…you serve a risen Savior!

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,…

Year of theVictor
     'Voice of Inspiration' from Andy Castro

Disappointment and failure is all I felt as I thought back about 2014. I kept trying to find some tangible evidence that I had a victorious year. Did I set my goals to high? Did I ask for too much? Did I miss God on this one? You see, I honestly felt 2014 would be my year so I declared it boldly on my Face Book header. It read; "2014Year of the Victor". I had a great picture to go with it that showed the intensity of my belief. This was the year my business would be started. This is the year I would be well on my way to financial independence. This is the…

Alcohol Has A Drinking Problem
     ''Christ in You...'' from Dale Krebbs

Ask almost any two people from the same church affiliation, or a different affiliation. and you will often hear condemnation or approval of the partaking of alcoholic beverages. Each side of the issue has convincing arguments for it's stance. Some say its OK in "moderation" (whatever that is...usually determined by personal opinion and practice). One person stated that he had never allowed alcohol of any kind to touch his lips (he lived to be 84 years old). There is another who drank alchohol, smoked every day of his life, and lived to be 100. To make a determination of…

The Politics of American Ingenuity
     'Inspiration For You' from Randy Mitchell

Many of us recently watched on TV the Space Shuttle Discovery being piggybacked to its final resting place inside the Smithsonian Museum in Washington D.C. You were also flanked by the Capital Building, a symbol of American pride and strength showing the world that America is a land to be admired and revered. But, as I looked , I saw images of a country that isn't looking to the future as a land of innovation, discovery, ingenuity, and aggressive growth. Instead, it's pointing backwards, diving towards governmental control and socialistic programs. My point: We must start…

Bible and Quote - March 22-26
     'Bible verse and quote' from Jan Couns

For he who avenges blood remembers; he does not ignore the cry of the afflicted. Psalm 9:12 Every mournful cry and every humble prayer of the afflicted saints makes an impression on the heart of God—written there indelibly, fully to be answered in the appointed time. Henry Law, Exposition of Psalms, 1878 Have mercy on me, O Lord! Consider my trouble . lift me up . I will rejoice in Your salvation. Psalm 9:13,14 When a man gets to despair he knows that all his thinking will never get him out. He will only get out by the sheer creative effort of God. Consequently…

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

Waiting in General People have to learn to wait. As children we had to learn to bide our time until our birthdays and Christmas. When we got into trouble, our mothers might have told us, “Wait until your father gets home!” As children, we found it hard to wait we wanted what we wanted right then. But we had to do it. In retrospect, we were in training for the ‘grown up’ world. Presently we find ourselves waiting for warm weather. As I make initial input on this article, it is the fourth week…

Go To Church
     'Chip Shots from the Ruff of Life' from Tom Kelley

Holy Week. The week beginning with Palm Sunday and ending with Easter. A time of triumph and victory. A time of reflection and reconsideration. A time of challenge. A time of awe. Eight days which rocked our world as none had ever before or have ever since. Holy Week. A time of shame? Having been in the ministry for some thirty-four plus years now I have marvelled at the human intellect and its disfunctional nature at this time of the year. Only perhaps at Christmas will the human intellect operate at a level comparable to that of this week. For somewhere deep inside…

Hypocrite!
     ''Winging It' from Stan Smith

It appears that we've shifted another word definition -- "hypocrisy". It is a popular accusation against many people with morals, Christians especially. But just what is it? The word used to mean "a feigning to be what one is not : the false assumption of an appearance of virtue." The word comes from the Greek, hupokrisis, which was actually a theatrical term. It referred to the masks that actors wore when they played a part in a play. That's the idea: putting on a mask. Appearing to be what you are not. (Thus the "feigning" in the original definition.)…

Courting Christ: Bear Him Children
     'The Way' from Kevin Pauley

I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without Me.If anyone does not remain in Me, he is thrown aside like a branch and he withers. They gather them, throw them into the fire, and they are burned.If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you want and it will be done for you.My Father is glorified by this: that you produce much fruit and prove to be My disciples. – John 15:5-8 (HCSB) Probably the greatest drive in women is the need to bear children. It is so common…

Justification XIV (3-3-11)
     'Today's Little Lift' from Jim Bullington

The Blind Man Came Back Seeing! This is the turning point of this message and lynch pin of the entire New Testament. Had he come back not seeing, it would have proved Jesus to be an impostor. However, the fact that He came back seeing is proof in and of itself that Jesus is the Son of God and it guarantees that what He claims to be and to be able to do are real and factual claims! “Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. And His disciples asked Him, saying, 'Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?' Jesus answered, 'Neither…

A Vision from God Motivates and Inspires Passion
     'Word from Scotland' from Sandy Shaw

Habakkuk Chapter 2 verse 14 is crucial, in the light of what we have been reading. The future belongs to God. Verses 15 to 17 - we see how sin boomerangs. Woe to the callous. We will give them wine to drink - so much wine - that they will cavort around naked – that will……