing. We must put first things first I came across a great story that illustrates this principle perfectly.  Tennessee Titans center Kevin Long, who played under Coach Bobby Bowden at Florida State University, said his college coach inspired the team with parables. Long recounted a favorite story: [Bowden] was playing college baseball, and he had never hit a home run.

  • 4 critical elements of a good fight

    Kevin Martineau
    21 May 2013 | 10:36 am
    Couples cannot practice good fighting until they understand the substance of a good fight.  We need to take a good fight apart and see what it is made of. 4 critical elements of a good fight (taken from Dr. Les and Lesley Parrott’s book “The Good Fight: How Conflict Can Bring You Closer.”) These are easy to remember because their initials form an acronym that spells CORE: Cooperation, Ownership, Respect and Empathy. 1. Cooperation: Good fighters fight for a win-win. Cooperation is a skill set that can be learned.  The more you practice it the easier it gets. …

  • 3 ways to affirm others

    Kevin Martineau
    19 May 2013 | 8:39 pm
    When you and I affirm other people, we’re doing something incredible. We are showing love.  We’re letting people know they matter.   We’re letting people know that we care about them. 3 ways to affirm others 1. Acceptance. Instead of choosing to snub people and belittle people and demean people, which are easy choices to make, especially if you’re having a bad day, we need to make the choice instead to lift people up. When we do this we are making an incredible impact in their lives. It’s easy to look down on people. It’s easy to act like we’re better than people and…

  • Favourite Links Friday: 7 fantastic posts worth checking out!

    Kevin Martineau
    17 May 2013 | 8:58 am
    Welcome to Favourite Links Friday! This is my way of saying “Thank-you” to all my fellow bloggers by sharing some of their wonderful posts that I have read during the week. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did! Also, make sure you check out Jason’s Light Friday Hit List over at Connecting to Impact for some more great posts! 7 favourite links (and bloggers) from this past week: 1. The river guide and the rapids by Seth Godin 2. satan’s favorite word. by jon acuff 3. The Love You’re Looking For by Pete Wilson 4. Why You Should Nurture Your Imagination by John Frainee 5.
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    i believe in miracles

  • Conversations with Pilate: John 18:28-38a (how I would say it)

    genuinemotivation
    3 May 2013 | 10:18 am
    After Caiaphas was finished with him, the Jewish officials took Jesus to the palace of the Roman governor. It was early morning of the Passover day. Entering the palace, which they considered to be pagan, would preclude them from being able to eat the Passover meal, so they didn’t want to go in. Instead, the Roman Prefect, Pontius Pilate, came out to them and asked, “What are the charges against this man?” They replied, “Well, he’s a criminal, of course! Would we bring him to you if he weren’t a criminal?” Pilate responded, “Why don’t you judge him under your judicial…

  • Peter the Poser: John 18:12b-27 (how I would say it)

    genuinemotivation
    2 May 2013 | 8:24 am
    They tied Jesus’ hands and took him first to former high priest, Annas. He was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the one who had said earlier that it made more sense for one man to die to spare a whole nation. Simon Peter and I trailed along.  Because I was personally acquainted with the high priest, I got to go into the courtyard where they had taken Jesus, but Simon Peter had to wait outside. I so went back and spoke to the girl on duty at the door and she let Peter in. But then she asked him, “Hey, aren’t one of this man’s followers?” He replied, “Who me? No…no.” It was cold,…

  • You’re Under Arrest: John 18:1-12a (how I would say it)

    genuinemotivation
    1 May 2013 | 8:52 am
    When he had finished praying, Jesus and his followers crossed the Kidron Valley and entered a garden there. They frequented this place, so Judas (the traitor) knew where to find them. Judas rolled in with a detachment of soldiers along with some of the top dogs among the priests and Pharisees. They had torches, lanterns and weapons in hand. Fully aware of what was going down, Jesus met them and asked, “Who are looking for?” “Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. Judas was right there with them. “That’s me,” Jesus said. At this, they retreated and hunkered down. He asked them again,…

  • Father, I’m Ready to be Restored to Greatness: John 17 (how I would say it)

    genuinemotivation
    30 Apr 2013 | 7:54 am
    Then Jesus looked up to the sky and said: “Father, it’s time. Make me great, so I can prove your greatness. You’ve given me authority over all humanity so that those you’ve determined might live forever. Eternal life is just this: knowing you, the only true God, and me, your representative. I’ve represented you well here on Earth by completing all my assignments. And now, Father, make me great again in front of you, with the same greatness I possessed even before we set planet Earth in motion. “I’ve revealed you to the people on Earth that you gave me. They were yours and you…

  • Wait, what are we talking about? John 16:16-33 (how I would say it)

    genuinemotivation
    29 Apr 2013 | 10:40 am
    Jesus went on to say, “In a little while, I’m going away, and then after a little while, I’ll come back.” At yet another mention of going away, the followers mumbled to each other, “What does he mean when he says he’ll go away then come back, and ‘I’m going to my Father’? What’s ‘a little while’? Does anyone have a clue what he’s really trying to tell us?” Jesus noted their confusion, so he said to them, “Are you asking one another what I mean by “in a little while, I’m going away, and then after a little while, I’ll come back’? Believe me when I tell…
 
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    Jenna Brooks - Blog:The SCW Speaks

  • The Inspiring Bloggers Award!

    16 May 2013 | 7:25 pm
    "Don’t think there’s anything better than being acknowledged by your fellow peers." That's a quote from Ms. Dianne Harman, she of Blue Coyote Motel fame.  As is her habit, she's absolutely correct - and I thank her for giving The SCW Speaks The Inspiring Blogger Award.In keeping with the custom of the Award, I have to list seven things that people probably don't know about me. Whether or not they find these things to be interesting isn't an issue - a fact for which I'm grateful - so let's get 'er done here:1.  I am a social zero. I don't date, I don't go out - I rarely…

  • Still Missing You, Mom.

    10 May 2013 | 5:46 am
    She came to America through Ellis Island, during the last days of World War II. From Rome, she was, and she was tired, and discouraged, and unable to speak a word of English. But this country offered to her what her heart – what all hearts – longed for: Freedom.She was a complicated woman, my mother. Determined, beautiful, dignified – the kind of woman with a self-possession that prompted men to leap to their feet as she entered a room. She gave birth to four children, of whom I am the baby. I followed her everywhere when I was small. I’ll remember forever the…

  • The Ultimate Bullies, and the Cowards Who Love Them

    26 Apr 2013 | 7:55 am
    I had some free time a couple of nights ago, enough that I could spend an hour or so on social media, catching up with some of my favorite people.I spotted a tweet from a Lib who was promoting his on-air "debate" with Jeff Kuhner. As I'm a Kuhner fan - I mean, the WRKO host is called "Boston's Bulldozer", and you gotta love that - I checked out the discussion. Turns out that it wasn't much of a debate, because Kuhner owned the guy. The topic was the Boston terrorist attack, but the topic isn't the point here. I admit to some laughter as I listened, and then I wondered how many tweets it…

  • Alone Again - Happily

    18 Apr 2013 | 7:05 am
    At the store the other day, I was waiting in line to pay for my groceries, and I got to talking with one of my fellow shoppers. She was looking into my cart. “You must be shopping for just yourself,” she said. I looked at my intended purchases: I had a variety of single-serving items, except for the half-gallon of chocolate almond frozen yogurt (which, for me, is two servings). Hey, it’s been a tough week. I have a right to a treat. Like you’ve never taken a spoon to a carton of ice cream?Sorry… Back to the topic:“Yeah,” I said,…

  • The Cheat

    11 Apr 2013 | 8:42 am
    I heard the phrase again at work the other day: “Be careful what you ask for.” I hate that snippet of conventional wisdom. It just bugs me. To be honest, I reject most of the ideas that people call “conventional wisdom”, especially those which smack of cynicism to me. I especially dislike this one, though. Be careful what you ask for? What a hopeless way to exist. Autonomous. Self-reliant. Won’t get taken in. Cynics. We’ve all been exposed to too many of them lately. I don't know about you, but they sometimes get under my skin, leaving me…
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    RELEVANT Magazine

  • Cat Bearding: The Internet's New Thing

    23 May 2013 | 12:27 pm
    Given the Internet's new affection for cats and beards, it's almost weird this hasn't happened sooner. But it's happening now, and it's better than planking, so let's keep the complaints to a minimum. As you can see from the handy collage that Gawker put together, it's pretty self-explanatory. All you need is a cat and a computer. This being 2013, you doubtless have ready access to both. All told, there are worse things these people could be doing with their precious, limited time on earth. Although do we really need so many? ...

  • An American Hero Gets His Suitably American Reward

    23 May 2013 | 10:50 am
    Would that every hero be so appropriately rewarded. Charles Ramsey, the instantly beloved hero of the Cleveland kidnappings, famously was eating a Big Mac when he first noticed something was amiss at his neighbor's house. McDonald's had promised to reach out to Ramsey, but seeing as they never did, over a dozen Cleveland-area restaurants have come up with their own plan to reward Ramsey. They're giving him a personalized "Chuck Card," good for a lifetime of free burgers at any of these fourteen restaurants in northern Ohio and Pennsylvania. A more deserving recipient to such a grand reward…

  • Czech National Symphony Orchestra Performs with Nothing But Mobile Devices

    23 May 2013 | 9:45 am
    The European company Hello Bank! staged this stunt as part of a promotion of its "all-digital" services to show viewers just how sophisticated our mobile devices really are. In a behind-the-scenes video, you can see how engineers rigged smart phones and tablets together using custom interfaces to create massive, virtual instruments. It’s almost as impressive as this …

  • 10 Things People Stop Doing When They Get iPhones

    lizriggs
    23 May 2013 | 9:00 am
    Remembering a world in which you couldn't 4G your way to just about anything Before cell phones, we’d have to call each other’s landlines and “ask to speak to” whomever we were actually trying to reach. It had the potential to be awkward and uncomfortable. Especially if your boyfriend’s dad answered.

  • Helen Mirren Fulfills Boy’s Dying Wish to Meet the Queen

    23 May 2013 | 8:45 am
    Oliver Burton has battled cancer for most of his life, but recently the 10-year-old, who also has Down syndrome, was given a terminal prognosis. When royal officials informed his family that Queen Elizabeth II would not be able to fulfill his wish by meeting with him, actress Helen Mirren decided to reprise her famous role. The Academy Award winning star of the 2006 film The Queen invited Oliver and his family to a play (in which she also portrays the queen), then took them backstage for tea and a special knighting ceremony for young Oliver. Mirren stayed in character the entire time …
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    Travel Deals Blog BestTravelDeals.net

  • Last Minute Memorial Day Travel Deals

    kirsten
    22 May 2013 | 5:01 am
    Memorial Day Weekend is almost here but it’s not too late to snag these great last minute deals: $197 & up — Boston: AAA 4-Diamond Waterfront Hotel – 40% Off Feast on seafood along the waterfront with many options on the harbor $251-$278 – NYC: 4-Star Times Square Hotel, 50% Off Stay in heart of bustling Times Square $69-$99 — Orlando [...]

  • European Package Deals With Air

    kirsten
    20 May 2013 | 5:00 am
    $1326 & up — Ireland: 6-Nt. Ritz-Carlton Escape w/Air Explore Emerald Isle including the Cliffs of Moher, Limerick, Killarney, Galway and much more. Travel through August 31 $1265 & up — Paris & Rome 6-Night Package w/Air & Hotels Combine Paris and Rome with flights between the cities. Travel for 6-9+ nights with RT air from US cities, hotel [...]

  • Caribbean Package Deals With Air

    kirsten
    17 May 2013 | 5:00 am
    $769 & up — All-Incl. Dominican Republic Trip 4 Nts. w/Air Rated #1 among the 11 resorts in Bayahibe. Travel from May 23-June 24. Book by May 24 $979 — Jamaica: 4-Night All-Inclusive Riu Trip from Dallas 4 nts travel including airfare departing from Dallas. Travel dates:  Jun 24-Jul 1, 22-Aug 5, 2013 $799 & up — St. Thomas [...]

  • Mediterranean Cruise Deals

    kirsten
    15 May 2013 | 6:29 am
    $799 & up — Summer: Italy-Greece-Turkey 7-Night Cruise Departing from Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy. Travel  from May 19 through Sept. 8 $1799 & up — ‘World’s Best’: Luxe European Cruises, 70% Off Sail to exotic ports of call such as Capri, Sardinia, and Tenerife with this last-minute flash sale from Windstar Cruises. $899 & up — Oceanview: Roundtrip Venice Cruise Cruise [...]

  • Mexico Travel Deals

    kirsten
    13 May 2013 | 5:00 am
    $137-$197 — Playa del Carmen Beach Hideaway Resort, 30% Off A Mexican bungalow style beachfront hotel with breakfast, dinner, free wi-fi & kids stay free. Travel May to October. $649 & up — 4-Star All-Incl. Cancun Escape w/Air, Save $200 Includes full-service Miiluma Spa, kids club, free wi-fi & $100 instant savings.  Travel 8/18 – 10/31 $799 & up [...]
 
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    The Underground

  • All Sons & Daughters Release Songs For Oklahoma To Help Tornado Relief Efforts In Moore, OK

    Michael Ernest
    23 May 2013 | 11:28 am
    INTEGRITY MUSIC’S ALL SONS & DAUGHTERS RELEASE SONGS FOR OKLAHOMA TO HELP TORNADO RELIEF EFFORTS IN MOORE, OK   All Sons & Daughters’ First CD/DVD, LIVE, Hit No. 1 At iTunes’ Top Concert Films Movie Sales Chart Amidst Wide Acclaim   Duo Announces Canadian Tour In October Following First Headline Tour This Fall   Responding to the [...] ...

  • Chris Tomlin’s “burning lights tour” makes career history

    Michael Ernest
    23 May 2013 | 10:58 am
    Chris Tomlin performs at Red Rocks Amphitheatre on the “Burning Lights Tour.” Photo Credit: Mary Caroline Mann   Chris Tomlin performs at Madison Square Garden Theater on the “Burning Lights Tour.” Photo Credit: Chris Bartelski GRAMMY® Winner Chris Tomlin’s “Burning Lights Tour” Makes Career History, Selling Out 25 Dates including New York City, Los Angeles, Houston [...] ...

  • Amy Grant Debuts at No. 1 on Christian Soundscan and No. 12 on Billboard 200

    Michael Ernest
    23 May 2013 | 10:52 am
    Amy Grant’s “Stellar” and “Transparent” Album,  How Mercy Looks From Here, Debuts at No. 1 on Christian Soundscan and No. 12 on the Billboard 200   Nashville, Tenn. – On the heels of receiving some of the best reviews of her 30+ year career, six time GRAMMY® winner Amy Grant has even more to celebrate as her [...] ...

  • Gotee Records signs Ryan Stevenson; CEO Toby Mac introduces Ryan

    Michael Ernest
    22 May 2013 | 4:20 am
    NASHVILLE, Tenn.—Gotee Records has signed acclaimed singer/songwriter Ryan Stevenson to an exclusive recording agreement. A native of the Pacific Northwest and resident of Boise, Idaho, he has been a full-time touring artist for the past two years.Stevenson’s debut single on Gotee, “Holding Nothing Back,” is available today at all digital outlets, such as iTunes and AmazonMP3. The single [...] ...

  • Godless funerals thrive in ‘post-Catholic’ Ireland

    Religion News Service
    21 May 2013 | 10:46 pm
    Patricia Wojnar left a 32-year career in interior design to pursue a degree that wasn’t in demand: a master’s in bereavement studies. Having seen four family members die early, she wanted to understand how to adapt. ...
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    RELEVANT Magazine

  • Cat Bearding: The Internet's New Thing

    23 May 2013 | 12:27 pm
    Given the Internet's new affection for cats and beards, it's almost weird this hasn't happened sooner. But it's happening now, and it's better than planking, so let's keep the complaints to a minimum. As you can see from the handy collage that Gawker put together, it's pretty self-explanatory. All you need is a cat and a computer. This being 2013, you doubtless have ready access to both. All told, there are worse things these people could be doing with their precious, limited time on earth. Although do we really need so many? ...

  • An American Hero Gets His Suitably American Reward

    23 May 2013 | 10:50 am
    Would that every hero be so appropriately rewarded. Charles Ramsey, the instantly beloved hero of the Cleveland kidnappings, famously was eating a Big Mac when he first noticed something was amiss at his neighbor's house. McDonald's had promised to reach out to Ramsey, but seeing as they never did, over a dozen Cleveland-area restaurants have come up with their own plan to reward Ramsey. They're giving him a personalized "Chuck Card," good for a lifetime of free burgers at any of these fourteen restaurants in northern Ohio and Pennsylvania. A more deserving recipient to such a grand reward…

  • Czech National Symphony Orchestra Performs with Nothing But Mobile Devices

    23 May 2013 | 9:45 am
    The European company Hello Bank! staged this stunt as part of a promotion of its "all-digital" services to show viewers just how sophisticated our mobile devices really are. In a behind-the-scenes video, you can see how engineers rigged smart phones and tablets together using custom interfaces to create massive, virtual instruments. It’s almost as impressive as this …

  • 10 Things People Stop Doing When They Get iPhones

    lizriggs
    23 May 2013 | 9:00 am
    Remembering a world in which you couldn't 4G your way to just about anything Before cell phones, we’d have to call each other’s landlines and “ask to speak to” whomever we were actually trying to reach. It had the potential to be awkward and uncomfortable. Especially if your boyfriend’s dad answered.

  • Helen Mirren Fulfills Boy’s Dying Wish to Meet the Queen

    23 May 2013 | 8:45 am
    Oliver Burton has battled cancer for most of his life, but recently the 10-year-old, who also has Down syndrome, was given a terminal prognosis. When royal officials informed his family that Queen Elizabeth II would not be able to fulfill his wish by meeting with him, actress Helen Mirren decided to reprise her famous role. The Academy Award winning star of the 2006 film The Queen invited Oliver and his family to a play (in which she also portrays the queen), then took them backstage for tea and a special knighting ceremony for young Oliver. Mirren stayed in character the entire time …
 
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    Faith Barista

  • What I Killed & What I Want To Write Instead

    Bonnie Gray
    2 May 2013 | 12:05 am
    I tell him he can read it later when he’s older. I tell him this is a book with some hard, grown-up stories. Stories that are kind of sad. That are not for little children. I tell my seven year old son TJ that I’m writing these stories because I want others to know how I’m finding Jesus through tough times. And how Jesus is finding me. I tell him I’m writing to encourage. To let them know that Jesus is with them too. That it’s okay to be sad. When times are tough. That God will always be with them. No matter what. “I want to read it,” TJ replies, as…

  • Walking the Little Girl In You Out Into the World

    Bonnie Gray
    27 Apr 2013 | 8:43 am
    “Let nothing disturb you. Nothing distress you. While all things fade away, God is unchanging.” Prayer of St. Teresa I’m trying to type words onto the screen. But, there is only blank space staring back at me. If you’ve ever experienced anxiety — the kind that wraps around your heart with the cloak of stress — you’d understand how it can tether you back. It keeps you silent.   Keeps you in your home. And on the hours or days you need to be with others, you may end up retreating from being seen. Or heard. You are working hard.  You are getting things…

  • When Easter Feels Overwhelming: Sometimes It Gets Worse Before It Gets Better

    Bonnie Gray
    29 Mar 2013 | 8:33 am
    “You see, there are two very different types of hope in this world.  One is hoping for something, and the other is hoping in Someone.” ~ Pete Wilson How can we celebrate Easter when we are overwhelmed with everyday questions? I didn’t see it coming.  I went to bed like I always had, ate dinner with my chopsticks and brushed my teeth just fine. The next morning, I got dressed and drove into work as usual.  Logged into my account and started checking my emails.  I started typing. Needles of pain shot through my wrists.  My fingers felt numb and tingly, like they’d…

  • Beyond Locked Doors: Jesus, Where Can I Hide?

    Bonnie Gray
    27 Mar 2013 | 12:05 am
    “Before the river runs away, I find the shelter in Your Name.  Jesus.” ~ Fernando Ortega in “Sleepless Night” I remember what if felt like to be a little girl. Sitting at the table of my desk. Writing hard into the pages of my journal. Because there was no other place for me to be. No other place to hear my thoughts and seek some sort of answer in the silence.  My heart poured out in ink — like the first waters of spring trickling down through moss, rock, and dirt as you walk by and notice the trail is suddenly moist and soft. I know now, that the door that…

  • Whispers of Spring: Turning My Heart Towards Jesus

    Bonnie Gray
    21 Mar 2013 | 12:05 am
    Sometimes it’s hard to know the difference between how you feel and where God wants you to go. I’ve taught myself time and time again never to trust my feelings, but to trust in what my mind tells me is right instead. This way of thinking has led me to get through enough bad times and to accomplish a lot in life. I’ve come to trust it. But I’m beginning to wonder if it’s kept me from good times. Not to say I haven’t had good times.  I’ve experienced amazing seasons of beautiful, moving times of happiness and contentment. But, I’m talking about…
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    Sustainable Traditions

  • A Global Conspiracy of Epic Proportions

    Jason Fowler
    3 May 2013 | 1:31 pm
    The Gospel of Jesus is the greatest underground plot we can get caught up in. It is a global conspiracy of epic proportions. The post A Global Conspiracy of Epic Proportions appeared first on Sustainable Traditions. {This is a content summary only. Visit the Sustainable Traditions blogazine for full links, videos, and more! Shalom! }

  • Food and Health: You Are What You Eat

    Chérie Guerrant
    30 Apr 2013 | 10:21 am
    When a conversation turns to food and someone mentions eating a more healthy, wholesome, natural diet, silence often ensues... The post Food and Health: You Are What You Eat appeared first on Sustainable Traditions. {This is a content summary only. Visit the Sustainable Traditions blogazine for full links, videos, and more! Shalom! }

  • Christ Our Passover Lamb

    Jason Fowler
    25 Mar 2013 | 9:25 pm
    May we return to this revelation that if we are to truly be His students and followers we must know Christ as our Passover lamb... The post Christ Our Passover Lamb appeared first on Sustainable Traditions. {This is a content summary only. Visit the Sustainable Traditions blogazine for full links, videos, and more! Shalom! }

  • A Different Kind of Deliverance

    Jason Fowler
    24 Mar 2013 | 1:33 pm
    There was a sense of joy and excitement as we traveled towards Jerusalem. We were all looking forward to the Passover feast but most of all...We were waiting for the moment when Yeshua would publicly reveal himself to all of Israel... The post A Different Kind of Deliverance appeared first on Sustainable Traditions. {This is a content summary only. Visit the Sustainable Traditions blogazine for full links, videos, and more! Shalom! }

  • Mourning A Native Son, Remembering A Hidden Wound

    Jason Fowler
    21 Mar 2013 | 9:34 pm
    As I mourn the loss of Richard Twiss - I am reminded of this hidden wound - this need for a deeper forgiveness and reconciliation through Jesus who calls all nations before the throne of our Father and Creator... The post Mourning A Native Son, Remembering A Hidden Wound appeared first on Sustainable Traditions. {This is a content summary only. Visit the Sustainable Traditions blogazine for full links, videos, and more! Shalom! }
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    Mr. Garner Goes To Washington

  • Goodbye Maddy

    Rick Garner
    17 May 2013 | 6:47 am
    Georgia loving on her first dog. Maddy the beagle came into our lives when she was found hiding in the bushes near the Spirit 106 office in Ridgeland, MS. Kim and another lady in the business complex were feeding the stray beagles in hopes of catching them to find a home. Kim's rescue partner called and said she had a beagle in front of her office that wouldn't come out of the bushes and appeared to need help. Kim and I went to get her. We'd pull her out of the bushes, and she'd try to return. Eventually, we got her into my car and took her to our vet. She had fleas and ticks covering her…

  • Sixteen Years and Counting

    Rick Garner
    19 Apr 2013 | 10:42 am
    Today, Kim and I celebrate sixteen years of marriage. Sixteen. Sweet Sixteen. That seems like a lot and yet it seems so short. Anniversaries tend to evoke reflections on where I've been physically or emotionally. Ideally, I can see where I've matured and grown. Where I've learned from my mistakes. I feel very lucky - more accurately very blessed - to be married to the woman who completes me in so many ways. We're opposites. Yet, this is why we compliment each other so well. Where one is lacking, the other fills. Where one is needing, the other helps. Our personalities are opposite but isn't…

  • Be Bold To Do More For The Least

    Rick Garner
    25 Feb 2013 | 11:06 pm
    I've gotta say, there's just something about ole San Fran. It really is a cool, big, little city. Granted, I haven't seen perhaps more than a fourth of it in my three trips but it delights me with each visit. The weather is pleasant, topography and sights are stunning, people are friendly, sidewalks are wide, and the city feels relatively clean compared to much of NYC or DC. However, there's a plight in San Fran of homelessness. Sure, it's everywhere and maybe moreso due to the economy. Seeing one homeless person is too many, but I couldn't walk a block in San Fran without passing by at least…

  • See You Around, Mrs. Stewart

    Rick Garner
    23 Dec 2012 | 1:11 am
    Reconnecting with one of your elementary school teachers may not have ever crossed your mind. Or maybe you didn't know where to start or simply weren't successful. Three years ago, one teacher kept coming to mind and I delayed in seeking her out until the need to do so became rather urgent. An early morning in February 2009, I acted upon seeking out my 6th grade reading teacher. Sadly, I deleted my initial emails of outreach to Lovett Elementary School in Clinton, Mississippi. My first email was addressed to the current principal and I explained my interest in connecting with Mrs. Stewart.

  • Dealing With Discouragement

    Rick Garner
    6 Oct 2012 | 11:13 pm
    At some point today, you'll likely stumble upon discouragement. It's normal and should be expected. You may read, hear, or see something troubling. You'll become discouraged. What you do with that discouragement offers some insights into you. Will you try to learn from the discouragement by reflecting on your own expectations and perspectives? Or will you use the discouragement to justify your bad mood and why you're acting like a spoiled child? For example, I've been a member of Lifetime Fitness since March. When I had a health assessment in May, my weight was 250. Only last month, had I…
 
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    Soulfari

  • Speaking Blessing

    Jay Cookingham
    21 May 2013 | 6:19 pm
        In my last post (Full Circle, you can read it here) I told you I was invited to give the Invocation at my home town Chamber of Commerce. The opportunity to speak a blessing over my home town was more exciting than I first realized and I enjoyed it immensely. Everybody was warm and sincere in thanking me afterwards, even mentioning to my wife how beautiful the prayer was. So, I thought I share the prayer with you all…and ask an question along with it. First the prayer. The Old Testament contains a Scripture I’ve adopted for my home town of Hyde Park. Jeremiah 29, verse 7 says…

  • Full Circle

    Jay Cookingham
    9 May 2013 | 5:44 am
              Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4 Nestled in the Hudson Valley, approximately 90 miles north of New York City, is my home town of Hyde Park. Except for a year of early marriage adventure (when my bride and I lived in Florida) I have lived here my entire life (to date anyway!). I’m a free range, organic type of person. I usually don’t fit well into a box or a formulaic pattern of doing things… it just doesn’t work for me. For years this town didn’t work for me. I was an outcast to most… the…

  • Showtime

    Jay Cookingham
    1 May 2013 | 9:31 am
    There's no business like show business. - Irving Berlin I recently made a remarkable discovery about myself. It seems that (and you may find this hard to believe) for 50 years now I’ve been in show business…yep…show business. April 23 marked my 57th year on this planet and 50 years of following the Messiah. My wife and kids would tell you that I have a flair for the dramatic, that I do, and say things that border on the dramatic side. Maybe it’s my artistic side or just that I’m a crazy man…I’m not sure. I like to think it’s because I’m like the Father. I think God has flair…

  • My First Post

    Jay Cookingham
    23 Apr 2013 | 2:14 pm
    Jay has asked me many times to submit a guest post, and although I've been tempted to express my opinion  on a variety of issues, some significant, others trivial, today I finally have something to say.My dearest friend, my big brother in the Lord, my love for life, my prince and hero- I am so grateful that you were born! Your very life testifies to the goodness and faithfulness of God. Born in poverty{not quite a stable},during fearful and violent times, born to a carpenter, yourself possessing the initials JC- how often have we commented on the similarities in your life to your Savior…

  • Patchwork Hero

    Jay Cookingham
    10 Apr 2013 | 8:50 am
        Back in my Jesus freak days (my early 20’s) I was a sight to behold, particularly my wardrobe. I had a pair of jeans that were mostly a network of patches, imagine Joseph’s Technicolor Dreamcoat, but in pant form. I worn them with a bandana tied (don’t ask why, I just did) just below my right knee, perhaps a symbol of my own particular outlook on life. I loved those pants…I still missed them In many ways, those pants defined me and not just because they were skin tight. My life was (and still is) a patchwork of life experiences. I remember wearing them to church one…
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    Mommy On Fire

  • You Can Tell Everybody . . . This is the Song . . .

    Mommy On Fire
    17 May 2013 | 6:42 am
      Now and then, I like to participate in Lisa Jo’s Friday link-up in which she asks us to write for just five minutes on a word she provides. I would do this every Friday but you know. Life happens. Sometimes I think it would be just awesome to hole myself up and write all [...]

  • A Fabulous Book You Need to Read Now: Carry On, Warrior

    Mommy On Fire
    15 May 2013 | 9:01 pm
    So you all know I’m obsessed, I mean OBSESSED, with reading, right? I haven’t posted much about books lately because well . . . there’s just been some other stuff I’ve needed to sort out in my head. Have I ever told you I write so I can figure out how I feel about things?  [...]

  • A Deep Thought on a Tuesday (Which Mom’s of Boys Will Love) and an Invitation

    Mommy On Fire
    13 May 2013 | 9:01 pm
    Sometimes you’re the fence . . . sometimes you’re Spencer. Praying you are all Spencer today, sisters. It might be a little light around here since my book deadline is June 1. BUT. I am starting a Facebook group for those who would like to be a part of Circle of Sisters. Circle of Sisters [...]
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    Dale Tedder

  • Following Hard After God

    daletedder
    22 May 2013 | 10:56 am
    Words of Encouragement for The Fellowship of the Burning Heart from A.W. Tozer’s book, The Pursuit of God Chapter 1: Following Hard After God My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me. (Psalm 63:8) “Christian theology teaches the doctrine of prevenient grace, which, briefly stated, means that before a man can seek God, God must first have sought the man.” [Prevenient Grace is a wonderful John Wesleyism] “We pursue God because, and only because, he has first put an urge within us that spurs us to the pursuit.” “The impulse to pursue God…

  • A Prayer for Pentecost

    daletedder
    19 May 2013 | 4:45 am
    O God, who at this time didst teach the hearts of thy faithful people, by sending them the light of thy Holy Spirit: Grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgment in all things, and evermore to rejoice in his holy comfort; through the merits of Christ Jesus our Savior, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the same Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen. from The Methodist Book of Worship for Church and Home, 1965 Tagged: Holy Spirit, Pentecost, Prayer, Sunday, Today

  • Life as an Introvert

    daletedder
    15 May 2013 | 12:58 pm
    Referring to myself as an introvert is relatively recent. The reason, I think, is because for many years I had no real idea how to distinguish the differences between an extrovert and an introvert. One person is outgoing, likes people and can talk in front of a large group while the other one doesn’t like being with people and can’t speak in front of any size group… right? Well, it wasn’t quite that bad, but I was in the neighborhood of that sort of thinking. Since then I’ve learned a better way of understanding a significant difference between the two: What…

  • Mother’s Day Prayer

    daletedder
    12 May 2013 | 3:00 am
    “Blessed God of all grace, God of salvation, God of comfort and the essence of a thousand other descriptions - we cannot adequately nor fully describe you. From hearts softened and awakened to the gospel, liberated from the penalty of sin, cleaned from the stain of sin, indwelt by the Holy Guest, prepared for an eternal dwelling in a city whose builder and maker is God - We praise you that mere man when born again can then love you and enjoy you forever. This is all your doing, your initiative, your completion - yours alone. To God be the glory, Great things he has done. It was not my…

  • Oswald Chambers

    daletedder
    4 May 2013 | 10:09 am
    A number of years ago, I read the most delightful biography about Oswald Chambers. It’s called Oswald Chambers: Abandoned to God, by David McCasland. It was quite good as well as inspiring. I believe I’ve mentioned before, about two thousand times, that I love reading Christian biography. Of course, as with most people, I first met Chambers through the devotional, My Utmost for His Highest. That devotional, like all of his books, was put together after his death from the notes his wife took (shorthand) from his many lectures, studies, sermons, etc. (She was quite a woman). I own…
 
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    I've Been Thinking: by Len M. Allen

  • Is A President's Library Better Than A King's?

    30 Apr 2013 | 9:25 am
    Recently George W. Bush’s Presidential Library opened in Dallas, Texas.  Built on the grounds of Southern Methodist University, this beautiful edifice welcomed the public to tour the years of presidential challenges, decisions, and accomplishments.    It’s been said that a Presidential Library is a place for scholars and members of the public to come, study, and judge that particular

  • Who Are You Wearing?

    24 Apr 2013 | 7:26 am
    We’ve all read of the lavish costume balls of the Renaissance with dignitaries showing up in elaborate masks and even more elaborate suits and dresses.  It seems to be a common desire for man to cover himself with some costume to hide one’s true identity.  Even our fictional superheroes wear costumes. Putting on a disguising outfit seems to be deep in the psyche of mankind.  When we’re

  • About A Daily Prayer

    11 Dec 2012 | 8:23 pm
    There is a book called “The Cloud of Unknowing” written more than 600 years ago by a devoted, unknown saint.  In his pre-Elizabethan English, the author says he wrote his book, “That God’s children might go on to be ‘oned’ with God.”  Not a bad goal.  At the very start of his work, this unknown author wrote a brief prayer that got me thinking about the way I begin each day.  You see, I

  • Is Christmas Depressing?

    25 Nov 2012 | 11:36 am
    Well, Halloween and Thanksgiving are over and the holiday season is in full swing.  We’ve had our “Turkey Day Sales,” “Black Friday Sales,” and “Cyber Monday” will be here tomorrow.  But, in spite of all the gifts we’ve purchased and deals we’ve gotten for ourselves, so many of us still feel empty and depressed during the entire holiday season.  I’ve been thinking about this… Why is it that

  • Is Believing In Christ Weird?

    11 Nov 2012 | 6:29 am
    Many of you know that I was in the advertising business for many years… so today I want to talk about Budweiser.    If you’ve watched a football game recently, you’ve seen a Budweiser beer commercial showing male sports fans doing all kinds of funny things as superstitious acts to “help” their team win.  There are guys patting team flags, wearing mismatched socks, and turning their beer
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    Christianity 201

  • Jesus is the New Temple

    paulthinkingoutloud
    23 May 2013 | 2:36 pm
    I am currently working my way very slowly through the book, Jesus: A Theography by Frank Viola and Leonard Sweet. The book explores various aspects of Jesus’ ministry and goes beyond the simple ‘womb to tomb’ biography by dealing with the pre-incarnate and post-incarnate Christ. I’m currently about half-way through the book and landed on this section where the authors enumerate the various places where Jesus takes on the role that Israel formerly ascribed to ‘temple.’  This is taken from pages 171-173. I encourage you to visit Bible Gateway or Bible Hub to…

  • Son of God, Son of Man

    paulthinkingoutloud
    22 May 2013 | 2:41 pm
    Crosswalk.com is running a series of excerpts from the book Praying the Names of God by Ann Spangler.  You might want to dive in and cover the entire study, or better yet, pick up a copy of the book.  Here’s the link to today’s reading. The Name Like the Father, Jesus is God. He always was, always is, and always will be. But unlike the Father, Jesus is also a human being. Though  charged with blasphemy and crucified for claiming to be one with the Father, Jesus’ resurrection validates his claim to be God’s Son in a unique way. When we confess our belief that Jesus…

  • Keep Your Words Few

    paulthinkingoutloud
    21 May 2013 | 2:44 pm
    This may seem a strange theme for a blog that isn’t exactly known for its brevity, but there is so much on scripture about concision in speech that you could almost say the scriptures offer a doctrine of reticence which is part of a larger theology of Christian character. Simply put, a Christ-follower is one who knows when to speak and when to be silent, because in too much talking… You could accidentally betray a confidence: Proverbs 20:19 (NIV) 19 A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid anyone who talks too much Your prayers could become a religious formula: Matthew 6:7 (NIV)…

  • Keeping an Eternal Perspective

    paulthinkingoutloud
    20 May 2013 | 2:17 pm
    It’s hard for me to believe it’s been more than a year since we last visited the blog Digging The Word. It is a great Bible study and devotional resource. This post appeared in April under the title Living with Eternity in Sight, and as always, you’re encouraged to click through. 1 Peter 5:6-11  So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time He will lift you up in honor. 7  Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about you. 8  Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for…

  • We’re Not Saved by Works, But Works Happen

    paulthinkingoutloud
    19 May 2013 | 2:19 pm
    The biggest myth that Christ followers need to combat is the idea that by doing things for God, we merit or earn eternal life. Even among people who have spent a lifetime immersed in churches where the message of grace is preached, there are people who, if you ask them, will tell you that they will spend eternity with God because of what they did. Ephesians 2 contains two verses familiar to many of us: 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. (NIV) But someone will say,…
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    Worthy Christian News

  • Nazi Flag Flies Over Mosque

    George Whitten
    22 May 2013 | 11:08 pm
    By Joseph DeCaro, Worthy News Correspondent JERUSALEM, ISRAEL (Worthy News)– The twisted cross of National Socialism flew for all to see over a mosque Monday in the West Bank, according to the Israel National News Service. In the predominantly Arab-Muslim town of Beit Omar, the large, black swastika that once symbolized Adolph Hitler's Third Reich was clearly visible to astonished Israelis living in the southern suburbs of Jerusalem. "I felt we were going back 75 years, losing our hold on the land," said Uri Arnon. "The Arabs no longer feel the need to hide their…

  • Iran Detains Pastor As Church Faces Closure In Wider Crackdown

    George Whitten
    22 May 2013 | 12:13 am
    TEHRAN, IRAN (Worthy News)– A pastor of the Central Assemblies of God (AoG) Church in Tehran was detained Tuesday, May 21, as part of Iran's wider crackdown on evangelical believers, Christian rights activists confirmed. The arrest of Reverend Robert Asserian came as his church prepared for possible closure by the end of June due to pressure from the feared Iranian Intelligence Ministry, said advocacy group Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW). Security forces reportedly raided Asserian’s house and confiscated some of his belongings, including computer and books. "They then…

  • India Detains Two Suspects Over Killing Australian Missionary, Sons

    George Whitten
    21 May 2013 | 2:43 am
    NEW DELHI, INDIA (Worthy News)– Nearly fourteen years after Australian missionary Graham Staines and his two sons were burned to death by a mob in eastern India, police have detained two more suspects, Worthy News learned Monday, May 20. India's Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) told media that it had arrested Ghanashyam Mohant, 35, and Ranjan Mohant, 38, from their villages Gayalmunda and Bhalughera in Keonjhar district. Another alleged attacker remains at large, police said. The detained suspects are accused of involvement in killing Staines and his two sons Philip, 10, and…

  • Egypt Christian Killed In Alexandria Clashes

    George Whitten
    21 May 2013 | 2:39 am
    CAIRO, EGYPT (Worthy News)– At least one Christian died and dozens were injured in clashes between Muslims and Christians in Egypt's Mediterranean port city of Alexandria, police and local media said Saturday, May 18. Police said Christian resident Sherif Sedky, whose name was also spelled as Sherif Sedki Saad, died of a heart attack during clashes, though some observers claimed he died of injuries. Fighting reportedly erupted late Friday, May 17, when a Coptic man allegedly sexually harassed a Muslim woman in Alexandria's el-Dekheila suburb. Soon after, residents of the area…

  • Muslim Militants shoot Christian leader

    George Whitten
    20 May 2013 | 1:48 am
    By Joseph DeCaro, Worthy News Correspondent ABUJA, NIGERIA (Worthy News)– A Nigerian Christian leader was killed Wednesday after armed militants burst into his home, according to BNL news service. Two members of the Islamist Boko Haram sect shot Pentecostal Pastor Faye Pama Mysa, who was the secretary of the Christian Association of Nigeria; the shooting followed President Goodluck Jonathan's announcement of a state of emergency after a series of incessant attacks by Haram's Muslim membership. Jonathan called the state of emergency to address the "systematic effort by…
 
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    Worthy Christian Devotional - Daily Devotion

  • Be a Standard Bearer!

