Articles Tagged '' (Page 48)

Golden Rule, Golden Door!

Some connections God makes inescapable no matter how costly obedience may be!

Phillip Morrison reminds us of the need to be open-hearted to the refugee crisis both as Americans and as Christians and to see this as a moral imperative.

'What prevents me from being baptized?'

What stands between you and the water?

The Bible says the Ethiopian eunuch was baptized and went on his way rejoicing. You can too. It was good news for the Ethiopian. It's good news for us. Everyone who is willing to put their faith in Jesus may come to him.

Some Mountains Matter More

So how do we know our mountains of greatest importance?

Phil Ware continues his series on knowing the mountains on which we are willing to die -- both doctrinal and missional mountains of significance.

Sin and Grace

Do we really need either of these? Absolutely yes!

Rubel Shelly writes about Pope Francis and the year of pardon for abortion and other sins that is available and how the world doesn't seem to get sin and wrong doing and guilt.

Following Jesus Is Not About You

Making a decision to follow Jesus is really not about you at all.

The decision to follow Jesus is not about you. If anything, it is about rejecting yourself.

Willing to Die on This Mountain

What are the mountains you would die on for what you believe and what you are called to do?

Phil Ware talks about finding our theological and missional mountains and how important it is to know them if you are going to call a minister with whom to partner.

Your Default Face

What do you look like when you are not trying look any certain way?

Deonna Shake uses her vast coaching and playing experience to introduce a key concept called "default face" and reminds us that how we carry ourselves says a lot about us.

The Immovable Ladder

The ladder has been there since the 18th century!

A ladder sits outside a window of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. The ladder has been in place for over 250 years; there are writings from the 18th century that mention it. No one really knows where it came from. Nobody uses it. The ladder

Unhinderedly!

God will get us where we need to be when we need to be there!

Phil Ware continues his series on Saved at Sea focusing on Paul's promise in Philippians 1:6 and Paul's shipwreck and travel to Rome to fulfill his calling from God.

Almost Destroyed by the Actions of Another

Can you come back from near total destruction?

Stacy Voss shares the parallel between a house burned by a nearby car and the destruction in her life because of infidelity and divorce.

What a Rescue Dog Taught Me About God

A rescue dog, God, and a love story

I love God because of how much he has done for me. I was reminded of this by watching Lulu, our rescue dog.

But One Thing I Do!

How do we keep from letting the past dominate our future?

Phil Ware reminds us to let the past stay in the past and gives us Paul's advice for moving beyond our past: forgetting, straining, pressing on.

Ready for Anything That Comes

Here is someone whose faith has stood the test of time and continues to display that faith in the face of great challenges.

Phillip Morrison reminds us of the decency, faith, and goodness of two former presidents, Jimmy Carter and Gerald Ford.

When Life Takes You Off Guard

We need to remember that hardship and family dysfunction and unfairness are not new for God's people and are the backdrop of their courageous lives of faith.

Rubel Shelly reminds us that the heroes of scripture had to endure many of the same kinds of challenges we do, that is what makes their witness so powerful.

The Instructions

Some assembly required…

The Bible, Scripture, holds God's directions for his followers. If you don't read it, you don't know how to put your life together. And what you actually get doesn't resemble anything close to what you envisioned; you have pieces lost or pieces that are

A Forgotten, but Necessary, Grace of Jesus

Should we be surprised that so many call themselves Christians but never live for Jesus?

Phil Ware shares a passion on his heart about the way we have privatized and personalize conversion and salvation that eliminates the necessary grace of Jesus' community, family, and spiritual community.

YOU Matter to God

Sometimes we just need to be reminded that we matter.

Brian McCutchen reminds us that we are known, loved and valued by God.

An 'Even If' Faith

What if God doesn't do what you hoped or wanted?

We need an "even if" faith. We need the kind of faith that says, "Lord, I'll believe in you even if you don't do what I hope. I'll believe in you even if you don't answer this prayer the way I want. I'll believe in you no matter what."

A Charcoal Fire & the Smell of Redemption

Why make someone relive his or her sin, why not just ignore it?

Phil Ware continues his Saved at Sea series focusing on Peter's denials, his promises, his arrogance, his failure, and his restoration.

Discovering 'My Truth'

Does it really matter if we simply adjust our definition of truth to fit our own way of living?

Rubel Shelly reminds us that while we can adjust many things to fit our lifestyle and personal reality, truth is still truth despite our protestations and personal journey.

Are You Looking for Love?

There is someone who loves you enough to always want the best for you.

Parents will do what is best for their child no matter what. God will do what is best for his children also.

Center

My eyes are on Him!

Phil Ware reminds of the Bible's repeated call to make the LORD the center of our lives and our focus and how Jesus must be that for us if we dare call ourselves Christians.

The Emmaus Option

How an old journey and a brief meal can help us reshape ourselves... and our world.

Ann Voskamp looks at our ravaged world this summer and uses the image of a ravaged countryside to help us remember the power of sharing scars with the one who bears our sin in his scars.

Reason to Smile

What such a dour and serious face?

Rubel Shelly reminds us that being dour doesn't help any of us make disciples or friends.

Where does my help come from?

Who do you put your trust in?

What's your hope for the future? Who or what are you putting your trust in? Let me encourage you to fully trust in the Lord and his salvation.