Articles Tagged '' (Page 132)

The Real Reason

Let's cut through the fluff and deal with the real issue here!

Selfishness is what really lies behind all of marriage problems and the devil wants to use selfish people and marriage problems to render the church ineffective.

Unrecognized Workers

Have you noticed the hard work that no one else seems to noitce?

So often the people who do the most hard work get no recognition for it and we need to remedy that situation.

A Violent Grace

Now that the Christmas lights are put away, aren't you ready to meet the real Jesus?

The coming of Christ is a violent grace that heads to a violent end and if we listen to the birth stories of Jesus we can find there a real Savior who lived in our all too real world.

That's Not the Way that Momma Did It

Why not listen to the old story and look for something fresh and new?

Sometimes we trust too much in what we've learned in the past and things we have learned from our parents rather than seeking the truth ourselves and then living it.

New Wood

What will you do about a New Year?

We can continue to grow and mature and flourish if we choose to do so, even until we are quite old.

The Sound of Surprise

What does life sound like in your world?

Like a work of improvisational jazz, life is a journey from one new thing to another.

Leaders Create Culture

How much influence and power does a leader really have?

Leaders build confidence, encourage others, and equip to serve and thus change the culture of an organization.

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.

More than a Resolution to Jog

Are you ready to push toward the finish?

Philippians 3:12-16 and Philippians 1:6

Cutting Loose the Dead Weight

Why do we hang on to it when it weighs us down?

Light a stuck anchor prevents a boat from advancing or moving, so we often get stuck in our pasts and can't go forward until we get rid of the dead weight that weighs us down and holds us back.

Walk the Walk

How can we move from mere talking to getting out and doing the walking?

We need to move beyond merely getting folks saved to getting them to grow as followers, disciples of Jesus, who walk the walk and not just talk the talk.

The Freshness of Forgiveness

Can anything be this fresh?

Forgiveness is forgetting to remember the hurts you forgave and giving others, and yourself a fresh start on life.

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.

Worst Analogy

These analogies are so bad, they're like ...

God's love exhausts all analogies and can only be defined by what he did in Jesus on the cross and in the manger.

On Tiptoe!

I wonder what it was like when the angel learned he would bring the news?

Whether Christmas comes on December 25 or not doesn't really matter, what does matter is that Jesus came and the angels declared it and that we celebrate it with great joy.

What Is It You See in Christmas?

Why do we fuss and fight over such a wonderful time?

Christmas has unfortunately gotten so caught up in conflict that we lose sight of loving folks the way Jesus came to do.

The Place of Christmas

Where does Christmas really occur?

The real place Christmas happens is in our hearts, where love, joy, peace, and kindness are found.

The Greatest Gift to Give

What could be greater than the gift you've already bought them?

The best gift that can be given is the gift of dedicated time to a family member.

Amazing Grace

Have you found out what is truly amazing this time of year?

Jesus is the reminder of God's unconditional love and willingness to search and sacrifice to find us and bring us home as our love-sick father.

More than the Wrapping Paper for Christmas

Can we move beyond the fluff to the focus of God's heart?

We get so caught up in the fluff we forget the focus of God, like justice and mercy.

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!

A Free-for-All Christmas?

What goodness can be found in such awful things?

Family fights, shopping mall stampedes, world unrest and wars all will continue through the Christmas season, but we should not be surprised: Jesus came to save our fractured world.

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.

I Hate War

Will they ever cease? Will we ever have relief?

A trip around the Mall in Washington, D.C., leads Tom to reflect on how much he hates war and how he longs for the peace of Christ.