    George Whitten
    23 May 2013 | 5:38 am
    by George Whitten, Editor of Worthy Devotions. Isaiah 59:16-19 He saw that there was no man, And wondered that there was no intercessor; Therefore His own arm [z’roah in Hebrew] brought salvation for Him; And His own righteousness, it sustained Him. For He put on righteousness as a breastplate, And a helmet of salvation on His head; He put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, And was clad with zeal as a cloak. According to their deeds, accordingly He will repay, Fury to His adversaries, Recompense to His enemies; The coastlands He will fully repay. So shall they fear The name of the…

  • Walk in the Power of the Resurrection!

    George Whitten
    21 May 2013 | 10:34 pm
    by George Whitten, Editor of Worthy Devotions. Ecclesiastes 3:11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end. Phillipians 3:9-11 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the…

  • Simply Walk With Him!

    George Whitten
    21 May 2013 | 2:56 am
    by George Whitten, Editor of Worthy Devotions. Genesis 5:24 And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him. Colossians 1:27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Revelation 3:4 You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. Sometimes, the more significant, powerful, or influential someone is, the less you know about him or her. There are some people of influence whose names most of us have…

  • Tear Down the Idols!

    George Whitten
    20 May 2013 | 4:53 am
    by George Whitten, Editor of Worthy Daily Devotions Judges 6:24-26 So Gideon built an altar there to the Lord, and called it Jehovah Shalom. To this day it is still in Ophrah of the Abiezrites. Now it came to pass the same night that the Lord said to him, "Take your father's young bull, the second bull of seven years old, and tear down the altar of Baal that your father has, and cut down the wooden image that is beside it; and build an altar to the Lord your God on top of this rock in the proper arrangement, and take the second bull and offer a burnt sacrifice with the wood of the…

  • Your God Shall Be My God!

    George Whitten
    16 May 2013 | 10:29 pm
    Ruth 1:16-17 But Ruth said: "Entreat me not to leave you, Or to turn back from following after you; For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, And your God, my God. Where you die, I will die, And there will I be buried. The Lord do so to me, and more also, If anything but death parts you and me." As we continue our study in Ruth, this Shavuot season, I want to suggest a prophetic mystery hidden in this book. We have seen that names have significant meanings, and as discussed earlier, Elimelech, whose name means "My God…
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    Rey(es) of Light

  • Why I Run

    Patrick Reyes
    26 Apr 2013 | 7:03 pm
    Sharing my “Why I Run” story I was recently asked to share why I run to our Team Kensington running group. I had sort of thought about it before but as I now get into the heart of the training and the recent events at the Boston Marathon, the reasons of why I run continue to evolve. I think it would be easy for me to say that I’m running to “lose weight” or “get healthy” but those reasons began to change as my training over the last 7 months continued and my mileage increased. Now I view running as an opportunity to interact with others, encourage…

  • It’s Friday, But Sunday Is Coming

    Patrick Reyes
    29 Mar 2013 | 9:00 am

  • A Look Ahead…2013

    Patrick Reyes
    15 Jan 2013 | 5:00 am
    Gini Dietrich shared her 2013 Business and Personal Goals with you yesterday and it motivated me to share with you my personal goals for 2013. If you happen to be friends with me on Facebook or follow me on Twitter, you’ll know that 2 Timothy 1:7 is my personal Bible verse for 2013. The idea of not living in fear but with “power, love and self-discipline” covers every aspect of my life…both relational, physical, mental, and professional giving me the motivation to try new things this year and experience things that quite frankly would normally scare the heck out of me!

  • The Downside of Success

    Patrick Reyes
    21 Dec 2012 | 6:58 am
    In my last post, I told all of you about my weight loss and exercise program as part of Oakland Christian School‘s Biggest Loser competition.  Well today’s is to give you a little update! On Wednesday, I received an email from Merianne telling us that we are in for a “surprise weigh in” on Friday.  Well, much to my delight, my initial thought was “Nice! I can’t wait to see if I maintained or maybe even lost another pound or 2!” So this morning, I stepped on that scale and I actually GAINED almost 4 pounds!  Not the news I was hoping to get!

  • You’re Not As Healthy As You Think

    Patrick Reyes
    13 Nov 2012 | 3:00 pm
    I’ve always considered myself “athletic” but never “healthy”.  Often times, many people think the 2 are interchangeable but I’m here to tell you they aren’t.  Sure, I’ve been able to play soccer but there were times that I jumped into a game only to feel the painful effects the following day or the next few days for that matter.  When I actually played a season, it would take me at least 3-4 games to get into game shape. I mention all of this to you for a couple of reasons.  First, many of you might be aware of the lifestyle change…
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    (in)courage

  • How Everyone Can Be an Optimist

    Ann Voskamp
    24 May 2013 | 12:00 am
    My Grandma Barbara Ruth, she ever only saw a cup one way. Didn’t matter if the tea’d been poured out or if the sky’d tipped over or the tap was still running loud. Every cup she ever held or tipped back or drank from, they were all right empty as far as she was concerned. She’d been dying of old age since she was 42. Every picnic was bound to get rained out. My grandfather’d be whistling Winn-Dixie and she just knew he was brewing to pick some fiery fight. I loved her like there was no tomorrow. And for Grandma? There likely wasn’t going to be another…

  • Start With a “Yes” to the Little Things

    Jennifer Schmidt
    22 May 2013 | 11:20 pm
    After spending a few days at Disney, I can’t help but sing “Dreams really do come true.” With princesses twirling and characters dancing, evil is destroyed at every turn. Little boys and girls can’t help but be mesmerized by Mickey’s encouragement that if we only just believe, dreams can become a reality. Yet when I take away the sprinkle of Cinderella’s fairy dust, what does that really mean for me? How can I weave God’s calling through the fabric of my every day life without feeling overwhelmed? The discussions on “Dreaming Big Dreams” have permeated many posts…

  • The One Thing To Do When You Are Wrecked

    Julie Sunne
    22 May 2013 | 11:10 pm
    I didn’t want to write this post. There were many sunnier topics I had considered sharing. But this is the one I felt needed to be written because… …I’m wrecked—torn up inside. And I’m struggling with what to do about it. Maybe you are, too. Photo by Mr. Kris on Flickr You see, our third-world brothers and sisters are scavenging for the last vestiges of anything edible, and I’m living in the lap of luxury. (Yes, middle class America is the lap of luxury.) While they wonder where their next meal will come from, I’m searching for the next best deal.

  • It’s Ok to Not Be Ok

    Arianne
    21 May 2013 | 11:20 pm
    Hey friend? Come sit next to me here on my old thrifted couch. I have a warm, soothing cup with your name on it and I want to tell you a few things. Are you looking at that overflowing to do list and feeling bad about yourself? Are you thinking of the week ahead and wondering how you will handle all of it? Are you watching the news with your heart breaking and wondering how to take it all in, when your own daily life is so overwhelming already? Here’s the thing: It’s ok to not be ok. Right now? Where you are at is ok.   It might not feel like it, and it might not look like it…

  • You Are The Brave Ones

    Crystal Stine
    20 May 2013 | 11:20 pm
    Dear friends who build benches - You are the brave ones, the ones who see a need and slide over to make room for your sister. You bring cupcakes and coffee and invite others in with a warm smile. You choose not to wait to be invited before building community. You look out your window and feel God nudging you to be the one – the one who invites, encourages, welcomes, because the woman down the street? On Twitter? Faithfully leaving comments on your blog? You’ve been where she is and you want to offer her a safe place to sit down, take a deep breath, and feel free to be herself. The…
 
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    Plough Publishing - Featured Articles and Ebooks

  • An Eye for Eternity

    23 May 2013 | 7:42 am
    What is mortality but the things related to the body, which dies? What is immortality but the things related to the spirit, which lives eternally?

  • Called to Burning Light

    14 May 2013 | 7:39 am
    We are called to burning, life-giving light, but can we conquer the freezing cold and deadly darkness? Will we survive in the struggle against this dangerous power, which constantly besets us from within and without?

  • A Tribute to Single Mothers

    2 May 2013 | 6:29 am
    The most amazing mother I know is also my best friend. She held out even when everything that could go wrong did...
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    Religion Dispatches - Stories

  • The Religion of Self Improvement Grinds On Despite Hard Times for Grads

    Peter Laarman
    23 May 2013 | 10:00 am
    Graduation time—and the living ain’t easy. 

  • Vandalism as Conversation-Starter

    Elizabeth Drescher
    21 May 2013 | 7:00 pm
    Rather than approaching the tagging as a criminal act, however, church leaders decided to take the tagging seriously as an expression of something spiritually meaningful—a cry for help, perhaps; even a mocking expression of religious skepticism. They approached it relationally, using the church building itself as a social media platform, and responding with their own message of hope.

  • Why We’ve Opened Our Doors for Polygamy USA

    Claude Cawley
    19 May 2013 | 1:00 pm
    There is a general misconception that men among the community look to plural marriage as a means to satisfy their lust and exploit and degrade women. It is this stereotype that we would like to dispel.

  • Inventing “Jihad”

    Asma Afsaruddin
    15 May 2013 | 5:00 am
    Last week, in the wake of Russian-led investigation, it was reported that when Tamerlan Tsarnaev was in Russia he was, in fact, more eager to wage war than the Islamist contacts he had traveled to find. Accounts reveal that he arrived in Russia with “an avid interest in waging jihad.” 

  • Public Religion in a Post-Christian Age, Graduation Edition

    David Gushee
    9 May 2013 | 12:00 pm
    What kind of profundity is acceptable in our pluralistic public space? Can a public high school organize a graduation service that appeals to religious themes? Can a religiously diverse private college invite a commencement speaker representing only one of the many religious traditions represented in the room? Or, given religious diversity, should schools try to maintain an air of resolute non-religiosity?
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    Truth Lighthouse

  • Cursing from the pulpit

    Truth Lighthouse
    21 May 2013 | 7:42 am
    But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.

  • Can music and television be a sin?

    Truth Lighthouse
    5 Feb 2013 | 5:38 pm
    Music and television itself is not necessarily a sin but it's content can be.

  • Commitment to God

    Truth Lighthouse
    4 Feb 2013 | 8:49 pm
    Psalms 1:1 is an awesome scripture to read when you simply are battling sin. If you memorize this passage, it will help you in your daily battle.

  • Church of the Future

    Truth Lighthouse
    3 Feb 2013 | 7:06 pm
    Considering the major changes we have seen towards and against Christians recently, have you thought what the church of the future might look like?

  • Israel is Surrounded

    Truth Lighthouse
    31 Jan 2013 | 6:35 pm
    Anytime you begin to wonder if we are in the end times, look no further than the news as it pertains to Israel.
 
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    Life & Theology

  • Discipleship Customized

    benlreed
    9 May 2013 | 5:03 am
    At Long Hollow, we primarily plug people into small groups in two different ways: Connection Events Sermon Alignment We ust finished with our latest sermon alignment, where we launched short-term small groups around our Sunday morning sermon series. We chose a series, and crafted it in such a way that it was accessible for a wide variety of spiritual maturities. It was incredibly effective for us, as we launched groups across our campuses, connecting bucketfuls of folks who hadn’t previously been connected. If you’ve ever tried to line up a sermon series with your small groups in…

  • 6 easy ways to destroy community this summer

    benlreed
    7 May 2013 | 12:10 pm
    Welp, here it is. Summer. The time for vacations, baseball tournaments, camps, and fireworks. Time for the pools to open and the schools to close. Crank up the lawnmower, fire up the grill, and… …prepare for everyone’s normal schedule to be completely jacked up. And if you’re a small group leader, you know exactly how difficult this can be. Tuesday nights were wonderful, until little Johnny started baseball. Thursday mornings were perfect, until Laura’s two kids weren’t in school throughout the summer. Thursday evenings worked for everybody…until, for 6 weeks straight, someone…

  • Why you should quit listening to your pastor

    benlreed
    3 May 2013 | 5:41 am
    I’m done listening to my pastor. D.O.N.E. Done. All this talk on believing the Gospel. Trusting God through pain. Loving my kids with all of my heart. Believing God’s way is better than my way. I’m done. Will you join me? Quit listening to your pastor talk about how much he loves you. About how God has a plan for your life. About how you need to link arms with other people and join a small group. Quit listening to him when he says that it’s good for your heart to give generously. Quit listening when he talks about turning your back on your sin. About trusting the God…

  • 15 Truths from Brand Against the Machine

    benlreed
    1 May 2013 | 9:00 am
    I read books outside the scope of my niche. I hope you do, too. Reading books that speak in to areas where you’re not zoned in help stretch you in new ways, applying new truths to your well-worn paths. Not everything in these books will be applicable to you. Not everything will even be relevant. But at the end of the day, truth is truth. And truth is applicable across disciplines. Business books help me think critically about the “system” of church. About how to spur on growth and change. About how to create systems that maintain growth over time. I recently read Brand…

  • Our great news

    benlreed
    29 Apr 2013 | 5:12 pm
    You may have read a part of our story about our miscarriage. I shared my perspective, and my wife shared hers. To be honest with you, it’s been painful. Questions like, “Is this your only child?” hurt. Surely they don’t mean anything by their questions, but they sure feels loaded with accusations. “You should have more.” “If you really valued children…” Then there were the more pointed ones that cut deep. The things you should never say to a woman. I’ve shared our story countless times. It felt raw, because it was. It felt painful,…
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    Naty Matos' Blog

  • God’s Love and Forgiveness As Seen in the Romance Novel Desires of the Heart

    Naty Matos
    22 May 2013 | 2:00 am
    By Steve Biddison How far does God’s love and forgiveness extend? We all know the theological answer that tells us God forgives even our gravest sins and that there is nothing that can separate us from His love. And that is true. However, often times, in our own shame and guilt, we do not feel God’s love and we our subconscious does not allow us to accept His forgiveness. We either wallow in our own mire of disparity or we completely turn our back on God, believing that we do not deserve what He can give us. That theme of God’s love and forgiveness is a big part of my recent fictional…

  • Book Review:Unseen

    Naty Matos
    20 May 2013 | 2:00 am
    I have to admit that I was a little skeptical as I started reading this book. I had read John Michael Hileman’s book “Messages” some time ago and somehow at the beginning it seemed to follow the same pattern. So I told myself to just keep reading since I had already started. I’m so glad I did. The book is very different than “Messages” and their only similarity is that it’s a book you will not be able to put down. Trying as always not to spoil the book for you, I will try to describe the context. This is the story of a man whose nephew has been abducted by a serial killer. All…

  • WF: Move

    Naty Matos
    17 May 2013 | 2:00 am
    I don’t know about you, but this has been one hectic week. I’m not sure if the moon is in the wrong spot but the experience has been   in the category from one of my favorite comedians Bill Engvall, “ Here’s your sign”. Just to give you some of the highlights I have a new neighbor. I believe it’s just a lady as I haven’t seen any males going into the apartment. I was awakened by  bear sounding noises. Someone snores and it’s quite loud. I was to produce pictures of an event that had not happened. I was questioned about why I had not called someone who had not given me their…

  • Persistent Love

    Naty Matos
    15 May 2013 | 2:00 am
    Download on Kindle ( http://amzn.com/B00CHAE3QS) Free Tuesday May 14th and Wednesday May 15th Persistent Love: Christian Romantic Suspense Novella set in 1685, England. Fear has been Tara’s constant companion since age nine when she witnessed her mother’s murder. Tara’s father moves his family to the ancient castle of Raven’s Cliff, far from the ships that could carry her back to India and the answers she believes lie there. Andrew offers her friendship and guides her gently to the One who will give her peace. Will she find hope for something other than revenge? A…

  • Stop The Culture of Death

    Naty Matos
    13 May 2013 | 2:00 am
    I sat down yesterday afternoon after a great day with my mother to watch television and think about what was I going to write about for today. While I was just browsing for ideas for my post, I decided to check out the news from this weekend. All the news stories were related to death and children. In New Orleans, during a Mother’s Day Parade 18 people were shot, 2 of them were children. It’s hard for me to understand what would make someone open fire in a Mother’s Day Parade. In Valley Springs, California a 12 year old was arrested for stabbing his 8 year old sister. In New Jersey, a…
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    Sincerely Christian

  • It’s Not What Happens, It’s How We Get Through It.

    Allen
    21 May 2013 | 8:48 am
    image: crosscards.com My Tuesday morning discussion group gathers every week to read through a book of the Bible.  Our passion tends to be the Old Testament, in which we’ve read from 1 Samuel to 2 Kings, Daniel, and other great stories of Hebrew Scripture. Currently we’ve been reading through the book of Isaiah.  We’ve already […]

  • Spiritual Therapy

    Allen
    16 May 2013 | 4:03 pm
    “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing (John 9:7 NIV). I was leading a discussion on Jesus’ healing of the blind man in the Gospel according to John. And we talked about the active role the healed, a […]

  • Crossing & Respecting Boundaries

    Allen
    15 May 2013 | 3:30 pm
    Just then his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, “What do you want?” or “Why are you talking with her?”(John 4:27 NIV) Today, I went to a boundary training offered by our presbytery, and as part of our discussion we talked about which boundaries are […]

  • Is Where the Wrong Question?

    Allen
    14 May 2013 | 4:49 pm
    For a long time I have kept silent, I have been quiet and held myself back. But now, like a woman in childbirth, I cry out, I gasp and pant (Isaiah 42:14 NIV). We’ve all been there. Times when we thought God WASN’T there.  Silent. Holding back. Abandoning us. Mocking us. And we’ve asked, ” […]

  • Praise Band Polka

    Allen
    6 May 2013 | 8:39 am
    Sadly, no one else on the worship team shared his enthusiasm for the polka.
 
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    Counterpoint Cafe

  • Lewis on Joy

    rushyama
    29 Apr 2013 | 9:58 pm
    All joy reminds. It is never a possession, always a desire for something longer ago or further away or still ‘about to be.’ - From Surprised by Joy All joy (as distinct from mere pleasure, still more amusement) emphasizes our pilgrim status; always reminds, beckons, awakens desire. Our best havings are wantings.” - From Letters of C.S. Lewis

  • Teaching to See

    rushyama
    22 Apr 2013 | 9:35 am
    My boyfriend and I were recently discussing information design and data visualization (because we’re a little nerdy like that). He referred me to the site of data visualization pioneer Edward Tufte, where I happened upon the short documentary Teaching to See. This simple, thoughtful film is like having a coffee with Inge Druckrey, a longtime graphic arts professor at Yale (and Tufte’s wife). It’s about learning to observe, practice, create, and teach. As a musician, I enjoyed seeing some of her work directly related to classical music (such as the inspiration for her…

  • Fast(ish) No-Knead Bread

    rushyama
    14 Feb 2013 | 8:32 pm
    The other week at the library, I stumbled upon Peter Reinhart’s The Bread Baker’s Apprentice: Mastering the Art of Extraordinary Bread. I’ve occasionally thought of getting into bread baking, but it always seemed too finicky and time consuming. We also have a couple of bread failure stories in the family, so I wasn’t in a rush to add to the heritage. But after flipping through the pages and pictures, I decided to give it a whirl. The first attempt, Pizza Napoletana, was pretty easy and turned out a delicious focaccia. It gave me hope that maybe bread baking…

  • Come All Ye Pining

    rushyama
    13 Jan 2013 | 8:49 pm
    Come All Ye Pining by Red Mountain Music Lord, we adore thy boundless grace, The heights and depths unknown, Of pardon, life, and joy, and peace, In thy beloved Son. Chorus: Come, all ye pining, hungry poor, The Saviour’s bounty taste; Behold a never-failing store For every willing guest. O wondrous gifts of love divine, Dear Source of every good; Jesus, in thee what glories shine! How rich thy flowing blood! Here shall your numerous wants receive A free, a full supply; He has unmeasured bliss to give, And joys that never die. - Anne Steele, Gadsby #1039 (Retuned hymn is a track off the…

  • Both profound and accessible

    rushyama
    7 Jan 2013 | 9:10 am
    “Hymnologist Erik Routley once defined hymns as “songs for unmusical people to sing together . . . [and] such poetry as unliterary people can utter together.” At first, this might seem to exult in the lack of artistry. But Routley was actually writing to appreciate the remarkable skill of poets and musicians who accept the challenge to be both profound and accessible at the same time, which is a lot more difficult than simply being one or the other. While there is a kind of beauty in a carefully-honed studio recording, there is another kind of beauty -– an often remarkable…
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    Bible Prophecy Blog

  • The Coming Kingdom (Part 16)

    BibleProphecyBlog.com
    23 May 2013 | 9:13 am
    By Dr. Andy Woods Sugar Land Bible Church Because today's evangelical world believes that the church is experiencing the Messianic kingdom, we began a study chronicling what the Bible teaches about the kingdom. In this series, the biblical teaching on the kingdom has been surveyed from... Click on the Title to Read the Full Article

  • The Goodness of God and the Reality of Evil

    BibleProphecyBlog.com
    21 May 2013 | 11:43 am
    By Dr. Albert Mohler AlbertMohler.com Every thoughtful person must deal with the problem of evil. Evil acts and tragic events come to us all in this vale of tears known as human life. The problem of evil and suffering is undoubtedly the greatest theological challenge we face.Most persons... Click on the Title to Read the Full Article

  • Will Republicans Win 2014 Senate Majority?

    BibleProphecyBlog.com
    21 May 2013 | 9:03 am
    By Chad Groening OneNewsNow.com A conservative political scientist believes that Republicans are in great shape to wrest Senate control away from Democrats in the next year.Political pundits acknowledge a number of factors signal 2014 as the year Republicans may finally remove Harry Reid from... Click on the Title to Read the Full Article

  • Syria Aims Its Missiles at Israel

    BibleProphecyBlog.com
    19 May 2013 | 8:04 am
    By Ryan Jones Israel Today Syria has aimed its considerable ballistic missile arsenal at Israel's heavily populated Greater Tel Aviv area, according to Middle East sources cited by London's Sunday Times.According to the report, the regime of embattled Syrian dictator Bashar Assad will launch... Click on the Title to Read the Full Article

  • The Rapture (Part 12)

    BibleProphecyBlog.com
    15 May 2013 | 9:51 am
    By Dr. Andy Woods Sugar Land Bible Church My previous articles commenced a series on the rapture of the church. We began with the question, "What is the Rapture?" This question can best be answered by noting ten truths about the rapture from 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 and 1 Corinthians... Click on the Title to Read the Full Article
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    Writing for the Master

  • Collection of My Blogs

    18 May 2013 | 1:26 pm
    As I've been writing for the Master over the years and publishing my material online, I've developed numerous blogs. My Master is Jesus Christ, God's Son. And this site contains a collection of my best and most popular blogs in one place, so that anyone who would like to browse my material can more easily find what they are looking for. I hope you will enjoy what you find here! Feel free to contact me, if you'd like to, through the website listed at the bottom.Below you will find the names of my blogs, and beneath each title you will find links to the posts within each blog.A Pleasing…

  • Giving to DMI

    17 May 2013 | 8:39 am
    We hope the idea of multiplying disciples and developing leaders in Eastern Europe excites you as much as it does us.  Our ministry partners share a passion for reaching people for Jesus Christ, and we'd love to have you join us in this effort.  One way you can do so is by giving financially.There are two ways to donate to Doulos Missions International. You may either send a check or money order by mail or you may donate securely online.Doulos Missions International, Inc. is incorporated in the State of New Hampshire as a publicly-supported non-profit charity.  We…

  • Doulos Missions International

    15 May 2013 | 8:51 am
    We're so glad you took the time to visit our blog.  We are based near Budapest, Hungary, where we serve as missionaries.   Each of the links below will take you to the following pages on the official website for Doulos Missions International:     DMI Home Page About Us Mission and Vision Donate to DMI Statement of Faith Collection of My Blogs

  • Old News That's Still Fresh - May 2013

    13 May 2013 | 9:43 am
    I've recently posted some new blogs to this site that I want to make you aware of.  Godly Attire & Adornment -- Seven Divine RevelationsMichael Thomas Sambo's Revelation of Heaven and HellMargaret O. Amure Back from HeavenSister Ayo's Revelation of Heaven & Hell  The Obedience of FaithStriving to Enter the Kingdom of GodSomething is Going on in 2013 The Holy TrinityRighteous Deeds and White RobesDoing What is Right May the Lord use these to inspire, encourage, and challenge you.  I also welcome your comments and feedback on any of these articles.Author's note: If you…

  • Old News That's Still Fresh - January 2013

    2 Jan 2013 | 12:51 pm
    I've recently posted some new blogs to this site that I want to make you aware of.  The Evil Nephilim GiantsArk of the Covenant Found - Part 2Bridge CrashStanding in the GapShould you fear the Lord?The Eyes of the LordThe Joy I've Come to KnowThe Lord Healed My BackslidingVerses to the KingTesting the Spirits of False ProphetsThe New Wine   May the Lord use these to inspire, encourage, and challenge you.  I also welcome your comments and feedback on any of these articles.Author's note: If you enjoyed this post, you may also like the other posts in this blog available…
 
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    JESUSCARITASEST.ORG

  • POPE FRANCIS "CHRISTIAN ORIGINALITY IS NOT A UNIFORMITY" AND LATEST FROM VATICAN

    JesusCaritasEst
    23 May 2013 | 10:13 am
    Vatican Radio REPORT: That Christians might spread the spiritual salt of faith, hope and charity: this was Pope Francis’ exhortation at Mass Thursday morning in the chapel of the Domus Sanctae Marthae residence in the Vatican. The Pope warned against the risk of becoming insipid, “Museum-piece Christians.” In his homily, Pope Francis focused on the savour that Christians are called to give to their own lives and to others’. The Holy Father said that salt the Lord gives us is the salt of faith, hope and charity. But, he warned, we must be careful that this salt, which is given to us by…

  • POPE FRANCIS CALL ALL CHRISTIANS TO PRAY FOR CHINA

    JesusCaritasEst
    23 May 2013 | 10:12 am
    Vatican Radio REPORT: Pope Francis has called Christians worldwide to prayer this Friday for our brothers and sisters in China. Speaking at the end of his general audience in Italian, the Holy Father noted that Friday, May 24th, is the day dedicated to the liturgical memory of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Help of Christians, who is venerated with great devotion at the Shrine of Sheshan in Shanghai. He said : “I urge all Catholics around the world to join in prayer with our brothers and sisters who are in China, to implore from God the grace to proclaim with humility and joy Christ, who…

  • AMAZING YOUTH ON JOURNEY FOR PRO-LIFE CAUSE

    JesusCaritasEst
    23 May 2013 | 6:49 am
    THE JOURNEY BEGINS for 8 youth walking across Canada for LIFE. They are sacrificing their time, energy and money to raise awareness of the importance of Life from Conception onward. Please consider donating to this cause via http://crossroadscanada.blogspot.ca/Ian Gallagher leads: Mariana Mazarollo, Amy McInnis, Corinne, Anthony, Lucy Landry, Bethany Atkinson, Anna, Kelly, and Michael.FOR MORE INSPIRATIONAL NEWS LIKE JCE NEWS ON FACEBOOKhttps://www.facebook.com/jesuscaritasestnewsAn excerpt from their Blog:It is Day 3 of our cross-Canada walk. The team is getting along very nicely. There…

  • BISHOPS RELEASE POWERFUL VIDEOS OF PRO-LIFE TEACHINGS IN AUSTRALIA

    JesusCaritasEst
    23 May 2013 | 6:32 am
    Catholic Communications, Sydney Archdiocese, 22 May 2013 Chris Meney, Director of the Life, Marriage and Family Centre for the Archdiocese of Sydney A powerful series of short videos produced by the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference (ACBC) to bring a greater understanding of difficult life and death issues from euthanasia to abortion and reproductive technologies has been developed by the some of the nation's leading bioethicists, theologians, doctors, academics and pastoral carers."Often the Church's teachings on matters like abortion, euthanasia and reproductive technologies are…

  • DYING TEEN ZACH'S STORY BECOMES FAMOUS WITH VIDEO THAT GOES VIRAL - AMAZING STORY OF HOPE

    JesusCaritasEst
    23 May 2013 | 3:20 am
    Zach Sobiech the now famous teen had osteosarcoma, cancer of the bone rare among youth. He died on May 20,2013 at 6:30 a.m. in Stillwater at the age of 18. He was inspired to make several music videos with the help of celebrities to support funding for those with cancer. These videos became viral on the web. Please find Zach's most popular video below. DONATE VIA  http://www.childrenscancer.org/zach/Zach was the third of the Sobiech family’s four children and was a student at St. Croix Catholic School in 2009 when he was diagnosed. He felt pain in his hip during a…
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    Plaigia

  • Spirit Connection May 2013

    Todd
    23 May 2013 | 6:24 pm
    Watch this Video: Doug Addison gives some new prophetic words for this Month of May 2013, how it is a month of transition.  Doug talks about contending for the prophetic words that are spoken over us, and the things God has promised us. “This is a time of sudden things and sudden advancements … Things He has promised to us are now in motion coming to us.  Things are coming into place to take us to an entire new level … there is resistance to get there. Sometime you have to press through, in fact I heard the Holy Spirit say these words, “The Tension of…

  • Turning Curses into Double Blessings

    Todd
    22 May 2013 | 6:24 pm
    Watch this Video: Graham Cooke explains how to deal with attacks. “It always amuses me when the enemy comes calling.  It’s like, you have o ability to learn, have you? Cause it didn’t work the last 50 times, but here you are again. You simply must work with prophecy … you get power over situations that come against you, you get power over the enemy. God always commits us to a good fight, and a good fight is one your not gonna lose … You have to sit down in the word. You have to relax before God in it [your prophecy] You have to make your prophetic word, part…

  • The Heavenlies

    Todd
    21 May 2013 | 11:51 pm
    Watch this Video: Irreverent Tommy Green and the relationship of Christianity. Romans 8:11 - (MSG) 9-11 But if God himself has taken up residence in your life, you can hardly be thinking more of yourself than of him. Anyone, of course, who has not welcomed this invisible but clearly present God, the Spirit of Christ, won’t know what we’re talking about. But for you who welcome him, in whom he dwells—even though you still experience all the limitations of sin—you yourself experience life on God’s terms. It stands to reason, doesn’t it, that if the alive-and-present God who…

  • A Moment of Life Changing Clarity

    Todd
    20 May 2013 | 1:06 pm
    CABO UPDATE from Lance Learning Group on Vimeo. Why is it so hard to come out and say what we really mean? “I notice this most when we ask people to describe their passion. Invariably, people hide their #1 passion somewhere down around #5. We captured this moment while on an Extreme Dream Trip in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Watch what happens when this dynamic young lady has a moment of life changing clarity!” – Lance Wallnau

  • Opening The Gate of Supply

    Todd
    19 May 2013 | 10:42 pm
    Watch this Video: Dr Lance Wallnau teaches Opening The Gate of Supply “Our generation is going to see what will happen, when the spies (or the princes) rise up, cross over into what the Father wants to do in the last days, and we find out that 10 out of 12 take a look at the magnitude of the task, the size of the invitation, and determine, we’re not able to do that.  And their going to opt for a theology that says, “God doesn’t want us to do that. There’s no way we could do it.  They’re too strong and we don’t have the ability.” And so he…
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    Thought Leader, Relationship and Life Strategist - Quentin McCall - Knowledge 4 Life

  • Why you should wait to Introduce Your Children to Your New Dating Partner..

    Quentin McCall
    21 May 2013 | 5:46 am
    Thought Leader, Relationship and Life Strategist - Quentin McCall - Knowledge 4 Life - Acclaimed Life and Relationship Strategist and Knowledge 4 Life FormulaAccording to Newsone.com , “72% of African-American households are headed by a single parent.” This means for men or women, the odds that you have a child or will meet someone with a child is quite high. Of course these chances go up as we age. So, people over 40 will no doubt meet someone who has a child. So, the question becomes, when should we introduce kids to the new dating partner? I’ve always been of the opinion that, unless…

  • 5 Reasons Men Avoid Being Your Friend

    Quentin McCall
    30 Apr 2013 | 4:51 am
    Thought Leader, Relationship and Life Strategist - Quentin McCall - Knowledge 4 Life - Acclaimed Life and Relationship Strategist and Knowledge 4 Life FormulaMost of you reading this right now read my articles on a regular basis and are aware of my philosophy of becoming friends before lovers. If you aren’t aware of my stance on friendship, here are two articles to read that will give you the foundation “The One Relationship Mistake You Don’t Know You’re Making” . In many cases, if a man can’t be a friend to a woman he certainly can’t be anything romantic. For…

  • How to Love the Job You Hate

    Quentin McCall
    26 Mar 2013 | 3:15 am
    Thought Leader, Relationship and Life Strategist - Quentin McCall - Knowledge 4 Life - Acclaimed Life and Relationship Strategist and Knowledge 4 Life FormulaHave you ever heard someone say, “I hate my job?” Perhaps you have been guilty of speaking those words yourself. I want to caution you to be mindful of the words you speak and understand the power behind what you say. The dictionary defines “hate” as an intense dislike; extreme aversion or hostility. However, there is a spiritual element to it as well. Hatred allows a seed of bitterness to be sown in you and affects your ability…

  • 5 Ways to Know if Nagging is Killing your Relationship

    Quentin McCall
    12 Mar 2013 | 6:01 am
    Thought Leader, Relationship and Life Strategist - Quentin McCall - Knowledge 4 Life - Acclaimed Life and Relationship Strategist and Knowledge 4 Life FormulaNo man enjoys being nagged by a woman. No woman ever wants to be called a nag. However, in spite of the best attempts by some of the most mature men and women, many relationships end up having to deal with this ineffective cycle of communication! Why does it happen? What does she really want? Why does it drive him absolutely insane? How is he contributing to the problem? The Bible says: “It is better to live in a desert land than with…

  • 6 Things Everyone Should Understand About Love

    Quentin McCall
    5 Mar 2013 | 4:14 am
    Thought Leader, Relationship and Life Strategist - Quentin McCall - Knowledge 4 Life - Acclaimed Life and Relationship Strategist and Knowledge 4 Life FormulaLove is the reason we are all here on earth. God sent his son, Jesus, to restore fellowship between God and man. The fact that He sent His only son was an example of His great love for us and His desire to restore us. God birthed us all with a love tank that needs to be filled by Him and a tank that needs to be filled by people we interact with on earth. Through His love, we are able to love unconditionally. If we attempt to love…
 
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    SCOAN London

  • June Prayer Line Applications Now Closed

    SCOAN London
    20 May 2013 | 7:45 am
    Applications are now closed for the June 2nd London prayer line. We encourage you to continue to join the live services from SCOAN Lagos on www.emmanuel.tv each Sunday and Thursday afternoon. Catch the action as it happens live and direct, and pray along with TB Joshua and the Wise Men when they pray for the viewers.Touch the screen. Distance is not a barrier to the work of the Holy Spirit; only believe!

