you serve a risen Savior!
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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The School of Hard Knocks
'The Way' from Kevin Pauley
Don’t fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear! – Js. 1:22
There seems to be a loss of connection between what student nurses are taught and what they need when they work in hospital wards. They find it difficult to bring together and make sensible their theory (school of nursing) and their practice (hospital ward). This gap between theory and practice is not a situation confined to social work and nursing. The same problem besets those who work in
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For Love's Sake (1-25-11)
'Today's Little Lift' from Jim Bullington
As an apostle of Christ, Paul had more authority (power) at his disposal than any person now living! He could heal the sick, cast out evil spirits, strike certain people blind (such as Elymas the sorcerer), and even raise the dead (see Acts 9.12; 13.11; 20.9-12). Yet to Philemon, he wrote, "Therefore, though I might be very bold in Christ to command you what is fitting, yet for love's sake I rather appeal to you…" (Philemon 1.8-10). In spite of his tremendous authority, Paul refused to command Philemon to receive Onesimus back; rather, he appealed to him out of love
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God Undertakes a Big Job Setting His People Free from Babylon
'Word from Scotland' from Sandy Shaw
We are reading in Isaiah Chapter 41 where Isaiah speaks specifically to Babylon, which lies 60 miles south of modern Baghdad. God is speaking to Babylon through Isaiah.
I am stirring up someone from the east. God is raising up Cyrus of Persia to conquer Babylon, and set Israel free to return
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The Blame Stops Here!
'Voice of Inspiration' from Andy Castro
I’ve heard it for years. The “Blame Game”. Family, friends and co-workers blame, blame, blame. I did it for many years. But what good does it do? Does it somehow solve problems? Does it strengthen relationships? Does it insure a strong future for you or others? Of course not.
So why blame?
v Blame can give us a false sense of self-confidence.
+ If we fail at a project or relationship, blaming someone else could make us feel as if we gave it our best shot.
v It can shift negative attention off us and cast else where.
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Hard to believe people are human?
'Refreshment in Refuge' from Gina Burgess
Job 11:12 For an empty-headed man will be wise when a wild donkey's colt is born a man.
I have talked about this verse before in an earlier column. Can't you just hear the exasperation and the deep frustration? I can and it makes me laugh. It reminds me of Solomon saying "Living with a contentious woman is like incessant, dripping rain." (Loose paraphrase).
And here is another one, Proverbs 11:22 As a ring of gold in a swine's snout, So is a lovely woman who lacks discretion. That is so true and said with such a twist of humor I can't help but laugh at
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The Bible And You (2)
''Christ in You...'' from Dale Krebbs
(The following was originally posted in 2010) The Bible and You (2) God’s written Word - the Bible - has been given through the Holy Spirit, as "light" to all mankind. It is the living Word of Jesus, who IS the light of all the world, as we saw in part one last week. It is THE "lighthouse" for the stormy and frightening sea of this world - the only way to the shore for safety.. It is the compass, the point of reference for all humanity. So many analogies could be made, and still not remotely express the importance of the Bible. It is the only way home
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Keeping Our Perspective Within A Materialistic Society
'Inspiration For You' from Randy Mitchell
Christmas, and The Holidays in general gives us all an opportunity each year to reflect on the people, circumstances, and things we have to be thankful for. The energy in the air during December always seems to be (at least for me) very positive and uplifting; a little cleaner and crisp, and filled with that certain charisma and charm making us more lighthearted and hopeful. Perhaps, it's because I'm a believer, and feel that the days leading to the celebration of Christ's birth gives me renewed hope that I'll live again after my moments on earth are finally over. But more
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Bible and Quote - May 16
'Bible verse and quote' from Jan Couns
When Joab saw that he had two fronts to fight, before and behind, he took his pick of the best of Israel and deployed them to confront the (stronger enemy). The rest of the army he put under the command of Abishai, his brother, and deployed them to confront the (weaker enemy). 2 Samuel 10:9,10
Maximize the potential that God has provided. Doug Sager, Christian Preacher
Joab to Abishai, "If the Syrians are too strong for me, then you shall help me; but if the people of Ammon are too strong for you, then I will come and help you. 2 Samuel 10:11
We serve under
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Humility
'God's Words For US' from Cecelia Lester
Job 42:1-6
A study of the book of Job teaches us Job had been put through the mill; he lost his land, his animals and all his children. He questioned God but didn’t curse Him. His “best” friends try to reason why God allowed these events to happen. God finally spoke but He didn’t answer the questions Job and his friends asked.
In the last chapter (chapter 42), Job says, “My ears have heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore, I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.” (:5-6) Job gained something by having been put
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God's Ballpark
'Chip Shots from the Ruff of Life' from Tom Kelley
One of my favorite times of the year is baseball season. Yeah, I know, it seems interminable. Spring training starts in February and the season ends with the World Series in October. That's nine months. But for a baseball junkie who once had aspirations of playing professionally (okay, so I was ten) it's nine months of heaven. My favorite team to live and die with, and I've died a lot the past few seasons, is the Reds.
They're in a new ballpark now which seems a shame considering that they finally got the old one to where it was a decent place to watch a game. I hear the
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The Culture War Is Lost
''Winging It' from Stan Smith
I did a brief search on the phrase "the culture war is lost" and found a host of hits. As far back as 2013 they were writing about how the culture wars are lost. While Jerry Falwell was talking about the "Moral Majority" in the late 70's, we've seen it dwindle to a minority. Today Disney is considering a lesbian relationship for one of their popular animated characters and Pixar is said to be pursuing the same for their sequel to Finding Nemo. The state of Washington is planning to teach kindergartners about transgenderism. Even a young person's video game, The
Watching children at Christmas time has always been one of my greatest pleasures. Seeing them tear into their gifts with a sort of maniacal glee is a joy for me. It means that they're excited. With our world of so many overblown concepts and approaches to things it's still good to see the genuine excitement of someone when they receive something that they were hoping for or wanting very badly. My children have grown up but still have a little
Daily Refractions
Words to Ponder
Evangelism is the presentation of the claims of Christ in the power of the Spirit to a world in need by a church in love. - A New Canterbury TaleWe cannot preach good news and be bad news.Tekmito Adegemo
'Daily Reading Plan'
from StudyLight.org
Bible-in-a-Year NAS
2 Chronicles 18; Psalms 78:21-37; John 13:1-20:
Some years later he went down to visit Ahab at Samaria, and Ahab slaughtered many sheep and oxen for him and the people who were with him. And he incited him to go up against Ramoth-gilead. Ahab king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, "Will you go with me against Ramoth-gilead?" And he said to him, "I am as you are, and my people as your people, and we will be with you in the battle." However, Jehoshaphat said to the king of