…your life has new meaning!

Our Children Are Our Future
     'Inspiration For You' from Randy Mitchell

I’m the proud uncle of two outstanding teenage boys. Both are heavily involved in sports, school activities, church groups, and scholastic organizations. They’ve been raised well, and are both on their way to positive futures with nothing but full lives ahead. One recently achieved the rank of Eagle Scout, an honor within the Boy Scouts of America organization carrying with it a super-high level of honor and achievement. It’s something that only a small percentage of young people ever reach within that establishment, and it required a huge dedication of time,…

Yahweh Shammah,
     'God's Words For US' from Cecelia Lester

“. . . I will fear no evil, for you are with me;” Psalm 23:4 (NIV) “‘And the name of the city from that time on will be: THE LORD IS THERE.’” Eze.48:35 (NIV) Her mother brought her into the building that housed the daycare center. Her parents were missionaries heading for home assignment in Michigan. They had attended the conference for a few days. On this, their last afternoon with us, she looked up at me as her mother signed her in. Her big brown eyes studied me. “Why are you always here?” “Why am I always here, is that what…

Bible and Quote - March 4-8
     'Bible verse and quote' from Jan Couns

Let the bones which You have broken rejoice. Psalm 51:8b Lord, let me have the comfortable tokens and evidences of thy favour to me: that shall put gladness in my heart in the midst of all my griefs. Matthew Henry, 1662-1714, Welsh-born, English nonconformist minister and commentator Hide Your face from my sins And blot out all my iniquities. Psalm 51:9 Most laws condemn the soul and pronounce sentence. The result of the law of my God is perfect. It condemns but forgives. It restores and more than abundantly. Jim Elliot, martyred missionary Create in me a clean heart,…

A Broken Spirit And Contrite Heart
     'Point of Reference' from Fred Price

A fundamental principle of Biblical evangelism is the need for Godly sorrow, which brings repentance that leads to salvation (2 Cor. 7:10); God commanding all people everywhere to repent. (Acts 17:30) An oft-overlooked aspect of the Gospel being, “God will give to each person according to what he has done. To……

The Curse is Gone
     'Chip Shots from the Ruff of Life' from Tom Kelley

Ignominy. According to the Random House Dictionary of the English Language it means, "disgrace, dishonor, public contempt." In personal life it would be the result of an act that brought about shame to a person. In athletics it can be a particular figure, event or date. It can even be tied to a particular city or franchise, such as Boston. Boston has lived in ignominy since the "Curse of the Bambino." The trading of Babe Ruth to the hated Yankees supposedly cursed the Boston Red Sox baseball club. Until they won the World Series two years ago. How deep was the curse? This…

Washed by the Water of the Word
     ''Winging It' from Stan Smith

I have always encouraged Christians (because, let's face it, it wouldn't be remotely reasonable to expect if of unbelievers) to allow the truth of God's Word to shape their understanding of reality rather than the reverse--allowing their sense of what's real to shape biblical truth. Now, sure, the left-leaning types (Ecclesiastes 10:2) will complain "That stuff is just your opinion!", but I'm not talking to them. I'm talking to you Bible-believing Christians. Even you--we--tend to apply our experience and (misguided) thinking onto Scripture rather than vice versa. Brothers,…

The First Sin
     'The Way' from Kevin Pauley

When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate. – Genesis 3:6 Adam and Eve were living in an absolutely perfect setting called Eden. They had everything their hearts desired. The only thing forbidden was the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. One day a spectacular visitor, the serpent, struck up a conversation with Eve. The serpent raised in Eve’s mind a question…

Mercy and not Sacrifice (Sept. 30, 2010)
     'Today's Little Lift' from Jim Bullington

“As I grew slightly older [than a toddler], I learned through osmosis (or some other scientific process - lol) that it was a sin for an able-bodied adult not to attend the worship assembly (i.e. go to church) on Sunday morning.” (quoted from yesterday’s Little Lift). In this same installment, I posed this question: “Who decides when the hindrance [from attending Sunday church] is providential and when it is otherwise?” As indicated yesterday, to be providentially hindered from church attendance amounted to an excused absence, but my boyhood questions…

What Are We to Do When Others Give Us A Rough Time?
     'Word from Scotland' from Sandy Shaw

Let’s return to look at an important character, Joseph – most relevant in these present times. Joseph is given 14 Chapters – Genesis 37 to 50 – and he faces some seven major setbacks in his life. Come, let’s revisit certain aspects of the life of Joseph. Without this……

Talents and gifts
     'Refreshment in Refuge' from Gina Burgess

Is there a difference between a God-given talent and a God-given spiritual gift? Yes, I believe there is. Doing a word search/study on Talents, we first notice that this was a measure of money back in Bible days. I think it is such a word play when we look at the servants of the harsh master. The Master gave each servant according to his abilities. To one, he gave five talents, to another he gave two talents and to the last he gave one talent. Noticing that each received according to his abilities is important. (Matthew 25) The Hebrew word translated talent means round as…

The Saints Who Slept
     ''Christ in You...'' from Dale Krebbs

There is section of scripture that is not often addressed in the history of Jesus death on the cross, but this portion of that momentous drama, underlines God's promise to us in a most dramatic way. I It consists of only a few verses in the Bible, but should inspire us, encourage us, and commit us to living a Godly life, and strengthen our hope and faith. After the crucifixion, some who had died and were buried rose from the grave. Apparently, as normal human beings, not as immortals.: "Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And, behold, the…