  • JUNE 2nd PRAYER LINE – APPLICATION NOW OPEN

    SCOAN London
    18 May 2013 | 3:40 am
    Emmanuel! God is with us (Matthew 1:23). Jesus never stops giving us reasons to praise Him! T.B. Joshua has sent the Anointing Water to the UK and it will be ministered on Sunday June 2nd, 2013 by God’s grace. Get ready for your testimony to be restored, in Jesus’ name! Click here to go to the form in order to apply for the prayer line.

  • Next Prayer Line Service

    SCOAN London
    8 May 2013 | 4:19 am
    Emmanuel! Our next monthly Prayer Line service is on Sunday, June 2nd. As it was so it is – healing, deliverance and breakthrough in the mighty name of Jesus Christ await you through the means of The Anointing Water sent by TB Joshua your testimony is just a moment away. Registration will shortly be available. We hold our Prayer Line Services on the first Sunday of every month. On other Sundays we encourage you to join with your friends and family at home to catch all the action in the LIVE service with TB Joshua and the Wise men on www.emmanuel.tv “Distance is not a barrier for the…

  • May Prayer Line Registration Now Closed

    SCOAN London
    12 Apr 2013 | 4:25 am
    Registration is now closed for the May 5th London prayer line. Keep watching this blog for more updates about the monthly services here in London. We encourage you to continue to join the live services from SCOAN Lagos on www.emmanuel.tv each Saturday, Sunday and Thursday afternoon. Catch the action as it happens live and direct, and pray along with TB Joshua and the Wise Men when they pray for the viewers.Touch the screen. Distance is not a barrier to the work of the Holy Spirit; only believe!

  • MAY 5TH PRAYER LINE – REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!

    SCOAN London
    6 Apr 2013 | 8:48 am
    Emmanuel! God is with us (Matthew 1:23). Jesus never stops giving us reasons to praise Him! T.B. Joshua has sent the Anointing Water to the UK and it will be ministered on Sunday May 5th, 2013 by God’s grace. Get ready for your testimony to be restored, in Jesus’ name! Click here to go to the form in order to register for the prayer line.
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    Don't Eat The FruitDon't Eat The Fruit

  • Seminary Chapels on Technology, Theology, Culture, and Ministry

    John Dyer
    21 May 2013 | 6:00 am
    A few months ago, I had the distinct privilege of speaking for Dallas Theological Seminary's "Issues in Educational Ministry" chapel series. In the first talk, I attempted to layout a biblical and historical perspective on technology, and in the second  I addressed 9 issues that future seminary graduates will likely face. The first video is embedded below, but the links below will take you to pages with the slides included. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYvctQScno4 Thinking Theological about Technology and Culture - video with slides 9 Issues in Technology and Ministry - video with slides…

  • Interview with BigBible.org.uk

    John Dyer
    15 May 2013 | 6:40 am
    Following the interview with DJ Chuang, I wanted to post a text interview I did with BigBible.uk.org, and also point you to their website as a great resource. Interview with BigBible.uk.org If you haven't checked out the "BigBible" website, you're definitely missing out. They are doing some great work on how to help Christians think about "bible engagement" in the digital age. I'm hoping to being doctoral work in this area soon, and I really value the research and blogging they are doing. Andrew Byers (a Ph.D. student in New Testament) put together a book review and multipart interview with…

  • Beautiful Collection of Ancient Bibles on Display in Dallas, TX

    John Dyer
    10 May 2013 | 8:29 am
    Last night, I had the opportunity to attend the opening of a fantastic new collection of Bibles on display at the Museum of Biblical Art in Dallas, TX. [caption id="attachment_2129" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Charles Ryrie with John Dyer[/caption] Charles Ryrie, a former professor at Dallas Theological Seminary probably best known for the Ryrie Study Bible, has been collecting rare Bibles for around 50 years. To me, he is known as the man whose writings (such as Basic Theology) got me interested in studying the Bible and the theology of the church. Meeting him for the first time was a…

  • DJ Chuang on Social Media Church

    John Dyer
    6 May 2013 | 6:56 am
    DJ Chuang is one of those rare individuals who is able to be helpful to the church in many areas. He's a fellow DTS grad who writes and speaks on a variety of topics from issues in the Asian-American church to leadership and ministry through social media. One of his projects is Social Media Church where he as a weekly podcast. This week, we Skyped together and had a great conversation on technology, church, Google Glass, and more. Episode 44 - How Technology Will Affect Your Ministry Episode 45 - John Dyer – From The Garden to the City http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfdoAi3IAcE

  • Where Are Rob Bell’s Glasses?

    John Dyer
    8 Apr 2013 | 9:34 am
    [caption id="attachment_2103" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Bell going "Glasses Off" in 2013[/caption] About a month ago, Rob Bell, former pastor of Mars Hill Church in Grand Rapids, released a book called What We Talk About When We Talk About God. Since then, there have been quite a few reviews offering various critiques and overviews as well as treatises on Bell's significance. This book hasn't generated quite the firestorm his last book did, and while I think that and the content of Bell's message are interesting, I'm even more fascinated by Bell's uncanny ability to use various…
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    Will Mancini

  • 3 Kinds of Weak Vision that Entice Church Leaders

    Will Mancini
    3 May 2013 | 7:02 am
    Warning: This post will challenge some of your assumptions about vision in the church. Across the North American church landscape this year, many pastors will articulate a vision and compel people toward a preferred future that is weak. It’s very nature will be lacking in biblically rugged, God-saturated, deeply compelling content. Note that I said the vision will be weak; not bad and not wrong. What do I mean by this comment? The three kinds of weak vision I want to clarify are lacking potency because they are more of a means to an end that we often realize. Therefore they are missing…

  • Why Faith Wasn’t Meant to be Safe – Vince Antonucci’s Renegade Book ($0.99 Today Only)

    Will Mancini
    19 Apr 2013 | 6:51 am
    Today I am recommending a book by one of our team members, Vince Antonucci: Renegade: Your Faith Isn’t Meant To Be Safe. Here are some thoughts from Vince and a great story to give you a taste of Vince’s style and background. It’s a book about this kind of life – the kind of life Jesus and Jackie Robinson inspire me to live. Today I’m a pastor near the Las Vegas strip, which is definitely out of the ordinary. I’m not sure I live at a higher level everyday, but I am trying. My hope is that Renegade will help people connect with Jesus in a way that moves them toward…

  • Free Resources & Latest News to Celebrate The 5th Anniversary of Church Unique

    Will Mancini
    17 Apr 2013 | 10:06 am
    The MOST Important Chapter:  Chapter One – UNORIGINAL SIN The BEST 12-pages from the Visual Summary : The VISION FRAME The NEXT tool we are creating: The Unique 19 – “The Top Church List for the Rest of Us.” Who made the list for 2013? Stay tuned… The LATEST initiative we launched. CAMPAIGNS! Yes, finally your next capital campaign can be truly vision driven from the inside out, not just “vision sugar coated.”  See why I hired Todd McMichen to lead this initiative. My milestone post on Facebook today. Swing by and check out my NEW author page. Five…

  • 7 Kinds of Stories Every Church Leader Should Master

    Will Mancini
    5 Apr 2013 | 9:38 am
    All ministry is communication intensive. It follows that story-telling and understanding the nuances of story will help any leader in the daily ebb and flow of communication. Use these story types to do an inventory on your own “range” of utilizing of stories as a leader. CREATION STORY I am not referring to the first book of Scripture but to the genesis of the organization itself. If you are a pastor, you should know more about the creation story of your church than anyone on the planet. What are the circumstances—passions, problems, and people—surrounding how the church got…

  • Five Primary Sources of Distraction in Ministry

    Will Mancini
    19 Mar 2013 | 7:19 am
    Yesterday’s post on “opportunity creep” introduced a common problem for pastors. It’s easy for opportunity after opportunity to press in and vie for the precious little time God has given you. The first step to dealing with opportunity creep is to identify the sources of opportunities in way that repositions them as distractions. If we don’t understand that most opportunities are distractions in disguise, it will be hard to say “no” to the next seemingly “good” thing. See if these sources clarify the point: Opportunity Becomes Distraction…
 
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    Bobby McGraw

  • From Religion to Relationship [Podcast]

    bobbymcgraw
    14 May 2013 | 6:10 pm
    Jesus is greater than religion. He invites us into a relationship.Read more ›

  • Surviving Crippling Darkness

    bobbymcgraw
    4 Apr 2013 | 7:58 am
    Darkness is crippling. Superstorm Sandy hit the East Coast last October leaving millions in debilitating darkness. It was the deadliest and most destructive hurricane of 2012 as well as the second-costliest hurricane in US history. Families lost loved ones. Businesses closed shop. Life came to a stand still. There is another kind of darkness that lingers - spiritual darkness. It’s a darkness you can feel.Read more ›

  • Quote on Calling

    bobbymcgraw
    2 Apr 2013 | 1:29 pm
    Leaders who make the biggest impact also have the strongest sense of calling. – Brad Lomenick

  • The Ultimate Church Fight

    bobbymcgraw
    24 Mar 2013 | 8:20 pm
    Have you noticed that whenever Jesus went to church, fights usually broke out? Yesterday was Palm Sunday. This day has been overserved by the Church for over 2,000 years. This is the day that Jesus entered into Jerusalem, starting the…Read more ›

  • How I Lost 20lbs in 2 Months

    bobbymcgraw
    20 Mar 2013 | 3:48 am
    Earlier this year I got focused and lost 20lbs and have kept it off! Since a lot of people have asked me about it, I will show you what I did to become more disciplined in this area. It really is about discipline, isn't it? I took a 3 pronged approach to losing weight by changing my...Read more ›
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    Storyline Blog

  • We Are Oklahoma – How the People Have United After the Tornado

    John Sowers
    24 May 2013 | 2:00 am
    Last year, we began dreaming with leaders from Oklahoma City… As we dreamed, we met business leaders and pastors standing together for the fatherless. We heard Governor Fallin say fatherlessness was Oklahoma’s greatest challenge. We saw a city united and committed to reaching youth through foster care, adoption and mentoring. Something special was happening in Oklahoma. And it embodied the heart and mission of The Mentoring Project. So last June, we loaded up the truck and moved. A few months later, our friend Bob Goff helped us launch our second office of The Mentoring Project, the…

  • The Single Defining Characteristic of a Manipulator

    Donald Miller
    23 May 2013 | 2:00 am
    So I’ve been studying manipulative people lately. And I’ve been studying them after having been completely taken in over the last several years by a few of them. You just assume all people are good and honest and it’s a shock and borderline offensive to think they aren’t, but the truth is some people are a lot more manipulative than others. The bottom line is manipulative people try to trick you into siding with them or submitting to their will without directly asking you to do so. They like to trick people into things. Whether it’s a business deal or romantic relationship,…

  • If the First Will Finish Last, Why Do We Follow Losers

    Al Andrews
    22 May 2013 | 2:00 am
    Okay, I’ll admit it. I don’t like to stand in lines. I go early to movies and avoid going to the post office where lines are standard fare. And if I do stand in a line, I prefer to be close to the front. That’s why when I fly Southwest, I pay an extra $10 a ticket to get in the A group. (Not only do I despise lines, I also hate middle seats.) Coming home from a trip recently, I was standing in my “A” line in the Southwest terminal. My boarding pass number was A-29. I can’t tell you how pleased I was with that number, assuring me of my beloved aisle seat. As I was standing in my…

  • Why You Should Show Off Your Imperfections

    Mike Foster
    21 May 2013 | 2:00 am
    I read a recent article that claimed more than 44% of moms report abusing prescription drugs, and 88% have abused alcohol. The study as a reaction to the stress of seeking parenting perfection. There are even more statistics, and if they’re true, they make up one of the saddest stories I can imagine. Parenting isn’t about perfection, but about love. And love is messy. Unfortunately, perfectionism is everywhere. Maybe it’s ok for brain surgeons and Superbowls, but not for everyday life. We seek perfection in the way we keep our homes, our relationships, our appearances — and yes,…

  • What Tools Do I Really Need to Follow Jesus?

    Donald Miller
    20 May 2013 | 2:00 am
    The other day I was in LA with a friend and he took me to his favorite taco shop. We were sitting there eating when I realized I’d actually been to the bike shop across the street, nearly five years before. I laughed as I told him I spent about a couple hundred dollars on stuff I didn’t need in that very shop. I could remember it so clearly. I was heading out on a cross-country trek, riding from Los Angeles to Delaware and so I stopped and bought supplies at that very store. I bought special pumps, water bottles, velcro straps to hold my tool kit, bike mirrors and more. I wanted to be…
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    The Christian Gift

  • The Other Foliage Season

    TheChristianGift
    23 May 2013 | 2:01 pm
    New Hampshire is (rightly) known for its stunning autumn foliage. The colors are vibrantly beautiful and the spectacle of the mountains painted in hues of yellow, orange and red is incomperable. That said, I’m a big fan of “the other” foliage season: springtime. This time of year, it’s green that rules the day…the deep, rich tones of the evergreens contrasted with shades of lime and chartreuse from the millions of new deciduous leaves. It’s a feast for the eyes. I was in the White Mountains yesterday on a shoot and hope to return in a few days for another…

  • Beautiful Gardens

    TheChristianGift
    22 May 2013 | 2:01 am
    Whether or not you have gardens of your own…I’ll bet you enjoy looking at and walking among them. It’s hard to find a person who doesn’t. I love this Francis Bacon quote about the One who created the first garden. As gardens everywhere are bursting forth with new growth and color, enjoy!!

  • Comfort Dogs Head to Oklahoma

    TheChristianGift
    21 May 2013 | 7:27 am
    Lutheran Church Charities has a wonderful ministry…the Comfort Dogs. These specially trained golden retrievers are deployed to locations around the country where they provide relief and comfort to people who have been affected by tragedy, as well as those in nursing homes and hospitals. You may have seen the dogs in the news most recently following the Boston marathon bombings. This ministry was founded in 2008 shortly after the shootings on the campus of Northern Illinois University. Each of the dogs has a Facebook page where you can follow them! Find out more about the Comfort Dogs…

  • Sweet Lilacs

    TheChristianGift
    20 May 2013 | 12:24 pm
    In northern climates, the month of May is one superlative after another. As the trees leaf out, the canopy becomes adorned in beautiful lime green….the “other” great foliage show! Tulips, rhododendron and azaleas bloom. Flowering ornamental trees are decorated with blossoms. And then – the lilacs! Such a sweet fragrance; who doesn’t love lilacs? Mine started blooming the other day. The state flower of New Hampshire, lilacs are just another of the scores of wonderful offerings the month of May serves up for us. Yes, the weather can be changeable. Yes,…

  • Wedding Anniversary Keepsakes – NEW!

    TheChristianGift
    17 May 2013 | 1:16 am
    Two new designs will be added our collection of personalized wedding anniversary keepsakes later today! Here’s a sneak peek:
 
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    Anchor Your Life » Blog

  • Sending Love Through Letters

    Marji "Mike" Kruger
    20 May 2013 | 2:25 pm
      Spreading Joy to the Children Anchor Your Life has been serving in Lesotho, South Africa for the last several years. Part of this ministry has included a special pen pal program with Covenant Life Church where kids and adults have the opportunity to spread God’s love to the Lesotho children by writing encouraging letters. Through these letters we are getting the chance to share the Word of God and encourage these precious children to know that they are deeply loved by their Heavenly Father! Help African children through a secure online donation. Share

  • Seeing the Light

    Marji "Mike" Kruger
    20 May 2013 | 1:18 am
    Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength. Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. (NIV) Acts 9:18-20 Paul’s conversion is due to the personal appearance of the risen Christ, who appeared as literally as He did when He appeared to the disciples for 40 days before He ascended to Heaven. It is not a mere vision. It is not a figment of Paul’s imagination. It is not a…

  • Who Are You, Sir?

    Marji "Mike" Kruger
    19 May 2013 | 2:31 am
    Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. (NIV) Acts 9:1 In his own words, Paul said: “… I went after the Christians mercilessly, hunting them down and doing my best to get rid of them all” (Galatians 1:13). Threats and slaughter become the very breath of Saul.  His fury included the arrest, imprisonment and death of Christians. Paul was “breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there…

  • You are Special

    Marji "Mike" Kruger
    18 May 2013 | 11:48 pm
    These words say it all … You. Are. Special. The bags which will hold the gifts for our winter packs were each individually designed by the students at Up with Down’s. These special needs students are providing a message of hope and encouragement to those who need it most. Next month children in Lesotho and George will be carrying around bags that contains a daily reminder to them that they ARE special, that they ARE cared for, and that they ARE loved. Way to go Up with Down’s! You are doing a great work, bringing hope and love to children who so desperately need it.  I can’t wait to…

  • A Hebrew of Hebrews

    Marji "Mike" Kruger
    18 May 2013 | 2:22 am
    . . .they all rushed at him, 58 dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep. 8:1 And Saul was there, giving approval to his death. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.
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    Steve Fogg: Clear & SimpleSteve Fogg: Clear & Simple | Marketing, Communications, Branding & Digital

  • I’m Speaking About How Churches Can Use Social Media In England!

    Steve Fogg
    8 May 2013 | 10:05 pm
    One of my dreams has been to use my talents and gifts serve the church in the United Kingdom. If you didn’t know I was grew up in the UK. I’m so excited to share with you some upcoming social media seminars I’ll be speaking at in late May and June 2013. If you or your church are just starting out in using social media then these seminars will help make you more effective! If you are a leader or are passionate about the potential of social media for your church or non-profit then don’t miss these seminars near you. I’m super excited at having the opportunity and…

  • 6 Reasons Why A Hosted CMS Solution Might Be Right For You

    Steve Fogg
    2 May 2013 | 10:29 pm
    Is WordPress or Hosted CMS solution right for your church? (Photo credit) Earlier this week I wrote a post on Church Marketing Sucks - What’s best for your church website? WordPress or Hosted CMS? I was explaining the journey and decisions we have been making over the last 6 months in choosing our web platform for our own church website. There are important tactical reasons why we have made the decision to switch. However, there are many good hosted CMS solutions that offer church web hosting, have the right features and functionality which have design templates ready to go when…

  • 7 Practical Public Relations Tips For Churches

    Steve Fogg
    30 Apr 2013 | 12:25 am
    Do you get your message out? Photo Credit Churches can be typically shy in dealing with the media. Many church leaders have been burnt. But it’s my experience that public relations (PR) can be a great way for a church to tell the world about the great work that they are doing. PR is a much more authentic communications channel for churches than advertising. I would highly recommend that Pastors, church leaders and Church Communications Directors use it as a communications tactic. I’ve written a few ideas below based on my own experience that I hope will help you the next time you…

  • 3 Reasons Why I’m Going To The 2013 Christian Media Australia Conference

    Steve Fogg
    25 Apr 2013 | 11:09 pm
    I really enjoyed speaking at the 2012 Christian Media Australia Conference. So much so, that I’m going again this year. And I’m paying the full swag for it. Here are some of the reasons I can’t wait to be there in a few weeks time! 1. Meet people outside my box I live in the church bubble and it is always good once in a while to get out of the bubble and into the big wide world. I especially like meeting new people and hearing their stories. If you are going to this years conference come and say hi and tell me your story. 2. Wide variety of world-class speakers Conferences…

  • 18 Rookie Mistakes To Avoid From 6 Non-Profit Social Media Experts

    Steve Fogg
    17 Apr 2013 | 9:56 pm
    One of my personal passions is telling others about the potential of social media for the church, if you haven’t got that yet . Many of the friends I make online are social media experts in their own non-profit fields and it is always great to get their input into my life and what I do. I asked this question on a Facebook group I belong to What ’rookie mistakes should churches and non-profits avoid on social media? Here are some of the answers: 1. Posting content before it’s approved. Jim Gray 2. Not following back people on Twitter. Haley Veturis Social Media Manager at…
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    W2W Soul

  • Are You Pulling a Saul?

    Kaleb
    13 May 2013 | 4:00 am
    Our authoritative role as parents gives us a deeper understanding of God’s mindset when it comes to how He sees obedience. Like our heavenly Father, we know that obedience is in the best interest of our children as it protects them, blesses them and is an imp... Read more..

  • Are You Present to God?

    Kaleb
    22 Apr 2013 | 4:00 am
    For God to be present to us, we must be present to Him. Are we? We live a life that is full of distractions. In addition to the many commitments and relationships that pull us in various directions, we further complicate our lives with electronic leashes that c... Read more..

  • Easily Offended?

    Kaleb
    3 Apr 2013 | 3:39 pm
    I immediately started to make my defense as I thought she was talking directly about me; but I was hasty in my assumption. “People in this country spend too much money on their dogs when they can use that money on those that really need it! There are so many children that are st... Read more..

  • First Bloom

    Kaleb
    4 Mar 2013 | 3:00 am
    How long must I tarry in Winter's lair? And helpless, endure this place of despair Life's moved on but I'm left behind To wallow here, where hope cannot find I cry out in vain, no one hears Or perhaps it's worse, no one cares Too scared to crossover to what may be waiting Too worn from feeling that life's not worth living The cold truth is, you'r... Read more..

  • Battered Not Broken

    Kaleb
    25 Feb 2013 | 3:00 am
    Weary from running away in my mind Yet the courage to do it, I just cannot find A tattered ragdoll is what I’ve become An abused doormat he wipes his feet on Burnt by hot coals of his anger Haunted by denials moments after My body battered, my soul so shaken With every threat, my hope weakens The light of my spirit grows dim with each day Though strong in... Read more..
 
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    DashHouse.com

  • Middleware and Models

    dsd@DashHouse.com (Darryl Dash)
    22 May 2013 | 2:00 am
    We've Moved! Update your Reader Now. This feed has moved to: http://feeds.dashhouse.com/dashhouse Update your reader now with this changed subscription address to get your latest updates from us.

  • Saturday Links

    dsd@DashHouse.com (Darryl Dash)
    18 May 2013 | 2:00 am
    We've Moved! Update your Reader Now. This feed has moved to: http://feeds.dashhouse.com/dashhouse Update your reader now with this changed subscription address to get your latest updates from us.

  • Pastors: You Should Start a Study Group

    dsd@DashHouse.com (Darryl Dash)
    17 May 2013 | 2:00 am
    We've Moved! Update your Reader Now. This feed has moved to: http://feeds.dashhouse.com/dashhouse Update your reader now with this changed subscription address to get your latest updates from us.

  • Blogging and Social Media

    dsd@DashHouse.com (Darryl Dash)
    15 May 2013 | 3:47 am
    We've Moved! Update your Reader Now. This feed has moved to: http://feeds.dashhouse.com/dashhouse Update your reader now with this changed subscription address to get your latest updates from us.

  • A Year Later

    dsd@DashHouse.com (Darryl Dash)
    13 May 2013 | 6:28 am
    We've Moved! Update your Reader Now. This feed has moved to: http://feeds.dashhouse.com/dashhouse Update your reader now with this changed subscription address to get your latest updates from us.
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    Pinnacle Balance

  • God Always Had A Plan

    Steve Crenshaw
    10 May 2013 | 4:57 am
    I love the way the New Living Translation phrases Ephesians 1:5, “His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. And this gave him pleasure.” (Emphasis mine) God was not pleased that his son had to die, but he was pleased that the rift between us humans and he had been covered by Christ’s blood.  Since he created the world he knew that the day would come, as the Three person God looked at creation he knew it would come, but he created us anyway.  He knew we were always weak, but he created Adam and…

  • Serving Others

    Steve Crenshaw
    1 May 2013 | 1:47 pm
    Serving others is on of the three tenants our church focuses on as part of our mission.  Until recently I haven’t thought about what it really means or could mean or even should mean to our church.  One of the examples we have used fairly consistently is of Jesus washing the disciples feet.  We used this one because we are of a tradition that still practices foot washing as part of the Easter Season services.  While this is a good example of Jesus exemplifying a new way for the disciples to serve each other, he also acknowledged that they were serving each other. (I’m not…

  • Trusting Christ Daily

    Steve Crenshaw
    1 May 2013 | 4:50 am
    12Don’t let sin rule your body. After all, your body is bound to die, so don’t obey its desires 13or let any part of it become a slave of evil. Give yourselves to God, as people who have been raised from death to life. Make every part of your body a slave that pleases God. 14Don’t let sin keep ruling your lives. You are ruled by God’s undeserved grace and not by the Law. (Romans 6:12-14) It’s hard to think of ourselves as sinners, but we are.  Not just because we have sinned, but because deep down in side we have  a sinful nature.  The good news is that…

  • Sharing Your Faith

    Steve Crenshaw
    19 Apr 2013 | 10:44 am
    I remember the good old days when telling the cashier at the grocery store she was going to hell if she didn’t know Jesus as savior was all sharing our faith in Jesus consisted of.  While my sarcasm may not ring a bell with some of you, I know men who have used that technique.  I also know people who swear they will never go to church again because of people who use that technique.  Sharing your faith should be a natural progression in a relationship you have built over time.  Not a free wheeling shotgun approach to everyone you meet. Sharing your faith should not be scary to…

  • Are You Hungry For God?

    Steve Crenshaw
    15 Apr 2013 | 7:04 pm
    One of the differences we can’t readily see in people is what they really want in life.  If we could look at someone walking across the parking lot and they had a cartoon bubble above their head showing what they wanted in their life.  Wouldn’t that be a lot easier on all of us.  Of course for many or most of us it would be embarrassing.  We would see things like money, porn, alcohol, and attention.  For others it would be tragic because we would see things like love, hope, a child, or freedom.  While it would be easier on many of us to see what others real wants were, I…
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    The Discipleship Diary

  • Earnestly I'll Seek Your Face

    Melini Moodley
    4 May 2013 | 11:48 pm
    My Saviour, My RedeemerEarnestly, I’ll seek Your FaceLeaning on Your perfect Grace...Strong forever,Failing never;You’ll lead me to the Promised Land,Guiding with Your mighty Hand…Strong Deliverer;Break the pride of  my powerAnd make me completely Yours, Yours forever…My Shepherd, My TeacherTune my heart to ever be Your ardent seeker…I want to serve You;I want to know You;I want to love YouAll the days of my life…Champion of Heaven, Light in the darkness;Earnestly, I’ll seek Your Face,Your glory never fades...My Saviour, My RedeemerEarnestly, I’ll seek Your FaceLeaning on…

  • Exodus-The Question of Pharaoh's Hard Heart

    Melini Moodley
    4 May 2013 | 11:47 pm
    Reading through the book of Exodus, have you ever wondered about God’s role in hardening the heart of Pharaoh?  In Ex 4:21 the LORD, in commissioning Moses, stated that He would harden the heart of Pharaoh so that he would not grant Moses’ request to let the people of Israel leave Egypt. This statement about God hardening Pharaoh’s heart is repeated in Ex 7:3-4 and practically demonstrated in his taking no heed of God’s power evidenced by the first miracles performed through Moses and Aaron i.e. Aaron’s rod turning into a serpent and the Nile turning into blood. However, by…

  • Reverence-what is it, really?

    Melini Moodley
    3 Apr 2013 | 2:15 pm
    Reverence-we often hear the word in church circles. The youth, often incorrectly, associate it with older people and church tradition. What is reverence, really? This series seeks to explore the concept of reverence for the Lord, putting aside previously established notions of what reverence is , but rather examining it by the light of the Scriptures. The dictionary defines “reverence” as a “feeling or attitude of deep respect, tinged with awe, the outward manifestation of this feeling, to venerate.’ It can therefore be established that reverence comes from within, and results in an…

  • He Came from Glory, Glory Above

    Melini Moodley
    23 Feb 2013 | 10:59 pm
    The ocean, vast and shimmering blue,Speaks of the Lord’s great Love for you; He came from glory, glory aboveTo show you just how much He loves…      1He came from glory, glory above!Oh, wonderful story, story of love!Story that never, ever will end,Story of our Saviour… (Refrain)                The King saw His people in distress, By sin and sorrow, in slavery pressed;He came from glory, glory aboveTo show them just how much He loves…    2His royal vesture, in splendid…

  • Jesus Christ: Fountain of Grace

    Melini Moodley
    8 Feb 2013 | 9:31 pm
    Jesus Christ, Fountain of GraceFreely flowing in the desert place;You have freed me from my sins, From the walls that shut me in!I will praise Your Name forever!Jesus Christ, Fountain of Grace;How I long to see your glorious face!You have freed me from my sins, From the walls that shut me in!Now my life will blossom like the rose for YouAnd my deeds will speak of my love for You,Fountain of Grace!Jesus Christ, Fountain of GraceYour streams of Love envelope the world;You have saved them from their sins,From the walls that shut them in!Let the sons of Abraham come together To drink from the…
 
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    MINISTRY-TO-CHILDREN

  • Summer Safety Tips for Kids’ Camp

    Mimi Bullock
    23 May 2013 | 5:33 am
    Summer camps are as American as apple pie and ice cream but in today’s world, you have to take safety issues seriously when kids are involved – especially at church. If your church is sponsoring a week of VBS or a season-long camp, you should consider these important safety tips. Nobody wants accidents to happen but they can and sometimes these unhappy events are made worse when we don’t know how to respond. Don’t forget to incorporate these summer safety tips into your daily camp procedures. Check and double-check those contact forms. Here’s the temptation – you know the child…

  • Teaching Skit: Jesus Walks on the Water

    Felicia Mollohan
    23 May 2013 | 5:29 am
    This skit was written directly from Matthew 14:22-33. This can be done in a simple fashion as reading directly from the script in class or as elaborately as a full skit with costumes, props, and a large audience. Fit this skit to work with your class/children. This was written as a fun way to show the story of Jesus walking on the water. Narrator: Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side, while He sent the crowds away. After He had sent the crowds away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray; and when it was evening, He was there…

  • Children’s Ministry: The Second Time Around

    Mimi Bullock
    23 May 2013 | 5:25 am
    I “heart” children’s ministry but even something you love can become burdensome if you let it. After my first ten years of working inkids’ ministry, I was burned out, tired, and stressed. I had experienced unexpected upheavals in my personal life and faced severe setbacks in my ministry. I took a break, thinking I’d be back in a few months only to find that my healing would take almost four years. Now that I have stepped back into my role as children’s pastor and evangelist in my local church, I can see the changes in my thinking and deep down in my spirit.

  • 5 Ways to Manage Full-Time Ministry on a Part-Time Schedule

    Ashley Stevenson
    22 May 2013 | 6:35 am
    Ministry is, no doubt, a full-time and most of the time, an over-time job. Whether you are working on a part-time or full-time schedule, the mission, needs, and limitations don’t look very different. Here are some things to keep in mind as you move forward: 1. Empower other leaders. Delegate! Children’s ministry in particular is heavily administrative. Surely, there are things you can delegate. Not only that, but to best care for all of your ministry servants, children, and families, you need to empower trusted area leaders that are caring for their area teams and families when you…

  • Six Pointers for Parent Communication

    Ashley Stevenson
    22 May 2013 | 6:10 am
    Parent communication is crucial in your ministry to children and families. In planning curriculum and ministry initiatives, keeping parents both informed and involved is something that can’t be missed. This isn’t a complicated task, however. Here are a few simple things to keep in mind. 1. Don’t merely inform parents; involve them! It is valuable to let parents know what their children are learning and hearing while they are in your care. It is even more valuable to empower parents to expand on that teaching at home. This could simply mean that you establish a memory work plan and some…
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    Reflect

  • Mother's Day

    Jann Cobb
    12 May 2013 | 3:18 pm
    The Many Hats of MomWhen thinking about what to get our lovely mom for mothers day, we racked our brains and decided to write a blog for her! She is always asking us when we are going to write more for her, so what better way to honor her than to give her what she wants?A few years ago, we heard our mom speak on how people wear many different hats as Christians. She came out on stage with a box of hats. There were many kinds: construction, chef, baseball, etc. She was speaking to a group of women and beautifully illustrated the ways we juggle many different roles in life and how God uses all…

  • First blessing

    Jann Cobb
    30 Mar 2013 | 4:24 am
    We received our first gift today. When we arrived in Bogota it was necessary to rebook our luggage. At first the gate agent informed us that we would need to repay for our 5 extra bags. When we got ready to pay she said, "it's ok you don't have to pay anything!! God is so good!!We know that He will supply all of our needs! Philippians 4:19We are walking and ministering in this truth!Can't wait to share with you more!!

  • Landed

    Jann Cobb
    30 Mar 2013 | 4:13 am
    We are in Colombia!!!!

  • Colombia Bound!!

    Jann Cobb
    29 Mar 2013 | 5:10 am
    Today I leave with a group to travel to Colombia.  Please join us in prayer for the trip. You can follow our experiences here. 

  • Let Go of the Past

    Jann Cobb
    22 Mar 2013 | 4:40 pm
    This is the 2nd part of a series about letting go of your past. You may want to go back and read, I am Free before reading this post.After identifying the area that has kept you stuck and examining what God says about being free, the next step is often a rather difficult one.2. Let Go of the PastThere is a warning in dwelling in the pastAs soon as they had brought them out, one of them said, “Flee for your lives! Don’t look back, and don’t stop anywhere in the plain! Flee to the mountains or you will be swept away!” Genesis 19:17But Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of…
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    Eden Life Magazine » Spirit & Life

  • The Attitude of Faith

    Moyo Mamora
    6 May 2013 | 7:21 am
    Faith To Win! Joshua 14:6-12 Then the children of Judah came to Joshua in Gilgal. And Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him: “You know the word which the Lord said to Moses the man of God concerning you and me in Kadesh Barnea. 7 I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadesh Barnea to spy out the land, and I brought back word to him as it was in my heart. 8 Nevertheless my brethren who went up with me made the heart of the people melt, but I wholly followed the Lord my God. 9 So Moses swore on that day, saying, ‘Surely the land where your…

  • The Blessed Life: Importance of Choices

    Moyo Mamora
    7 Feb 2013 | 8:35 pm
    Deuteronomy 11:26-28 NKJV ““Behold, I set before you today a blessing and a curse:the blessing, if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you today;and the curse, if you do not obey the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside from the way which I command you today, to go after other gods which you have not known.” One of the most common prayers among believers today is to pray, “Lord bless me…bless…sister Jane”. However, if we carefully study the New Testament we will realize that the Blessing of God has been made…

  • Christian Work Attitude

    Moyo Mamora
    17 Dec 2012 | 7:29 am
    1 Thessalonians 1:3 (NIV)“We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.” The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines work as “sustained physical or mental effort to overcome obstacles and achieve an objective or result”. ENDURANCE INSPIRED BY HOPE: Endurance is your ability to persist in the midst of difficulty and opposition. The Scripture above reveals that our attitude to work should be one of endurance inspired by hope. Where does this hope come from? It is the hope that is…

  • Living in Dominion

    Moyo Mamora
    21 Nov 2012 | 6:37 am
    “Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth…”” Genesis 1:26 NKJV The Bible records in Genesis 1:26 that God created man in His image and after His own likeness. Further study of Scripture reveals that God is a spirit, having no physical form, therefore, His person cannot be judged by physical characteristics (Joh.4:24, Col.1:15, 1 Tim.1:17). In the image of God man was created; this means if we were to stand Adam up beside God (spiritually…

  • The Origin of Sickness and Disease

    Moyo Mamora
    23 Oct 2012 | 9:15 am
    The Origin of Sickness and Disease The question of the origin of sickness is one that had challenged me from a long time. In studying the Scriptures carefully, it is certain that it is not God’s idea, neither is it His desire to plague humanity with sickness. As a matter of fact, 1 Peter 2:24 reveals that Jesus the Redeemer was sent to take away the sin and sicknesses of humanity. Since sickness and disease was never heard of in the Garden of Eden, neither was there pain, toil nor affliction, where did it come from? The picture of the Garden of Eden that’s painted in the Scriptures is…
 
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    Lawrence W. Wilson | Suburban Pastor

  • 4 Types of Preachers: Which Style Are You?

