James 1

Can they really be a blessing? Rubel Shelly reminds us of how hard times can actually shape us for the better and help us see our role in making the world a better place.

Have we've been asking the wrong question for too long? Ann Voskamp writes to put all of the bad news of the last few weeks in perspective and suggests that we've been asking the wrong question, a misguided question, far too long?

What can empty our faith of its value? Tammy Marcelain shares insight on who we welcome and how we welcome them into our midst, and also reflects on what we do to push them away and hurt them with our words and actions.

Looked in the mirror lately? A mirror helps us see what we need to correct; God's word is that mirror for our spiritual behavior.

When does the trip to the dentist bother you? We need to let the word of God speak to us and not worry about applying it to everyone else.

What's the most you have ever paid for a meal? While the most expensive meal in history was billed as an overcharge on a credit card, it really is a meal provided by our sin.

Doesn't our faith have to impact the way we live our daily lives? Rubel Shelly reminds us that our faith must make a difference in our normal lives or it matters little.

Where did you put your faith? Our faith can either be real and shaping us to be useful to God or it can be discarded or nothing more than a good luck charm.

Are you ready for the long hard chill of winter? Phil Ware talks about the harshness of a long, cold, hard winter and the trials and troubles we must endure as believers.

Why reject the goodness of God and all he has done to choose our own way? James Nored and Phil Ware continue helping us find our story in God's story, this time looking at the Fall.

Are you ready for the hard chill that's coming? We can survive times of trouble, trials, and temptation if we prepare.

What do you do when you are emotionally on fire? A recovery saying, HALT, reminds us to be careful when we are hungry, angry, lonely, and tired because then we are vulernable to temptation, sin, and weakness as well as addictions.

How do we keep from throwing bricks at each other through our screens, large and small? Ann Voskamp reminds us to listen with our heads and hearts and see social media and the Internet as a way to listen to hearts yearning to be loved.

We know that our God showers his grace upon us. One of his greatest gifts is heavenly wisdom, given when we ask for it in faith. Demetrius Collins and Phil Ware lead us in virtual worship through words and music using YouTube videos encouraging us to recognize that God is our Father who longs to share His heavenly wisdom with His people.

What are you going to find if you dig deep enough? Rubel Shelly reminds us that we need to not give up when our life seems to be in the toilet, because as often archaeologists do, we can sometimes find the greatest treasures in the most surprising places.

What do you do when you can't do it alone. We need to be accountable and get the support of friends.

How can you keep holding on and believing? Hanging and persevering is worth it because joy follows morning just as morning follow night.

With all the crazy stuff going on, how am I supposed to know what to do? Tom Norvel reminds us as leaders that we are promised wisdom, we just need to pray for it and ask for it genuinely and in faith.

How did the snail get on the ark? Paul Faulkner encourages us to press on and persevere.

Why intentionally face hard opponents? Phil Ware shares insight on the challenges of trials and sufferings and also on the desire and passion to have God's character produced in our lives through perseverance in times that are hard and facing opponents that are challenging.

In an age that has lost any sense of sin, why worry about temptation? Brian McCutchen reminds us that dealing with temptation is not easy for the Christian and must be dealt with seriously.

Does he really care about all this mess? When bad things happen, we need to realize that God does see and care and will remember.

Is anybody listening? We need to learn to listen better if we ever hope to connect with other people.

What is the key to surviving stress? There are lots of sources of stress and impatience in our lives, but circumstances must not determine our attitude.

Does pedigree or privilege change us? Rubel Shelly reminds us that our pedigree and genealogy doesn't make us Christian, but our discipleship does.

What are you chasing that is destructive to you? A self-destructive meal at a mud hole reminds us of how our own desires can blind us to the dangers of our own greed and lust for power.

Can you tell if the imperfections have been cleansed? Rubel Shelly visits a kiln that fires ceramics and helps us think through the importance of purifying our imperfections.

