Special Features (Page 20)

The Hanging of Randal Batey

How is your perception?

A humorous account of a hanging leads to some observations on how frequently our perception is wrong.

Betting on the Wrong Horse!

In whom or on what are you betting your life?

We bet our lives on many things, but only God is worthy of our trust and he will never leave or forsake us.

It's About Seeing Us!

Do you see and listen to these folks around you?

Rubel uses a street person named Jack and his friend to remind us that each of these people have a name and need to be valued and noticed as real people.

A Visit Over Coffee

Who was she really talking with?

A woman talking to herself reminds us our need to engage in conversation in meaningful ways with others.

The Fullest Possible Way

Where do these ups and downs come from, anyway?

Life is a combination of ups and downs and all arounds but Jesus is in the middle trying to bring us full life all the time!

I Was Robbed!

How important to you is your stuff?

A scary robbery experience helps Steve remember how precious and tenuous life is.

From the Window Seat

What can you see from where you are sitting?

Tom takes a ride on an airliner and from the window seat remembers how important it is to look at things from another perspective, God's perspective.

Happiness?

Can we really find true happiness here?

We are killing ourselves trying to find happiness in things and miss it because it is not found there.

How Was Your Weekend?

So did your weekend leave you refreshed or deplete?

How we approach the weekend and the beginning of a new week depends upon whether or not we focus on heavenly things, things above where God is!

The Jesus Filter

How do you process things these days?

Russ reminds us that we are to have the mind of Christ, our Jesus filter, through which we process the things in our lives and the way we look at people around us.

Not a Total Loss

How much would you have lost?

A damaging fire that swept through the Norvell home is heartbreaking and hard, but also a reminder of God's constant care.

In This World

Where can we find peace with what we are facing right now?

There is trouble in this world, it crashes in on us and we cannot ignore it, but we must remain focused on Jesus who has overcome the world.

Stuck at the Tracks

Is your life stuck at the light?

A car stuck at a light reminds

Lord, Change Us — Change Me!

Has God really grabbed your heart enough to change your life?

Tom prays to God that all that he has seen, heard, experienced, and known in worship will change his heart and move him to be the person God wants him to be.

Understanding What Is Really Important

Beyond Google to God?

We can search Google and the Internet for all sorts of things, but the truth is going to be found in Jesus and His Word.

Invitations

Will you accept this one, it's still valid!

Bill talks about all sorts of invitations that have been made and how they have all been rescinded or taken away, but Jesus offered one that won't ever go away, come to me and I will give you rest.

Flexible

Just how much can you bend with life's strong winds?

Life brings storms that threaten to break us, but will we be flexible and look for God's other alternatives and opportunities?

A Moment

Will you be ready when your moment comes?

The national cheerleading championship reminds Tom about how so much of life comes down to that one crucial moment and how we perform it and he asks us if we are ready for our moment.

Seasons

What season do you find yourself in today?

The seasons, in life and in nature, are reminders of God's power to bring life and warmth out of death and decay.

Prayer for the New Year

What are you praying for this year?

This is simply a prayer for us to use the New Year wisely and well.

Jerks and the Secret of Sturdy Faith

How in the world do we really overcome resentment?

Resentment kills us, but forgiveness allows us to exercise a growing faith like a mustard tree and let God do the impossible within us.

Gallows?

Why in the world would anyone keep this around in their basement?

The old Gallows of the city of Chicago were left in the basement for years and years and this reminds Patrick of things that we allow to sit around in our hearts and fester and destroy us for years.

Buy Your Own Gifts!

Anything in your Christmas envelope?

An older lady's mistake with Christmas envelopes reminds us that God never forgets to pay for our gifts!

Not Fair!

What do you and where do you go when life isn't fair?

Life is unfair and in the unfairness we need to learn to pray and keep after it and not relent, not praying those PC prayers, but gut check from the heart prayers that are real.

Make Their Journey Easier

What are you doing to help those around you?

Mike talks about a time when someone helped him on a hike and it reminded him of how we have to help those who come behind us.