…you serve a risen Savior!

Remember Me...Please
     'Chip Shots from the Ruff of Life' from Tom Kelley

We preachers are rarely asked to serve as pallbearers for funeral services. Probably the exceptions are when it comes to our families. The last time that I served as a pallbearer was for my Uncle Orlyn Kelly. Late in their lives he and my dad had gotten closer as brothers should. I had always been fairly close to my cousins and thought the world of Uncle Orlyn and Aunt Helen. I was privileged to be able to be at his bedside when he passed away and even more honored when I was included as one of his pallbearers. Such is a sacred trust handed out by a family to those whom they…

American Christianity
     ''Winging It' from Stan Smith

From my youth I've seen many examples of "American heroes" on the TV and movie screens. John Wayne was probably the quintessential hero. He stood alone, strong, individual, fighting for what was right, that sort of thing. Most of them are like that in American lore. In comic books and their television and movie offshoots we have superheroes like Batman, Superman, and Spiderman. And they're not all fictional types. Abraham Lincoln, for instance, stood alone against slavery and, by his positions and choices brought about the emancipation of slaves in America. Heroic. That's…

Kilkenny Cats
     'The Way' from Kevin Pauley

For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” But if instead of showing love among yourselves you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another. Galatians 5:14-15 There were a pair of proverbial cats in Kilkenny, Ireland, who fought till only their tails were left. Most likely the story is a parable of a contest between Kilkenny and Irishtown, two municipalities which fought about their boundaries till little more than their tails were left creating this popular limerick: "There…

The Fullness of Time (2-2-11)
     'Today's Little Lift' from Jim Bullington

Some things just take time! No one can argue with this statement. Also it seems like the things we want most take an abundance of time to come to pass. At times we may have exclaimed while waiting for a long anticipated event, “It seems like time is standing still!” Today's Little Lift takes a brief look at one such event. It was a long time coming and its effects will be a long time lasting. Consider this truly one-of-a-kind event! Paul wrote about it when he penned, “But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under…

You Choose the Most Unusual People at Times Thank You
     'Word from Scotland' from Sandy Shaw

As we come to Isaiah Chapter 44 and verse 6, we read words which many today might find difficult or even challenging – but this is the God of the Bible and there is no other God other than the God of the Bible. In Chapter 44, Isaiah is told to speak of the futility of worshipping……

Lessons from Hannah
     'Refreshment in Refuge' from Gina Burgess

What Hannah did to bring Israel one of the most influential prophets of Israel, and the man who anointed Israel’s first two kings, has several great lessons. We women of today, and men as well, do well to pay attention to these lessons of commitment and fortitude. Walk with me, if you will, though 1 Samuel 1 for a glimpse at what makes women tick. There was a man...named Elkanah...and he had two wives… Of course polygamy/bigamy is forbidden in the U.S. and in most places around the world it isn’t…

The Mentors
     ''Christ in You...'' from Dale Krebbs

Many strive to live their lives being a mentor, or having someone mentor them. We all should Mentor the greatest Mentor of all time: Jesus. Study the life of Jesus on earth. Mentor Him in every moment of your life. His example is always perfect, always with perfect love. And perfect understanding. You can’t go wrong mentoring Perfection. He has perfect understanding, knowledge, and above all perfect unbiased knowledge of you. He never sees you as being a lost cause. He always sees you as a winner. He sees you as already perfect without being perfect yet. That is perfect love.…

Psalms 91:3
     'Voice of Inspiration' from Andy Castro

'Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. 'Psalm 91:3 KJV Strong's definition of "noisome." From H1933 (in the sense of eagerly coveting and rushing upon; by implication of falling); desire; also ruin: - calamity, iniquity, mischief, mischievous (thing), naughtiness, naughty, noisome, perverse thing, substance, very wickedness. Strong's definition of "pestilence." Comes from:H1696 (in the sense…

Balancing Social Media with Reality
     'Inspiration For You' from Randy Mitchell

Ever since Al Gore invented the internet (Ha Ha), the personal information we all share through our computers keyboards has exploded like the worlds arsenal of nuclear bombs firing off at once. Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, etc have each grown at such an astonishing rate that oftentimes these websites periodically shut down for a while trying to catch up with their increased demand. We all frequently post, like, befriend, tweet and whatever else in an attempt to share and promote our opinions and viewpoints, each vying for that coveted piece of the super information…

Bible and Quote - February 1-5
     'Bible verse and quote' from Jan Couns

O Lord my God, I take refuge in you; save and deliver me from all who pursue me, or they will tear me like a lion and rip me to pieces with no one to rescue me. Psalm 7:1,2 You know you’re surrendered to God when you rely on God to work things out instead of trying to manipulate others, force your agenda, and control the situation. You let go and let God work. You don’t have to always be in charge. Instead of trying harder, you trust more. Rick Warren, author, pastor O LORD my God (I’m innocent), if I repaid evil to him who was at peace with me, Or have…

His Glory Revealed
     'God's Words For US' from Cecelia Lester

“I consider our present sufferings are not worth comparing to the glory that will be revealed to us.” Romans 8:18 (NIV) As children we dreamed of how our grown up lives would be. We might have even pretended what we wanted to have. Even when I was 17, I dreamed the boy I thought I would marry and I would have a big family-five children. I even selected names for them. Then life unfolded and reality showed a different picture. I didn’t envision raising an only child with multiple medical needs. I didn’t plan on…