    Lawrence W. Wilson
    21 May 2013 | 5:32 am
    Preaching has been the central element in most Protestant worship services for over 500 years. It’s the main thing pastors do, in terms of time consumption. Yet remarkably few pastors have a strong sense of identity as a preacher. Not every pastor approaches the task of preaching in the same way. There are at least four distinct approaches to the pulpit. Here four types of preachers that each have a different answer to the question that answer the “What are you trying to accomplish in the pulpit?” The Homiletician Generally, liturgical churches reserve less time in their worship…

  • This Could Be Your Chance of a Lifetime

    Lawrence W. Wilson
    14 May 2013 | 6:47 am
    Once in awhile we find a chance to do something of unquestionable importance. These opportunities lift our lives out of the ordinary routines of everyday life and allow us to experience meaning and purpose in a direct way. That’s why I’m going to Haiti this summer, and I’m inviting you to come with me. What We Are Doing We will be installing a sustainable UV Water Filtration system that will provide clean water for an entire village in Haiti. We will be based in Petit Goave, about 40 miles west of Port au Prince. These pictures show similar work being done this month by…

  • 4 Ways to Handle Diversity (Your Church Has Already Chosen One)

    Lawrence W. Wilson
    29 Apr 2013 | 2:03 am
    North American life is more diverse than it has ever been. In my community there are 80 first languages spoken in the public schools. And in my congregation, people from 10 countries of origin may attend on any given Sunday. If this is true in the heartland of Indiana, it is probably the case where you are also. Every congregation must decide how it will respond to diversity. Most churches have made this choice already, they just don’t know it. And diversity isn’t just a matter of ethnicity. Many churches now include four generations, Builders, Boomers, Generation Jones, Generation…

  • When I Say ‘Pray for Boston,’ This Is What I Mean

    Lawrence W. Wilson
    16 Apr 2013 | 6:41 am
    We’re in shock today after the bomb attack at the Boston Marathon. Three people were killed and at least 173 wounded. Many people have lost an arm or leg. The bomb scene was a grisly mess of blood and smoke. Feeling helpless as we always do at such times, many are saying, “Pray for Boston.” The words themselves are repeated on social media as a kind of prayer, “Pray for Boston, Pray for Boston.” I hear it everywhere. But what does it mean to pray for Boston? Pray for whom? Pray for what? Here is what I mean when I say that I am praying for Boston. Mourn with Those Who Mourn…

  • Does Jesus Really Love Me? [Book Review]

    Lawrence W. Wilson
    14 Apr 2013 | 4:04 pm
    Does Jesus Really Love Me? A Gay Christian’s Pilgrimage in Search of God in America chronicles Jeff Chu’s year-long investigation into the attitudes and practices of American Christians, gay and straight, toward the relationship between homosexuality and faith. The book is a fascinating read, though it will be troubling for those who are uncomfortable with the notion that not all Christians think alike. Overview Chu frames the book as a quest to answer the haunting question “Does Jesus really love me in spite of the fact that I am gay?” Differently stated, the question a great number…
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    Frank King's Blog

  • Finding a Faithful Friend

    Frank King
    20 May 2013 | 8:05 pm
    Not all friends are created equal. First of all, when I refer to friends in this post, I am not talking about “Facebook friends” or the like but real friends. My conviction is that every one of us will benefit from having a friend who is faithful. This is a person whom we can place confidence in during a critical time in our life. On the other hand, the Bible says that, “Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint” (Proverbs 25:19). Ouch, that sounds painful.This is not to say that we should have no place in our life for an…

  • Our Faith in the Eyes of God

    Frank King
    17 May 2013 | 11:59 pm
    Throughout Jesus’ ministry, He talked about the importance of having faith in God and what we could accomplish through such faith. But through studying the Scriptures, I am convinced that our concept of faith and God’s concept of faith are often worlds apart. Let’s start with the Old Testament. While the children of Israel were in the wilderness for 40 years, God miraculously took care of them; He fed them daily with manna, their clothes never grew old (see Deuteronomy 8:3-4), and He was among them as a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. In effect, they lived in the presence of…

  • My Thoughts on Psalm 1

    Frank King
    12 May 2013 | 8:46 pm
    Today, I told my son to read Psalm 1 and then come to me so we could discuss it. My goal was to help him develop the habit of reading the Bible and striving to understand what he reads. As we talked about the psalm, interesting thoughts kept coming to my mind. So I thought I would write a post on one of the main thoughts that kind of stood out as we were discussing Psalm 1.The point I want to share is the statement found at the end of verse 3 that reads thusly: “And whatsoever he does shall prosper.”  Now think about the word whatsoever.  In effect, this biblical statement is…

  • God’s Way to Righteousness

    Frank King
    9 May 2013 | 9:34 pm
    Sometime ago, I was talking to a friend, and we got on the subject of the importance of going to church and becoming a Christian. The person responded by telling me that he lives by the Ten Commandments. Actually, I have had that same experience another time or two. That is, when I try to talk to the person about the need to accept Christ as his or her Savior, the person responds by trying to tell me how good a person he is. Personally, I think it’s commendable that a person tries to live by the Ten Commandments. I strive to do so myself. And I would rather live in a neighborhood and a…

  • Dare to Be Different

    Frank King
    5 May 2013 | 7:52 pm
    As Christians, God wants us to be different from the world of unbelievers. “Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind….,” the Bible says (Romans 12:2). Based on this verse, we should be proactive in being different from those who are not followers of Christ. Perhaps these biblical instructions are not as welcome today as they would have been, say, ten years ago. This I say because it appears to me that the world today tries very hard to portray Christians as hateful and intolerant. And as the world drifts farther and farther from God and becomes…
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    Conrad Hilario Audio

  • Four Witnesses Testify About Jesus: John 5:24-40

    Conrad Hilario
    5 May 2013 | 9:17 pm
    Jesus makes some profound claims about himself in the Bible. But he doesn’t just expect us to believe these claims without evidence. Jesus calls four witnesses to the stand, to testify about the truthfulness of his claim.

  • Healing at Bethesda: John 5:1-24

    Conrad Hilario
    29 Apr 2013 | 9:50 pm
    In this passage we will be looking at a miraculous healing of a man who had been paralyzed. Through this miracle, Jesus ignites a controversy that pits religious thinking up against God's love and mercy.

  • Satisfying Our Inner Thirst: John 4

    Conrad Hilario
    27 Apr 2013 | 10:39 am
    In this passage we will be looking at Jesus' strange interaction with a woman at a well. Jesus brings that concept of inner thirst which all people have.

  • Spiritual Rebirth: John 3

    Conrad Hilario
    17 Apr 2013 | 3:51 pm
    In this passage we will be looking at the biblical concept of spiritual rebirth based on a discussion Jesus had with a man named Nicodemus.

  • Cleansing of the Temple: John 2:13-25

    Conrad Hilario
    29 Mar 2013 | 9:10 am
    Guest teacher Jeff Risley discusses the famous story of Jesus cleansing the Temple. He confronts issues like religious ritualism and the idea of sacred space, in contrast to having a personal relationship with God.
 
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    Eden Life Magazine

  • Be Persistent In Your Expectation (2)

    Moyo Mamora
    23 May 2013 | 6:24 am
    Hebrews 10:35-36 NIV “So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised” When you set your heart on something there will be challenges and discouragement along the way. God is faithful in His promises, and we have a responsibility to take Him at His Word and be unwavering in our expectation. The times of discouragement and difficulty are like Israel’s wilderness experience. Notice Deuteronomy 8:2 “Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in…

  • Be Persistent In Your Expectation (1)

    Eden Life
    21 May 2013 | 6:32 am
    Luke 11:8 NIV “I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need.” Jesus is teaching His disciples concerning prayer, and in His teaching He gives a parable of a man who late at night persistently asked his neighbor for bread to feed the late night arrival of guests. Jesus pointed that even though the friend will not get up because of the friendship but the persistence and “shameless audacity” will produce results. Likewise in your life…

  • Be Who God Created You To Be

    Eden Life
    15 May 2013 | 7:38 am
    Judges 6:12 NKJV “And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him, and said to him, “The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor!”" Too many times we judge who we are by the metrics of other people, but we fail to realize that we were not created by people, neither would we stand before people at the end of our lives to give account. The angel appeared to Gideon and called him a “mighty man of valor”. This was not who he perceived himself to be, neither did his environment reinforce what God had spoken. When God speaks to men, He speaks to the greatness within them.

  • Seek God’s Direction

    Eden Life
    14 May 2013 | 9:10 am
    Proverbs 14:12 NIV “There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.” None of us has the ability to see the whole future, and though we may plan effectively, our plans are always based on what is happening now and what has happened before hand. For us to lead a successful life we must have direction. If you are in Christ, though you do not know the future, you know Him who holds the future in His hands. God is an all knowing God; He knows the end from the beginning (Isa.46:10). If we stick with Him and seek His face every step of the way in our journey…

  • Having The Right Heart

    Moyo Mamora
    8 May 2013 | 6:55 am
    Psalm 17:3 “Though you probe my heart, though you examine me at night and test me, you will find that I have planned no evil; my mouth has not transgressed.” The intentions and purity of your heart can only be judged by you and God, and it does matter to God. You can deceive people with your actions but the state of your heart will always be weighed by God. God honors those who are of a pure and noble hearts. His Word says the pure in heart shall see God (Matt.5:8). This means they will experience God. Many times our prayers are hindered for no other reason than the intentions of…
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    Inspirations from Phather Phil

  • Thankful Thursday: Out of Sync

    PhatherPhil
    23 May 2013 | 4:58 pm
    Dear Lord; Happy Thankful Thursday Father! I think Lord, that what I struggle with the most on my walk with You is our conflicting schedules… I want things to happen on “Phil time”, however quite often Your timing is a good bit different than mine. And yet, as I was pondering it this morning on my drive into the office, I realized something I hadn’t before… We create our schedules around what’s most important to us; base them on our priorities… If our “schedules” are out of sync… Then maybe I’m not fully recognizing Your priorities for my life. Ouch. Therefore…

  • A Return to Thankful Thursday

    PhatherPhil
    16 May 2013 | 10:40 am
    Dear Lord; Happy Thankful Thursday Father! For the last month or so Father, I’ve been having “rumblings” in my heart telling me that I’m not seeing You as completely as I should; that although in my joy-filled moments I sing to You in praise and in my times of trial I cry out to You for help, during those “in-between” periods I fail to recognize Your loving hand in my life more often than not… My eyes see the world, but stare blindly past the “burning bushes” all around me. And as I contemplated this the other night Lord, and prayed for Your guidance to help me see through…

  • Extensions of His Love

    PhatherPhil
    6 May 2013 | 10:27 am
    Today’s entry in the “Joyce Meyer: Promises for Your Everyday Life” devotional reading plan I’m following made a powerful point about finding meaning and fulfillment, and where we should really be seeking it… “Love is the energy of life. It’s what motivates people to get up each day and keep going. It gives life purpose and meaning.People often have times in their lives when they believe they are unloved or have no one to love. They develop this mindset because they are looking for fulfillment in ways that seem good at first but often leave them…

  • I Choose…

    PhatherPhil
    27 Apr 2013 | 6:28 am
    Dear Lord; Happy Saturday Father! Today Father, I choose. I choose to embrace the day that You have given me; To rebuke those voices that try to steal my peace, And remind them that I’m Your Beloved Child. To view the world through eyes of faith, Eagerly seeking Your hand in everything around me. To love with abandon, And to allow myself to accept the love of others. To revel in the beauty of this world You’ve made, And to bring that sense of wonder to everything I do. To be grateful for all You’ve blessed me with, And to share those gifts with others. To remind those close to me how…

  • My Silent Battleground

    PhatherPhil
    24 Apr 2013 | 11:09 am
    Dear Lord; Happy Wednesday Father! Monday morning Father, I woke up to someone standing on my chest… Or at least it felt that way. No sleepy eyes calmly tip-toeing into the morning’s experience for me, but instead my heart raced; keeping time with my mind as it rushed frantically into the new week’s trials, struggles and fears… The unknown had me firmly in it’s grip. I tried to focus; to redirect my hectic mind and find Your peace, but those demons had caught me unaware as I slept and now were firmly entrenched within me… So I went about my morning; moving from task to task in a…
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    Mike Calhoun's Blog

  • Yahtzee...The Bucket List and Jesus (Part 2)

    15 May 2013 | 9:00 pm
    This is a guest post written by Mark Finger. I heard Mark read this piece when I was speaking in the church he attends in Melbourne, Australia. I was blessed and challenged and asked if I could use it for my blog. I appreciate Mark allowing me to post a condensed version. There is also another bucket list called the “make right” list. This list is made up of the things we need to restore or make good before we die. This is not a maintenance list but a list of our mistakes, failures, disappointments and sin. It consists of things like angry words spoken, broken or damaged…

  • ICYMI - May 15, 2013

    14 May 2013 | 9:00 pm
    If you are like me you try to read as many articles, blogs and books as possible but just cannot catch all of them. “In Case You Missed It” is my way of pointing out a few “reads” that I think are too good to miss. ECONOMIST: New Grads Should Approach The Job Market Like Dating In College - Max Nisen Critics point to "job-hopping" — a tendency to frequently change jobs — as a sign that the millennial generationis flighty, unable to commit, and self absorbed; all of the stereotypes that we hear in the media.  According to University of Michigan…

  • Yahtzee...The Bucket List and Jesus (Part 1)

    13 May 2013 | 9:00 pm
    This is a guest post written by Mark Finger. I heard Mark read this piece when I was speaking in the church he attends in Melbourne, Australia. I was blessed and challenged and asked if I could use it for my blog. I appreciate Mark allowing me to post a condensed version. A few years ago I came to a sobering life realization: even with just the current wish list of things I was planning to do in my life, I was not going to live long enough to be able to include them all. I was in fact going to have to start prioritizing and even crossing some things off the “my wish list.” This…

  • ICYMI - May 8, 2013

    7 May 2013 | 9:00 pm
    If you are like me you try to read as many articles, blogs and books as possible but just cannot catch all of them. “In Case You Missed It” is my way of pointing out a few “reads” that I think are too good to miss. Playing It Safe: Gen Ys and the Caution Effect -YPulse The statement that Gen Ys grew up coddled and protected has been used so much by generational experts that it almost feels cliché saying it. But the less-discussed flip side to this over-protection incubation is that Millennials were raised in an environment of high anxiety that taught them from a…

  • Five Words That Can Change Everything and Five Ways to Start Now

    6 May 2013 | 9:00 pm
    It is estimated that the average woman speaks approximately 20,000 words per day and the average man 7,000. We all know people who don’t come close to that number – while others use their allotment plus someone else’s. Words are powerful and evoke emotions that can bring comfort or pain, motivation or discouragement. In his little epistle, James refers to the tongue as a “fire”(James 3:6). Proverbs 18:21 says it contains the “power of life and death.” I have set my share of “relationship fires,” but perhaps my greatest life regrets…
 
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    Shrinking the Camel

  • How to Say “Good Job” in Plain English

    shrinkingthecamel
    13 May 2013 | 3:33 am
    There are many things to admire about the British, the most obvious being their attractive accents which somehow make them sound much smarter and far more commanding than their American colleagues. It doesn’t matter how disheveled their appearance might be, or how dry the subject is, those darn accents can captivate even the most insolent […]

  • Be the Best (Insert Your Name Here) You Can Be

    shrinkingthecamel
    7 May 2013 | 5:30 am
    Last week I attended a meeting where a very famous sports broadcaster gave a motivational speech. Generally, I am not very motivated by motivational speakers. This gentleman, however, was sufficiently non-motivating in a way that was actually inspiring. Let me explain. Rather than hyping up the audience with animated clichés and pithy anecdotal stories that […]

  • You’ve Got to Fight For Your Life

    shrinkingthecamel
    29 Apr 2013 | 4:00 am
    Every great story, every hero, every inspiring moment is born out of adversity and perseverance. Conflict and battles are the stuff of myth and legend, and we love these stories because we can relate. Our personal and work lives are filled with mini-versions of this stuff: Pushing through. Overcoming obstacles. Fighting. I am not necessarily […]

  • The Secret to Productivity and Happiness at Work: Xtreme Generosity

    shrinkingthecamel
    23 Apr 2013 | 5:00 am
    The other day I received an email from a complete stranger, asking for advice on a business plan: “Dear Mr. Wood,” he blurted forth. ”I saw your name blah blah blah and I have this wonderful idea blah blah could you please take some time to review and give me feedback blah blah.”  Like most of you, […]

  • The Thrill of Getting Published is Far Greater Than Actually Selling Any Books

    shrinkingthecamel
    15 Apr 2013 | 3:05 am
    A couple weeks ago I received a royalty check from the publisher of my e-book, At Work as it is in Heaven. It wasn’t much – enough to buy a couple tanks of gas for my SUV. But the point is, there is now hard evidence that some wretched working souls somewhere on this lonely […]
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    An American Pragmatist

  • Communitas

    Henry Imler
    22 May 2013 | 10:00 am
    Two Views of Community: We find ourselves not independently of other people and institutions but through them. We never get to the bottom of ourselves on our own. We discover who we are face to face and side by side with others in work, love, and learning. All of our activity goes on in relationships, groups, associations, and communities ordered by institutional structures and interpreted by cultural patterns of meaning We are part of a larger whole that we can neither forget nor imagine in our own image without paying a high price. If we are not to have a self that hangs in the void, slowly…

  • Iced Coffee, a How-To

    Henry Imler
    22 May 2013 | 7:41 am
    This is a repost of a blog post from several years ago and from a different blog. Since I’ve gotten several requests for the post in the last week or so, I thought I would repost it here. I don’t have the time right now to update the guide, but I highly recommend using a french press with coarse grind to mix and filter the grounds-water solution. That way you don’t strip out all of the oils that make the coffee so good. (Never use a paper filter). When I think of enthusiasm and food, I always go to Randy “the Machoman” Savage and his heartfelt enthusiasm for Slim Jims. I…

  • Piper, Austerity, Divine Retribution, and Tolerance #WhatToRead

    Henry Imler
    21 May 2013 | 6:06 pm
    OH my gosh I know @johnpiper did NOT just tweet Job 1:19. I cannot believe that. What the hell. Are we sure this isn’t @fakepiper? #sigh — Emily Joy (@softlysoaring) May 21, 2013 The abusive theology of “deserved” tragedy… – John Piper has a problem, he can’t seem to stop tweeting horrible things whenever a natural disaster strikes. Rachel looks at why this might be the case. Excellent read. Is God Out to Get You or Forgive You? Retributive Violence and the Gospel/ – Peter Enns, one of my favorite OT scholars, begins to problematize the nature of God in the…

  • Whence Unity?

    Henry Imler
    21 May 2013 | 5:28 pm
    As one who has a background in the Stone-Campbell movement, I have a deep longing for Christian & human unity. As a person whose seen the various ways in which fundamentalist and patriarchal theological approaches split families and friends, this cartoon brings forth great sorrow in my soul. Cartoon created by David Hayward :: theology as a ball and chain. For more reflection on the topic, see James McGrath’s post, Kept Apart by Theology, where he broadens theology to ideology.

  • Cybermen, Christian Purity Culture, Suburbia, and Newt

    Henry Imler
    13 May 2013 | 8:04 am
    Here are some of the more interesting readings from last week. The Triumph of Suburbia Suburbia gets a bum rap, but ultimately people choose to live there more often than not. This article looks at the naysayers and the data. Elizabeth Smart and the Psychology of the Christian Purity Culture Turns out (as nearly anyone who has grown up in it can tell you) Christian Purity Culture is actually pretty damaging and degrading to women (and to men). This article explores the ins and outs of it. If you want more on this topic, check out Elizabeth Esther’s discussions on the topic of Christian…
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    bradwhitt.com

  • Sunday Preview – May 26, 2013

    Brad
    23 May 2013 | 6:27 am

  • Devotional Thought – The Secret of Forgetting Self

    Brad
    22 May 2013 | 5:05 am
    “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.” John 15:4 No one ever becomes great simply through his own ability or personality.  Greatness is only achieved through the life of another.  Think about that for a minute. What makes a patriot so revered? It is because his life is found in the larger life of his country.  What makes the humanitarian so distinguished? It is because he’s a member of the larger body of humanity.  Why is the artist so loved? It is because his spirit is a…

  • Mondays Are For Ministry – The Call, Part 2

    Brad
    20 May 2013 | 5:05 am
    Last week we began to look at and deal with the call of God to ministry.  I am more convinced each day that it is of first importance that there be God-called men serving as pastors and preachers in the local church.  I do not say that lightly, but only after great thought and observation of the current condition of the modern, and primarily, American church.  In fact, I believe that one of the main reasons why we see so much sin and silliness in the modern church comes from a decline in the caliber and calling of the men filling the pulpit and leading those local congregations. I have a…

  • Fridays Are For Family – When “I Do” Becomes “We Will”

    Brad
    17 May 2013 | 5:17 am
    As a pastor one of the things that comes with the ministry is seeing families at the best times of their lives – weddings, births, graduations, great accomplishments – as well as the worst times of their lives. I’ve stood with a family at four o’clock in the morning as a nurse pulled the body of their college-aged daughter out of the wall – killed in a single car accident.  I’ve sat on the floor of a hospital waiting room with the adult, grieving daughter of a man who took his own life. I watched as she in essence reverted to a little child, holding…

  • Sunday Preview – May 19, 2013

    Brad
    16 May 2013 | 7:29 am
 
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    Healthy Spirituality

  • Do you know Julian of Norwich?

    23 May 2013 | 3:00 am
    I posted a quote by Julian of Norwich a few weeks ago and several readers commented that they didn’t know her or much about her. I have invited her here today so we could get to know her better.One odd thing about Julian is that we really don’t know her name for sure.What we know about her is gleaned from her book, “Sixteen Revelations of Divine Love,” the first book written in English by a woman. She is referred to by the name of Dame Julian by Margery Kempe referring to the church, St. Julian’s in Norwich.She was born in 1342 during the time of the Black Death and lived until…

  • Walking a Labyrinth - Spiritual Practice

    21 May 2013 | 3:30 am
    Walking the seaweed labyrinth on the IonaHave you ever walked a labyrinth?  About 15 years ago, just when I was beginning this new growth in my spirituality, walking a labyrinth appealed to me. A good friend drove me to a grassy one built on the back acreage of a retreat center, explained it to me, and invited me to enter in. That first step into its winding circle was also my initial step into my next phase of spiritual growth.Based on the form of a circle and the spiral, the labyrinth is an ancient and powerful symbol of wholeness and transformation. It is found in cultures throughout…

  • Abba’s Children - Lectio Divina

    19 May 2013 | 3:30 am
    For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, "Abba! Father!"it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God,and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ--if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.Romans 8:14-17Just when I doubt,At the time I feel abandoned, unloved,Whenever I wonder if anyone really cares,My Abba, my Papa, wraps His arms around me and cradles my…

  • Quote of the Week - Julian of Norwich

    18 May 2013 | 3:30 am
    "The place which God takes in our soul he will never vacate, for in us is his home of homes, and it is the greatest delight for him to dwell there. . . . The soul who contemplates this is made like the one who is contemplated."~Julian of Norwich

  • Slowness - Spiritual Practice of Keeping Tempo

    16 May 2013 | 3:30 am
    I was amazed at the comments and emails I received after Tuesday’s post about soul rest. You all made me feel better realizing I am not the only one struggling with busyness. Your words also reminded me to be grateful for the ability to be busy and to savor the opportunities as blessings.Thank you.Practicing slowness is a valuable spiritual discipline. At one of the retreats I attended a few years ago we intentionally practiced slowness. We spoke slowly. We chewed our food longer. We put our forks down between bites. We deliberately looked one another in the eyes. The routine at this…
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    Daily Devotionals

  • Proverbs 3:5-8 – Dependence and Victory

    24 May 2013 | 1:00 am
    Daily Devotional Bible Verse Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones. (Proverbs 3:5-8 ESV) From Jordan: Dependence and Victory is part five in the series DEPENDENCE, and holds the greatest value when read in sequence. You can start at the beginning here. As Christians we must realize a simple, yet significant truth: through complete dependence upon…

  • Proverbs 3:5-8 – Dependence and Humility

    23 May 2013 | 1:00 am
    Daily Devotional Bible Verse Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones. (Proverbs 3:5-8 ESV) From Jordan: Dependence and Humility is part four in the series DEPENDENCE, and holds the greatest value when read in sequence. You can start at the beginning here. While recovering from surgery all heroic notions of self-reliance were literally chiseled out of…

  • Proverbs 3:5-8 – Dependence and God’s Love

    22 May 2013 | 1:00 am
    Daily Devotional Bible Verse Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones. (Proverbs 3:5-8 ESV) From Jordan: Dependence and God’s Love is part three in the series DEPENDENCE, and holds the greatest value when read in sequence. You can start at the beginning here. We’ll begin considering dependence and its relation to God’s love with an extremely…
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    ANSWERS For The Faith

  • -Demonstrations of the ‘Religion of Peace’?

    Dr. D
    23 May 2013 | 10:05 am
    A British Soldier is Killed and Beheaded on a London Street The Muslim terrorist above quoted from the Quran to justify his deeds. Most of the media deleted that portion from their quotes and videos. Here’s details that the major media does not really go into from the DEBKA File: The two Islamist terrorists who hacked a British soldier to death on a London street Wednesday, May 22, chanting Allahu Akbar, were born in Britain of Nigerian descent and known to British security authorities. Motivated by revenge for Muslem deaths in Afghanistan, they selected as their victim a soldier from the…

  • -Kindergartner Gets to Sing About God After All

    Dr. D
    22 May 2013 | 9:31 am
    This is a heart warming story about a kindergartner that wanted to sing his favorite Christian song at the school talent show but the school administrators asked him to choose another song because of it’s religious content. Then the Pacific Justice Institute stepped in and he will be able to sing his favorite song after all. The School officials quickly reversed their initial decision which was based upon a misguided understanding of the law. Meanwhile thefamily is elated and thankful that this incident demonstrated to their son that his faith in God was not something he had to hide. About…

  • -Supreme Court to Revisit Church-State Prayer Issues

    Dr. D
    21 May 2013 | 9:30 am
                                       (Photo credit: Wikipedia) Local town and county counsels plus state legislatures all across America have begun their meetings with prayer for over 200 years. The US Congress and the Senate still does but in this generation it has become an issue. The last time the US Supreme Court visited this issue they ruled that it was not a violation: "to invoke divine guidance on a public body…

  • -Lots of Religious Groups Also Targeted by IRS?

    Dr. D
    18 May 2013 | 8:00 am
            (Logo of the IRS: Wikipedia) Now that is has become public that the IRS has been targeting conservative groups during the ‘watch’ of the Obama administration, lots of different religious groups are beginning to come out of the woodwork with similar claims of harassment. They all have one thing in common- they are conservative and they support some issue that is at odds with the current administration. We have already cited the problems experienced by the ministries of Billy Graham and his son Franklin. Here are links to other stories of abuse:…

  • -Re: Concerns About Religious Liberty in the US Military- Facts and Conclusions

    Dr. D
    16 May 2013 | 7:57 am
                                           (Photo credit: Wikipedia) A number of recent controversial actions and official statements from the Pentagon have caused many to question whether religious liberty wasn’t actually under assault in the US military. Here’s a link to a summary of the facts and a joint statement from the Sothern Baptist’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission and North…
 
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    Trevin Wax

  • Friday Funny: Summertime Edition

    Trevin Wax
    24 May 2013 | 1:00 am
    In light of summer kicking off this Memorial Day weekend, enjoy your time at the pool.

  • Book Giveaways at Christ-Centered Preaching Panel (SBC)

    Trevin Wax
    24 May 2013 | 1:00 am
    I’m looking forward to this panel discussion about Christ-centered teaching and preaching at the SBC meeting in a couple weeks. Here is the list of books each attendee will receive: Proclaim Jesus by Tony Merida (GCD Books) The Scriptures Testify about Me: Jesus and the Gospel in the Old Testament edited by D.A. Carson (Crossway) Preaching Christ in All of Scripture by Ed Clowney (Crossway) Is Jesus in the Old Testament? by Iain Duguid (P&R) Communicating for a Change by Andy Stanley (Multnomah) Humble Orthodoxy by Josh Harris (Multnomah) Read…

  • Trevin’s Seven

    Trevin Wax
    24 May 2013 | 12:25 am
    Links for your weekend reading: Kindle Deal: Landmarks: Turning Points on Your Journey Toward God by Bill Delvaux. $2.99. The well-worn rut that most of us live in is safe, comfortable . . . some would call it dead. By contrast, coming alive requires a willingness to journey into the unknown. Following Jesus is just such a path — one that takes us deep into His death and then lifts us up into His resurrection. 1. Leadership Journal – How Churches Can Prepare for Disasters 2. Fortune – Have We All Been Duped by the Myers-Briggs Test? 3. Megyn Kelly Loses Cool with…

  • Manhood Restored: A Conversation with Eric Mason

    Trevin Wax
    23 May 2013 | 1:04 am
    Eric Mason is the pastor of Epiphany Fellowship in Philadelphia and the author of Manhood Restored: How the Gospel Makes Men Whole, I first met Eric when he served on the advisory council for The Gospel Project. He’s a powerful preacher who loves his church, his family, and his community. Today, I’ve invited him to the blog for a discussion about God’s vision of manhood. Trevin Wax: Men’s movements have been a permanent fixture in the evangelical landscape for the past two decades. Why?  Eric Mason: The absence of men in churches. Even where there…

  • Worth a Look 5.23.13

    Trevin Wax
    23 May 2013 | 12:12 am
    Kindle Deal of the Day: Not a Fan: Becoming a Completely Committed Follower of Jesus by Kyle Idleman. $3.79. Pastor Kyle Idleman doesn’t just want to be a fan of Jesus, he wants to full heartedly commit to him and be a follower of Jesus. But how can you make the leap from fan to follower? In Not a Fan Idleman uses biblical examples to show how the people who met Jesus also had to decide if they were fans or followers, and what it meant for them to then become followers. David Murray – Thankful People are Happy People: Research shows that gratitude is a powerful force for…
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    EverydayChristianFamily.com

  • Another Fun Sports Party Game

    Jim
    16 May 2013 | 1:35 am
    Can You Name Original Pro Sport Teams? The L.A. Lakers are well known in Pro Basketball Circles as World Champions. But, have they always been located in Los Angeles? See if you can name where the professional teams came from: expansion, another league, another name, original city, and what city (cities) they moved from. Pro Football Teams 1-   Arizona Cardinals 2-   Chicago Bears 3-   Baltimore Ravens                4-   Indianapolis Colts                5-   Dallas Cowboys 6-   Minnesota Vikings 7-   Cleveland Browns 8-   Oakland Raiders 9-  …

  • The Ultimate Sports Quiz

    Jim
    7 May 2013 | 11:00 am
    Can You Identify These Awards & Contests? Sure, almost everyone knows that gold statues are given to finest work in television and movies (Oscars & Emmys). But I challenge you to name these athletic contests and awards. How many can you properly identify? 1-      The Breeder’s Cup 2-      Conn-Smythe Trophy 3-     The Butkus Award 4-      Cy Young Award 5-      Gold Glove 6-      The Golden Gloves 7-      The Little 500 8-      The Red River Rivalry 9-      Heisman Trophy 10-    World Cup 11-     The Stanley Cup 12-     America’s Cup…

  • Small Town Little League Baseball in the 50s

    Jim
    4 May 2013 | 4:56 am
    The Second Most Embarrassing Moment in My Life! I’ve often been asked by students when I substitute teach, “What were the 50s really like?” I usually say, “Watch ‘The Sandlot’ and ‘A Christmas Story.’” Although I had different experiences as a kid, those 2 movies are accurate portrayals of the life and times in the Middle West during those years. When I was young, we lived on 2 acres surrounded by a 6-foot high fence to keep our 2 horses from escaping and ruining other folk’s landscapes. Our backyard included 5 apple trees, 2 pear trees, 2 cherry trees and a plum tree. It…

  • What is More Repugnant than Body Odor ?

    Jim
    18 Apr 2013 | 12:13 pm
    How’s Your Love Walk? Have you ever had a very active day when you were concerned about offending others with B.O. (body odor)? You’re not alone. I’ve seen students in a classroom putting on deodorant after their physical education class. I will admit from time to time, I’ve been concerned about my own cleanliness! In times past I was put into a job in a small area with someone having terrible B.O. and horrendous breath. There was almost no escaping it!  To top it off, this person would constantly interrupt as I was working on delicate projects. This was a triple hit to my…

  • 20 KEY QUOTATIONS ON BIG GOVERNMENT EXCESSES

    Jim
    17 Apr 2013 | 11:25 am
    Warning: Governments Steal Your Liberties Presidents and World Leaders have often warned of the dangers when governments get too big. Thomas Jefferson stated: “My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government.” As evidence – notice the recent wild spending after the Obama “Sequester” went into effect. While cutting essential services, our President’s & Vice President’s families have taken 8 lavish vacations in 3 months and just hosted a huge and expensive Celebrity Event. (The Sequester allowed every department’s…
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    Healthy Spirituality

  • Do you know Julian of Norwich?

    23 May 2013 | 3:00 am
    I posted a quote by Julian of Norwich a few weeks ago and several readers commented that they didn’t know her or much about her. I have invited her here today so we could get to know her better.One odd thing about Julian is that we really don’t know her name for sure.What we know about her is gleaned from her book, “Sixteen Revelations of Divine Love,” the first book written in English by a woman. She is referred to by the name of Dame Julian by Margery Kempe referring to the church, St. Julian’s in Norwich.She was born in 1342 during the time of the Black Death and lived until…

  • Walking a Labyrinth - Spiritual Practice

    21 May 2013 | 3:30 am
    Walking the seaweed labyrinth on the IonaHave you ever walked a labyrinth?  About 15 years ago, just when I was beginning this new growth in my spirituality, walking a labyrinth appealed to me. A good friend drove me to a grassy one built on the back acreage of a retreat center, explained it to me, and invited me to enter in. That first step into its winding circle was also my initial step into my next phase of spiritual growth.Based on the form of a circle and the spiral, the labyrinth is an ancient and powerful symbol of wholeness and transformation. It is found in cultures throughout…

  • Abba’s Children - Lectio Divina

    19 May 2013 | 3:30 am
    For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, "Abba! Father!"it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God,and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ--if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.Romans 8:14-17Just when I doubt,At the time I feel abandoned, unloved,Whenever I wonder if anyone really cares,My Abba, my Papa, wraps His arms around me and cradles my…

  • Quote of the Week - Julian of Norwich

    18 May 2013 | 3:30 am
    "The place which God takes in our soul he will never vacate, for in us is his home of homes, and it is the greatest delight for him to dwell there. . . . The soul who contemplates this is made like the one who is contemplated."~Julian of Norwich

  • Slowness - Spiritual Practice of Keeping Tempo

    16 May 2013 | 3:30 am
    I was amazed at the comments and emails I received after Tuesday’s post about soul rest. You all made me feel better realizing I am not the only one struggling with busyness. Your words also reminded me to be grateful for the ability to be busy and to savor the opportunities as blessings.Thank you.Practicing slowness is a valuable spiritual discipline. At one of the retreats I attended a few years ago we intentionally practiced slowness. We spoke slowly. We chewed our food longer. We put our forks down between bites. We deliberately looked one another in the eyes. The routine at this…
 
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    As the Deer

  • Jacci Turner, Fiction Writer

    Chris
    22 May 2013 | 1:17 pm
    Jacci Turner is a dear friend from my years at the University of Nevada. She mentored me in Christian faith and life. She lives in Reno, Nevada, and works with college students today. Jacci is also a writer of young adult fiction. You can find her work here.

  • Things That Are Seen

    Chris
    21 May 2013 | 1:11 pm
    In the balcony today there were workers on scaffolding changing the light bulbs. There is no other safe way to reach those lights. While they were working, I was in the Youth Room singing, worshipping, and meditating on 2 Corinthians 4:18, “We look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” I am glad that while some of us turn inward to the things that are unseen (the Inner Light seen by faith), others attend to outward things that are seen, like light bulbs that need…

  • Monday Margarita

    Chris
    20 May 2013 | 5:09 pm
    A home visit today, plus a funeral, hospital call, and news that a dear parishioner has died in hospital in Hillsdale. It was good that I could decompress later over a margarita with my wife and friends. Daily walking, practicing yoga, and Monday margaritas — these are things that help keep me sane and spiritual.

  • Detox With Yoga

    Chris
    19 May 2013 | 5:34 pm
    I went to Blissfield this afternoon for a session at Bliss Yoga. It involved a lot of twisting and stretching, particularly our hip joints (where I had problems last fall). At one point as we twisted in a pretzelly way, our instructor mentioned the need to ‘detox our bodies.’ It felt as if toxins had seeped into my body this weekend, and yoga helped me to detox.

  • Everyday Superstars

    Chris
    17 May 2013 | 3:53 pm
    I had the oil changed on my car today at Lentz Automotive. I was standing at this counter to pay my bill, reading a thank you letter sitting under the glass. The woman who wrote it thanked them for taking good care of her car in a crisis and wondered if they were a rescue mission in addition to being a car shop. Her words didn’t surprise me. I have always been impressed with the service, integrity, and professionalism at Lentz. The owner Steve amazes me. Men usually are not known for multitasking, but he is able to juggle many things at once, moving from the shop to this reception…
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    JamesPoulter.co.uk

  • POEM: Draped In The Robes Of Now

    jamespoulter
    21 May 2013 | 4:30 am
    Tweet Here is great. Warm and cosy yet it is unbearable. These robes are unwearable for in an instant of time they fit us but are now not fit for purpose. For who can run in the robes of the clan from which [...]

  • Why HERE is always less acceptable than THERE.

    admin
    20 May 2013 | 11:41 am
    Tweet We are at an interesting point in the life of our little church family. We are tipping on the edge of around 150 regular members on the books. Coming up for 3 years old since planting from the “mothership”. Kids [...]

  • Travelling Light. The Art of Shorthauling it.

    admin
    17 May 2013 | 10:04 am
    Tweet In recent months I have perfected the short haul trip. Having spent 1 out of 2 weeks on a planes to various European based cities or work travel, i have gotten pretty good at packing small, and travelling lite. Which as [...]

  • FOMO & Wondering if God cares where you work.

    admin
    4 May 2013 | 8:23 am
    Tweet Maybe its the changing in the weather or just a time in our lives, but it seems everyone around us is upping sticks, moving abroad or changing careers. And if they haven’t done so recently, they are thinking about [...]