Have you learned to let off a little steam before you blow up? We need to vent our anger appropriately with a Christian friend before we lose control and the whole things blows up on us and those around us.

Joy in trials and the expansion of influence in times like these? YES! Alan Garner describes a prayer and exhortation he gave at the Volunteers of America meeting and how wisdom and opportunity can be found in caring for the trials and troubles of those around us.

Bet you couldn't get the wrinkles out of these pants! Some people give crazy gifts, but God gives great gifts, but do we stop and thank Him for them?

I knew the picture looked different zoomed out. Melissa Troyer reminds us of those mistakes made by our little ones when they are in their early exploration modes and how our job is not to load them down with rules but to show them where to reach.

Can you be as faithful at the foot of the mountain as you are at the summit? We can't always be on the mountain top, sometimes we face the valleys and must be faithful at the foot of the mountain.

How clear is your thinking? Mike Barres reminds us that we often confuse our muddled thinking, our inability to decide what to do, not because the decision is difficult, but because we don't want to obey.

Follow up to the continuing discussion Phil Ware continues his discussion on serving those who are homebound in our church communities.

You've been there, haven't you, where you needed help and wondered if anyone was there? Phil Ware talks about using our summers to do God's work.

What do your ears want to hear? Some folks only want to hear the cheery stuff from God, not the hard stuff, too.

When we have to do it, it isn't a game! Rubel Shelly reminds us to play through pain and go on to victory.

What do you do when you mess up? I messed up by assigning the wrong author to the article, but I'm not going to rationalize my mistake away!

Most important things require us to hang in and hang touch to get to our destination! So often we look for short cuts or ways to cut corners to get to a goal that can only be reached by hard work, perserverance, and a willingness to keep on working over time.

Have you been slicked lately by the ads? Just like the fast food ads decieve us by making their product look too good to be true, so also satan deceives and tempts us.

Do they move you to action? Alan Smith reminds us our responsibility and our need to have compassion for those in need.

What can a giver hope to find in giving? The greatest joy a gift giver can give is when someone uses the gift he or she has been given.

Will you remember those everyone else forgets? True religion is more than just spouting off religious phrases and remaining isolated from worldly people -- it means to take the sin and worldliness out of people and take care of them.

What in the world is that sound? Phil Ware looks back on an old reel-to-reel recording and editing session and reflects how he could sure use that same kind of thing in his life!

What does pure religion really look like? Phil Ware continues his series connected to his blog about the his mission trip to Peru with his wife Donna and the children they touched.

Let's live out God's gift of grace by celebrating God's goodness, loving Jesus, and obeying what the Lord taught as we love, serve, and treat others as our Savior did! Demetrius Collins and Phil Ware lead us in an online, virtual worship through words and music using YouTube videos to remind us and help us celebrate and live in appreciation to the grace of God.

Isn't this what every child has a right to expect? Rubel Shelly talks about Davion Navar Henry Only and his search for his mother and a forever family who will love him unconditionally.

When we assume, well, let's just say things don't end so well. Rubel Shelly reminds us to not assume and to be willing to ask questions and listen so we truly understand what is being said.

I may not say much, but I see everything. Ron Rose is back with his Beyond Black coffee collecting stories and meeting new people who introduce him to new things.

Can you stop the tides? Life is constantly changing and we can't stop it, but we can determine how we will react to it.

So which is it really with our world? Rubel Shelly writes to put things in perspective with our world.

Want to know how to take a simple dress and change a life? Susan Sagun shares with Heartlight the innovative way to help children and women in Uganda while at the same time giving a blessing here at home!

So is that really hypocrisy? Rubel Shelly talks about a gruesome murder attributed to satanist and reminds us that most satanists are like most folks who claim to be Christians, they don't really walk their talk, they just want to do what they want to do!

