Special Features (Page 12)

Living in the Misunderstood Kingdom

What would you say after the coffee shop bomb?

Ron Rose challenges us to look at Jesus' upside-down kingdom and what it means for our life today.

Created to Do Good Works

Why do we have such a strong urge to do good?

Tom Norvell talks about our desire to go good and how strong it is and how we battle against the desire to do evil.

Solving the Big Mystery

When is the last time you stared into the face of God?

Ron Rose talks about Amy who went to Mother Teresa's Dying Destitutes and found that by touching the broken and dying you looked into the face of God, and we can do the same if we take the time to draw close

The God Who Sees and Cares

Are we ministering beyond the curse?

Patrick Odum writes about the devastation in Haiti and our response to it as a people of God who want to do the work of the Kingdom.

What's Your Purpose?

Is there something more than being saved from sin?

Tom Norvell reminds us that we were saved from what we were to be what we are: God's people created with purpose to do good works.

Celebrating Life!

How do we truly celebrate life?

Phil Ware shares insights on ways to be for life: more than right to birth, let's help children find real life.

What Our Lives Proclaim

What are your habits, patterns, and companions communicating to others?

Russ Lawson reminds us that the habits, patterns, and companions of our lives leave a message in the hearts of all who see us and know us.

How Can We Best Prepare for 2010?

How can we be prepared for the year ahead!

Larry Davies talks about spiritual ways to prepare and live out the year 2010.

A Small Step?

When's the last time you stepped out to begin, even if the step was small?

Tom Norvell reminds us not to discount the small steps we make in our lives because out of them come the big ones!

The Other Nine

Wonder what all those other guys did?

Patrick Odum talks about the the 10 lepers who were healed and only one came back to thank Jesus and puts the other nine into modern context and describes what they did instead of thanking Jesus.

Drafting Your Thanksgiving Fantasy Team

This is a team we can all be thankful for!

Ron Rose reminds us that Thanksgiving is about those who have blessed us and our being a blessing back by letting them know and thanking them.

Grace?

How can we receive grace and still be so ungracious?

Danny Sims uses a cartoon and touch of humor to remind us that we did not discover grace!

Beyond the Clouds

Can you see beyond the storm clouds in your life

Tom Norvell talks about taking off in the pea soup of bad rainy weather and lifting up through the clouds and finding the sun and tying this all to our need to look beyond the clouds.

Good without God?

So who do you need to be good?

Patrick Odum sees a billboard by an atheistic and agnostic group that says many are good without God and he decides he is barely tolerable with God, so there's no hope for him without God!

Living Abundantly

Have you found it?

Tom Norvell talks about living life abundantly, with urgency, a recognition that life is short, and that we may only have the opportunity to do some things once.

The Ig Nobel Awards

If it's not Nobel, is it ignoble?

Patrick Odum tells us about the Ig Nobel awards and reminds us that God uses ordinary folks, ignoble folks, to do great things for His glory.

All Who Are Weary

Is there any place to get some rest?

Tom Norvell prays for the weary and the heavy burdened and tired, based on Jesus' promise to give us rest.

Well Done!

Don't you just love to hear the words said to you!

Tom Norvell reminds of how beautiful it will be to hear "Well done!" from the Lord and how important it is for us to say it to each other until his coming.

Can You See It?

Are you looking beyond the ugliness of the age to find something more?

Ron Rose challenges us to look beyond the ugliness and pettiness of the age and find real beauty and loveliness in our worlds.

Playing Second Fiddle?

Why is it so hard to not be the one recognized?

Russ Lawson describes why it is hard and important to be willing to play second fiddle in the Lord's orchestra.

Gratitude that Costs Us Something

How can we be thankful without doing something significant?

Patrick Odum talks about gratitude and thankfulness for the grace we have received and all the blessings we have in Christ and in life.

Wait in Expectation

How are you at your wait?

Tom Norvell challenges us to wait in expectation and reminds us that the expectation part is often easier than the waiting part.

Beyond that Helpless Feeling

What do you do when you can't do what needs to be done?

Tom Norvell looks at times that are too difficult for us to handle well and challenges us to realize that there are many things we can do to help folks in desperate situations.

Have You Heard these Words?

Just a few words and our presence can make all the difference in the world!

Ron Rose reminds us that a few words and our physical presence can make all the difference in the life of someone else, just like Al Ware made a difference in Ron's life.

Action!

Does faith really show itself with actions?

Patrick Odum shares his experience on a backlot production center and compares a practical set with a facade and applies it to our spiritual life.