  • POEM: The Settlers

    admin
    15 Apr 2013 | 12:08 am
    TweetThe Settlers Settlers came from the south west To find comfort and prosperity To mark the land for their own. Their tribes were different. Their cultures not so distant, their customs cousins of one another broken apart by years of passive aggression. They [...]
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    Calvin 500

  • How Adoption Ensures a Life of Sanctification

    Michael Dewalt
    10 May 2013 | 9:00 am
    The adopted believer has the Holy Spirit as his witness and seal, and the Spirit has engraved the promises of God upon our hearts, namely the fact that, “we see and feel by experience that God has adopted us and tells us that the assurance he has given us and daily gives us by his gospel, namely, that he will be our Father.” In his doctrine of adoption, Calvin sees the Spirit leading the believer onwards and upwards to a life of sanctification. He says: “we have a good and infallible pledge that God will guide us to the end, and that since he had begun to lead us into the way of…

  • Barth, Van Til, and Calvinism

    Kristen Carter
    8 May 2013 | 11:26 am
    Karl Barth: May 10, 1886-1968 Karl Barth (May 10, 1886–1968) and Cornelius Van Til (May 3, 1895–1987) tend to be polarizing figures in church theology. Van Til was a firm opponent of Barth’s theology, arguing that it was fundamentally flawed and anti-biblical. Despite their sharp differences, Barth and Van Til were similar in that they were both strongly influenced by the work of John Calvin. In Church Dogmatics, The Epistle to the Romans, Barth states, “Calvin’s theology interests us in its historical context as an outstanding record of Reformation theology that historically—and…

  • Andy Stanley is a Calvinist?

    Ryan Burns
    26 Apr 2013 | 9:00 am
    My father attends Andy Stanley’s church, North Point. I am personally thankful for Andy’s church as it has been there that my dad has surrendered his life to the gospel. Whenever I visit with my dad, I often take the occasion to attend church at North Point. Several years ago I remember Andy preaching on sin and he gave an illustration using some figures cut out from pieces of bright orange cardboard. He explained how we often look around and judge ourselves righteous because we live in a bright orange world and when we look at ourselves (bright orange people) we think we’re…

  • Witnessed & Sealed by the Spirit brings Assurance

    Michael Dewalt
    12 Apr 2013 | 9:00 am
    John  Calvin confirms in his Tracts that the Spirit is the witness, seal and earnest of the believer’s adoption. Scripture calls the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of adoption because… “he is the witness to us of the free benevolence of the God with which God the Father has embraced us in his beloved only-begotten Son to become a Father to us.” This witness of the Spirit of the believer’s adoption is a co- witness. This co-witness takes place when the Spirit as Calvin writes, “testifies to us, that we are the children of God, he at the same time pours into our hearts such…

  • Calvin’s Aim in Writing Institutes

    Ryan Burns
    29 Mar 2013 | 9:00 am
    In the prefix to the 1545 French edition of Calvin’s Institutes, Calvin seeks to explain to his readers why he wrote Institutes to begin with. While he goes into more detail, the third paragraph has some amazingly interesting nuggets of insight for the reader. I will include it with my observations below. Seeing, then, how necessary it was in this manner to aid those who desire to be instructed in the doctrine of salvation, I have endeavoured, according to the ability which God has given me, to employ myself in so doing, and with this view have composed the present book. Calvin wrote…
 
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    Josiah Concept Ministries

  • Postmodernism in 140 Characters

    feedback@josiahconcept.org (Cory Tucholski)
    13 May 2013 | 10:33 pm
    Postmodernism is a complex philosophy.  I printed out the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy article on it, and it ran 18 pages (including bibliography).  Though the opening of that article (accessed 9/21/2012) states that postmodernism is “indefinable as a truism” and is actually “a set of critical, strategic and rhetorical practices …,” I think that DamnRightTweets™ has managed to distill all of postmodernism into a single tweet: Speaking your truth is not telling other people that they are wrong and you are right.— Damn Right Tweets™…

  • Validating the Resurrection Against the Argument Keeping Me Up at Night

    feedback@josiahconcept.org (Cory Tucholski)
    1 May 2013 | 7:20 am
    Yesterday, I explained that people have a tendency to spread comforting lies rather than listen to harsh truths.  Facebook is rife with examples of unexamined statements that are easy to verify as false, yet people spread with glee. This could work against the Resurrection.  Wouldn’t people believe that Jesus rose from the dead and was thus vindicated by God as the Messiah rather than face the harsh reality that he died on the cross and is still in the tomb of Joseph of Arimethea?  Isn’t that just like the rant misattributed to Bill Cosby that people keep spreading around the…

  • Do Any Atheist Arguments Have Validity?

    feedback@josiahconcept.org (Cory Tucholski)
    30 Apr 2013 | 7:17 am
    There are a number of atheist arguments floating around.  Alex Knapp of The League of Ordinary Gentlemen itemizes some of the really bad ones. I have yet to hear a convincing argument for atheism; usually I just get some crap about how atheism is the default and I need to prove my case convincingly, otherwise everyone should remain an atheist. You know, atheism has no burden of proof.  Only theism has the burden of proof since we’re claiming something.  Blah, blah, crap. So no atheist arguments convince me, but do any make me stop and question my belief in God? Yes.  There is one…

  • Top 10 Reasons Why Religion is a Negative Force in the World (part 2)

    feedback@josiahconcept.org (Cory Tucholski)
    4 Apr 2013 | 12:33 am
    Kieth Murphy, a user in the ThinkAtheist Forums, posted his Top Ten reasons why religion is a negative force in the world. Not surprisingly, every single reason is a non-starter.  I covered the bottom reasons, now let’s continue where we left off — #5: There have been cases in the United States and some other country where person’s have lost their jobs due to lack of faith or alternative faiths and sometimes on the bases of sexual orientation (which is thought to be justified because of certain beliefs) There are also cases of people who have lost jobs because of their…

  • Top 10 Reasons Why Religion is a Negative Force in the World (part 1)

    feedback@josiahconcept.org (Cory Tucholski)
    2 Apr 2013 | 9:59 pm
    Kieth Murphy, a user in the ThinkAtheist Forums, posted his Top Ten reasons why religion is a negative force in the world.  Not surprisingly, every single reason is a non-starter.  Let’s dive in with #10: Religion and religious persons impose their faith into public policy and politics. Where it clearly doesn’t belong. There’s a problem with this line of thought.  Faith is more properly thought of as loyalty, not blindly accepting premises without proof.  So if one is loyal to God, then religion “done right” is going to affect every single decision you make,…
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    The Word Works!

  • THE RHEMA OF GOD I

    Tettei Shahday
    9 May 2013 | 11:46 am
    The Lord is good! The more we increase in grace, the more we get to know that God is good indeed. It’s absolutely imperative that we come to knowledge in order to enjoy the things that are freely given to us of God (1 Corinthians 3:21). There’re several promises from God to us. The question then is, “How do we make them a reality?” To answer such a question we’ll have a look at the “Rhema of God”, and how it can be of benefit in our walk with God. You may have read, heard or researched on it; whichever case we’re all here to study. We learn and do research as the Spirit of God…

  • THE RHEMA OF GOD II

    Tettei Shahday
    9 May 2013 | 11:35 am
    You can receive rhema and rejoice, think or ponder over it – the revelation of God's Word alone wouldn't change the circumstances of your life. However, when the Word proceeds from your mouth, it becomes a creative force which is powerful, and will always produce results. Don't underestimate the power of your faith's proclamations. Fill your mouth with God's Word, and keep saying it. Don't stop talking it! The Word of God on your lips is God talking. The Word on your lips will surely create the right atmosphere, irrespective of how you feel. The word will always work when we make a constant…

  • THE RHEMA OF GOD III

    Tettei Shahday
    9 May 2013 | 11:25 am
    Sometimes we think meditation means to cogitate; it’s not. As a believer, don’t forget that we have the Almighty God dwelling in us. We've never majored on this fact as we ought. Therefore, we've never been able to walk in dominion as we ought. If your mind is not renewed with the Word of God, it will side in with your flesh and dominate your spirit. This is what makes canal Christians. But if you get your mind renewed, your spirit, through your mind, will dominate your body. What you are doing in renewing your mind is training your mind to think in line with God's Word. Sword of The…
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    Guarding the Heart Blog

  • 10 Keys to Growth for Every Pastor and Leader

    Guarding The Heart [GTH]
    22 May 2013 | 8:40 am
    #GTH BlogRecently, I met a humble Pastor who was sharing about his vision. As he asked for directions ahead in ministry, I got to share a few things from my heart, which I feel, if shared here on Guarding the Heart blog, would benefit more people. Here are ten points which I feel are important for leaders in the ministry: 1. Spreading Too Thin It may seem hard to resist the temptation of taking up everything that comes one’s way because most of the opportunities that come look very attractive, but one of the dangers in the ministry is to lack clarity in focus, and committing to doing…

  • Arranged Marriage or Love Marriage?

    Guarding The Heart [GTH]
    18 May 2013 | 3:30 am
    #GTH BlogWe often receive questions from our readers via email and Facebook on various issues seeking Godly guidance. Not all topics or issues justify a blogpost however ‘Love marriage versus Arranged marriage’ is one of the sensitive topics that I am frequently asked about and hence I thought of sharing my thoughts via a post. Mind you, this may be completely redundant to some of you who are a part of a culture that permits only either; that becomes beyond the scope of this post. For others, I encourage you to keep an open heart and leave room for lot of grace as…

  • The Secret of Jesus | Power Nuggets

    Guarding The Heart [GTH]
    15 May 2013 | 4:30 am
    #GTH BlogSee all the Power Nuggets Here   Jesus withdrew. [vs15] But now even more the report about Him went abroad, and great crowds gathered to hear Him and to be healed of their infirmities. [vs16] But He would withdraw to desolate places and pray. Luke 5:15-16 ESV Jesus withdrew from the demands of this world. Jesus withdrew from the pressure to perform. Jesus withdrew from people. Jesus withdrew from fighting His enemies. Jesus withdrew from fame. Jesus withdrew from anything that was ahead of God ordained time. And Jesus did withdraw very often. If you are asking whereto, then,…

  • 13 Inspirations While Praying for You

    Guarding The Heart [GTH]
    11 May 2013 | 3:17 am
    #GTH BlogLast three days I took it as a part of my assignment to pray for all our friends online. I want to thank all our precious partners and friends that connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram and of course our Blogs. During these three days the frequency of our Tweets and posts on Facebook went higher than usual – updating the statuses as and when inspired by the Holy Spirit. I hope at least some of those words have spoken to your heart, set you free and inspired you to walk even more closely with Jesus. Well, if you missed our updates, here is a compilation of…

  • Implementing a Successful Crusade Strategy for Your Church – Wilson Christopher

    Guarding The Heart [GTH]
    8 May 2013 | 12:21 pm
    #GTH BlogWilson Christopher It is my joy to introduce Revive Nations ministry coordinator, Wilson Christopher from Malaysia. He has been with our ministry now over eight years serving the Lord with much commitment and enthusiasm. Just as we are preparing for a crusade in Malaysia, read his heart beat for the church and ministries that do crusades to bless the Kingdom of God. Today’s Churches travail to gather members and new souls to attend meetings and crusades in mass volumes. Meetings are important for the body of Christ, as it is able to strengthen one another, and is an open door for…
 
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    Christian Curios by Connie K Cameron

  • A's and B's

    21 May 2013 | 9:57 am
    When I became a Christian, at the age of 30, I thought that I should immediately be flawless, It didn’t take long to see that I wasn’t.  So when I would have what some people call; bad luck, right away I would think that God was mad at me and I was getting what I deserved.  I even got to the point where I felt that bumping my head, burning dinner, or getting a flat tire was punishment for not being able to do everything that I felt I should be doing as a Christian.     I can clearly remember praying,  “God,              …

  • Bring Me Gently Home

    20 May 2013 | 8:21 am
    I was a baby in the wordThe things I read, the things I heardThey brought You closer to my heartI finally have a brand new startNot everything I understandI need Your Help, please take my handShow me the things I need to knowTo help me learn to help me growAnd when I stumble, and if I fallI’ll cry to You please hear my callAnd when confusion turns me aroundI know You’ll never let me downI hunger for the truth you holdThe mysteries that you unfoldeYou died for me, I live for YouLead me guide my whole life through

  • Easter

    10 Mar 2013 | 11:57 am
    I’ve always loved spending time coloring eggs during Easter with my family.  When I was ten years old, I went on a camping trip with Erin, a friend from Girl scouts, and her family.  We went to the Colorado River.  We were only going to stay a few days, but Erin’s parents decided that they wanted to stay until the day before Easter.  I was so homesick those last couple of days, I told myself that at least I would be home for Easter.     Well, we pulled up to my house just as my parents were leaving for Church on the Saturday night, before Easter Sunday.

  • Communion

    19 Feb 2013 | 4:48 pm
    1 Corinthians 11: 23-27, “For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when he had given thanks, He broke it, and said, ‘This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.’  For as often as you eat this bread or drink the cup, you proclaim the Lords death until He comes.  Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.     Facts about the Communion meal:  At the…

  • A Child Learns What He Lives

    14 Feb 2013 | 7:43 pm
    When I was young, I had a poster on my wall, in my room.  Laying on my bunk bed, I looked at that poster many, many times.  At the top, the poster read, “A Child Learns What He Lives.”  Around the edges were cute little pastel colored kids, and in the middle, a list of things that children learn from parents actions.  For some reason, even after the poster is gone, the message has always stayed with me.     As I went from a child to a teen, I went from having small problems to having very large problems, for myself and my parents.  I feel very…
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    Faithful Choices

  • Teach Young Children the Wonder of God

    Paula Whidden
    23 May 2013 | 5:18 am
    As I walked through a boutique in my town, I came to a table of these wonderful books.  Behind the table sat the author as he shared his story with anyone who would chat.  The book is entitled, I Want You to Know: The Wonder of God The author is Kirk Jackson. We spoke for a while as I learned Kirk’s story and his desire to help parents lead their small children to Christ.  I couldn’t help being caught up in his enthusiasm for this cause.  As a result, I did an interview with him and I will have a special offer at the end of this post for anyone who wants to win his book. This…

  • Healthy, Happy Body Tip #6 (Pause)

    Paula Whidden
    21 May 2013 | 2:23 pm
    I used to despise silence.  I wore headphones, turned up the T.V., talked on the phone, and sang to myself all at the same time. Well, maybe not all of it, but  it felt like all of it. I’ll never forget going to camp as a kid.  I attended a Christian camp, and they had rules.  The rules weren’t hideous or oppressive, but when I learned there would be no electronics allowed, I shuttered. “How cruel!” I thought. The noise had become my friend, my companion.  It made me feel stronger and protected.  It was a lie. The noise wasn’t really my friend, it was…

  • Ideas on Thankful Thinking

    Paula Whidden
    16 May 2013 | 4:00 am
    Recent studies show the power of thankful thinking on our lives.  It directly affects our level of happiness each day.  In other words, we don’t  have to be happy to be thankful but we do have to be thankful to be happy. I wrote an article on this topic called The Power of a Habit. If you want to improve your thankful thinking here are some suggestions to get you going: Seek People who Inspire Thankfulness Thanks for Your Service (God and Veterans Day: Are there Veterans in the Bible?) Twigs and Redwoods  Thanks for the Inspiration Joni Eareckson Tada – Faith on Two Wheels…

  • Watch Out for Stinking Thinking

    Paula Whidden
    14 May 2013 | 4:45 pm
    The great motivational speaker Zig Ziglar often warns people of what he calls “Stinking Thinking.” When I first heard him, the words conjured up pictures in my imaginative mind.  Suddenly, I was in one of those big garbage piles with all the sad and lonely children who needed sponsors.  Every negative word or thought looked like bits of garbage spewing from me. It made me plug my nose and want to run.  Ugh.  No thank you, I do not want to live in the land of stinking thinking. But, it’s there.  Many, many people spew this stuff every day. How do we avoid it? Have you…

  • Is Anybody There? (Thoughts on Prayer)

    Paula Whidden
    8 May 2013 | 3:02 pm
    When I first came to know God, I wanted to pray and talk with Him like the Pastor told us, but I didn’t get it.  Everyone around me tipped their head forward and clasped their hands together.  To me, they resembled someone who had been caught drawing on the walls.  It didn’t make sense. At first, I just stood there watching them pray, not because I didn’t respect God or want to pray, but out of curiosity.   These model prayer people fascinated me.  I imagined some sort of cosmic smoke wafting onto their heads to symbolize their connection with the Creator.
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    Writer of Pop

  • ABC's 'The View' Welcomes TobyMac Again

    Jeffrey Totey
    23 May 2013 | 5:20 pm
    It is beginning to look as if ABC and singer TobyMac are becoming pretty chummy. Last summer, he made a visit on “The View,” in August he made an appearance on “Good Morning America” with Mandisa promoting her album, “What if We Were Real” and on Christmas morning, he was featured on the holiday special  “The Walt Disney World Very Merry Christmas Parade.” This week it was announced that Toby has been welcomed back to “The View” for tomorrow’s, May 24th broadcast. The show will also feature Julianne Moore, Dr. Kelly Starrett and Chris O’Donnell will…

  • Amy Grant is #1

    Jeffrey Totey
    22 May 2013 | 8:07 pm
    For those who have been waiting to hear if Amy Grant’s first album in 10 years is any good – take heart. “How Mercy Looks From Here” has made the #1 spot on Christian soundScan. That is good news, but somewhat to be expected coming from a Christian music source. But how about this? Her debut made it to the #12 spot on the Billboard 200. Now that’s impressive. “Amy Grant has delivered a beautiful record of compelling songs that document her life experiences over the past decade since her last studio record," remarked Peter York, President, Capitol CMG Label Group.  "It’s an…

  • 'Star Trek' Ventures into Cliche Territory

    Jeffrey Totey
    20 May 2013 | 9:56 pm
    Zachary Quinto and Chris Pine as Mr. Spoke and Captain Kirk(Photo: paramount) What I enjoyed about the first J.J. Abrams version of “Star Trek” was how the movie stayed true to the old TV series but still had its own personality for the new franchise. That is until halfway through when Leonard Nimoy reprised his role as the Spock of the future giving advice to his younger self. It cheapened the story a bit and leaned on Nimoy’s performance as a crutch. Four years later, “Star Trek into Darkness” is a better film with a better story, but Abrams still slips into that behavior once…

  • Carman's Cancer Serves as Inspiration

    Jeffrey Totey
    17 May 2013 | 5:30 pm
    Photo still taken from Carman's Kickstarter Video. On February 13 of this year,  Contemporary Christian singer, Carman Licciardello, posted on his Facebook page that he had been diagnosed with terminal, multiple myeloma cancer. It is a cancer of the blood that affects the body’s bone marrow. He was given a three to five year life expectancy by doctors.  Even with the bad news, he still had a tone of humor in his post:“Tomorrow I go in for my first bone biopsy and the process will start. I used to go to movies in the afternoon, now I go see doctors.” Although very sad news him,…

  • HE>I Features Above Average Witness Wear

    Jeffrey Totey
    16 May 2013 | 10:35 pm
    In a little unassuming building on the North Shore on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, sits the store of HE>i. The store mainly sells t-shirts, tank tops, sunglasses, stickers and buttons all printed with the phrase, HE>i. The showroom is bigger than it needs to be, the merchandise is sparse and the whole concept looks somewhat out of place in this remote part of Oahu. But there is more to this little shop than meets the eye. HE>i is short for “He is Greater than I” and is inspired by John 3:30, “He must become greater and greater; we must become less and less.” The owners, a…
 
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    TILL HE COMES

  • Let the Condemned God Die

    jmyers@tillhecomes.org (Jeremy Myers)
    22 May 2013 | 7:54 am
    Have you ever heard someone say that God cannot be near sin? That sin cannot be in God’s presence? That the reason sinners are separated from God is because God is so holy and since we are sinners, we cannot be in the presence of God? Sin Cannot be in God’s Presence Doesn’t this seem strange? How is it possible that sin could have this much power over God? Can one sin really do God in? Doesn’t it seem stranger still that if this were the case, God would allow Satan into His presence (Job 1:6)? And more strange still, if God cannot even be near sin, how then did God…

  • Is God Lying about Violence in the Old Testament?

    jmyers@tillhecomes.org (Jeremy Myers)
    21 May 2013 | 11:00 am
    I have been saying in my posts on the violence of God that God inspired the biblical writers to say that He told them to do the violent things they did, even though He did not. The reason God did this was to take their sin upon Himself. Just as Jesus became sin for us (2 Cor 5:21), so God became sin for Israel. This doesn’t mean God became guilty, nor does it mean that God became a sinner. It simply means that God took their guilt upon Himself just as Jesus did upon the cross. To read more about this line of thought, see the list of posts at the bottom of this article. One of the…

  • 5 Ways to Break the Ice with Your Neighbors

    jmyers@tillhecomes.org (Jeremy Myers)
    20 May 2013 | 11:00 am
    This practical post on getting to know your neighbors is by Sam Riviera. Sam is a frequent contributor to this blog. See the bottom of this post for more articles in this series about getting to know your neighbors. As I mentioned in the a previous post, most of us do not know many of our neighbors. We assume they’re unfriendly. Otherwise, they would have introduced themselves. Or could it be that we have neglected to introduce ourselves? Perhaps most of our neighbors know each other, and somehow we’ve been left out. Hmmmm! Shouldn’t we at least check this out? But how should we go…

  • 111 Charts on the Apostle Paul

    jmyers@tillhecomes.org (Jeremy Myers)
    19 May 2013 | 9:40 am
    I have a love/hate relationship with the Apostle Paul. On the one hand, I love the guy. He is probably the greatest missionary the world has ever seen, he wrote a large percentage of the Christian Scriptures, he was a champion of God’s grace and of the Gospel for the Gentiles, and he had a theological mind and loving heart like none other. And yet… I find his letters to be some of the most boring in the New Testament. Maybe boring isn’t the right word. Tiresome? Repetitive? Dry? I don’t know. Maybe it is just the season of my life I am in right now (and have been in…

  • How My Wife Saved Me

    jmyers@tillhecomes.org (Jeremy Myers)
    17 May 2013 | 12:59 pm
    Today is my 15th Wedding Anniversary! I can confidently say that my life is NOT AT ALL where I thought it would be by the time Wendy and I had been married for fifteen years, but at the same time, our marriage is better than it has ever been, and in many ways, our lives are better than we ever expected. If you have been following this blog for more than a few years, then you know that about five years ago we went through some really tough times. Recently a different author asked me to write a bit about that time for a book that will get published later this year, and as I was thinking through…
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    Healthy Spirituality

  • Do you know Julian of Norwich?

    Jean Wise
    23 May 2013 | 3:00 am
    I posted a quote by Julian of Norwich a few weeks ago and several readers commented that they didn’t know her or much about her. I have invited her here today so we could get to know her better.One odd thing about Julian is that we really don’t know her name for sure.What we know about her is gleaned from her book, “Sixteen Revelations of Divine Love,” the first book written in English by a woman. She is referred to by the name of Dame Julian by Margery Kempe referring to the church, St. Julian’s in Norwich.She was born in 1342 during the time of the Black Death and lived until…

  • Walking a Labyrinth - Spiritual Practice

    Jean Wise
    21 May 2013 | 3:30 am
    Walking the seaweed labyrinth on the IonaHave you ever walked a labyrinth?  About 15 years ago, just when I was beginning this new growth in my spirituality, walking a labyrinth appealed to me. A good friend drove me to a grassy one built on the back acreage of a retreat center, explained it to me, and invited me to enter in. That first step into its winding circle was also my initial step into my next phase of spiritual growth.Based on the form of a circle and the spiral, the labyrinth is an ancient and powerful symbol of wholeness and transformation. It is found in cultures throughout…

  • Abba’s Children - Lectio Divina

    Jean Wise
    19 May 2013 | 3:30 am
    For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, "Abba! Father!"it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God,and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ--if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.Romans 8:14-17Just when I doubt,At the time I feel abandoned, unloved,Whenever I wonder if anyone really cares,My Abba, my Papa, wraps His arms around me and cradles my…

  • Quote of the Week - Julian of Norwich

    Jean Wise
    18 May 2013 | 3:30 am
    "The place which God takes in our soul he will never vacate, for in us is his home of homes, and it is the greatest delight for him to dwell there. . . . The soul who contemplates this is made like the one who is contemplated."~Julian of Norwich

  • Slowness - Spiritual Practice of Keeping Tempo

    Jean Wise
    16 May 2013 | 3:30 am
    I was amazed at the comments and emails I received after Tuesday’s post about soul rest. You all made me feel better realizing I am not the only one struggling with busyness. Your words also reminded me to be grateful for the ability to be busy and to savor the opportunities as blessings.Thank you.Practicing slowness is a valuable spiritual discipline. At one of the retreats I attended a few years ago we intentionally practiced slowness. We spoke slowly. We chewed our food longer. We put our forks down between bites. We deliberately looked one another in the eyes. The routine at this…
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    Ryan Peter. Writer.

  • Matthew and Money: Today is the day of provision

    Ryan Peter
    13 May 2013 | 5:56 am
    As per my previous posts (part one, part two) I’m doing a little study on the subject of money and the book of Matthew. I’m very interested in seeing not only what Jesus taught but also how he lived. And Matthew was a tax collector, so I have a suspicion he might have written a bit more on this subject than the other Gospel writers. I’m at Matthew 6, which starts with Jesus teaching on giving to the needy. The scripture is easy to follow: when we give to those in need, we’re not to announce it or glorify ourselves, announcing how wonderful we are to the whole world. We…

  • Matthew and Money: Follow Jesus and there will be enough

    Ryan Peter
    9 May 2013 | 5:51 am
    As you can see in my previous post, I’m doing a little study on Matthew in light of the subject of money. How did Jesus run his ministry from a financial point of view? What did he teach? But more importantly, how did he live? I covered Matthew 4 and the temptation of Christ in the last post. We’ll continue with Matthew 4, in particular vs 18 – 22: 18 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 19 ‘Come, follow me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I…

  • Matthew and Money: Jesus’ Provision

    Ryan Peter
    8 May 2013 | 12:01 am
    I’m in the process of doing a little study on not only what Jesus had to say about money, but how he lived with regards to money, and how he ran his ministry in terms of money. I’ll be publishing all my thoughts here in consecutive posts. Why Matthew? Well, it gives a good overview of Jesus’ ministry and Matthew was a tax collector, so I figured he might have some more to say on the issue of money than others. So let’s begin. Living on bread alone The first inference in Matthew I can see on this subject is in Matthew 4. Jesus has just been baptised by John and is led…
 
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    prayer coach: prayer blog

  • Gideon’s Wonderful Weakness

    Laura Miller
    22 May 2013 | 4:44 am
    The Gift of Weakness I love the story of Gideon, a man filled with insecurity and doubt, who delivers his people from an exceedingly strong enemy by the empowerment and direction of God.  In case the story is new to you, here is a brief synopsis:  Israel turned away from God to follow the idols of the Amorites, and so God removed his protection over them.  They were oppressed for seven years by the Midianites who destroyed their livestock and crops; Judges 6:5 says that the Midianite tents were as numerous as a swarm of locusts. The Israelites were so oppressed by them that they subsisted…

  • What Is the Full Extent of Jesus’ Love?

    Kevin Shorter
    14 May 2013 | 3:44 pm
    “Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.” – John 13:1 What was the greatest sign of Jesus’ love for us? Naturally we would think of the cross. It was there that Jesus took on our sins as His own and died so we would not have to. “For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God” (1 Peter 3:18). It is the greatest gift that can ever be given. “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this:…

  • I Have Stilled and Quieted My Soul

    Laura Miller
    8 May 2013 | 4:06 am
    But I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me. - Psalm 131:2 I grew up meditating on Psalm 131.  A friend gave me a copy of John Michael Talbot’s album, Come to the Quiet, when I was a teenager, and I listened to that album until I’d memorized every song.  It was an enormous comfort to me, and I realized later that almost all of the songs were simply arrangements of a selection of Psalms. As a person who was once prone to anxiety, I have sung Psalm 131 often.  Consequently, it is a passage of scripture I felt I…

  • Choosing a Life of Child-like Trust and Delight

    Laura Miller
    1 May 2013 | 5:25 am
    And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.  - Ephesians 3:17b-18 Sometimes, when we pursue God in prayer, we can become exhausted by our own earnestness, and by the anxiety that we aren’t praying well enough, often enough.  We can believe God’s love is meted out to us according to our performance.  We forget his grace.  When I was…

  • An Easy Way to Grow Your Friendships

    Kevin Shorter
    22 Apr 2013 | 3:08 pm
    “There is nothing that makes us love a man so much as praying for him.” - William Law Several years ago when I lived in Turkey, I started hanging out with a college student there who spoke English. We had some common interests which made it enjoyable to spend time him. The more we would do things together; the more I would pray for him. One particular prayer time, I felt God showed me that God created this student to be a leader of people and that he leads with his heart. People would see his love for them and would naturally follow him. I didn’t listen as much what the Spirit was…
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    Christian News Feed

  • Band Angels partners with award-winning artist Jaci Velasquez

    Gina Adams
    3 May 2013 | 12:42 pm
    Band Angels, bandages for kids featuring healing scriptures, has announced a strategic partnership with multi-award-winning artist Jaci Velasquez.  Velasquez (pictured right with Band Angels' creator Tim West) will serve as spokesperson for the product through promotional venues and make personal appearances on behalf of the company. Tim and Tami West, creators of Band Angels, say the relationship with Velasquez came about a couple of years ago when Tim was a guest on "Your Family Friendly Morning show with Doug and Jaci Velasquez" on Salem Broadcasting's…

  • Music Video featuring Special Needs Kids wins Telly Award

    Gina Adams
    10 Apr 2013 | 9:07 am
    The 34th Annual Telly Awards has named Jennifer Shaw as a Bronze winner in the Internet/Online Video-Music Video category for her song “Your Child.” Co-written by Shaw and Lifeway’s Songwriter of the Year, Paul Marino, the song is featured on Shaw’s latest album, Someday, produced by Marino.  The music video debuted a few weeks ago on Focus on the Family’s “I Am Pro-Life” Facebook page to over half a million followers and has been used by Joni Eareckson Tada’s organization, Joni and Friends, a worldwide organization which serves people with disabilities.

  • Popular Kids Record Label Celebrates 20th Anniversary

    Gina Adams
    7 Mar 2013 | 5:22 am
    Label releasing special collections of Platinum and Gold albums at discounted prices  Nashville, TN - To celebrate their 20th anniversary, the Cedarmont Kids record label is releasing two special collections of their award-winning children’s music.  "As we approached this significant anniversary for the label, we noticed that our original releases were still selling well after two decades,” said Mike Gay, President of Cedarmont. "In fact, all six titles have been certified Gold or Platinum, and just last year, the project Action Bible Songs was the number one non-seasonal…

  • Hall of Fame singer releases new audio and video projects

    Gina Adams
    7 Mar 2013 | 5:15 am
      Nashville, TN - New DVD and CD projects from Hall of Fame vocalist and five-time Grammy winner, Larnelle Harris, will be released via Seaboard Records/Captial Christian distributors (formerly EMI CMG) on March 26.  The projects entitled Larnelle Live in Nashville  feature a live concert performance from Harris along with guests Sandi Patty, Steve Green and Steve Amerson.  In addition to singing several of his hit songs, Harris also performs new tunes on the audio and video projects, including a brand-new duet from Harris and Patty.The duo’s previous two duets,…

  • Real-life Special Needs Families Featured in New Music Video

    Gina Adams
    8 Jan 2013 | 7:49 am
    Scene from "Your Child" video Top 40 Billboard artist Jennifer Shaw debuted her latest music video from her new album, Someday, this past weekend on Focus on the Family’s "I Am Pro-Life" Facebook page to over half a million followers.  Produced and directed by Jeffrey Kubach whose credits include the hit television shows "Survivor" and "Burn Notice," the video of the song "Your Child" features real-life photos and videos of special needs families from across the country.  Shaw, whose own son was diagnosed with Sensory Processing Disorder, invited special needs parents via her…
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    God and You

  • The Dangers of a Careless Whisper

    Sean
    17 May 2013 | 8:44 pm
    Ever heard yourself say “I wish I was dead” ? It’s funny how we carelessly say things in a spur of the moment. We don’t even think about the consequences of our words. Our words are dangerous.“I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”- Matthew 12:36-37Oh My G**Yes we do hear this ever so often – in movies, TV series, the radio, our friends – even ourselves. And we shrug it off. It’s just another emotionally…

  • 6 Actionable Steps to Overcoming Pornography

    Sean
    13 May 2013 | 10:27 am
    Pornography, lust, adultery, homosexuality, and all other immoral sexual practices are now being accepted as the norm. This is a sad truth that is happening in our world today. It is also wrong. I sincerely believe that the wrong kind of sexual appetites start within your room. It starts with watching pornography.The First GlimpseRemember the first time you’ve ever watched porn? The tingles? The excitement? The shame? The fear? The curiosity? It is a feeling we all have felt. It is also a feeling that dies down with watching porn after porn. Much like how an area of skin becomes…

  • Can you Really Get Whatever you Want from God?

