you are the image of your creator!
Ask fifty people to finish the statement "Live As If" and you are likely to get fifty different answers. For Christians it will mean something different than for non-Christians. Incorporated into the top graphic are the answers given by friends of mine. It is our desire that your answer will be different each time you visit.
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One Big Bug
'Chip Shots from the Ruff of Life' from Tom Kelley
I have always found nature fascinating, even frightening at times. Lightening and thunder storms have been able to keep me riveted for their duration. I have sat and stared at tornadoes in the distance from the front porch of my ancestral home in Ohio. But what has kept my attention more than anything else are the critters that populate nature. Not the big ones that big game hunters bag for wall decorations, but the little ones under our feet that collectors obtain for...uh...er...wall decorations. You know, insects.
Many of the people I know are shorter than me while some
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Wrestle Not?
''Winging It' from Stan Smith
It seems to be a common idea these days. We ought to avoid conflict. The mentality of earlier America, for instance, when "Live free or die" was an actual motto and people thought that fighting for freedom was noble is no longer "in". We prefer now a "kinder, gentler" perspective. Do not take up arms. Do not go to war. There isn't anything worth fighting about, at least not seriously. Well, at least not Christians. Christians are not supposed to fight. You know, like the Bible says: "Wrestle not."
Except that's not what it says. Here's what
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A Theology of the Trivial
'The Way' from Kevin Pauley
The angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God. And behold, even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and she who was called barren is now in her sixth month. For nothing will be impossible with God." - Luke 1:35-37
God took an ordinary, every day girl and gave her life such a shake that the whole world has been reeling from the results ever since. She was no different from you and I. She did not
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Time (1-3-11)
'Today's Little Lift' from Jim Bullington
So the story goes that a youthful salesman stopped by a farm one day to peddle his wares. Looking out over the field, he saw the farmer hoisting a pig up into the air so he could reach one of the ripened apples on the tree. Somewhat stumped by the event, he continued to watch; amazed, he saw the farmer do this a half dozen times – lift the pig up, let him down to eat a choice apple, lift the pig up – and repeat the cycle. Being somewhat aware of time management, the salesman could not manage his curiosity. He made his way out to the farmer, introduced himself, and began
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The Living Relevant Word of God Which Pierces and Challenges
'Word from Scotland' from Sandy Shaw
Isaiah Chapter 56 – “Justice” and “Righteousness” are words which appear often in these chapters of Isaiah, and if there is no Justice and Righteousness the consequences can be catastrophic judgment.
God provides the righteousness and then He tells us what to do.
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Why do we doubt?
'Refreshment in Refuge' from Gina Burgess
There was a story told long ago about a certain wealthy man. He had so much wealth he struggled to remain alive because he did not want to leave behind his wealth when he died. When that fatal day finally came, the angels came for him, and he begged and pleaded to bring at least some of his gold with him to Heaven. The angel tried to explain to him that naked he came into the world and naked he would leave. But, his gold had never let him down. He had always been able to open locked doors with it and to build bridges to foreign lands with it. So after vigorous pleading, the angels
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Stealth Move
'Voice of Inspiration' from Andy Castro
It was the same pattern as before. Subtle, stealth and snipe are the staple words for how He works. It’s His modus operandi to apply maximum damage with little visibility.
Who is this guy?
He is God.
But not just any god, He is the God of army angels. In the beginning He spoke the stars, moon, sun and earth into existence. But when it came to mankind, the reflection of Himself, He took special attention. Silently He molded the future of the earth’s existence, keeping the fallen, in anxious terror.
It was a stealth move.
We see it from time to time
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The Best Witness
''Christ in You...'' from Dale Krebbs
Should you be witnessing your belief in Jesus Christ to your friends, neighbors, fellow employees, to people passing by you on street, etc.? The way you live your life becomes your witness regardless of whether others around you know about the details. They are influenced by only a few things: -How you treat them. -How they see you live. Let your life be your witness…if or until they ask to know more. And then, only a little at a time. They are potential babies in Christ. If they respond in a positive willingness to know more, they can digest only milk for a while if
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Celebrate Yourself!
'Inspiration For You' from Randy Mitchell
There’s a wonderful saying, “Go where you’re celebrated, not where you’re tolerated.”
When I think about these words, so many meanings come to mind: the people in your life and their attitudes towards you, the places you frequent socially, your workplace environment and those you meet for the very first time. They also raise the questions: are the people and surroundings you deal with supporting, loving, befriending, even helping you when you need them the most? Or do they pull you down, surround you with negative energy, refuse to acknowledge
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Bible and Quote - November 16-20
'Bible verse and quote' from Jan Couns
(David) Return, O LORD (Y@hovah), rescue my soul; Save me because of Your lovingkindness. Psalm 6:4
Lost in fear, distrust and regret, my soul pleads for a rekindled cognizance of Your presence and a renewed confidence in Your faithfulness.
(David fearing death) For there is no mention of You in death; In Sheol (eternal place of exile from God) who will give You thanks? Psalm 6:5
It is futile to bargain with God. His wise decisions are based on His character and His promises, not on what we can render to Him.
(David) I am worn out from groaning; all night
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Love
'God's Words For US' from Cecelia Lester
Love, Mercy, Grace
“But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,
made us alive in Christ Even when we were dead in transgressions—
it is by grace you are saved.”
Ephesians 2:4-5 (NIV)
“But because of his great love for us. . . ” We know God has a motivation for all He does. It is a simple one. He loves us.
“. . . God, who is rich in mercy. . . .” When we list the attributes of our heavenly Father one of the ones we mention is mercy-the quality of withholding just punishment for our
During my sophomore year at Johnson Bible College near Knoxville, Tennessee, I had a roommate named Bill Green. Bill and I had a good relationship and tried our best to motivate each other to do the work we were supposed to do for our classes. I hate to admit it but I resisted a lot of Bill's good urgings and sloughed off a lot of my classwork due to some poor choices I was making with my life. I was
Daily Refractions
Words to Ponder
Come with me, poor soul, and you and I will stand together while the tempest gathers, for we are not afraid. How sharp that lightning flash! but yet we tremble not. How terrible that peal of thunder! and yet we are not alarmed, and why? Is there anything in us why we should escape? No, but we are standing beneath the cross - that precious cross, which like some noble lightning-conductor in the storm, takes itself all the death from the lightning, and all the fury from the tempest. We are safe. Loud mayest thou roar, O thundering law, and terribly mayest thou flash, O avenging justice! We can look up with calm delight to all the tumult of the elements, for we are safe beneath the cross. - Charles H. Spurgeon (1834-92)
'Daily Reading Plan'
from StudyLight.org
Bible-in-a-Year NAS
2 Samuel 19; Daniel 12; Mark 8:1-21:
So the victory that day was turned into mourning for all the people, because the people heard it said that day, "The king is in mourning over his son." And the people entered the city surreptitiously that day, just as people who are humiliated surreptitiously flee in battle. And the king covered his face and cried out with a loud voice, "My son Absalom, Absalom, my son, my son!" Then Joab came into the house to the king and said, "Today you have shamed all