All (Page 7) Articles 2014 Archives

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how to learn the language of happiness

Arguing kids and the morning's first sunlight lead to thanksgiving?

Ann Voskamp takes a morning breakfast, washing, dishes, arguing boys, and books in multiple languages and turns it into a time of joy, happiness, and eucharisteo.

A Few Minutes Alone

When is time waiting, not wasted?

Rubel Shelly talks about an airport delay that ended up in a blessed day alone with God focusing and praying on the things and people that matter most and being present with God in the quietness of the moment.

Trash or Treasure?

Can you tell the difference between trash and treasure?

God sent his son Jesus to die for us. He sent him to die so that we could live. The offer of salvation is a precious treasure, yet some won't recognize that. They'll "despise" God's offer, discarding this gift like yesterday's trash.

Experience Immanuel

Why do we settle for so much less of Jesus than He promised us?

Phil Ware finishes up his 5 part series on experiencing Immanuel and summarizes the content of the four previous articles.

Those First 5 Years

Let's be sure and not let those crucial years slip by us!

Terese Bell Kindred reminds mothers and grandmothers of the importance of a child's and grandchild's first five years of life and the urgency of making a God impression on them while we can.

Strange Confession of a Satanist

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!

I May Know Why You Are Reading This

What if you are reading this article because God planned it?

God has always found a way to connect his followers with those seeking him.

Love Will Travel

Why is the Great Commission so important for us as well as the rest of the world?

Phil Ware does part 4 in a 5 part series on the Immanuel passages in Matthew, this week is the Great Commission, Matthew 28:18-20, focusing on cross cultural outreach and disciple-making, something much more involved than just evangelism.

Potholes Ahead

While we cannot accurately predict the future, for most of us, there will be potholes in our path!

Rubel Shelly reminds us to not get knocked off our path when we encounter potholes, even big bad ones that do damage, but to keep pressing on and persevering toward the call of God.

Can I Be Forgiven?

How do you deal with those feelings of remorse?

It doesn't matter what you have done. Your sins can be washed away. You can start over. God will cleanse you and give you a new life.

Jesus with Dirt on His Face and No Place to Sleep

Have you seen Jesus here?

Phil Ware continues his leadership series on the Immanuel Sayings or ways to experience Jesus, this one focuses on compassionate service.

Life Among the Outcasts

Where does your church meet?

Rubel Shelly talks about a book he read recently, "Sanctuary of Outcasts", and challenges us to make the church such a place.

Asking and Honoring

How could he know for sure?

Stacy Voss reminds us that John the Baptist asked a deep and important question of Jesus and Jesus answered with not only truth, but also words of honor and affirmation.

Old Clothes and New Life

Do not get so used to the old that you fail to experience the new.

Old clothes are comfortable and you get so used to them you do not realize how good new clothes are. Life is like that too.

I Need More Than Me!

We were not made to do this discipleship thing alone.

Phil Ware continues his series on experiencing God through Jesus, Immanuel, this time focusing upon our need for spiritual community, family, fellowship.

The Mission Matrix

So how does our church sort all this mission stuff out?

Tim Woodroof completes the Interim Ministry Partners, http://www.interimministrypartners.com, series on helping a church determine its mission.

God at Our Feet

Here's a place it's hard to imagine God, but it is the place God often chose to be!

Cathy Messecar challenges us to see the God of Abram, our God, in a new way, the God who will bless and bow to serve us as well as the God who calls us to obey and follow.

Been Thinkin’ About Heaven

Have you thought about heaven?

I've been thinkin' about Heaven, a lot, lately. And I've decided that I don't care what it looks like, or if we have to wait a 1000 years, or if everything I know will be made new. Heaven is where God and Jesus are and that's where I want to be.

O Come, Please Come, Immanuel

So how can I read the gospels as more than just daily Bible reading I check off my to-do list?

Phil Ware begins a series of articles on the Immanuel Sayings in Matthew and this is done in coordination with Interim Ministry Partners and focuses on experiencing Jesus, or Immanuel.

Do Our Churches Prefer Cushions over Crosses?

When sports fail to bring us together as one, then what will we do?

Rubel Shelly reminds us of MLK, Martin Luther King, Jr., and how he taught us we were all equal in God's eyes and that Jesus was the answer to uniting us into one people under God.

When Your Hero Falls

What do you do when your hero makes a big mistake?

Just as Isaiah had to overcome Uzziah's failure, we have to deal with the failures of others. We need to learn to turn to God at times like that.

The ARC of Grace

What does grace really look like in real life?

Phil Ware reminds us the way Jesus uses grace as an action, a living out of God's grace, in real life that has urges that Go back to the original woman and man.

Worship Is a Lifestyle

It's not a Sunday morning deal we make with God!

Brian McCutchen talks about worship and how it must be a daily part of our lives or it is not real worship like the early Christians shared and lived.

Time to Throw Away the Old Calendar

Love it or hate it... it is sure easy to live in the past.

Do not stay rooted in your past successes or failures. Instead, embrace the future God has planned for you.

The Waiting Is the Hardest Part

O how our hearts ache till all our precious ones are in Jesus!

Phil Ware shares his heart about someone who is precious to him who needs to come to the Lord and has not yet done so.