    Marc Sorongon
    6 May 2013 | 1:04 am
    There’s this common verse that everyone dwells on when they want to claim something that they eagerly desire:“Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart” – Psalm 37:4 NIVA verse that may commonly be misinterpreted as “I might be able to get anything I want as long as I delight in the Lord”. But before we go to the desire part – a thought that everyone wants to happily think of whether it’s a dream job, the perfect mate, the salvation of someone dear, or anything else that we fervently want – there is a need first. And…

  • How to Escape the Rat Race of Love, Courtship and Relationships

    Sean
    25 Apr 2013 | 5:34 am
    Broken hearts, empty promises, nostalgic feelings, and the longing to love and be loved again. These are some of the now common phases of life that we go through. It seems normal to go through courtship, to have an ‘In a Relationship’ or ‘It’s Complicated’ status in Facebook. Sadly, it also seems normal to have your heart broken and charge it to experience. Don’t get trapped in the rat race of love, courtship and relationships.Note: It’s been a long while since I wrote about love and courtships. God has impressed this entry in my heart. I know that a…

  • Bound by Chains: How to Break free from Sin and Hell

    Sean
    18 Apr 2013 | 12:41 am
    I admit, this is not a popular topic. Not in this day and age. No matter how you pepper it with soft, comfortable words, hell is a place that will always signal horror, regret, damnation and eternal suffering to each of us. There are things that we don’t see – but oh how we feel it. And its effects extend to our physical, financial, intellectual, emotional, and spiritual life.We are all bound by chains.These aren’t your ordinary set of chains. These chains are special.Yep.Tailor-made for you and me.There’s one thing in common with our chains though – they are all…
 
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    Forgotten Voices Blog

  • the ancient paths

    Matt
    22 May 2013 | 6:00 am
      You’ll Find Your Way When I look at you I can see the road that lies ahead I can see the love and the sorrow Bright fields of joy Dark nights awake in a stormy bed I want to go with you But I can’t follow … Go back Go back to the ancient paths Lash your heart to the ancient mast And hold on whatever you do To the hope that’s taken hold of you And you’ll find your way If love is what you’re looking for The old roads lead to an open door You’ll find your way Back home -Andrew Peterson   “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask…

  • Change comes in simple, small steps of faith

    Ryan
    21 May 2013 | 6:00 am
    Looking back on the last 8 years of leading Forgotten Voices, I see a powerful, yet simple lesson. The most influential change comes in simple, small steps. We often look at the great challenges of our day and can become quickly overwhelmed. The orphan crises continues to grow, even as our ministry grows too. We need each of you to prayerfully consider the simple, small steps you can take to respond with us. I remember on my first trip to Africa talking to this woman, a GoGo, which means grandmother. She had 6 children, who all died from AIDS related illnesses (meaning they  died from…

  • Devotional: All peoples, praise the Lord

    Ellen
    20 May 2013 | 7:07 am
      Pastor Fibion serves Forgotten Voices as Spiritual Ministries Advisor. He was our former Zimbabwe Director, overseeing local partnerships with our African church partners. In his role, Fibion shares a weekly devotion with the Forgotten Voices family. Please enjoy this reflection from a pastor with a deep passion for bringing others to the heart of God.  5.20.13 – All peoples, praise the Lord Praise the Lord, all you nations;     extol him, all you peoples. For great is his love toward us,     and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord. Psalm…

  • This week on the ground: healing for Lydia

    Ellen
    16 May 2013 | 10:36 am
    For those who read and pray over our monthly prayer and praise items, I wanted to share a special update today. In our March Prayer & Praise, our Free Methodist Church partner in Zimbabwe asked for prayer for 17 year old Lydia. At the time she’d been admitted to the hospital with stomach pains and severe headaches. A little back-story: Though she lives in a house with 10 people, Lydia’s younger brother is her only living immediate family member. Both her parents have died.   She lives with her maternal grandparents, an aunt, some cousins and an uncle. For quite a few years,…

  • We Were All Once Students

    Alex Waardenburg
    15 May 2013 | 5:00 am
    Alex’s 2010 graduation from Messiah College. by Alex Waardenburg, volunteer Director of Student Relations It’s that time of year again. The weather is getting warmer, the days are getting longer, and students all over the USA are looking forward to the end of another school year. I myself  am going to be traveling to New England to watch my sister-in-law graduate from college and I am reminded that it was not all that long ago that I was a student. And when I reflect on my years as a student it is clear to me that I made it through those difficult years thanks to the support of…
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    adinwalls.co.za

  • You are the temple of the Holy Spirit

    Adin Walls
    21 May 2013 | 1:29 pm
    Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? (I Corinthians 3:16 NKJV) I remember being told that I was the temple of God’s Spirit, so whatever I allow into it must be worthy. So I had to avoid sinful movies, avoid sin, avoid people who swear etc. But that is not what this scripture is saying at all. In these first chapters of 1 Corinthians Paul is dealing with the Church disagreeing about who’s teachings they adhere to. Be it, Paul, Apollos or Cephas (Peter). And this discussion leads to the scripture I quoted. The text goes on to say…

  • Great wisdom from my old pastor

    Adin Walls
    17 May 2013 | 5:11 am
    We called him PK (Pastor Kevin). And I will never forget one of the greatest pieces of wisdom he ever gave me – “what’s in your hand?”. PK admitted he was not a brilliant preacher, he was a pastor. He cared for people and helped them through issues in their lives. But out of all his short Sunday sermons, I will never forget the one about Moses. Moses stepped up to the burning bush – afraid, insecure and a shadow of the man he used to be. But He was right where God wanted him. Not in a nasty way, like, “Aha! I have you right where I want you”. No,…

  • Mother Holly’s Tea Room and the collapse of my immune system (or… Gordon Ramsay, please help)

    Adin Walls
    12 May 2013 | 8:41 am
    The menu that would stop Gordon Ramsay’s heart… in a bad way My wife read something recently on a very reliable obscure web page by Dr Okumbongo, that too much sugar suppresses your immune system. If so, I’m in trouble… We took a drive up the Garden Route coast up the Rheenendal road. In the Jubilee Creek reserve we sought out an great little tea garden called Mother Holly’s Tea Room. It’s name depicts homeliness and quaint yesteryear cuisine. It isn’t. What it was, was a building, with tables, and people who professed to serve food. What they did in…

  • The Adin Walls weekly – gays, revolutionaries, South African YouTube celebs and a chat with The Brothers Streep

    Adin Walls
    11 May 2013 | 7:33 am
    This week was pretty intense, blog-wise. I found myself taking some pretty severe stances on some pretty touchy subjects. Firstly, the church thing. I drew a comparison between Martin Luther – the father of the reformation – with what’s happening to the church today. I believe there’s a major shift in how people see God, in that His grace extends to the entirety of our lives, not just a single moment of salvation. And people who are believing this are being ostracized in the church communities. Perhaps that doesn’t sound too extreme to you, then maybe you should…

  • Homosexuality, and everyone else the church rejects

    Adin Walls
    9 May 2013 | 12:40 am
    I was given a video to watch recently, where a Christian scholar/leader gives his reasons why the church rejects homosexuality. While I appreciated his honesty and candor – after some thought, I simply couldn’t shake the fact that I wholeheartedly disagreed with the whole thing.     You can view the video here: Like he says, there will be people who find fault with what he says, no matter what, because his argument falls short in some ways. But I would like to comment on some fundamental points. Firstly, race is not sacred. If it were we would be defiling it everyday.
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    The Sovereign God

  • God's Good Purpose for the Sabbath

    4 May 2013 | 3:18 pm
     Gen 2:3 So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.In the last post, which you can find here, I demonstrated that since the Sabbath was “made” at creation, and since Jesus taught that it was “made for man,” the Sabbath was something God created for all mankind. And since it was made by God before the fall, it is something that had to be good in nature.This truth, that the Sabbath is inherently good and especially good as far as man is concerned, is not well understood in the church at large today. It…

  • The Sabbath was Made for Man

    28 Apr 2013 | 6:34 pm
    Mar 2:27  And he said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.Before we get into this topic, the context of Mark 2 was the Sabbath, which was made at creation and which was included in the Ten Commandments. The one cited in the 4th Commandment, by its description is the very one God made at creation. In Mark 2:27, Jesus was not referring in any way to the ceremonial sabbaths, which were part of the law given to and written down by Moses. This distinction will clearly be demonstrated below and must be understood if we are to come to proper conclusions regarding…

  • Should Women Cover Their Heads in Worship (Part 2)

    21 Apr 2013 | 5:00 pm
    Having looked at some guiding principles, ones which we employ all the time understanding other parts of God’s word, let us now begin to examine 1 Corinthians 11:1-17.Be Imitators of ChristThe chapter begins with the ending of chapter 10. Paul says, “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.” (1 Cor 11:1) Some believe that those who numbered the Scriptures (the numbering not being inspired by God), made a mistake here by including this verse in chapter 11. Principally, it doesn't matter.The things that Paul says Christians should do in chapter 10, Christ and Paul would do. And the things…

  • Should Women Cover Their Heads In Worship? (Part 1)

    16 Apr 2013 | 10:01 am
    1Co 11:13  Judge for yourselves: is it proper for a wife to pray to God with her head uncovered? Before we can address the meaning of 1 Corinthians 11 with regards to head coverings, we must first lay some ground rules, which will keep us on a godly course throughout. Many in our day stumble over this passage because they apply faulty principles to the word of God, principles they would never apply to other portions of Scripture and not even to the second half of this same chapter.Here are some good things to keep in mind:1. The word of God is never subordinate to culture What is…

  • God's Resolution for You in 2013

    31 Dec 2012 | 10:41 am
    Rom 8:29  For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. Has God made a resolution of sorts for you for 2013?  He has, and He made it in eternity past.If you believe in Jesus Christ, your faith in Christ is something God predestined from the beginning. The word Paul uses in Romans 8:28 for "predestined" literally means "predetermined." God determined ahead of time, way ahead of time, that you were going to come to faith in Christ. This was His decision.Now, your coming to faith…
 
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    iwanttobelieveingod

  • The Pursuit of Love

    Justin
    10 May 2013 | 6:32 pm
    I am in a constant pursuit of God, and with knowing that God is love, I pursue love constantly.  I am not satisfied with having less when I know by reading scripture that there is more.  The pursuit itself makes life worth living because it’s not just a pursuit…  it involves a lot of finding […]

  • What are you living for?

    Justin
    5 May 2013 | 6:14 pm
    What are you living for?  I like to people watch.  I’ve always done it.  I can’t help but be amazed that there are so many of us; and each one of us with our own life, our own thoughts and our own goals.  We are all so different but yet we are very similar at […]

  • Good World > Bad World

    Justin
    30 Apr 2013 | 7:44 am
    Good World > Bad World Optimism: 1 : a doctrine that this world is the best possible world 2 : an inclination to put the most favorable construction upon actions and events or to anticipate the best possible outcome Pessimism: 1 : an inclination to emphasize adverse aspects, conditions, and possibilities or to expect the […]

  • Beam me up Jesus

    Justin
    28 Apr 2013 | 9:19 am
    But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. –Ephesians 2:4-6 A common theme this season has been perspective—how […]

  • Redemption Destroys Shame!

    Justin
    24 Apr 2013 | 10:21 pm
    Instead of your shame you shall have double honor… -Isaiah 61:7 God is doing it again—He’s freeing many from bondage! Redemption destroys shame and God is breaking the chains of shame at this very moment!  Hallelujah! Believe what He says about you today.  Draw the line in the sand and step over it to never […]
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    Ruminate Magazine

  • The Sea In Between

    Aubrey Allison
    21 May 2013 | 11:39 pm
    Review of The Sea In Between, a film by Mason Jar Music featuring Josh Garrels (2013) It’s graduation season. My friends here at art school are graduating around me, and while I still have a couple classes left to take, the future is approaching fast, and it’s intimidating. When my impending transition into “the real world” looms, and that world seems like a place where I might not measure up, I reach for a certain DVD, a film that effectively says, Take heart, and take part in creation: The Sea in Between. When it comes to categories, The Sea In Between is its own…

  • The Bright Light of Shipwreck

    Chris Hess
    14 May 2013 | 11:40 pm
    I‘ve never put out to sea, but I have a notion or two as what it might be like…out on a watertight (most of the time) vessel. The anticipation of the journey to start, stars and determination in the eyes of the captain and crew. Nights and days blur together. Infighting, mutiny, tense relations in close quarters. Murder, mourning, and heartache. Resolution. The arrival at a destination — docked in a port or at the bottom of an ocean. Let’s get this out of the way right up front: Josh Dillard is a fine, fine songwriter. His first two efforts The Kate EP (2007) and The Whale…

  • On Faith and Writing: Words as Worship

    Dave Harrity
    8 May 2013 | 12:56 am
    Poetry is about creation, about making something real from nothing, or very little—something that sings and dances from a grave deep within—a stone rolling away. It’s about speaking a world into existence. It is—as is said of the life of Christ—word becoming flesh. Make sure you read this right: it isn’t The Word becoming flesh—Christ himself—but a way in which we might enter into The Word. This moment is alive with something very real, but very much taken for granted: our words. It’s alive with language—God made real, dwelling among us. Poetry—our words made art—can…

  • Exert Yourself

    Kristin George Bagdanov
    30 Apr 2013 | 11:03 pm
    Confessions of a Reluctant Jane Austen Reader In college I regarded Jane Austen as less than literary. From the indirect knowledge I had gathered, she wrote about dancing and marriage. Boring to a girl who was more interested in reading Tolstoy and Dostoyevsky or pretending to understand Faulkner. What could Jane Austen teach me about living? (After writing this post I discovered that I certainly wasn’t the only one who felt this way). Now a few years later in graduate school, general requirements plus a desire for a reasonable schedule have landed me in a Jane Austen major author class. On…

  • A Different Kind of Lent

    Nicole Rollender
    23 Apr 2013 | 11:12 pm
    This year, I had planned on spending Easter in the hospital – my second child, a boy, was due a couple days before that. On January 24, a Thursday nine weeks before Easter, I woke up at 4 a.m. to feel a low tick-tick-tick inside the bowl of my pelvis bone, the same ticking I felt before my water broke with my daughter four years earlier. There’s no way this is happening, I thought, said a prayer and fell back to sleep. An hour later, I woke up, drenched in a sweet-smelling liquid – as I struggled up, I felt a gush and another. As my husband drove me to the hospital at 5 a.m., with our…
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    Faith That Inspires Action

  • Star Quarterback Colt McCoy & Mega-Church Pastor Matt Carter Lace up Combat Boots to Express Gratitude for American Troops

    Rev. Robert A. Crutchfield
    23 May 2013 | 8:53 am
    Colt McCoy and Matt Carter, authors of The Real Win: A Man’s Quest for Authentic Success, join the national military support nonprofit, The Boot Campaign AUSTIN, Texas, May 23, 2013 /Christian Newswire/ – Now featured on BootCampaign.com is the official Boot Photo of star quarterback Colt McCoy and Pastor Matt Carter.  By joining the Boot Campaign, the two men are helping the nonprofit in its strides to show tangible appreciation for our active military, raise awareness of the challenges they face upon return and support their transition home. This Boot Campaign photo release…

  • The Mission Society President Dick McClain Announces Retirement after 28 Years of Service

    Rev. Robert A. Crutchfield
    22 May 2013 | 10:00 am
      NORCROSS, Ga., May 22, 2013 /Christian Newswire/ – The Mission Society, which deploys missionaries globally in a variety of Christian ministries, has announced the retirement of Dick McClain, its president and longest-tenured member of staff, effective May 2014. Elected to the presidency in 2009, he first came to The Mission Society in 1986.   At its bi-annual meeting, the board also elected a new chairperson and four new members. A special presidential search taskforce held its first session.   McClain is known by his coworkers for his passion to take the gospel to…

  • Gleaning For The World Offers Humanitarian Aid to Oklahoma Tornado Survivors

    Rev. Robert A. Crutchfield
    21 May 2013 | 9:20 am
    CONCORD, Va., May 21, 2013 /Christian Newswire/ – Gleaning For The World, an international faith-based humanitarian aid organization headquartered in Virginia, is responding to the crisis in Moore, Oklahoma and surrounding areas. A two mile wide tornado has already claimed the lives of nearly 100 people, hundreds injured and caused wide-spread property damage. Working with local churches and organizations on the ground in Oklahoma City, Gleaning For The World is shipping bottled water, food, baby supplies, personal care items and more to assist in the crisis. “The damage we are…

  • The Digital Bible Society Announces Digital Libraries on Micro SD Chips

    Rev. Robert A. Crutchfield
    21 May 2013 | 9:05 am
    CONROE, Texas, May 21, 2013 /Christian Newswire/ — Imagine numerous Bibles, commentaries, audio scriptures, books, and evangelical movies, including The Jesus Film, GodMan, Hope, and God’s Story on a chip no bigger than your fingernail, all for free distribution. The Digital Bible Society has announced its newest additions to their digital libraries in Arabic, Persian, Turkish, Spanish, Russian and Vietnamese on Micro SD chips and DVDs. “Micro SD chips can be used on a number of devices including computers, tablets, cell phones, MP3 players, and hand held projectors and are…

  • ECCLESIAL MOVEMENTS: THE CHURCH CANNOT BE LOCKED WITHIN ITSELF

    Rev. Robert A. Crutchfield
    20 May 2013 | 6:38 am
    Vatican City, 18 May 2013 (VIS) – Today and yesterday, events for ecclesial movements of new lay communities and associations to reflect on the theme “I Believe! Increase our Faith!” were held in Rome as part of the Year of Faith. Over 120,000 people were gathered in St. Peter’s Square this afternoon when the Pope arrived at 5:30pm and, after greeting the pilgrims, initiated the Pentecost Vigil. After the opening welcome by Archbishop Rino Fisichella, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelization, the image of the Virgin Mary Salus Populi Romani was…
 
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    Richie Lewis

  • The Remedy For Rebellion

    Richie
    17 May 2013 | 2:26 pm
    The Bible says Satan fell from heaven like “lightning.” No due process. No constitutional rights. Dear we say, no grace! Thud! Must’ve been one hell of a landing. Hard to fathom isn’t it, that rebellion would rise in the ranks of God’s elite. The archangel Lucifer, described as the shining one, conceived to topple God. [...]

  • Be A Motion Maker

    Richie
    26 Apr 2013 | 12:23 am
    Life is precious beyond comprehension. Not based on what we get from the world, but what we give to it. The opportunity to positively impact one life, let alone many; to impart a word or deed that moves someone closer towards the God-given greatness in them. That’s living. Everyone you touch, touches somebody else. And [...]

  • How Dr Martin Luther King Moved A Nation

    Richie
    21 Jan 2013 | 10:46 am
    It’s Dr Martin Luther King Jr. Day in America today. Take moment to digest the contents of his “I Have A Dream” speech delivered on the footsteps of the Lincoln Memorial in 1963,and it’s not hard to understand why. I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today [...]

  • It’s Easy To Be A Hater

    Richie
    18 Jan 2013 | 10:25 am
    So Lance fessed up. Yes he cheated. Yes he lied. Yes he bullied. And yes, he made a truckload of money in the process. Sounds like a lot of professions, and people. As to the weight his apology carries from the corner he’s boxed into, is a question for those personally affected. Not us. I [...]

  • You’ve Got The Goods

    Richie
    15 Jan 2013 | 11:33 am
    David didn’t need Saul’s stuff to slay the giant. He was already fully equipped within. But what about all the others? Saul and his army numbered thousands yet they were found wanting. And waiting. Whining and complaining. Whatever they did, it amounted to nothing. So feeble in fact, that God called their inaction a reproach. Not [...]
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    Evolution, Creation, Sermons And Christian Music

  • Fingerprints of Creation - Dr Robert Gentry

    Samuel Kadyakale
    20 Feb 2015 | 9:27 am
    Dr Robert Gentry a Geologist presents evidence from Granite that flies in the face of present scientific beliefs that the universe evolved and was not created. It details the nature of polonium halos and how they provide evidence that the Earth was rapidly formed and did not cool over millions of years. The video, shot mostly in California takes the viewer to picturesque Yosemite National Park during the winter and the regions surrounding Palm Springs and Bishop where granites are plainly visible. Three-dimensional graphic animations are included to help convey the process of halo…

  • Is Islam in Bible Prophecy? - Dr Dwight Nelson

    Samuel Kadyakale
    28 Jan 2012 | 10:26 am
    In the following videos Dr Dwight Nelson of Pioneer Memorial Church tackles the question, Is Islam in Bible Prophecy. He goes to among other Bible books, the book of Revelation to explain the origins of Islam. He goes further to show how God has used the sons of Ishmael in the Bible to preserve the truths of the bible and to preserve God's people. He gives among others the time when Joseph's brothers wanted to kill him but ended up selling him to the Ishmaelites who eventually sold him to the Egyptians. Through this intervention God saved his people from famine when they were allowed to…

  • Is Islam in Apocalyptic history - Dr Dwight Nelson

    Samuel Kadyakale
    21 Jan 2012 | 12:52 pm
    In a series entitled,"The Star Is Still Rising Over Islam", Dr Dwight Nelson or Pioneer Memorial Church at Andrews University in the US. preaches on this controversial topic on the part Islam will play in the end of the world. Has God used Islam just as he has used Catholics, baptists etc or is He still using Islam in spreading his will on the earth. Could it be that God had a hand in the rise of this monotheistic religion? Before you answer this question remember that God promised to be with the children of Ishmael until the end of the world. Is He still keeping his promise over the Arabs…

  • Quotable Quotes on Christianity

    Samuel Kadyakale
    17 Jan 2012 | 12:10 pm
    "History's greatest revolution began, not under a red star in Petrogad in 1917, but under the star of Bethlehem 2000 years ago in the cradle where God invaded history. "Men begin revolutions with riots and gunfire. God began His revolution by singling out Mary, a simple country girl,and by telling her that the Holy Spirit would cause the very Son of God to be born to her. Mary consented, and the revolution began. That's how God always starts revolutions: by quietly in­vading ordinary lives that are open to Him."— Christianity Today 4/12/70.

  • Barry Black - How Then Shall We Live

    Samuel Kadyakale
    16 Oct 2011 | 10:00 am
    In the following video US senate chaplain Barry C Black preaches on the title How Then Shall We Live. He preached this sermon at a camp meeting in Bermuda.
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    Living By Faith Blog

  • A Reader Asks: If Bad Things Can Happen Then Why Not Worry?

    Steve Fuller
    23 May 2013 | 8:00 am
    Why Not Worry? A few days ago a reader emailed a question someone had raised in her small group – How is it not justifiable to worry about a fear that comes true?  For example, if I fear cancer for years, then get cancer, I feel justified for fearing it because I was right.  Can you speak to that? I’m sure many have wondered about this, so I thought I’d post my answer here. Dear Reader Thanks for sharing this question.  Here’s my restatement of what the person is asking – I hear that I should not worry or be afraid; that instead of worrying or being afraid, I…

  • How You Can Take Refuge In God

    Steve Fuller
    21 May 2013 | 8:00 am
    Take Refuge In God More than 40 times the book of Psalms urges us to take refuge in God.  But what does that mean? The word “refuge” makes us think of fleeing into a castle tower where we are protected from danger.  That’s comforting. But how do we actually take refuge in God?  And when we do, what dangers will He protect us from? Tough Week It was Sunday morning before our worship gathering.  I had been through a tough week — feeling fear, doubt and discouragement. So I pulled out my packet of memory verses to fight the fight of faith, and started with Psa 36:7…

  • Are We Misunderstanding The Great Commission?

    Steve Fuller
    17 May 2013 | 8:00 am
    The Great Commission I just returned from a 2-day Acts 29 Pastors’ Conference.  It was a powerful time of worship, learning, reconnecting with other pastors, and hanging out with three other guys from Mercy Hill. But my main take-away involves the Great Commission.  Recently I’ve been studying the Great Commission with other leaders at Mercy Hill, thinking about how it’s easily misunderstood, and pondering how we can more faithfully obey it. And God used this conference to crystallize these thoughts — so I’ll share them here. Here’s the Great Commission…

  • How Is Faith The Substance Of Things Hoped For?

    Steve Fuller
    14 May 2013 | 10:00 am
    What Is Faith? To answer that question, most people immediately think of Heb 11:1 – Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. They conclude that faith means having an assurance and an inner conviction that God will fulfill all of His promises. And that is absolutely true.  That’s what Heb 11:1 teaches. But I believe it’s also teaching something more. One reason is because the Greek word translated “assurance” also has the meaning “substance,” or “reality” (like in Heb 1:3, where it’s translated…

  • Let This Story Of God’s Provision Strengthen Your Faith

    Steve Fuller
    9 May 2013 | 9:00 am
    A Season Of Trials My grandfather left orange growing to preach the Gospel through the radio.  But this brought him into a season of trials. Here’s how he described this to his listeners – We have come to know God in a new way because of the trials of these past three years.  We have known what it is to have much sickness; financial losses; to have those turn against us and seek to hurt us who we thought were true friends; to have our only child brought down to death’s door on two occasions; and to have gone before the microphone, after sleepless nights, so burdened and…
 
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    Darrell Creswell

  • God Hit Me and I Was Captured by Grace

    darrellcreswell
    23 May 2013 | 6:37 pm
    Is it possible to pray, go to church, give an offering, recite a prayer and not have a personal relationship with Him, or experience His presence? You better believe it is. And that it what is so sad, that many... Read More ›

  • Are you Blue? – Let God’s Blessings Overtake You

    darrellcreswell
    19 May 2013 | 9:08 am
    Are you blue? Do you find yourself struggling at times;  burdened down, worried, frustrated, or angry? Does it sometimes seem that no matter what you do, you just cant get ahead or get things right? Galatians 3:3 I would like... Read More ›

  • The Childrens Bible in a Nutshell- Judas Asparagus – Bible Humor

    darrellcreswell
    15 May 2013 | 5:51 am
    The following is supposedly written by a child. After reading it I am of the opinion it was written by an adult but it is entertaining nevertheless. I hope it puts a smile on your face. It was sent to... Read More ›

  • Desperate, Afraid, Angry at God? -Trust – Great Stories of Inspiration from the Bible

    darrellcreswell
    12 May 2013 | 8:15 am
    Sometimes we are in the midst of challenges and trials so deep that we wonder if we will ever get our head above water. Many times as we face extreme difficulties in life we feel deserted by God. We feel... Read More ›

  • Famous Men of the Bible Twitter Bios – Fun With the Bible

    darrellcreswell
    10 May 2013 | 8:10 am
    Just some fun today. There are 160 characters allowed for a Twitter Bio. If famous men of the Bible had a twitter account, how would their bio read? The following are  fun examples that they might have used. May the... Read More ›
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    The Book

  • Genesis 40:41-57 Joseph Exalted

    Daniel
    14 May 2013 | 6:39 pm
    Thirteen years had passed since he was sold as a slave by his brothers, but Joseph had persevered under trial, and God delivered him, and rewarded him for his righteousness. Joseph matured in his faith, and his hardship strengthened his relationship with God. All things given to Joseph were blessings from God. The exaltation of Joseph was … Continue reading »

  • Genesis 41:1-40 Pharaoh’s Dreams

    Daniel
    8 May 2013 | 4:43 pm
     The imagery of Pharaoh’s dreams disturbed him. The civilization of Egypt was built on the Nile River. The river flooded annually, and deposited the sediment and soil onto the land needed for agriculture. If there was no or very little flooding, there would be famine. One dream was about livestock, the other about the harvest, but … Continue reading »

  • Genesis 40: Joseph and the Prisoners

    Daniel
    1 May 2013 | 5:09 pm
    The cupbearer served the Pharaoh wine and the baker his food, through which the Pharaoh was susceptible to poison, so his trustworthiness of these officials was paramount. The offenses of these men is not made known. They had been in prison for some time before they had the dreams. In this time Joseph had become … Continue reading »

  • Genesis 39: Joseph and Potiphar’s Wife

    Daniel
    28 Apr 2013 | 5:02 pm
    There were many places or people a slave could be sold to, but the hand of God did not deliver Joseph to cruelty. Joseph was of good character and ethic, and blessed by God. Potiphar was captain of the guard, of leader of the Pharaoh’s security. Though Joseph was betrayed and abandoned by his brothers, … Continue reading »

  • Genesis 37:12-36 Joseph Sold by His Brothers

    Daniel
    24 Apr 2013 | 5:38 pm
    Joseph was quick and eager to please his father. Jacob trusted Joseph to complete the task honestly. There is a curious brief mention of a man telling Joseph where to find his brothers. Without this man directing Joseph, his journey may have taken a different path. Joseph’s brothers recognized him from a distance, probably because … Continue reading »
 
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    The New Life In Christ

  • Having God’s “Unreasonable” Faith

    njut tabi godlove
    21 May 2013 | 10:09 am
    Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you —Matthew 6:33 When we look at these words of Jesus, we immediately find them to be the most revolutionary that human ears have ever heard. “. . . seek first the kingdom of God . . . .” Even the most spiritually-minded of us argue the exact opposite, saying, “But I must live; I must make a certain amount of money; I must be clothed; I must be fed.” The great concern of our lives is not the kingdom of God but how we are going to take care of ourselves to live. Jesus reversed the order by…

  • Reaching Beyond Our Grasp

    njut tabi godlove
    9 May 2013 | 5:22 am
    Where there is no revelation [or prophetic vision], the people cast off restraint . . . —Proverbs 29:18 There is a difference between holding on to a principle and having a vision. A principle does not come from moral inspiration, but a vision does. People who are totally consumed with idealistic principles rarely do anything. A person’s own idea of God and His attributes may actually be used to justify and rationalize his deliberate neglect of his duty. Jonah tried to excuse his disobedience by saying to God, “. . . I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and…

  • Vicarious Intercession

    njut tabi godlove
    4 May 2013 | 9:37 am
     . . having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus . . . —Hebrews 10:19 Beware of thinking that intercession means bringing our own personal sympathies and concerns into the presence of God, and then demanding that He do whatever we ask. Our ability to approach God is due entirely to the vicarious, or substitutionary, identification of our Lord with sin. We have “boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus.” Spiritual stubbornness is the most effective hindrance to intercession, because it is based on a sympathetic “understanding” of things we see in…

  • The Patience To Wait for the Vision

    njut tabi godlove
    2 May 2013 | 6:28 am
    Though it tarries, wait for it . . . —Habakkuk 2:3 Patience is not the same as indifference; patience conveys the idea of someone who is tremendously strong and able to withstand all assaults. Having the vision of God is the source of patience because it gives us God’s true and proper inspiration. Moses endured, not because of his devotion to his principles of what was right, nor because of his sense of duty to God, but because he had a vision of God. “. . . he endured as seeing Him who is invisible” (Hebrews 11:27). A person who has the vision of God is not devoted to a cause or to…

  • Activate The Glorious Life In You!

    njut tabi godlove
    30 Apr 2013 | 6:58 am
    For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation (Romans 10:10).   You have come into a place of victory, prosperity and divine health. You were transported or catapulted into this glorious place the moment you received Jesus as your Lord and savior. However, you won’t enjoy this wonderful gift, which God gave you until you learn to use your mouth to give life to them. You can use your mouth to keep your body healthy just as you use the same to eat. This you do by continually speaking words that are consistent with God’s Word.
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    A Life of Gratitude

  • Grandma would be so proud!

    Tori Shaw
    21 May 2013 | 6:31 pm
    If someone had told me 10 years ago that at the age of 30 I would start knitting, crocheting  and canning homemade strawberry preserves, I would have laughed very loudly! I have picked up some very... To read today's full post, please go to the following link: http://torishaw.blogspot.com/

  • The Source of my Significance

    Tori Shaw
    20 May 2013 | 6:24 pm
    Last night Bryan and I were watching videos on the "I am Second" website. If you've never visited this website, I highly recommend it. It contains video testimonials meant to inspire people to live... To read today's full post, please go to the following link: http://torishaw.blogspot.com/

  • Caring for the Care Center

    Tori Shaw
    18 May 2013 | 12:50 pm
    High Point Pregnancy Care Center's Memorial Garden Part of our Connection Class (Sunday School class)            Before Picture     After Picture                                            ... To read today's full post, please go to the following link: http://torishaw.blogspot.com/

  • Brotherly Love

    Tori Shaw
    17 May 2013 | 6:01 pm
    "How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity." Psalm 133:1 I can't believe that Evan is 19 months today. He is really growing up fast! I have really been aware of how big he's... To read today's full post, please go to the following link: http://torishaw.blogspot.com/

  • Uncomplicated, Relaxing, Lovely Day

    Tori Shaw
    15 May 2013 | 6:45 pm
    Some days it seems like I am overly aware of God's sweet blessings. Today was one of those days. My boys haven't been feeling 100% for the past few days but this morning, when we woke up, everyone... To read today's full post, please go to the following link: http://torishaw.blogspot.com/
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    Latest content from FaithVillage

  • Jesus Became Sin for Us

    24 May 2013 | 2:40 am
    Posted by Jeremy Myers with Till He Comes "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God" (2 Corinthians 5:21). 2 Corinthians 5:21 may be the most horrifying verse in Scripture, for it reveals the fact that Jesus, who was holy, righteous, and perfectly sinless, became sin for us. God made Him who knew no sin, to be sin for us. The Horror of the Cross Can you imagine the horror, the shame, and the guilt that poured upon Jesus while He hung upon the cross? We, who are born in sin and who are accustomed to sin’s constant presence within…

  • Your Calling to Do Hard Things

    24 May 2013 | 2:40 am
    Posted by Blake Coffee with ChurchWhisperer.com "Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?' And I said, 'Here am I. Send me!' He said, 'Go and tell this people: Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving. Make the heart of this people calloused; make their ears dull and close their eyes'"  (Isaiah 6:8-10). Believe me when I tell you there are parts of my work as an attorney which I do not like. Likewise, there are parts of my work as a church mediator which are hard and not very rewarding. There are parts of my…

  • Create Your Own M.A. to Maintain an Evangelistic Edge

    24 May 2013 | 2:40 am
    Posted by Brian Jones with BrianJones.com Every Christian needs to ask, “How can God use me evangelistically throughout my entire life, not just in a short two- or three-year spurt after my conversion?” How many Christians do you know who used to evangelize? They can proudly point to a time in their lives when person after person came to Christ through their efforts, then for some reason they just stopped. God wants us to lead people to faith in Christ until we take our last breaths. He wants us to be more effective today than yesterday, more effective this year than…

  • Michigan Couple Adopts Last Buckner Russian Orphan

    24 May 2013 | 2:40 am
    Posted by Nathan Chandler with Buckner InternationalA Michigan couple adopts a 16-year-old from Russia as Russian President Vladmir Putin closes the door on inter-country adoptions by the United States. Learn more about the ways you can Be a Family to a child at http://www.beafamily.org/.

  • Questions to Ask Before Choosing a Worship Music Set

    24 May 2013 | 2:40 am
    Posted by Nathanael Schulte with The Quick & Dirty Worship Leader Picking a worship set is one of those things I love and hate as a leader. Sometimes I have a song in mind I’ve been waiting to do, sometimes nothing sounds right, but it’s often somewhere in between. Usually it starts with having a good song filter, and that comes down to these questions: What do I want the set to feel like as a whole? Does it seem like an upbeat week? A quiet, reflective week? A week to pour out my heart, good, bad and ugly? Does the song I’m looking at fit that feel?   Is there continuity between this…
 
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    Global Church

  • Delhi or Oklahoma:Helping Children Process Trauma

    Craig
    21 May 2013 | 2:06 pm
    Love in action: This is what we’re witnessing in Moore, Oklahoma. The outpouring of help in the wake of this tornado is something we expect of our fellow citizens, and yet it never fails to provide hope to those of us standing in the wings.  While it’s necessary to meet the physical needs of those impacted by this storm, we’re also concerned with the emotional, spiritual, and mental fallout. At Global Mission at David C Cook, we invest in the inner lives of children, the portion in desperate need of soul care. We cling to the Scripture, “For life is more than food, and the body more…

  • Restoring the other Half-a-Child:A Story of Redemptive Love

    Craig
    13 May 2013 | 3:27 pm
    Sai Jyoti, Shweta, and Hari Priya have each other’s backs. The three sisters are clothed, fed, and sheltered in a Christian orphanage. Yet they are far from okay. A crippling past and an uncertain future stalk them. The sisters are part of a family of Dalits – a people known as the “untouchables” – the lowest caste in Indian society. True to Hindu beliefs, each family member believes his or her life is a heritage determined by the good deeds or bad deeds committed in a prior life. As a Hindu, your lot in life is decided while you’re still in the womb. Children in lower castes are…

  • Human Rights at the Cross

    Craig
    30 Apr 2013 | 10:18 am
    Brain injuries and severe physical trauma from sexual abuse took the life of a 4-year old little girl in Ghansor, India this week. The murderer lured her from her home with the promise of bananas. This act follows the high profile rape and torture of another five-year old girl in New Delhi – and the sexual assault of other little girls – in recent weeks. A study released recently by the Asian Center for Human Rights (and reported in the New York Times) states that 43,338 cases of child rape were reported in India from 2001 to 2011. The number of cases reported annually more than tripled…

  • Father Adopts Orphaned Mother

    Craig
    12 Apr 2013 | 1:26 pm
    Abandoned by her children, widowed several years, and with no family to speak of, Laxmi became an orphan at age 60. It’s a sad story with a miraculous, joy-filled ending. A concerned Father pursed Laxmi and adopted her into His family. For the first time in her life, she is loved beyond measure. After her husband passed away, Laxmi (pictured above) summoned the courage and determination to raise two daughters and two sons. She built a house as well, and like any good mom, helped each of her kids find the right spouse. As Laxmi grew older, her children urged her to sell the family home. She…

  • Family Rescued in Former Soviet Union

    Craig
    2 Apr 2013 | 3:14 pm
    When you join in the cause to meet the spiritual hunger of children in war-torn, poor, and developing countries, you’ll hear tragic stories. It gets pretty dark. But the Gospel changes everything, and doors seen and unseen open, and light breaks through. Despair transforms into hope. Ten year-old Marsha attended a community children’s club and believed in Jesus after reading the Story of Jesus (a compelling, evangelistic booklet hand-drawn by Marvel and DC Comics artist, Sergio CarielloHer new found faith filled her with a joy that could not be contained. After club time, she ran home…
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    A Convo With God

  • Pride

    1 May 2013 | 8:39 am
    When pride comes, then comes shame; But with the humble is wisdom. (Proverbs 11:2 NKJV)Being humble does not require us to push ourselves down or to put the needs of everyone else before our needs. True humility comes in understanding who we are in God's eyes. We are His children, His friends and His beloved through faith. When we start to believe that we are who God says we are then we no longer feel the need to lift ourselves up with our own power. In due season God will lift us up according to His will and His purpose. We can never lift ourselves to the heights that He has for us because…

  • What Does Love Look Like?

    30 Apr 2013 | 10:54 am
    We know that God is love but how can we share His love with the world? Here is a simple tool from Heidi Baker. Every moment and in every encounter with another person we can ask The Lord "what does love look like to this person". When He answers and we do what He says we become the love of God. Lets try this and see what happens.

  • Free from Anger

    30 Apr 2013 | 9:58 am
    “Be angry, and do not sin” : do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil. (Ephesians 4:26, 27 NKJV)It is ok to feel anger when we are wronged or when someone that we love is hurt. It is a natural response at times. But let's remember that at the end of the day we are called to love. Sometimes there are wrongs that seem so big that it is impossible to forgive, impossible to let go. But life is rarely as it seems to be! When we are in that place lets cry out to The Lord. He will free us from anger so that we leave the shackles of unforgiveness and enter into the…

  • Thankful

    29 Apr 2013 | 8:04 am
    Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls— Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. (Habakkuk 3:17, 18 NKJV)It may seem like everything is falling apart. Maybe you have problems with your relationship or no relationship at all. Maybe you have problems with your job or no job at all. Our present circumstances can seem like impossible mountains to climb. But we have been promised salvation…

  • True Freedom

    27 Apr 2013 | 8:57 am
    Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. (II Corinthians 3:17 NKJV)In our society freedom is described as the ability to do what we want when we want to but this doesn't fully capture the complete essence of freedom. How free are you to not do what you don't want to do? Do you struggle with fear that causes you to run instead of stand firm, procrastination that encourages you to lay down instead of stand up, addictions that cause you to do what you want in the present moment even though you know it will result in lasting pain in your life in the long…
 
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    Eric Metaxas

  • Aidlingen, Germany

    Eric Metaxas
    19 May 2013 | 10:31 am
    Eric will speak several times on Sunday May 19th at Pfingsten 2013 (Pfingstjugendtreffen) in Aidlingen, Germany.

  • My Speech to the Graduates…

    Eric Metaxas
    13 May 2013 | 2:08 pm
    On May 4th, I had the great honor of delivering the commencement address to the graduating 2013 Class of Palm Beach Atlantic University. Click here for the video of my speech!

  • My new book SEVEN MEN is available!

    Eric Metaxas
    9 May 2013 | 6:22 am
    AND HERE IS THE WEBSITE!!!

  • Danbury, Connecticut

    Eric Metaxas
    9 May 2013 | 5:35 am
    Eric will be speaking at an event in his hometown of Danbury, Connecticut on the evening of May 9th. Details TBA.

  • Washington, DC

    Eric Metaxas
    8 May 2013 | 8:34 am
    Eric will be speaking at a special event held in the U.S. Capitol on the evening of May 8th. Details TBA.
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    Pathways International » Miguel

  • Leading Edge Missiology and Ecclesiology?

    Miguel
    23 May 2013 | 7:03 am
    When it comes to God’s Mission and its Church, words like recapture, regain, reclaim, and even resuscitate are used to reinforce the idea that the only way forward for the Mission and its Church is to go retro.  In order to advance as a church, we must certainly understand our history, but I’m not so sure we need to emulate, copy, or worse, mimic it.  Popular are thoughts like; “We must learn to change our way of thinking to a more Hebraic form,” or “We must embrace those components and catalysts of revivals gone by.”   Living in a developing country…

  • Free R.C. Sproul Library (Crucial Questions Series) For Kindle

    Miguel
    22 May 2013 | 6:28 am
    Does Prayer Change Things?  Free Download           Can I Be Sure I’m Saved?  Free Download           Can I Know God’s Will?  Free Download             Can I Trust the Bible?  Free Download           Who Is Jesus?  Free Download           What is Faith?  Free Download             What does it mean to be Born Again?  Free Download           How Should I Live in This World?  Free Download…

  • I’m 76.5% Completely Sold Out To Jesus!

