Articles Tagged 'Bar'

Merry Christmas!

We pray the Lord blesses you with the grace of Jesus' presence this Christmas!

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Amazing Love!

Jesus died in the place of Barabbas. More importantly, Jesus died for you and me.

Byron Ware recalls a memory from fifty years ago that shaped his life, his love, his family, and his understanding of grace, Jesus dying in the place of Barabbas and us.

I Want to Be Like Her

Let's move beyond remembering her story; let's also commit to being like her in these four ways.

Phil Ware continues his reflections in the Gospels as he seeks to call us to continue pursuing Jesus so that we can be JesuShaped.

Warts and All

When I recall how Mr. Ellis brought me back into the human fold, I remember that Jesus once took ten lepers in hand and did the same.

Philip Gulley uses his homespun charm to pay tribute to a hero, tell a self-effacing story about childhood warts and crushes, and weaves it together to remind us of God's love and how we should love others.

ToGather: I Will Celebrate! (June 21, 2020)

David danced with all his might amid the reverence and honor given to God as the ark, the representation of God's power and presence, returned to his people.

Phil Ware and Demetrius Collins lead us into worship in song and the Word to experience, proclaim and rejoice in the majesty, goodness, and grace of our God who is powerful and present among us.

Self-Destructive Power in Building Monuments to Ourselves

In absolute arrogance and stupidity, the people of the plains of Babylonia set out to make a name for themselves.

Phil Ware and James Nored share through words, images, and video the story of the Tower of Babel and the self-destructive danger of pride and arrogance.

Jesus Smiled

Our God is the God of surprising opportunities, fresh hope, and new life.

Phil Ware reminds us of John Mark's failure when he deserted the mission field and the mission team and describes how God used this mess and the grace, mercy, and love of godly men to bring great good out of potential disaster.

No Fear Here!

Do we let love drive out our fear, or are we still holding back?

Phil Ware reminds us what we know, but often don't practice; our love must have no barriers.

On Getting What We Deserve

Fans sitting around him (some who had tried to make the catch themselves) berated him, threw beer and food at him, and threatened him.

Patrick Odum shares an insightful take on the target of Cubs' fans wrath for the past years for interfering with a foul ball trying to be caught by Moises Alou.

How to Discredit Christianity

Want to know how to make unbelievers disbelieve even more?

Rubel Shelly reminds us that wild predictions about Jesus' return on specific dates often are used by sceptics to discredit Christianity.

Warming Up to Love!

What does a little girl do when a stranger from far away shows up at school?

Phil Ware shares more of his recent trip to Fortaleza, Brazil with Compassion International and the Nerd Herd to visit Compassion sites, projects, children, and churches.

Restoring the Creator's Intent

Hope beyond our world's brokenness!

Phil Ware continues his series on the value of woman in the eyes of God and how we incorporate that value into our belief system, roles, and treatment of women in our church culutures.

What Women Need to Say to Each Other to Shatter the Dark

Who determines my worth as a daughter of the King?

Ann Voskamp looks at her daughters, remembers her own journey, and reminds all women that it is God, our Father, who determines the worth of a woman, not a mirror, not the media, and not our own doubts and self-deprecations.

Take Heed!

Watch out for that fall!

Teresa Bell Kindred reminds us of the danger of the wind and of sin and the resulting fall that each can lead us to make.

Deep Roots

What kind of legacy are we leaving for those around us?

Teresa Bell Kindred reminds us of the importance of growing deep roots of faith by the waters of God's grace.

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!

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.

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.

The Second Batch

When does most awful mess become the opportunity for grace to capture our heart and give us confidence for the future?

Lisa Mikitarian tells us a wonderful story about the Father's grace revealed in a young girl's fall with the cupcakes made to honor her beloved grandmother.

A No! Church (And how to Avoid Becoming One)

Want to make sure nobody bothers you by coming back?

Mark Frost continues a series on Becoming a Yes! Church being done by Interim Ministry Partners Phil Ware, Mark Frost, Greg Anderson, and Tim Woodroof

The Story: Garments of Grace

How can these grave clothes speak of a better hope?

Phil Ware continues his series that parallels The Story and he brings us to the resurrection of Jesus through the humiliation of his disciples and himself and tying his message to the garments of Jesus.

The Swirly Cycle of Destruction

Which way does your toilet flush?

Phil Ware continues his journey through The Story focusing this week on the Judges, especially the cycle of destruction that was leading them to catastrophe and the ways we can escape the cycle.

What Kind of Church?

There are two kinds of faithful leaders, groups, and churches. Which are you?

Phil Ware shares with us two kinds of early leaders and churches and groups, Paul and Barnabas become examples of those kinds of churches; each is faithful, takes risks, and faces opposition from the evil one.

When Water Becomes Wine

How can we see this miracle in our lives?

Phil Ware shares a message centered on John 2 and Jesus' miracle of turning the water to wine at Cana in Galilee because of Mary's concern and intervention.

The Home Stretch

Make that last effort to make it home!

Tom Norvell reminds us that we will all have difficult points in our journey, but let's finish strong, especially when we find ourselves in the home stretch.

Roads Without Potholes

Why would we ever want potholes in the road?

Rubel Shelly writes about potholes, discouragement, disappointments, pain, grief, wounds that occur in our lives and how they are part of the fabric of life and necessary to develop our character.