…free from your burdens!

Good for God
     'Chip Shots from the Ruff of Life' from Tom Kelley

Today is an interesting day for me. This morning at 6:00 a group of six men were supposed to meet at my house to prepare to leave for Florence, South Carolina, and a four day golf retreat. We had started with eight men going. One had to drop out due to work problems. Another chose to drop out for health reasons. Still we had six. But of those six, one starts a job today while another is fighting a herniated disk in his lower neck. A third was not sure he wanted to go if the one starting the job was not going. Such is life. I had decided to take the first three days off…

Help Wanted
     ''Winging It' from Stan Smith

Jesus was going through all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness. Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd. Then He *said to His disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest." (Matthew 9:35-38)) "Distressed and dispirited," those are the words used in this translation…

The Perfect Parent
     'The Way' from Kevin Pauley

"Pray, then, in this way: 'Our Father who is in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.'” - Matthew 6:9-13 The young couple was struggling as they tried to take care of their jobs, their home and their baby. So many important and necessary lessons had either not been taught or not been learned through their high school years and now they felt as though…

Scoop II (1-27-11)
     'Today's Little Lift' from Jim Bullington

Scoop: Disciples Shout while Thomas Doubts! In keeping with my intention to present a few spiritual scoops as articles, today's message contains one of my all time favorite biblical stories. Were it not for John's gospel, we would have no knowledge of this faith-building event. Enjoy Doubting Thomas! “Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, 'Peace be with you.' When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His…

Where We Are Weak or Weary or Fragile Speak Touch
     'Word from Scotland' from Sandy Shaw

We are reading in Isaiah Chapter 42 where Isaiah sees that Jesus will be gentle when it is necessary to be gentle – not weak! Remember this is being said to people who have been severely and sorely punished for their sins - because they would not listen - they would not repent - they would not……

Ivory soap and perfect relationships
     'Refreshment in Refuge' from Gina Burgess

The pendulum has swung so far back the other way since I was a teenager. When I grew up the feminism movement was taking its first breath to scream for equality and justice for women. Back then men were not made fun of or scorned publically. The man actually wore the pants in the family. Daddy was someone you squealed and ran toward because you were so happy he was home from work. One day I was washing my face with Ivory soap, and that smell sometimes made me recall a commercial. Maybe you remember it? This young man and young woman are walking along in the spring time. It…

Reaping And Sowing
     ''Christ in You...'' from Dale Krebbs

Why is the world like it is? Short answer: it is reaping what it has been sowing since the eating of the fruit of that tree. The world in general, if we look at even a very brief outline of world history, we see strife, greed, envy, and wars and rumors of wars. Even without a publicized edition about war, it is there at almost any level of human existence. Known or unknown, in the lives of Christians and non-Christians. Why? One short scripture written by the Apostle Paul says it all. Notice: “For whatever a man sows, that and that only is what he will reap.” (Galatians…

Tithing, Healing, and the Heart of God
     'Voice of Inspiration' from Andy Castro

Matthew 23:23 ESV '"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. ' Luke 11:42 ESV '"But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and every herb, and neglect justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. ' This is nearly a miracle! Two different writers of the recorded words of Jesus state the same thing. There’s…

Living Like A Ferrari
     'Inspiration For You' from Randy Mitchell

This isn’t an article about a car, well, not really. Rather, it’s a discussion about how a Ferrari would feel if one were to be human. It’s about the type of emotions it would carry inside: the pain, sorrows, celebrations, respect and love it would show others. It’s about the power and confidence provided to those lucky enough to drive and appreciate being in its presence. It’s also about the overall image it would project to the world if made of blood, guts and true feelings. A Ferrari is an amazing machine. It’s mostly hand made to razor-like…

Bible and Quote - May 26-30
     'Bible verse and quote' from Jan Couns

David sent to ask about (the beautiful woman he saw bathing).. 2 Samuel 11:3a (David already had many wives and concubines) You say, 'If I had a little more, I should be very satisfied.' You make a mistake. If you are not content with what you have, you would not be satisfied if it were doubled. Charles Haddon Spurgeon, 1834-92, British Reformed Baptist, highly influential amongst Christians of different denominations (They said to David about the beautiful woman) ‘Is this not Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?’ David…

Priorities
     'God's Words For US' from Cecelia Lester

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all the things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33, NIV) In my present reading, I ran across a statement that causes me to step back and think. The book, “When Your Children Hurt,” by Charles Stanley said He (God) uses adversity to get our attention. In my lifetime,I discovered something else; those adverse circumstances cause us to focus on what is important in our lives. In several instances, our priorities change. At other times, those things we hold dear become…