    Miguel
    21 May 2013 | 11:01 am
    I love it when someone asks me if I’m “100% Sold Out To Jesus.”  Well, I don’t really love it, but it is an interesting provocation.  Actually, it smarts just a little.  I suppose this sort of introspection is healthy at times, but I think it’s based on a lie.  The lie is that one can be 100% sold out to or committed to Jesus.  Are you completely, radically, and one hundred percent sold out to Jesus?     Are you finished being sanctified?  Are you without sin? Does your devotion to Jesus never wane? Does asking this question of others help them?

  • The Problem of a Missional Prophet

    Miguel
    20 May 2013 | 7:45 am
    Jesus said, “There is no Prophet who is despised except in his city and among his kindred and in his house.” (Mark 6:4) Aramaic Bible in Plain English (©2010)  The New American Standard Bible puts it this way: “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and among his own relatives and in his own household.” Sure, “Missional” is a buzzword and admittedly is trendy and slightly hipsterish.  This however, does not negate the import of being missionary-ish wherever the Lord has you.  It is not radical to be on mission with God.  In fact, it’s…

  • Evangelization or Mission?

    Miguel
    16 May 2013 | 6:35 am
    The French Catholic theologian Claude Geffré prefers “evangelization” to “mission” because of the latter term’s territorial connotation and its historical link with the process of colonization.” Put aside the Roman Catholic theology for a moment and focus on the concern of Claude Geffré.   With that in mind, consider these questions:       1.  Are the objects or objectives of mission and evangelism different? 2.  Is Evangelism the umbrella for Mission or vice versa? 3.  How can evangelism or mission be done without Colonization or…
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    truescream.com| Christian Life Style

  • Daily Scriptures On Fear

    Admin
    24 May 2013 | 2:41 am
    Daily Scriptures On Fear (New King James Version) Inspiration We use the word “fear” to describe a feeling of dread for the future, and some people claim that this kind of fear is what drives us to practice religion. But humanity’s need for God cannot be so simply explained. The Bible uses the word “fear” in many ways that we do not. Biblical fear is not just a dread of the future, especially not the fear of God-which is more like a feeling of worship or awed respect. The simpler kind of fear appears in the Bible as well: we are told that “It is a fearful thing to fall into the…

  • Daily Bible Reading – Encouraging And Inspiring Verses To Uplift Your Spirit (Volume 1- 6)

    Admin
    23 May 2013 | 2:38 am
    Daily Bible Reading – Encouraging And Inspiring Verses To Uplift Your Spirit (Volume 1- 6) (Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest Matthew 11:28-30) Copyright 2013 – Olutoyin Oguntimehin – All Rights Reserved Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James And English Standard Version Of The Bible Introduction Uplift:- Dictionary Definition – To raise; elevate. To raise to a higher social, intellectual, or moral level or condition. To raise to spiritual or emotional heights In this ebook there are 7 chapters and for each topic i have provided…

  • Daily Bible Reading – Encouraging And Inspiring Verses To Uplift Your Spirit (Volume 1- 6)

    Admin
    23 May 2013 | 2:19 am
    Daily Bible Reading – Encouraging And Inspiring Verses To Uplift Your Spirit (Volume 1- 6) (Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest Matthew 11:28-30) By Olutoyin Oguntimehin – All Rights Reserved Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James And English Standard Version Of The Bible Table Of Contents Introduction Uplift:- Dictionary Definition – To raise; elevate. To raise to a higher social, intellectual, or moral level or condition. To raise to spiritual or emotional heights In this ebook there are 7 chapters and for each topic i have…

  • Daily Bible Reading- Encouraging And Inspiring Verses To Uplift Your Spirit

    Admin
    22 May 2013 | 5:41 am
    This ebook brings you closer to God. It makes you experience God’s warmth, peace, mercy and grace that is beyond all human undestanding. Reading through it brings to light the reason for our existence as humans. Who we are, who created us, and what our creator wants from us, and how He wants us to live our lives every seconds, minute, hour and day that goes by. It imprints upon your mind the thought of a supreme being (God) who has molded us and gave us the breathe of life and is always ready to direct you every step of the journey you take in life, if you allow Him in. He is always…

  • THERE IS GREATNESS ALL AROUND YOU, YOU TOO CAN BE A GREAT PERSON

    Admin
    20 May 2013 | 4:20 am
    There is greatness all around you Use it . You too can be a great person There Is Greatness All Around You —Use It. You Too Can Be A Great Person Learn to be a great person, which of course you can in this eBook. Get yours now There are many people who could be Olympic champions, All-Americans who have never tried. I’d estimate five million people could have beaten me in the pole vault the years I won it, at least five million. Men who were stronger, bigger and faster than I was could have done it, but they never picked up a pole, never made the feeble effort to pick their legs off…
 
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    Raising the Standard

  • Books

    viczarley
    12 May 2013 | 4:23 pm
    In this podcast, I, Vic Zarley solo while Eva visits her mom in Louisville.  I talk about books that have made a great impact on us.

  • Confessions

    viczarley
    7 May 2013 | 11:08 am
    This podcast is from October of 2012. I had to remove a copyrighted song from this podcast and I am placing it back up. Enjoy this if you haven’t heard it before.

  • Thoughts from “He Used a Stone”

    viczarley
    1 May 2013 | 4:07 am
    Today Eva and I discuss issues from an inspirational book that I downloaded from Amazon for my Kindle entitled, “He Used a Stone” by Andrew Mullek. We discuss the issue of allowing God to move through more than just the pastor during a church service and why that isn’t done as often as it should be. God bless you!

  • Overcoming Fear

    viczarley
    12 Apr 2013 | 4:50 am
    Today Eva and I discuss the spiritual shape of the nation and how to avoid fear (as much as that is possible). We conclude with one of our own songs, “When the Fire Is Over” which is available for free at GodlyChristianMusic.com or, to help support our ministry, can be purchased at Amazon.com as part of an album or as a single. Be blessed.

  • A Special Prayer from Russell Stendal

    viczarley
    31 Mar 2013 | 2:46 am
    Eva and I share a special prayer from Russell Stendal’s book, “God’s Plan for Spiritual Battle” which I downloaded for my Kindle. We then discuss the prayer’s major points. God bless our listeners.
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    Blasts From The Trumpet

  • Pentecost Today: The Government, Bride, Jubilee

    Apostle Jacquelyn F. Fedor
    6 May 2013 | 1:00 am
    As we have discussed in many past blasts, there is much hidden manna, nutrients for our minds, to be found in God's feasts. The Feast of Weeks (Leviticus 23:15), or Pentecost (Acts 2:1), known also as the Feast of Harvest (Exodus 23:16) and Day of First Fruits (Numbers 28:26) is certainly no exception. Continue reading →

  • Mind of God / Mind of Satan: You Choose: Part 2

    Apostle Jacquelyn F. Fedor
    22 Apr 2013 | 1:00 am
    For 7 thousand years mankind has lived and built a world on Satan's knowledge. The world's systems, education, economics, religion, political, are therefore stained and corrupted, a farce, a mess! Continue reading →

  • Mind of God / Mind of Satan – You Choose: Part 1

    Apostle Jacquelyn F. Fedor
    8 Apr 2013 | 1:00 am
    For 7 thousand years man has been taught to cherish knowledge, unfortunately the wrong knowledge. Continue reading →

  • PASSOVER From the 7th Day to the Eighth: Be Set Free

    Apostle Jacquelyn F. Fedor
    25 Mar 2013 | 1:00 am
    In Leviticus 23:2 the Lord says “these are my Holy Convocations, these are My feasts” and He lists them. The food served at these feasts is not food for the body, but food for our minds. Continue reading →

  • The Tables are Turned

    Apostle Jacquelyn F. Fedor
    11 Mar 2013 | 1:00 am
    At the fall of man, Adam and Eve must have been very uncomfortable in their own skin so to speak. They had by choice chosen a knowledge completely foreign to anything they had ever known Continue reading →
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    adamcollier

  • 18 Life Lessons from Joseph

    Adam Collier
    18 May 2013 | 5:33 am
    Reblogged from adamcollier:The story of Joseph is full of life lessons that can guide and help us in life if we are willing to thoughtfully apply those lessons to our lives. Below are eighteen (18) that stand out to me, these are found in Genesis 37 thru 41: God himself can give us our dreams.  Do not cast your pearls of insight and wisdom before wicked small minded men. Read more… 306 more words A few edits to make this post easier to read.

  • Is Your Heart full of Thorns?

    Adam Collier
    15 May 2013 | 6:54 pm
    This is outline of a message that I shared at my church on May 15th, 2013, the audio may be shared at a later time, if I buy hosting for large audio files. Mark 4:2 He taught them many things by parables, and in his teaching said: 3 ”Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no…

  • Clinging to God

    Adam Collier
    11 May 2013 | 5:56 pm
    I love to study and teach the scriptures, not sure how good I am at it but I love it anyway! Here is an outline of a message that I shared at my church on April 24th, 2013 Clinging to God One of my Spiritual passions is to teach and talk about Clinging To God   I think to cling to God we must: Be resolved and committed within that we are with Jesus regardless of turmoil, just making that commitment brings stability to our loves Keep our focus on God, sometimes we need ridiculous levels of focus to accomplish anything, think of Peter walking on the water, when he stopped focusing on…

  • Protected: Announcement – Christian Men Meetups (under 40)

    Adam Collier
    11 May 2013 | 4:56 pm
    This post is password protected. You must visit the website and enter the password to continue reading.

  • Go Light Up Your World

    Adam Collier
    22 Apr 2013 | 6:12 am
    This is the outline to a message that I shared at my church on 4/17/13: NAS Luke 8:16 Now no one after lighting a lamp covers it over with a container, or puts it under a bed; but he puts it on a lamp stand, so that those who come in may see the light. 17 For nothing that is hidden that will not become evident, nor anything secret that will not be known and come to light. This parable is not only for children. Stable adult Christians often hide their light in different ways.  The parables of Christ have deep and relevant principles that we can continuously learn from, do not overlook the…
 
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    Life Above Fear

  • Fear Not: Thy Words Were Heard

    David
    18 May 2013 | 5:04 am
    Daniel 10:12 “Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard.” Suggested Scripture readings – Daniel 10 “Daddy, why do we pray each night?” The ...

  • Let The Fearful Fear Not

    David
    11 May 2013 | 5:58 am
    “Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not” Isaiah 35:4 Suggested Scripture reading – Isaiah 35 Tommy arrived in his dorm room that night and dissolved into tears. It had been a very hard day. He had a ton of homework to ...

  • Fear Not The Evil Doer

    David
    7 May 2013 | 3:00 am
    “Fret not thyself because of evildoers” Psalm 37:1 Suggested Scripture reading – I Samuel 25 There it was! The evidence had come in the morning mail and Ron was furious! His partner had incurred a huge bill for their business while he had been away and had ...

  • Fear Not To Obey God

    David
    11 Apr 2013 | 6:30 am
    “Be not afraid of the King of Babylon.” Jeremiah 42:11 Suggested Scripture reading - Jeremiah 42:1 – 45:12 The young couple had a beautiful wedding. They loved each other very much but very soon it became evident that there was a problem that they needed to solve. ...

  • Let The Lord Be Your Fear

    David
    8 Apr 2013 | 8:55 am
    Isaiah 8:13 “Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear” ​The temptation was strong. All of her friends were there at the party. They looked so happy and they were having a good time. But in her heart she knew that the worldly ...
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    Cupcakes, Corinthians & Crafts

  • Concrete Words : The Cup

    Melanie McDonald
    22 May 2013 | 1:55 pm
    Linking up with Six In The Sticks for concrete words.The CupSitting in a coffee shop with a cup in my hand, sat on the sofa sipping a hot drink, china cups, Cath Kidston mugs, mismatched mugs, mugs of goodness. I write, I write for therapy, I write for peace, I write to process, I write for fun. I write when things are tough, to try to make sense, to try to work out the age old question; why? I write when things are good, to remember Gods goodness and faithfulness, to remember God is in control. I write when speaking is too difficult, when the spoken word will just not convey the emotion that…

  • Five Minute Friday - Song

    Melanie McDonald
    17 May 2013 | 5:07 am
    Linking up with Lisa-Jo for five minute friday:SongWhen I am sad I stop singing.Its like the song is knocked right out of me, there is no melody or notes left in me to expel into thin air. There is no happiness to escape from my lips, a jumble of wrong notes and made up words. There is nothing left within me to make myself or other people/things happy. I don't sing to the dog, telling him that he is beautiful, I don't sing How Great Thou Art in the shower and I don't sing Aladin songs over washing up. I don't sing.Songs are a way of expressing myself, those random thoughts of other people put…

  • Always Be Kinder Than You Feel

    Melanie McDonald
    15 May 2013 | 6:30 am
     I walked past a school yesterday, it was lunchtime and the children were playing, shouting, laughing, singing, dancing; doing what children do. I smiled to myself, happy that in this world of disappointment and pain there was some goodness; some innocence. As I was slowing down, wanting to soak in the sweet smell of innocence that is so rare in this world I saw something which broke my heart, something which screamed pain, hurt, isolation. A young boy, no older than nine or ten was sat alone, in the corner of the playground, invisible with his knees to his chest. The expression on his…

  • The Frame: Concrete Words

    Melanie McDonald
    14 May 2013 | 1:53 am
    I am linking up with Six In The Sticks and writing about "The Frame". The FrameIn filmmaking, video production, animation, and related fields, a film frame or video frame is one of the many still (or nearly so) images which compose the complete moving picture.”http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Film_frameThere are many frames in my house, each and every one contain people we love. They are small moments captured, moments of joy, peace, contentment and love.When I think about my life, I realise its made up of frames, pictures, moments. I don’t remember…

  • Home:Where The Heart Is

    Melanie McDonald
    10 May 2013 | 12:08 am
    Home is where the heart is. That’s the saying isn’t it? I have so many parts of my heart in different places; Scotland, Stockton, Lincoln and Heaven.I think I will talk about the latter. Heaven is where my heart is, my heart is with God, He owns it. God is my “Home”. He is place of safety, strength, security and every other word beginning with “S”, like “sanctuary”.God is the place I run to at the end of a busy day, okay granted, quite often He isn’t not the first place I run, but when the words of people don’t soothe my anxious soul, I know only the mere presence of the…
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    Quest For A New Perspective

  • To Change or Not to Change: Why We Resist Change

    Gene
    21 May 2013 | 4:35 am
      (Artwork from kshs.org) When I was a kid there was no such thing as a “home improvement store.” Well, I guess there really was but it wasn’t called that. We called them hardware stores. Hardware stores were rarely a shopping destination for women. Men went to hardware stores to buy a part or a tool to fix something that was broke. Women weren’t comfortable in hardware stores. They were crowded, junky, and dusty. Women didn’t know the lingo. They didn’t know the difference between a thingamajig and a hickeydoodle. They didn’t want to walk down…

  • Why Have a Different Perspective?

    Gene
    17 May 2013 | 6:45 am
    (photo from searchenginepeople.com) In the late 1930′s, General Motors board chairman Alfred Sloan led a discussion and vote on a new and exciting idea. The room became electric with enthusiasm. “We’ll make a lot of money,” they said. “We’ll bury the competition,” a board member said. “We should implement this as soon as possible,” another said. When Sloan saw that the vote was unanimous, he announced that he was tabling the motion until the next month’s meeting. “I don’t like what’s happening to our…

  • Mission 227: Nicaragua

    Gene
    14 May 2013 | 4:10 am
    Mission 227 has made a donation to the Fabretto Children’s Foundation. Their mission is to empower underserved children and their families in Nicaragua to reach their full potential, improve their livelihoods, and take advantage of economic opportunity through education and nutrition. This mission is achieved through five strategic program areas: early and primary education enrichment, rural secondary education, vocational and life skills education, and community well-being and development. Fabretto envisions a prosperous Nicaragua where all children and adolescents have meaningful…

  • A Quick Word to RSS Subscribers

    Gene
    11 May 2013 | 2:23 pm
    Google Reader shuts down July 1 In case you don’t already know, Google is shutting down Google Reader on July 1. If you read Quest for a New Perspective on Google Reader, you’ll need to use another source. (If you don’t know what a RSS feed is and you’ve never heard of Google Reader, you probably don’t need to read this.) The easiest thing to do is subscribe in the box on the right side to receive posts via email. You’ll also receive my series of emails titled 5 Ways to be a World Changer. After that, you just get two emails a week from me. I rarely pester…

  • Things You Think About When You’ve Been Hit by a Van

    Gene
    10 May 2013 | 7:59 am
    On June 19,1999, best-selling author Stephen King was taking his normal four mile walk near his home in Maine. He was going up a slight hill and unable to see the traffic coming toward him. On the other side of the hill was a man driving a Dodge van named Bryan Smith and his Rottweiller named Bullet. Smith had a cooler with raw meat inside and Bullet had sniffed out the meat. The dog wanted to eat and Smith was trying to shoo Bullet away from the cooler while driving at the same time. As Stephen King approached the top of the hill, all of a sudden the Dodge van appeared riding down the…
 
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    Attempts at Honesty Christian Blog

  • Selective grace in the church

    Mark McIntyre
    22 May 2013 | 2:00 am
    Attempts at Honesty Christian Blog - Reflections on the interplay of the Bible and Culture Grace is a word that Christians frequently use, too often glibly and without proper thought. For example, I have been in several churches with Grace in their titles who offered very little of it to the people who attend. We all want grace, but sometimes struggle to give it when it is most needed. Perhaps this is why Jesus placed such an emphasis upon forgiveness, going so far as to say that He will not forgive those who refuse to forgive others (Matthew 6:15). Offering grace must be intentional and is…

  • On corruption in government

    Mark McIntyre
    20 May 2013 | 2:00 am
    Attempts at Honesty Christian Blog - Reflections on the interplay of the Bible and CultureI recently heard a radio commentator say that according to a survey done around the world, one of the foremost concerns of people is corruption in government. I doubt that many people are shocked by this since it is not a new problem. From the beginning, human government, made up of flawed and fallen humans, has been corrupt because the men and women who make up the government have been corrupt. Saint Augustine, writing in the early 5th Century addressed this issue when he wrote the following: “.

  • Sunset on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon

    Mark McIntyre
    17 May 2013 | 2:02 am
    Attempts at Honesty Christian Blog - Reflections on the interplay of the Bible and CultureWhile on vacation, we arrived at the Grand Canyon just in time to see the sunset on the South Rim. We had the privilege of experiencing a beautiful sunset of which the pictures taken with my inexpensive point-and-shoot camera do not do justice. In reflecting upon this scene, I thought of the hundreds of thousands of sunsets over this canyon that have been at least as glorious as this one. We serve a God who cares enough to paint in such vivid colors, even when there is no-one there to appreciate them. I…

  • My interview on John’s Ramblings

    Mark McIntyre
    16 May 2013 | 2:00 am
    Attempts at Honesty Christian Blog - Reflections on the interplay of the Bible and CultureAnother blogger was kind enough to reach out and contact me about being interviewed for his blog. I was sent a list of questions and I responded by email. The results can be seen on John’s Ramblings.© copyright 2012 – All rights reserved – Attempts at Honesty Christian Blog

  • Saint Augustine on Felicity

    Mark McIntyre
    15 May 2013 | 2:00 am
    Attempts at Honesty Christian Blog - Reflections on the interplay of the Bible and CultureIn The City of God, St. Augustine writes of the elevation of Felicity to the status of a goddess. On the value of felicity as something to be sought he writes: Felicity, however, is certainly more valuable than a kingdom. For no one doubts that a man might easily be found who may fear to be made a king; but no one is found who is unwilling to be happy. Later he writes: But if Felicity is not a goddess, because as is true, it is a gift of God, that god must be sought who has power to give it, and that…
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    Before The Cross

  • Before The Throne: A Tribute to Shane & Shane

    Mike Mobley
    22 May 2013 | 6:30 am
    Photo by Devin Westhause There are many bands out there that pursue Jesus and want to make much of Him with their music. I think it’s an awesome thing to see people use the gifts God has given them, only to give them right back ascribing worth and glory to our Heavenly Father. For Shane & Shane, I believe they are one of the best bands that seek for this to ultimately happen, if not the best band who does it. This isn’t meant to knock any other bands out there and I know everyone has their favorite, but God speaks to me personally through the music written and performed by…

  • Do We Respect God?

    Mike Mobley
    20 May 2013 | 6:55 am
    “Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him!” – Psalm 33:8 Reverence is defined as having a profound respect and awe for someone or something. It can also be known as fear – not necessarily from being scared at someone or about something, but rather having the utmost respect. Do we really look at God this way? Do we treat Him with the utmost respect that He deserves? Are we in awe of Him? I think most of us would say to ourselves, “Well of course, He is God” and then just kind of move on from the subject.

  • Week In Review (5/18/13)

    Mike Mobley
    18 May 2013 | 8:09 am
    Photo by @drewrodgers Here’s a recap of blog posts you may have missed this week: Four Temptations Christian Leaders Face - Dave Kraft discusses various temptations that Christian Leaders face today such as comparing and competing, elitism, everything being about you, and the temptation of acting independently. The Idol of Control - Lots of parents have common struggles they face with their children whether they are newborns, teenagers, or even adults when it comes to trying to control them. Even with the best intentions of wanting to keep them safe, Paul Tripp discusses the danger and…

  • Why Would We Fear Good News?

    Cory Johnson
    17 May 2013 | 8:09 am
    Photo by chezzzers I am joining several high school students in reading through a gospel (or multiple) as we are spiritually preparing to take our lives on mission to the Czech Republic this summer. I’m probably behind the rest of the group, and thus found myself in Luke 2:8-21 this morning. It reads: “And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, ‘Fear not, for…

  • Men: Act Like Men

    Mike Mobley
    15 May 2013 | 9:57 am
    Photo by theprint “….Act Like Men….Be Strong….” All too often I find myself thinking through how I want to be a great man & do great things for the Lord & for my family, but I need to step up. My desire to be a leader and lead my family to live their lives for Jesus Christ as well as building up and equipping the church constantly rings in my head, especially in the times I fall way short of this. I am encouraged that the desire is even there, but there is a tension that continues to remain between the culture defining manhood and the bible defining…
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    My Freshly Brewed Life

  • A Breathtaking View! {Five Minute Friday}

    Barbie
    23 May 2013 | 9:34 pm
    My view or perception of myself is often far from how my Heavenly Father sees me. When I look at myself, I see my imperfections — the extra weight that’s been hanging on for the last 10 years, a head of hair with gray peeking through, hands with wrinkles in them (yes I am nearing 50 – in a few years) and everything negative. I often wonder what it is that God sees when He looks at me.  When He bends over the balcony of heaven, and glances my way, what is His view? I imagine God having a chat with the angels as He proclaims, Look, do you see here?  There she is.  My Chosen…

  • God Will Grow Your Heart

    Barbie
    22 May 2013 | 11:49 pm
    I haven’t had many words to share with you lately.  With the juggling of work, ministry, family and homeschooling, I have had to allow myself time to step back and wait for God to speak.  I never want to force my writing here.  I love when God speaks clearly to me and gives me the words that I hope will encourage you. Today I was sitting in the prayer room during our staff set.  Normally, I would open my computer and log into YouVersion to catch up on my Bible reading plans. Or, I would continue reading the current book that I am working through.  But today I decided to just sit…

  • The Weekend Brew: He Restores Me To Life

    Barbie
    17 May 2013 | 11:34 pm
    I came across this scripture in my reading yesterday.  Wow, what a promise! Do you ever have days when you feel as if the life has been sucked right out of you?  I do. God never promised that we wouldn’t have hard times.  But He does promise that He will be with us through it all. I have to admit that it’s hard to keep my head above water some days, when it all comes crashing down. Sometimes I feel like a failure as I focus way too much on my circumstances, wondering where God is in the middle of it all.  But He’s right there, beside me, in the thick of it.  He’s…

  • You Are A Song! {Five Minute Friday}

    Barbie
    16 May 2013 | 9:51 pm
    Today I am joining Lisa-Jo and others for the 5 Minute Friday where we are given a word prompt and write for just 5 minutes simply for the joy of writing. No editing or backtracking necessary. No need to be perfect. Just words freely flowing from my heart to yours. Song That’s right, my friends. YOU are a song!  It doesn’t matter if you feel like you can’t sing.  It’s not about making a melody or harmony, with perfect pitch.  But it’s about allowing yourself to be the YOU that God created YOU to be. No one else has what you got, sister friend!  You are a…
 
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    Interpulpit

  • Is God Disciplining You?

    Rick
    5 May 2013 | 9:02 pm
      Many sufferers believe that their trials are from God, who sends them “for their own good.” This is the result of a long history of religious teaching. Tradition has taught us to believe that God wants to smite us more than bless us. It has taught us to expect that the only way to grow is to be pushed and tested by God, as if life is nothing more than a terrible obstacle course that God uses to scour out all the filth and sin in our lives. David didn’t think that way. He wrote in Psalm 34 the repeated theme that the Lord delivers us from all our troubles (vs. 4, 7, 17, 19).

  • Resurrection: Past, Present, and Future

    Rick
    28 Mar 2013 | 3:06 am
        Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live (John 5:25). The hour is coming and now is! In the past, Jesus died on a cross and rose from the dead so that man could be reconciled to God and have eternal life. Those who have put their faith in Him can look forward to the end time when our bodies will also be raised from the dead. It is a wonderful hope for the future, spending an eternity in glory with God! But eternal life is not just future. It is also NOW. Many believers make…

  • Your Troubles are Not Your Crosses

    Rick
    8 Mar 2013 | 6:47 pm
      I used to struggle under the notion that the trials I was going through may be crosses that God wanted me to bear. A theology of suffering was presented and I was encouraged to believe that somehow God was getting glory out of my problems. Since then I have subscribed to a theology of victory, and I believe it is more in line with the Bible. Yes, we will have troubles in this life, but the troubles are not to reign. That is the old way of death, but we are now walking in life: For if by one man’s offense death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of…

  • Upon This Rock

    Rick
    12 Feb 2013 | 7:22 pm
      And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it Matthew 16:18. What is “this rock” referring to? I don’t think it’s what has been traditionally taught (and it has had strong differences of opinion). The answer is really quite simple if you let Scripture offer its own interpretation. In Matthew 7:24, Jesus said, whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock… “These sayings of…

  • Fascination with Sorcery?

    Rick
    11 Jan 2013 | 7:32 pm
    I can tell from my website stats that I get a lot of visitors to this blog through Google searches for the terms, “sorcery real life”. They then get directed to my post, Sorcery in the Real World. What I can’t tell from the stats is whether they actually read through the whole article or not. I suspect that most of them are not seeking an article that is more about Christian faith and overcoming evil influences in this world. I wonder if many of them are instead seeking out how to really practice sorcery. Perhaps they are among the many who crave power in this world, but…
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    Larry Will Unite

  • I Have Decided That I Want A Road Trip For My Birthday

    Larry
    23 May 2013 | 7:54 am
    I want to take a road trip. Actually I want someone to drive me to California. I would love to attend Bethel Church and the Stirring Church which are both in Redding, CA. Then I would like to go down and visit the new Jesus Culture Church. All in a summers road trip. Hey Jack [...]

  • Let’s Elaborate On Your Influence

    Larry
    23 May 2013 | 5:42 am
    Today we are on day 4 of our ”Five E’s That Will Set Your Life On Fire” series. This has been a great series of 5 qualities that I have seen not only in my own life but in the life of other that have set them apart and set them on fire. So today let’s [...]

  • The Power of Explanation

    Larry
    22 May 2013 | 4:28 am
    Today is day three of my “Five E’s That Will Set Your Life On Fire” series. Monday we talked about Engage and yesterday we discussed Explore. Today we are going to go over together The Power of Explanation. To Explain is defined as to make an idea, situation, or problem clear to someone by describing [...]

  • Five E’s That Will Set Your Life On Fire – Explore

    Larry
    21 May 2013 | 6:52 am
    Yesterday I started a series of blog post called Five E’s That Will Set Your Life On Fire. The five e’s are Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, Evaluate. Yesterday I talked about Engage (Click to Read). Today I would like to discuss how to explore with you. One definition of Explore is to Search for resources such as mineral [...]

  • Bless Jonathan Hellmuth and His Neighbors in the Moore, OK Tornados

    Larry
    20 May 2013 | 3:26 pm
    Hey guys I have a family friend and high school classmate who lives in Moore, Oklahoma where the tornadoes hit today. I have set up a YouCaring.com fundraising account to help him and his neighbors during this time of need. Please pray and consider donating to bless this awesome family and their neighbors. So check [...]
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    Half Baked Lobster

  • A Framework For Poverty

    admin
    21 May 2013 | 4:39 pm
    A book I read is changing my life. It is titled a Framework For Poverty. Just so everyone knows I work in a school that is engulfed in poverty. We have some of the lowest scores in the district. A third of the school is homeless. It is located in a dangerous neighborhood. We have the highest suspension rate out of all the schools in HISD. I have worked with at risk families for 13 years before moving into education and thought I had a pretty good handle on it. However, I did not. What I’m learning is the power of hidden norms. The survival and social skills needed to survive between…

  • How Your Story Grows Your Ministry

    admin
    18 May 2013 | 9:21 am
    In a world of mega churches and superstar pastors, the most powerful growth mechanism of any ministry lies within your story. Not the story that you create, but the story God worked within you. Our ability to reach those on the fringe or not even sitting in a pew, comes from our God story, the story of our transformation. In a post i did titled All Church Growth Starts With… I wrote  ”transformational power is not in our institutional structures or systems; it is in our living grace testimonies.” Our power in the faith comes from God. God uses a powerful message and a…

  • The Method In Which We Disciple

    admin
    17 May 2013 | 7:18 pm
    Recently we were put in charge of teaching over 60 kids. We had many discussions on how we should teach. Not so much the content, but the method we would use. We started with the idea of placing all sixty kids in a single room. But after being challenged with the decision of placing them all in one room, we decided the best method was to teach everyone in a small group. We only wanted 10 students per teacher. Now keep in mind, we were not teaching anything in the church but in a public school system. Those who have been educated and trained in the business of teaching understood the process…

  • What Brings People To A Place Of Change

    admin
    13 May 2013 | 12:28 pm
    I have been immersed in a situation of poverty lately. Working with kids in the third ward downtown Houston. What I thought I knew about poverty, homeless, and intercity kids was almost all wrong. I will be blogging over the next couple of weeks talking about what i learned and how we can make a difference in the lives of those we disciple, but I wanted to get the juices flowing by making a quick and simple statement. People Change When… It is too painful to stay where they are They have a vision or goal involved in a significant relationship Have a special talent or skill This…

  • A life Of Discipleship

    admin
    21 Jan 2013 | 5:11 pm
    This will be short. There are moments in life when things change in our lives. The circumstances may be different, but the calling is the same
 
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    Paperback Theology

  • What Our Words Tell Us: David Brooks on the Rise of the Individual

    Tim Suttle
    23 May 2013 | 6:45 am
    I love to talk about words. 10 Great Words You Should Know & Use part 1 & part 2 & part 3 have been big posts here at Paperback Theology. I love to talk about the words we use not as an expert, but as an observer and lover of culture.. That’s why I was [...]

  • Resident Aliens, The Confessing Church, and Missional Communities

    Tim Suttle
    21 May 2013 | 8:40 am
    I am at Conception Abbey on retreat for a few days. This morning I pulled one of my old favorites and read for awhile. It’s not a stretch to say that the book Resident Aliens by Stanley Hauerwas has had a tremendous influence upon my life. I’m not sure I’ve spent more time in one [...]

  • Monday Morning Confessional: How to Read a Book

    Tim Suttle
    20 May 2013 | 6:56 am
    I confess that I just finished Metaxas’s biography of Bonhoeffer for the second time. This time I listened to the audiobook. It’s the second time I’ve re-read an old favorite using the audiobook in order to save time. I confess that I’m beginning to really love audiobooks and am seriously thinking about making an audible.com [...]

  • New Rich Mullins Movie “Ragamuffin” Is Set to Go: The Trailer Looks Pretty Good.

    Tim Suttle
    19 May 2013 | 5:52 am
    The Rich Mullins movie “Ragamuffin” looks like it is somewhat finished. The facebook page for the movie says the movie is in the can and they are currently shopping for a distribution deal. From the trailer itself, I’m pretty hopeful this could be good. The actor who plays him is a little too good looking [...]

  • Pumpcast News: A Little Friday Funny

    Tim Suttle
    17 May 2013 | 7:17 am
    My friend Scott told me about this video the other day. I think I’ve watched it five times since then. It’s so funny. I want to be friends with these guys. So enjoy a little Friday Funny, then get back to work!
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    REFLECTIONS FOR THE SOUL

  • On deification – 15

    MBA
    21 May 2013 | 10:13 pm
    Deification “is indeed a mystical union with God beyond intellect and reason” (Gregory Palamas, III.1.28). Filed under: Acquiring the Holy Spirit, Deification, God the Father, Palamas on Deification, Theology Tagged: Christianity, Deification, God, God the Father, Palamas, Religion & Spirituality, Religion and Spirituality, The Spirit, Theology

  • On deification – 14

    MBA
    20 May 2013 | 9:59 pm
    “This union will enable persistence to the end with a pure spirit in the most narrow relations with God” (Gregory Palamas, II.2.20). Such relations were defined as “direct relations with God in which no intermediary such as an angel intervenes” (II.3.27-28). Deification is not hypostatic: “Hypostatic union happens to be predicated of the Word and God-man alone […]

  • On deification – 13

    MBA
    19 May 2013 | 9:43 pm
    “Deification is also the invocation of the great God and Father, the symbol of the authentic and real adoption, according to the gift and grace of the Holy Spirit, thanks to the bestowal of which grace the saints become and will remain the sons of God” (Gregory Palamas, III.1.28). Filed under: Acquiring the Holy Spirit, Deification, God the […]

  • On contemplation and deification – 2

    MBA
    16 May 2013 | 9:58 pm
    “Perfect contemplation of God and divine things is not only a stripping away, but beyond this, a participation in divine things, a gift and possession more than stripping away” (Gregory Palamas, The triads, I.3.18). Filed under: Acquiring the Holy Spirit, Contemplation, Deification, God the Father, Palamas on Deification, Theology, Theosis Tagged: Christianity, Contemplation, Deification, God, God […]

  • On contemplation and deification – 1

    MBA
    15 May 2013 | 9:53 pm
    “If contemplation may not be equated with the via negativa, neither is it identifiable with the via positiva: contemplation is not simply abstraction or negation but a union and a divinization that occurs mystically and ineffably by the grace of God” (Williams, on Gregory Palamas I.3.17). Filed under: Acquiring the Holy Spirit, Contemplation, Deification, God the Father, Palamas on […]
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    THE DIVINE HEART OF GOD THE FATHER

  • A voice in the wilderness – 4

    MBA
    22 May 2013 | 9:30 pm
    The silence of man in the face of the most horrid neglect of Him Who Is infinite love, is abominable. It is the silence of those who are neither hot nor cold (Rv 3:16). It is the silence of desolation. But this silence becomes more abominable when it is perpetuated by His own; when it […]

  • A voice in the wilderness – 3

    MBA
    20 May 2013 | 9:48 pm
    Those who profess to love Him, do not love Him. Their hearts are far away from Him. They do not tender Him with care, for love – true love – is missing from their hearts, minds and souls. They profess verbally, to all, that everyone should love Him; but they themselves love Him secondarily or […]

  • A voice in the wilderness – 2

    MBA
    19 May 2013 | 10:32 pm
    Love is not wanted anymore, despite all that He has given them throughout the centuries. Even the wandering animals He has created enter and sit with Him, unbidden, to keep Him company; to bask in His infinite love. But His people – His very own people – do not come, neither do they care whether […]

  • A voice in the wilderness – 1

    MBA
    17 May 2013 | 7:39 pm
    There is not even the slightest spark of reverence in His Presence any longer. All is dead, despite the appearance of being alive, for love in the hearts of this people has grown cold and bitter. Love Himself is neglected and abandoned. Nothing is offered to Him, that He desires; only that which He does […]

  • How does one pray the cenacle to God the Father? – Response to a question

    MBA
    15 May 2013 | 9:57 pm
    The question was asked, “How does one pray the cenacle to God the Father?” The answer is simple: following herewith through a link is the format for cenacles of prayer to the Divine Heart of God the Father. Just click on the aforementioned link and you will find all the necessary details, which have been […]
 
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    Captured by the Light

  • Not in vain...

    Ken Zuk
    15 May 2013 | 11:27 am
    Taken May 13, 2013 in the Teton National Park."For you yourselves know, brothers, that our coming to you was not in vain. But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict. For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive, but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts." (1 Thessalonians 2:1-4, ESV)Paul's coming to them was not in…

  • Rehearsing the Gospel...

    Ken Zuk
    9 May 2013 | 8:31 am
    Myrtle Beach, SC taken April 2013If I had to share the one piece of advice that I took to heart to drastically improve my photography, it would have to be "get up early!" It doesn't take long to look through some good photos and realize that it's all about the light (hence, captured by the light)! This photo from Myrtle Beach would not be the same taken in the middle of the day.If I had to share the one piece of advice that I am taking to heart to drastically transform me, it would have to be, "get a grasp of the Gospel!" It doesn't take you long to read my blog that the books I read, the…

  • All promises are "yes" in Christ…wow!