So has communication really taken place? Rubel Shelly reminds us of the importance and fragile danger of communication in organizations, businesses, families, and churches because communication doesn't happen until someone hears and understands, not just when someone says something.

How much time are you willing to invest in the life of a child? Mentoring kids offers a great chance for Christians to honor the call of Jesus to care for orphans.

Don't you wish you could take back some things you've said? Rubel Shelly reminds us of our need to restrain our urge to speak too quickly and compares that to a new gmail feature called undo send

How can I share in community when I am limited in how I can get out with other people? Phil Ware talks about how we can help provide and be community to those who cannot get away from home or care facilities and he asks for our input on how we can help them do this.

Hear the words of one who has lived it: What does an orphan desire most? This powerful message is from an orphan who was abandoned and abused by family and rescued by a sponsor.

I thought Bactine fixed anything! Sometimes in the heat of the moment, we address the wrong issue with the wrong cure.

My life has been forever changed — and thankfully, so has Edison's. The Child Survival Program from Compassion International is making great strides for mothers and babies in Ecuador.

It was in the midst of poverty that I learned God is never late, An article reminding us that God is never late.

Sometimes the biggest story at church is not one you know! Phil Ware shares a Mothers' Day story of God's grace and the reunion of a family brought together through adoption.

Let's worship today, praising God and asking for the help of the Holy Spirit as we seek to respond to people as Jesus did! Demetrius Collins and Phil Ware lead us in online, virtual worship through words and music using YouTube videos to help us understand how to give fitting replies to others in different conversation contexts.

Why do some people think Jesus is like a cell phone? Cell phones that don't work validate all your fears about technology. Some people have that same thought about Jesus when eveything in life does not work like they want.

Where can folks find Jesus' love in your town? compassion, concern, care, Christ, love, Jesus, Church

There are not enough words to thank you for sharing in this grace! Phil Ware talks about reaching the 1,000 sponsored child mark with Heartlight.org and verseoftheday.com and what a great mark this is to break.

Are you listening to what is actually being said? We get ourselves in so many problems because we do not genuinely listen to each other.

Prayer that the Father hears is directed to him in faith with an unselfish attitude, seeking to bless and honor God's will because of our love for the Father. Bill Sherrill reminds us about the importance of prayer and how we should pray to honor God.

We actually exchanged real words with both of them. It was amazing. Would you believe that they are both real living, breathing human beings? Michael DeCamp shares a chapter out of his new book, "Loving Out Loud," and challenges us to use our words to bless and not hurt, to give life and not steal it from someone.

Why in the world would Phil get nine shots in four weeks? Phil Ware talks about his upcoming trip to Uganda with Compassion International and the opportunity to help children in poverty with the love of Jesus.

When does a little filth become too much? Russ Lawson challenges us to look at the way filth and dirt get into our lives and contaminate them and challenges us to pursue holiness and purity.

How can we avoid the foolish man's crash? Phil Ware reminds us of the harsh truth about knowing more than we put into practice, we are certainly called to be much more than a biblical thumb drive.

Will you finish even if the going gets really tough? Hanging in there and persevering during tough times is not easy, but it is necessary and will develop our character.

Our lesson elaborates on this promise from God. We know that our Father does not withhold sharing his grace and every gift that is for our best good. Demetrius Collins and Phil Ware lead us in virtual worship through words and music using YouTube videos encouraging us to recognize that God is our Father who does not withhold from us good things, especially the best things in this life and the life to c

Can others tell your faith through ypur speech? Russ Lawson reminds us that we can and should be considerate, comforting, and encouraging in the way we respond to others.

Have you really thrown them away or just tried to clean them up? We need to not only be sorry for our sin, but we also need to get rid of the things in our lives that lead us to sin.

Can you find that light that chases away the shadows? Phil Ware continues his series on When Spirit Becomes Flesh and talks about Jesus as heaven's light.

