…free from your burdens!

The Marathon
     'Chip Shots from the Ruff of Life' from Tom Kelley

If I may be so bold as to borrow from Yogi Berra, "Half of golf is ninety per cent mental." Back in 1976 when I first took up the game I talked to an old-timer who played regularly at the Running Fox Golf Course in Mansfield, Ohio. What he told me was something like, "Just remember that golf is not a sprint. It's a marathon. You have to be able to manage your mind for the whole round." I think that every golfer out there will agree with that statement. At the time I first heard it I didn't understand it. Now I do. It is tough to keep your mind focused…

Making Disciples
     ''Winging It' from Stan Smith

We are commanded, of course, to "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation." (Mark 16:15) Let no one convince you otherwise. However, that is only the beginning. We aren't sent to make converts; we're sent to make disciples. No, more than that. "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:19-20) We are to make disciples, baptize them, and…

How to Whine Effectively - Part One
     'The Way' from Kevin Pauley

The people soon began to complain to the Lord about their hardships; and when the Lord heard them, his anger blazed against them. Fire from the Lord raged among them and destroyed the outskirts of the camp. – Numbers 11:1 The people of Israel had just been miraculously delivered from Egypt. They had been subject to systematic racism, considered second-class citizens, not unlike the “apartheid” in South Africa. Bigotry became slavery and they were forced to build Egypt’s storehouse cities. As if that wasn’t bad enough, the pharaoh ordered the midwives…

Justification I (2-7-11)
     'Today's Little Lift' from Jim Bullington

One of the best known parables, The Good Samaritan, was spoken in response to an insincere question! This doesn't make the answer which Jesus gave any less significant or true, but it does shed light on just how far we are capable of going in order to divert the attention from ourselves when we are wrong and to thereby “justify ourselves.” This message begins a short series on the subject of biblical justification. By the very nature of subject, it will also focus on the systems of false justification that we have invented to ourselves. We begin by noting the events that…

The Preaching of the Word of God is Never a Drowsy Soothing Sedative
     'Word from Scotland' from Sandy Shaw

As we read these opening verses of Acts Chapter 17, we see here how disciples of Jesus are revolutionaries – always seeking to change people's wrong ideas about God - and wrong ideas about themselves. Being a disciple of Jesus can mean a revolution in so many areas of our lives - and this is where we see……

Abigail
     'Refreshment in Refuge' from Gina Burgess

The Spring breeze was cool and crisp. The sky was crystal clear, and all was right with the world on sheep shearing day, a festival to rival the king’s. Even when the rest of Judah was mourning the death of Samuel, Nabal had a feast spread full of plenty of food and alcohol. Nabal, means foolish or wicked. Why would a parent name his child Foolish? He was certainly foolish with wine that day when David sent his young men to ask for provisions for their winter’s labor protecting Nabal’s huge flocks. The normal, manageable flock was 25, but Nabal’s…

What Christ Has Done
     ''Christ in You...'' from Dale Krebbs

Christ has done it all for you and me! Christ became sin In our stead - so that our sins would not be counted against us. When we are without belief in Jesus Christ, our relationship to sin is: We can live with it... We can ignore it... We can flee from it... Or, we can leave it all at the foot of the cross. It is possible to live with the first three at the same time. Regardless, if it is there, it is still ours. It sticks like glue. It follows you, pursues you, and - if not gotten rid of, it will kill eventually kill you spiritually, and possibly physically.…

Psalms 91:6
     'Voice of Inspiration' from Andy Castro

Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. Psalm 91:6 KJV Strong's Definition of pestilence. From H1696 (in the sense of destroying); a pestilence Root word def: V) rbd (דבר DBR) - Speak: A careful arrangement of words or commands. KJV After studying and meditating on this verse, here is a little of what I see and hear. The enemy is allowed to put us in circumstances that expose our deepest fears. Exposing fears is a part of our life's process to forge in us an unshakable faith…

The Affordable Train Wreck
     'Inspiration For You' from Randy Mitchell

Do these words sound familiar? “If you like your health insurance plan, you can keep your plan. If you like your Doctor, you can keep your Doctor…period!” Again, sound familiar. These words were spoken over and over (some 34 times) by our current President in an attempt to derail insurance companies, conceive the truth, lie to and make fools out of the American people in regards to his signature policy. It’s all coming to pass right now, and will give new merit to the old saying, what comes around, goes around when the elections of 2014,2016 finally…

Bible and Quote - February 8-12
     'Bible verse and quote' from Jan Couns

My shield is God Most High, who saves the upright in heart. Psalm 7:10 Fear overcomes belief or belief overcomes fear. Dennis Cope, Christian teacher God is a righteous judge, And in strength God has indignation against the wicked every day. Psalm 7:11 What is your response when others do their worst to you? Be encouraged that God knows what is happening and will judge sin. If you walk with integrity, you may be confident that God will deal with those who sin against you. Warren Wiersbe, American pastor and a prolific writer of Christian literature, b. 1929 If…

Stand for Jesus
     'God's Words For US' from Cecelia Lester

“Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not confess their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue, for they loved praise from men more than praise from God.” John 12:42-43 (NIV) John writes of leaders who secretly believed in the Master’s teachings. These men feared being cast out of the Hebrew house of worship. He makes a bold statement about the reason these men were quiet about their thoughts “for they loved praise from men more…