    Ken Zuk
    3 May 2013 | 12:00 am
    Teton National Park, Mt Moran from Emma Matilda Lake - another sunrise that does not compare to Christ!Even in the most ordinary sections of Paul's letters, the Apostle finds a way to share truth that just has to make his readers shout from the mountain top!2 Corinthians chapter 1, after Paul talks about God being the Father of all mercy and comfort (absolutely amazing truth that I pray changes how I live), he gives details about his change of plans to come and visit them.Basically, Paul had two opportunities to visit them as he was going from Ephesus to Corinth on route to Macedonia. He had…

  • Comfort in affliction...

    Ken Zuk
    30 Apr 2013 | 7:17 am
    A glorious morning in South Carolina, April 2013This morning while reading the first chapter of 1 Corinthians a verse seemed to jump off the page, screaming for my attention.Paul starts this letter with thanksgiving. He doesn't express just any thanksgiving, but thanksgiving for God as our comforter. Paul is setting the stage for a theme that seems to run through this letter. A theme of the grace of God that shines through in suffering as we are humbled by God's amazing power and ability. It's been said that the grace of God is truly experienced not in the best of times, but in the worst of…

  • Waves of grace...

    Ken Zuk
    22 Apr 2013 | 7:19 am
    Myrtle Beach, SC, April 2013What would life be without trials?It seems like life and trials are like the consistent waves of the ocean, they just keep coming. Recently, while watching the waves on an early morning in South Carolina, I couldn't help to think about the trials, hard decisions, the waves of life's troubles that come over and over again. As I watched the waves, I began to wonder, "Is my perspective just wrong?"Yes, the Scriptures confirm that my perspective is just wrong!"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your…
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    Inspired Preaching

  • No More Excuses: Brian Houston

    iP
    20 May 2013 | 2:13 am
    Preaching from Luke 14:16, Hillsong Senior Pastor Brian Houston challenges believers not to allow excuses to get in the way of their calling in Christ. “They all with one accord began to make excuses. When it comes to the call of Christ, every person has a reason why not. But we have to choose, are [...]

  • What seed are you standing on? Eddie L. Long

    iP
    15 May 2013 | 2:45 pm
    It’s not enough just to believe for breakthrough or something better in your life, you need a “seed” from God’s Word to validate it, and make it a reality. Bishop Eddie L Long preaches powerfully to this principle. “When something comes up in your life that has to be dealt with like marriage or finance [...]

  • Who’s really dictating your destiny? Noel Jones

    iP
    11 May 2013 | 12:20 am
    In this wonderful clip, Bishop Noel Jones preaches from the Book of Jeremiah 1:5, which goes to the heart of one’s identity and purpose. “God formed you for a reason, not attributed to parents so you don’t live for parents. Your existence is not attributed to your friends so you don’t live for your friends. [...]

  • Understanding the name of God: Guillermo Maldonado

    iP
    6 May 2013 | 3:05 am
    Apostle Guillermo Maldonado preaches powerfully about the meaning of God’s name. In the beginning “I am”, the self existent one that doesn’t need anything or anybody to exist… I have life in myself!  Apostle Guillermo Maldonado Visit Apostle Maldonado’s website here Follow Apostle Maldonado on Facebook or Twitter Related Videos How big is God? Kong [...]

  • How to plug in to the power of God: Joyce Meyer

    iP
    3 May 2013 | 2:58 am
    How does positive change occur in the life of a believer?  In this great clip Joyce Meyer gives invaluable insight on the topic, and more specifically, where and how change begins. For many years I strived and struggled at trying to change myself. I didn’t know how to access the grace of God to change. I [...]
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    Christians of T&T

  • World Congress of Families Caribbean Conference on TTF

    Irvin Paddier
    22 May 2013 | 9:29 pm
    Join us on Friday 24th May, 7:45 pm, on the Truth Forum, as we speak with the founder of The Elpis Center, Rebekah T. Ali-Gouveia, about the 2013 World Congress  Full Article »The post World Congress of Families Caribbean Conference on TTF appeared first on Christians of T&T.

  • Event: CHANGE 7 CONFERENCE

    Christianstt
    22 May 2013 | 11:59 am
    Bible Way Temple invites you to Three Powerful nights CHANGE 7 CONFERENCE THEME: “IF YOU WANT TO WALK ON WATER, GET OUT OF THE BOAT” taken from Matt 14:22-23. This  Full Article »The post Event: CHANGE 7 CONFERENCE appeared first on Christians of T&T.

  • Devotional ~ Batten down the hatches!

    Jeff Turner
    21 May 2013 | 9:01 pm
    When every little surge of evil in society causes the church to cry, “Batten down the hatches! The last days are upon us!”, you can know that we’ve gone astray.  Full Article »The post Devotional ~ Batten down the hatches! appeared first on Christians of T&T.

  • EVENT: Dr Vijay Benedict in Gospel Concerts for Indian Arrival Day

    Christianstt
    20 May 2013 | 9:21 pm
    Event: Dr Vijay Benedict in Concert The Full Gospel Businessmen Fellowship International, in collaboration with the Christian Community are hosting a series of free concerts featuring former Bollywood star, Dr Vijay  Full Article »The post EVENT: Dr Vijay Benedict in Gospel Concerts for Indian Arrival Day appeared first on Christians of T&T.

  • 3rd All Night Prayer Meeting 2013

    Christianstt
    20 May 2013 | 9:40 am
    Jesus Elam Revival Assembly and THE CHRISTIAN SOLIDARITY MOVEMENT National Youth Prayer Network Invites all Youth Groups and Youth Related Ministries to its 3rd All Night Prayer Meeting for 2013 THE R-RISING OF  Full Article »The post 3rd All Night Prayer Meeting 2013 appeared first on Christians of T&T.
 
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    Christian Home and Family

  • Stages of grief and the sovereignty of God, a conversation with R.C. Sproul, Jr. – podcast episode 37

    Carey
    22 May 2013 | 5:00 am
    Carey Stages of grief and the sovereignty of God – a conversation with R.C. Sproul, Jr. Today’s Guest: R.C. Sproul, Jr. SUMMARY OF TODAY’S PODCAST Stages of grief and the sovereignty of God For Christians and non-Christians alike, the loss of a loved one can be a devastating thing, and fear of it can be paralyzing. How does a person live as a grieving person in an authentic way, while at the same time living faithfully and fully for the sake of their LORD Jesus? In this conversation I had the opportunity to ask those questions of R.C. Sproul, Jr. In the past year R.C. has…

  • How to practically Go with God (one example)

    Carey
    20 May 2013 | 5:00 am
    Carey You’ve heard the phrase, “Go with God.” In this series of posts I’m trying to unpack what the Bible describes that to look like. In the previous post, I opened the door to Galatians 2:20… let’s walk on through today to try to understand what it means. I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Notice what it says is fundamentally true – of you and of Jesus. 1. YOU have been crucified, right…

  • Change your life (and your child’s) forever

    Carey
    17 May 2013 | 5:00 am
    Carey Knowing that Christ really lives in you can change your life forever I wrote briefly about this as one biblical value to teach your children earlier. It’s a HUGE and strange idea for “modern” people to hear. In a nutshell it’s this… Jesus Christ literally LIVES WITHIN YOU (if you’ve trusted Him as Savior and LORD). Not in a symbolic way… Not in a “touchy-feely” sort of way… But in a REAL way. Literally. And what it PRACTICALLY MEANS for you and your children is enormous! It will impact: HOW you live life, WHY you walk in…

  • Jesus restores the original in male/female relationships – podcast episode 36

    Carey
    15 May 2013 | 5:00 am
    Carey Jesus restores the original Today’s Speaker: Carey Green SUMMARY OF TODAY’S PODCAST Jesus restores the original Male female relationships have always been tough… well, not really always. Originally God created male and female in such a way that they were complementary to each other, carrying out roles within their relationship that made everything work. And Jesus came to restore that way of functioning… but whether or not Christian couples live that out depends in large part on whether they understand what He’s done and what He intends. In today’s…

  • Unpacking the idea of “family economics”

    Carey
    13 May 2013 | 5:00 am
    CareyI just returned from being a panel speaker and vendor at the Family Economics conference in St. Charles, MO. I was able to go with my buddy Don, which made it an even better time. There are many people who hear the term “family economics” and don’t really know what to think. Is it a new idea? No. In fact, it’s an age-old idea – almost as old as the human race. It’s pretty simple: Families not only live together, they work together… and the work that every member does contributes to the overall good of the family. It may be housework, or work that…
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    Where Can I Find God

  • God vs Satan

    Right Believing
    12 May 2013 | 6:03 am
    God Vs Satan — Does Satan Have Power Over You? For many who do not know what the Scriptures have to say about God vs Satan and how Satan came to be the enemy of God and man, great confusion … Continue reading →The post God vs Satan appeared first on Where Can I Find God.

  • Why Does God Allow Suffering And Bad Things To Happen?

    Right Believing
    20 Apr 2013 | 11:06 am
    Why Does God Allow Suffering When we look around at the world we are living in, taking in the horrors that are occurring around the world on a daily basis, the most prevalent question on many people’s minds is,“Why does … Continue reading →The post Why Does God Allow Suffering And Bad Things To Happen? appeared first on Where Can I Find God.

  • Belief In God Even Though We Can Not See Him

    Right Believing
    7 Apr 2013 | 11:23 am
    Belief In God — Believing In A God We Cannot See Belief in God — Soon after Jesus resurrected, He appeared to His disciples and instructed them to go out into the world with the good news that God had … Continue reading →The post Belief In God Even Though We Can Not See Him appeared first on Where Can I Find God.

  • Jesus Help Me Please

    Right Believing
    25 Feb 2013 | 5:42 am
    Jesus Help Me Please Today are you in desperate need of help and asking Jesus help me please? Maybe you experienced a loss of a job and you are struggling financially, your marriage is failing, or there is a sickness … Continue reading →The post Jesus Help Me Please appeared first on Where Can I Find God.

  • God Helps Those

    Right Believing
    12 Feb 2013 | 7:20 am
    God Helps Those Who Help Themselves I’m sure you heard the saying “God helps those who help themselves.” I have heard this saying so many times and mostly in the context of “unless you do something to remedy your situation, … Continue reading →The post God Helps Those appeared first on Where Can I Find God.
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    Pro Preacher

  • How to Find the Best Sermon Illustrations

    Brandon
    22 May 2013 | 8:56 am
    Have you ever used an illustration you loved that fell flat when you preached it? I know I have. So why do some illustrations connect, while others fall short? Here is what I have discovered: The best sermon illustrations are found on common ground between the speaker and the audience. When you speak about something you have experienced and your audience has also experienced the same thing, you connect with them on the deepest level. A joke about something they all have experienced will make them laugh. An emotional story about something close to their hearts will bring them to tears. They…

  • Tremble & Rejoice

    Brandon
    20 May 2013 | 3:05 am
    The following is a guest post by Adam Tisdale, Pastor of North Hills Church in Meridianville, AL. Adam blogs at helpmyunbelief.wordpress.com about the intersection of his faith and his cancer. “Man plans, God laughs”(Yiddish Proverb) I’m not preaching this week, but that wasn’t my original plan. And I tend to love my plans. I wonder if God laughs at me – more like a sympathetic chuckle, I imagine.  He knows my foolishness and loves me still. Even to alter my plans, even good plans, to accomplish His purposes. Thankfully, I’ll be preaching the week after. And then another…

  • Friday Links

    Brandon
    17 May 2013 | 10:40 am
    I am a student of preaching. I will never arrive. I will be a lifelong learner. Because of this, I like sharing some of the preaching articles that I read around the internet. I share articles every day on Twitter and Facebook. Photo Credit: Danny Hope cc But I have realized that many people don’t read everything I tweet. And that’s OK, because that means you are probably busy doing something awesome. So I thought I would experiment with taking some of the best articles I find every week and sharing them with all of you right here: Here are some links to my favorite articles this…

  • 4 Powerful Methods for Closing a Message

    Brandon
    14 May 2013 | 3:05 am
    The following is a guest post by Matt Maiberger. He is a youth ministry veteran of over 16 years in small, medium, and mega churches. For more from Matt, head over to Youth Speaker’s Coach. Many youth pastors and speakers are careful to study and prepare their content well. Some even take the time to rehearse and practice their message a few times before delivering it to a group of students. There are those, however, who consistently struggle with closing their message effectively. They work hard to deliver a solid message for 20-30 minutes, then seem to fall flat during the final 5 minutes…

  • Changing The Way We Pray

    Brandon
    10 May 2013 | 7:50 am
    I have tried many different ways to track prayer requests and who I need to pray for. I have kept a hand-written prayer journal, an excel spreadsheet, an Evernote note, and shamefully even just tried to keep it all in my head. But I have never quite found the perfect solution. Well, there is a new free app on the market promising to deliver a new way to pray – the Ora App. I recently downloaded it, and I’m very pleased with what I have found. Ora is like a social network for prayer. You create a profile and instead of posting a status or tweeting, you post prayer requests. You can…
 
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    Fall And Die...

  • The Games Christians Play

    Dan7005
    12 May 2013 | 5:59 pm
    Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment. (John 7:24 ESV) The past two weeks have been tiring. Work has been outrageously busy, and my personal life has been eventful, to say the least. And after all of this, I find myself tired, depressed, and in short supply of hope for the future. Upon becoming a Christian almost 3-1/2 years ago I was very concerned about how I would be treated within the church. I had felt called by God to follow Him, and in the process, leave behind my past of homosexual sex and focus on pursuing a life that I felt would honor God. And always somewhere…

  • God’s Promises for Those Battling With Same-Sex Attractions

    Dan7005
    15 Apr 2013 | 8:34 pm
    Steve Fuller over at Living By Faith Blog has written a couple of excellent articles telling us of God’s promises to those of us living with same-sex attractions.  I’d initially commented on another post of his, and according to Steve, my comment prompted him to address this issue on his blog.  I found his articles to be personally encouraging and uplifting and I would highly recommend reading them, as well as the other great material on his blog! God’s Promises for Those Battling With Same-Sex Attractions (Part 1) God’s Promises for Those Battling With…

  • Pride and Conflict: James 4:1-3

    Dan7005
    25 Mar 2013 | 3:31 pm
    What is the source of wars and fights among you? Don’t they come from the cravings that are at war within you? You desire and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. You do not have because you do not ask. (James 4:1-2 HCSB) In the times that I have read James 4 in the past, It struck me as mostly addressing the relations between tribes, groups or countries. But in reading it recently, it was impressed on me that this passage is very much related to my interpersonal relationships as well.  The Merriam Webster Dictionary defines conflict as follows:…

  • John 15:13 – Friendship & Sacrificial Giving, Does it Hurt?

    Dan7005
    18 Mar 2013 | 3:57 pm
    English: John the Baptist baptizing Christ (Photo credit: Wikipedia) No one has greater love than this, that someone would lay down his life for his friends.  (John 15:13 ESV) Jesus’ Idea of Friendship What does friendship mean to us? To many, it is just a loose relationship between people who enjoy one another’s company.  To others, it involves a commitment to another person which embodies the virtues of loyalty, faithfulness  forgiveness, love, kindness  and mercy.  How do you respond to a friend in need? I admit, oftentimes I approach the friend in need from the stand…

  • Becoming the Beloved: Fr. Henri Nouwen

    Dan7005
    9 Mar 2013 | 9:11 pm
    Parts 5 through 8 after the jump… The post Becoming the Beloved: Fr. Henri Nouwen appeared first on Fall And Die...
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    Working Christianity

  • Complain and Remain

    Michael
    19 May 2013 | 5:48 am
    Due to the nature of my job, I deal with complaints and other problems. A few weeks ago I dealt with a few particular people that could only see the problem and no solution. Now I completely understand their point … Continue reading →

  • The More You Know

    Michael
    12 May 2013 | 10:45 am
    I was hit with an amazing thought the other day as I was walking into my room: there is no way we can truly know what’s going on or anything about God without actually sitting down and talking to him. … Continue reading →

  • We > Me

    Michael
    28 Apr 2013 | 10:49 am
    I love my job seriously and I think God must know what he’s doing. At Hypepotamus we’ve just seen a great out pouring of love and help from people around the community and state and a little bit of everywhere … Continue reading →

  • Just Kids

    Michael
    23 Apr 2013 | 5:28 am
    One of the major things that dawn upon me the other day is that we are children of God. And just like real children we’re messy and require a lot of work and love, but God is always patient with … Continue reading →

  • Swallowing Camels

    Michael
    21 Apr 2013 | 6:58 am
    Details are important, but not all the time. Let me explain. The other week as I moved my car back into the driveway my father informed me that I parked to close to the sprinkler which at 6am is never … Continue reading →
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    Pastor John's Blog

  • The Graduate

    john crews
    30 Apr 2013 | 10:29 am
    I hope you don't mind if every now and then I use this blog for something very personal.  If you you do mind, stop reading and catch me next time! Well, this is to let you know that my second little boy has graduated from college!  It is a time of great pride and joy, but also a little sad.  After all, he was a baby what seems like just a few days ago. Is this little guy really ready to face the real world? Christian graduated with a degree in History from Pepperdine University! We are all really excited for him! What is he going to do next?   Hmmmmm?  Who knows.

  • Stressed?

    john crews
    23 Apr 2013 | 10:21 am
    Over the last several weeks I seem to have found myself in a recurring discussion about the stress of life.  Each story is unique in its own way, but each finds common ground in a man feeling literally crushed by life.  For some finances seem to be at the center of the discussion, for others marriage or other relationships.  For others, it is simply the sometimes overwhelming sense of responsibility as a husband or as a father that has provided a foothold for the enemy's attack. I am not at all suggesting that the stress problem is limited to men -- women…

  • Thank You HC Family!

    john crews
    8 Apr 2013 | 7:20 pm
    35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me. Matthew 25:35-36. Hey everyone, I decided to go with a video for this blog.  So, just click on the video below. Blessings! Thank you video.

  • The Blessing

    john crews
    28 Mar 2013 | 3:31 pm
    If you have ever attended our Wednesday night Bible study, you know that we often talk about the responsibility of the being a follower of Christ but we rarely talk about the blessing.  It is not that I don't believe in the blessing, or that I don't value it.  I believe with all my heart that God desires great things for our lives.  I believe with all my heart that He has good plans for those who love Him.  The Bible tells me so.  See Jeremiah 29:11 and Romans 8:28. Part of the reason that I focus on the responsibility more than the blessing is pretty simple -- I…

  • The New Atheism

    john crews
    14 Mar 2013 | 1:12 pm
    If you have been reading this blog for any length of time you are probably aware that I believe we are in a crisis of faith here in the United States.  And, I believe that the Church -- that is, the Body of Christ -- is ill-equipped to speak into a generation that is literally being bombarded with an anti-Christian, anti-faith worldview at every turn. You will notice that the blog today is a bit longer than normal, and perhaps a bit more in depth.  But, I need to ask for your indulgence today.  I really think the Church needs a wake up call on this.  So, here we go. In a…
 
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    Lisa's Lamp

  • Showing Mercy

    Lisa Johnson
    22 May 2013 | 5:00 am
    But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.(Luke 635-36 ESV)God has shown a great amount of mercy to us. If you are a believer you have passed from death to life and have a promise of eternity with Him. Even for those who are not believers God has a general mercy by refraining his wrath. Just as God shows mercy to the undeserving- which is all of us, we should also show mercy to our enemies.

  • Finding Daily Mercy

    Lisa Johnson
    20 May 2013 | 5:00 am
    I acknowledged my sin to you,and I did not cover my iniquity;I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,”and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah(Psalm 32:5 ESV)This Psalm begins with a statement saying that a person is blessed whose sin is forgiven. It then goes on to tell what happens when we try to hide our sinThe result of unconfessed sin makes us groan and feel as though we are wasting away. But we are indeed blessed when we do not hide our sins. We are forgiven when we confess and forsake them. We can be set free from guilt and shame when we stop…

  • The Coming Judgement

    Lisa Johnson
    17 May 2013 | 5:00 am
    The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.(Acts 17:30-31 ESV)A time is coming when God will judge the world. He has been amazingly patient with us, as we all have lived lives that dishonor him. But he warns us many times in his Word, that a day of judgement is coming. We will all one day stand before God and give an account for our lives. Are you ready? If you…

  • Persistance

    Lisa Johnson
    15 May 2013 | 5:00 am
    And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”(Luke 18:6-8 ESV)Jesus makes a stark contrast comparing God to an unrighteous judge. Even a bad judge will do the right thing when pestered enough. How much more will God listen to us when we come to him with our injustices?So, the obvious question is: are you taking your injustice to the Just Judge who…

  • Faith in a Just God

    Lisa Johnson
    13 May 2013 | 5:00 am
    “The Rock, his work is perfect,for all his ways are justiceA God of faithfulness and without iniquity,just and upright is he."(Deuteronomy 32:4 ESV)Our God is a Rock. We can stand with Him and His Word, and don't have to worry about sinking. He is trustworthy and faithful. He has been and will forever be completely Just and without any faults. When someone doesn't understand what is going on. When troubles come and our faith is not on God and this knowledge of who He is, we may be tempted to think of God less than he is. We may try and find fault in his character. Some may…
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    Growing & Changing Through Christ

  • Your Story Starts with God

    Deanna
    20 May 2013 | 9:03 am
    In the study I have been doing on the book of Jonah, I have been reminded again and again that my story starts with God.  As I reflect I have to admit that is true, because even before I knew about God, He was present in my life. Coming from beginnings that were not so fantastic, although I can’t go into great detail because it isn’t my story alone to tell.  Born from a situation not ideal, the first child born to a mere child herself.  My childhood in most ways was uneventful, yet in other ways, more eventful than most.  Looking back I can see how God was at work even then,…

  • In the Waiting…

    Deanna
    16 May 2013 | 5:38 pm
    I had the opportunity the other day to talk with a friend from church.    While this isn’t life-changing necessarily, it was a blessing for me.  You see, this friend that I was talking with is extremely excited for what God is doing in my life.  That blows me away, some people may think it is nice, or even great, but they don’t get excited, and sometimes I feel badly for mentioning it because I don’t want people to make a big deal out of things. But this friend she is over the moon ecstatic because of what she sees God doing in my life.  I’ve never had anyone get…

  • Submission, Gets Harder

    Deanna
    15 May 2013 | 8:50 am
    Since leaving my job, I have found that my journey with the word Submission, gets harder.  Now it is only God that I have to rely on I had no money set back, other than what was needed to pay for my ticket.  I also had no prospects for another job. I knew that I needed to find work and fast.  However that hasn’t happened.  I could sit and be discouraged and filled with worry over what would come, and trust me I tend to do that at times.  I have prayed that God would lead me and guide me into the next open door.  I know that He is calling me to leave the country soon, and the fact…

  • Can I get some input, Please?

    Deanna
    11 May 2013 | 10:38 am
    photo credit: DG Jones via photopin cc My Dear Readers, Recently I asked some questions on the blog’s Facebook page, because I wanted some input on the blog from some faithful readers.  Sadly I have not done well at developing a great network on Facebook.  Probably because I simply don’t interact with everyone enough. I decided that if I truly want input from my readers the best way to get that would be to ask you here. What one thing do you feel my blog provides for you? Do you feel like that is clearly represented for any new people to stumble across my blog? What is one…
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    Christian Magazine Today.com

  • Billy Graham | Bible Stories – Zacchaeus | Sermons

    Annette
    13 May 2013 | 5:32 pm
    Zacchaeus Bible Story Billy Graham is a household name for Christians and non-Christians alike. He devoted his life to serving God and spreading the word of God through whatever means possible. I recently came across one of Billy Graham’s sermons about the bible story – Zacchaeus. Bible Stories – Zacchaeus In case you don’t know, Zacchaeus was a tax collector. He was hated by the people in the land. One day, Zacchaeus knew Jesus was passing by and, wanting to see him, climbed up a sycamore tree. When Jesus passed by, he looked up into the tree and told Zacchaeus to…

  • Family Vacation Ideas – Family Vacations

    Annette
    3 May 2013 | 8:26 am
    Family Vacation IdeasPhoto: ShirlWikimedia Commons With summertime quickly approaching, it is time to think about family vacations. Sure, you could always go to the beach or an amusement park, but what about stepping back in time to a place where folks are friendly, horses are your only transportation, and God is in your thoughts everywhere you look?Where is this place? It is a place we call – Amish Country! Amish Country While many people look at Amish Country as a boring place where there is nothing to do, others look at it to find the ‘needle in a haystack’ so to speak.

  • Chris Tomlin | Whom Shall I Fear

    Annette
    11 Apr 2013 | 7:57 pm
    Chris Tomlin – Whom Shall I FearPhoto: DeaPeaJay If you have never heard of Chris Tomlin, you’re missing out. My little boy listens to Chris Tomlin nearly every night as he sleeps especially his song ‘Whom Shall I Fear’ although he calls it ‘God of Angel Armies’. Sometimes he wakes up singing in his sleep. Other times, he wakes up from a nightmare and Chris’s song ‘ Whom Shall I Fear ‘ is the song I immediately start playing. When I don’t have a computer or iPad close by, I sing the chorus of this song over and over until he…

  • Ruth in the Bible | Ruth Bible Story

    Annette
    26 Mar 2013 | 8:51 am
    One of the most famous women, Ruth in the bible, has her own book of the bible, but yet, she is hardly known outside the church. Don’t believe me? Take a poll or try asking some random people on the street. I bet the responses you get will be an eye opener. Gleaning - Ruth in the Bible - Wikimedia The story of Ruth has so many life lessons (spiritual lessons) we can use that it would take many, many posts for me to cover them and even then, I couldn’t cover them all as God reveals things to us in his own time. It is because of this I have chosen just one aspect of the…

  • 10 Commandments – What and Where Are They Found? Part Two

    Annette
    14 Mar 2013 | 1:42 pm
    This is the second part of our 10 Commandments post. In part one, we discussed Commandments 1 through 5 and learned where the Ten Commandments are in the bible (Exodus 20). If you missed the first part of the 10 Commandments post and would like to read it, you can read it here - 10 Commandments Part One. Otherwise, let’s continue… 10 Commandments were given to Moses on Mount Sinai. This is a picture take by Florian Prischl on the way to the top of Mount Sinai - Wikimedia 10 Commandments While there are only 10 Commandments, God has laid out what he expects from us. These…
 
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    C3 Journey - the Warrior's Log

  • Getting along with others…Don’t worry – Be happy

    Jim Crumbley
    23 May 2013 | 4:10 am
    Happy people are easy to get along with. They go with the flow. They don’t sweat the small stuff and don’t make a major deal out of small offences. If you find yourself pushing back against people then maybe it’s time to chill. Your biggest happiness assest is to simply focus on God’s word. In it, you’ll find rest. Then, don’t worry. Be happy. Happiness is not a state of mind. It’s not something to be achieved, sought after or possessed. Happiness is not a future state of mind but a now state of contentment. You don’t “become” happy.

  • Getting along with others…Be of one heart

    Jim Crumbley
    22 May 2013 | 3:45 am
    “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.” Aristotle We tend to posses and protect not only materials things but the smallest of things. Our opinions, ideas, feelings and ways of doing things too often take precedence over teamwork and common goals. We fight to protect what is “ours”  and end up pushing away those with whom we should be pulling close. The truth is that we can’t selfishly protect what is “ours” and be a team player at the same time. The early church, made up of believers with different backgrounds and varied spiritual…

  • Getting along with others…Switch on God’s Love

    Jim Crumbley
    21 May 2013 | 4:27 am
    Boy you so stupid stupid You get on my last nerves How could you do this do this? Tyra B “Apology” We love because he loved us first.If anyone boasts, “I love God,” and goes right on hating his brother or sister, thinking nothing of it, he is a liar. If he won’t love the person he can see, how can he love the God he can’t see? The command we have from Christ is blunt: Loving God includes loving people. You’ve got to love both. 1 John 4:19-21 There will always be someone in your life who grates on your nerves. Their personality…way of talking…way of dealing…

  • Getting along with others…Six traits of God’s Wisdom

    Jim Crumbley
    19 May 2013 | 11:57 pm
    We think we know so much. We think we are so smart. We think we are so wise that our opinion…our idea…our thoughts…our way of doing things is the right way. We fool ourselves into thinking that our tendency towards control is simply because our wisdom is soooo good.  Well, we are soooo wrong. Real wisdom, God’s wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterized by getting along with others. It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not two-faced. James 3:17 How can you tell the difference between wisdom and control? How…

  • The change makers are the risk takers…

    Jim Crumbley
    17 May 2013 | 4:39 am
    Staying safe is staying the same…not shifting, not moving not changing. But the change makers are different. Not satisfied with where they are, change makers are risk takers. Sure, taking risks is scary but so is staying where you are. Your willingness to move happens when the pain of where you are is stronger than the fear of where you want to go.  Part of our problem is that risk takers are no longer applauded in our culture. We are now raised to “be careful,” “take the safe way home, ” and not to “rock the boat.” What have we done to the risk…
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    Logos Bible Software Blog

  • Exploring the Christ Hymn: Humility in Philippians

    Derek Brown
    23 May 2013 | 1:58 pm
    Every community of believers struggles to maintain unity, and the church in Philippi was no exception. Selfish ambition and grumbling were tearing the community apart (Phil. 2:3, 14). In Philippians 2:3, Paul reveals the antidote to such disunity: act in humility, considering others more significant than yourself (Phil. 2:3). He then points the Philippians to the ultimate example of humility: the incarnation of Christ. For Paul, Christ modeled true humility when He took on human flesh. Jesus calls His followers to imitate His life of sacrifice. The Christ hymn of Phil. 2:5–11 celebrates…

  • Get up to $388 Off Commentaries through June 15!

    Elly Hagen
    23 May 2013 | 8:56 am
    If you’re still looking for that perfect graduation gift, you have until June 15to save on some top commentaries. Whether your grad is pursuing vocational ministry or simply looking for a better understanding of the Bible, commentaries make superb presents. Through June 15, you’ll save on: International Critical Commentary The International Critical Commentary has long held a special place among works on the Bible. Its comprehensive, rigorous scholarship brings together all the relevant aids to exegesis: linguistic and textual, archaeological, historical, literary, and theological. Get…

  • Announcing Logos Mobile Education

    Dale Pritchett
    22 May 2013 | 3:24 pm
    As one of the cofounders of Logos, I’ve seen and experienced every turn in the road of Bible software over the past 22 years. People often ask me if my son Bob—Logos’ CEO—or I ever imagined that Logos would grow the way it has: Did we anticipate that so many people would use computers for Bible study? The answer is always “Yes,we did!” Yet, despite that intuition, our forecasting was far from perfect. While we had a strong sense that digital publishing would drive biblical studies, the consequences of a whole world gone digital were unforeseen. That mega-shift has…

  • Get 25% Off the Post-Reformation Catholic Thought and Piety Collection (27 vols.)

    Aric Nesheim
    22 May 2013 | 1:03 pm
    What does it mean to pray? How is it that we enter God’s presence through devotion and meditation? What is the meaning of suffering? These are the kinds of questions asked by many of the sixteenth century’s great Christian mystics, scholars, and saints. While polemical wars were waged between the Catholic Church and Protestant Reformers, many thinkers continued to focus on the internal battle waged within our own souls. This focus on interiority produced some of the greatest mystical, poetic, and devotional literature ever written. Now it’s compiled in the enormous…

  • The Clock Is Ticking: Take $400 Off the NICOT/NICNT!

    Jayson Bradley
    22 May 2013 | 9:12 am
    Did you know you can save $400 on the New International Commentary on the Old and New Testament? It’s true: you can get $400 off right now with coupon code NICOTNT. But you’ll want to act fast—this offer is good only through the end of May. Since the last time this went on sale, we’ve added four new volumes to the collection: The Book of Hosea by J. Andrew Dearman The Gospel of John by J. Ramsey Michaels The Epistle to the Hebrews by Gareth Lee Cockerill The Letter of James by Scot McKnight That means the NICOT/NICNT is better than ever. If you’ve been…
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    Faithlife Women

  • The Absorbing Power of the Gospel

    Tayler Beede
    22 May 2013 | 9:09 am
    “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” —Proverbs 15:1 We live in a fallen world in which we daily experience the pain and destruction of sin. There is anger, back biting, disappointment, impatience, selfishness, complaining, ungratefulness…the list goes on and on. There are times that we may be tempted to think that there is no hope for any kind of peace or joy in our lives. Displaced anger You see, our hearts suffer from a sense of displaced anger. When we should be fighting for justice with a godly anger we are instead busy with bitterness towards our…

  • Trusting God When Life Falls Apart

    Tayler Beede
    20 May 2013 | 8:00 am
    “And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from His glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.” —Philippians 4:19 My oldest son was in 5th grade and needed a 20 oz. Coke bottle for a science project at school. I pulled in to the gas station only to find that I didn’t have any money. I began desperately searching the car, hopeful to find some loose change under the seats. Not today. Had my life really come to this? I sat in the car and cried for what seemed like hours. I finally mustered up the courage to go into the store to ask for a Coke on…

  • Becoming an Effective Mentor

    Tayler Beede
    17 May 2013 | 11:56 am
    I remember when my friend Emily announced that she was going to ask our older friend Sherry to mentor her. My heart twisted ugly, in part jealousy and part pride. Of course, I wanted Sherry to mentor me, and so I was upset that Emily got first dibs. At the same time, I didn’t want to admit my need for a mentor. In my early twenties, I was all about proving myself capable–to my family, to my husband, and within the Christian community God had planted us in. I simply couldn’t ask for help. I didn’t understand the gift of mentoring or the way an older generation could bless the next.

  • The Upside of Endings

    Tayler Beede
    16 May 2013 | 8:00 am
    I was not quite seven years old when my family moved from Tempe, Arizona to Bloomington, Illinois. I still remember hiding myself in the living room drapes, peeking out every now and then to glare at the movers as they emptied our home of everything familiar. I watched, indignant and despairing, as if these men were thieves rather than employees doing a job. The next day, our family pulled out of the driveway for the last time, leaving behind my Holly Hobby bedroom, my first best friend, and the front yard willow tree underneath which I had discovered the magic of imagination. Within a week,…

  • Loving Others in the Midst of Disagreement

    Tayler Beede
    13 May 2013 | 9:58 am
    “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” —John 13:34–35 Something very sweet happened the other day to my sister—a little unexpected—but it warmed my heart. She was assigned to go to an Islamic Mosque Center for class; upon arriving the students heard the hymn of a Muslim over the intercom. A man eventually greeted them and beckoned them to their place of worship. Everyone is capable of love Following the man, was a little boy who apparently…
 
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    Fresh Bread

  • Where do you find ideas for your sermons?

    joebuchanan
    21 May 2013 | 8:36 am
    When I first started preaching I primarily was what you might call a supply preacher.  My Pastor knew that I was sensing the call to preach so he started to give me opportunities to preach. It was not long before he got me on the associational supply preacher list and I started getting opportunities to preach in other churches.  This was a good gig for a preacher just starting out and it had its advantages.  Mainly, since I never preached in the same place more than 3 or 4 times in a row I only needed to have a stash of about 5 or 6 messages. But the disadvantage rose its ugly head when I…

  • Taking Personal Responsibility for Sin

    joebuchanan
    16 May 2013 | 8:16 am
    A couple of weeks ago I started preaching a series of message based on my new book “Cultivating a Gospel-Shaped Attitude.”  Several people have contacted me and asked me to provide them with my power-point slides, so I thought that I would post them on here and make them available to anyone who wants them. Here is the first power point.  I will be posting additional messages in the coming days. Gospel Shaped Attitude Session 1   If you would like a free preview of my book “Cultivating a Gospel Shaped-Attitude” please click here.     If you would like to…

  • Pastor! Guard Your Heart From Unconfessed Sin Pts 2 & 3

    joebuchanan
    15 May 2013 | 3:00 am
    The other day I started a short series dealing with how Pastors can guard their hearts against unconfessed sin.  Here are parts 2 and 3 of this series. 2. Deal with sin the moment it is discovered   English: Icon of Jesus Christ (Photo credit: Wikipedia)       Pastor, let me stop right here and beg you to deal with sin the moment that it is recognized in your heart.  Don’t delay.  Don’t put it off.  Don’t think that you can wait and deal with it some other time.  Sin is like a cancer that will eat away at your life, it will steal you joy, rob you of your…

  • Pastor! Guard Your Heart From Unconfessed Sin: Part 1

    joebuchanan
    13 May 2013 | 1:19 pm
    English: Photograph of an open Bible with focus on a verse from the Gospel of John, chapter 3, verse 16. “For God so loved the World that he gave his one and only son that whosoever believes on him should not perish but have eternal life.” (Photo credit: Wikipedia)   One of the greatest dangers in the life of the Pastor is unconfessed sin. It will rob you of your intimacy with God and steal your spiritual power.  Over the next three days I want to share with you three steps that every Pastor needs to take in order to guard our hearts against unconfessed sin.   STEP 1:…

  • Pt 4 of My Preview of “Cultivating a Gospel-Shaped Attitude”

    joebuchanan
    3 May 2013 | 3:00 am
    Here is the final installment of the preview of my new book “Cultivating a Gospel-Attitude.”  If you haven’t read the first three parts please click on the following links: Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 If you enjoy this preview I hope that you will order a copy of the book and let your friends know about it.  Please click on the link below to order your own copy: CLICK HERE TO ORDER The Value of the Beatitudes to the Modern Believer 1. Our understanding of salvation Many commentators have noted the way the Beatitudes outline a believer’s response to the gospel.[1] We see this…
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