God's holiness and grace call us to live our lives to bless others with what we do and what we say. Demetrius Collins and Phil Ware lead us in a virtual, DIY, worship through words and music using YouTube videos to praise God for his holiness and grace and call each other to use our lives, our speech, and our actions to bless others.

How well do you understand the whole situation? We are often critical of others and can't understand God because we don't see the big picture of what is happening.

Not an archaic form of subjugation but a divine and brilliant system for harmony, mutual enrichment, and voluntary submission! Lee Wilson goes back to the beginning of Scripture and as an experienced relationship coach, invites people to look at God's plan to make marriages thrive.

Why is it so hard not to interrupt? Rubel Shelly describes how hard it is to really listen and not cut off someone else's conversation.

Sometimes we wish we could put the genie back into the bottle! Tom Norvell reminds us about the nature of regrets and the wish we hadn't done what we've done, so he encourages us to live life differently.

Have you ever engaged your mouth before your brain was in gear? The answers from Family Fued remind us of how stupid the things we say can be if we don't think about them first!

Why not give the gift of new life to a child who is waiting for someone to help them experience grace? Phil Ware gives three reasons to sponsor a child with Compassion International.

How can the younger brother of Jesus help us find our way to hope? Phil Ware lets us journey with James, the half brother of Jesus, through the cross and resurrection to find our way to hope and confidence about our future.

In the world of chaotic change, is there anything predictable and dependable? Pat Mingarelli shares photos of geese on a frozen lake and reminds us of the constants of unchanging nature and the God who is faithful and dependable and unchanging and just.

These three lurk in the shadows seeking to derail us and do us in. Russ Lawson talks about fear, uncertainty, and doubt, or FUD, and how God's word and God speaks into each of these to give us life.

What's shining in that darkness? Rubel Shelly talks about how important it is for us to be light for the dark places of our world.

Have you settled on simply staying put? We need to evaluate how we are growing and have a plan to continue to grow.

What do you have to hide? Phil Ware shares his father's values in a letter to his children Zachary and Megan

Jesus is God made touchable! Phil Ware introduces his trip to Comunidad de Los Niños Sagrada Familia in Lima, Peru, and the children that Jesus wants touched with his grace.

How can I change someone's life this Christmas? Teresa Bell Kindred shares her experiences on adopting Reina through Compassion International and encourages others to do something similar.

Do you think James was really there through all of this mess? Phil Ware shares some insight and background on James the brother of Jesus and how he disbelieved, but came to faith.

How can it be worse? Phil Ware writes about children being valued for who they are.

Don't focus on what you're going to say! I've come to believe that's the wrong focus. Instead of thinking of what we're going to say, we need to focus on listening. What will we hear? How will we get the other person to open up? Can we learn enough about them to help them draw closer to God

Why would God lead us into temptation? Doesn't God want us victorious over temptation? Phil Ware and Andy Johnson help us look at our prayer for deliverance from temptation and the evil one.

Why is there so much fussing and fighting over spiritual gifts? Phil Ware continues his series on the Holy Spirit called SpiritFire and focuses on the issue of spiritual gifts.

Are we looking in the right places to find happiness for ourselves? Teresa Bell Kindred reminds us that what we define as happiness is nearly always temporary pleasure that is soon gone and leaves us unhappy; happiness is really on our own shoulders.

Why eat a strawberry when pursued by a cougar? God is in control and our job is to make the most of the life we are given.

Will you really make it home for Christmas? The message for singles this Christmas is that there IS a home for you, and there IS someone there for you.

What can we learn from a puppy in the snow? I'm convinced that God must know how to smile -- maybe even laugh right out loud. I think that's one of the reasons he gave us puppies.

How dark is it in your world? Phil Ware continues his series called Light on the Dark Side of the Mountain and reminds us that risky faith is rewarded.

Are you ready? Alan Smith reminds us that we are all vanishing away, our bodies grow older and we face challenges, but understanding this and what it means to us is dependent upon our relationship with Christ.