…your life has new meaning!

Goodbye
     'Chip Shots from the Ruff of Life' from Tom Kelley

An unknown author once wrote, "Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going." With the press of an eight to nine hour daily job and the work I do for the good folk of the Minorsville Christian Church I have been unsuccessful in getting into a habit for this column that keeps me going on it. Frustration is an unkind and miserable bedfellow. I am frustrated to the point that I have to make a choice. After all, "choice, not chance, determines one's destiny." Some other anonymous author is responsible for that little quote. (wouldn't it be amazing to find…

What Do You Believe?
     ''Winging It' from Stan Smith

They made the news in Greenville, SC, when the historic First Baptist Church opted to allow ordination and marriage of homosexuals (sorry, "LGBT"). The South Carolina Baptist Convention has asked the church to either recant or withdraw from the denomination. "But ... why?" some will ask. "They're baptists, aren't they?" Oh, it gets stickier than that. In their Report from the LGBT Discernment Team (yes, they had an "LGBT Discernment Team"), they affirmed, "In all facets of the life and ministry of our church, including but not limited…

Complex Simplicity
     'The Way' from Kevin Pauley

Once when Jesus had been out praying, one of his disciples came to him as he finished and said, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” Luke 11:1 “Teach us to pray.” This disciple had a flash of insight. He realized that there were hidden depths, unrealized complexities to prayer that were eluding him. When audiences who are not familiar with the art of grappling watch two master wrestlers, they often think not much is happening. Because they have not tried wrestling themselves, they don’t see the nuances. They don’t…

Comfort Via That Prophet (11-18-10)
     'Today's Little Lift' from Jim Bullington

Sorrow and pain were not part of God's original plan for man; these two negative realities came about as a result of sin. To the guilty woman He said, “I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; In pain you shall bring forth children; Your desire shall be for your husband, And he shall rule over you.” (Genesis 3.16). To the guilty man He said, “Cursed is the ground for your sake; In toil you shall eat of it All the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, And you shall eat the herb of the field. In the sweat of your…

Warn Us Against Walking Along Spiritually Dangerous Paths
     'Word from Scotland' from Sandy Shaw

In I Samuel Chapter 14, Jonathan the son of King Saul, with his armour bearer, attacked a Philistine outpost and they were successful. This put fear into the Philistines in other places, and they fled - and those Israelis who had been hiding came out of the woodwork. This may not appear as the most……

The Fruit Carver
     'Voice of Inspiration' from Andy Castro

Life is like fruit carving. Fruit carvers have a specific set of tools that they use to create their carvings. So it is with this life. To carve out the life we want we must use certain tools. Our tools are our thoughts, words and action. 1) Thoughts-we must first think of what it is we want. It could be a nice car, a better marriage or a physical healing. Whatever it is you want, you must picture the final result of it in your mind. And it must be thought of as often as possible. God used the stars of the sky to show Abraham his future. Joseph was given a dream concerning…

Free will or sails?
     'Refreshment in Refuge' from Gina Burgess

Have you ever noticed that without wind a sail boat just drifts? We can row, but how much energy that takes, and it takes so long to go a short distance. We have motors on boats that help us to get from point A to point B, but what happens when the guide wire breaks? My sister and I were water skiing at Lake Bruin (gorgeous place in Northeast Louisiana) with several friends in an older, but refurbished wooden boat. Actually, I was just along for the ride because I had sprained my ankle badly the day before. We dropped off a few friends at their camp and were about to go back…

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

We all know what light is - it is a brightness that eliminates darkness. If it were not for light the world, the universe would be such utter darkness it would be indescribable. Most of the world would rather be in the light rather than in the dark, no matter where they are. Light enables the function of almost all things. Including you and me. There is a light that illuminates even when it is present in the brightest of physical light. But the light of this world is darkness, and has always been until Jesus came and revealed the real light of truth. Jesus Himself is the light…

When Dreams Come True
     'Inspiration For You' from Randy Mitchell

I recently had the pleasure of attending a book signing, here in Dallas, for one of the best-known authors of our time, Nicholas Sparks. One of the reasons I traveled to see him was because I wanted to be in the presence of a true success story; someone who’s worked hard, developed his craft into literary artistry, and has gained international acclaim due to the marketability of his work. Mr. Sparks is a self-made man, and someone who those of us in the writing field continually strive to become. He’s an author who never gave up when he first started writing, despite…

Bible and Quote - September 14-18
     'Bible verse and quote' from Jan Couns

Let us (ungodly world) tear their (God and His people’s) fetters apart And cast away their cords from us! Psalm 2:3 .the Christian message violates today's carefully cultivated incredulity (disbelief and rejection) toward all absolutes. Jim Leffel The One enthroned in heaven laughs (in irony). The Lord shall hold (the ungodly) in derision (contempt). And distresses them in His deep displeasure. Psalm 2:4,5 Challenge God if you will; inflict injustice, hate, and selfishness; be comforted by His seeming indifference; but believe not that He stands by with unresponsive…

Favorite Verse "A Good Measure"
     'God's Words For US' from Cecelia Lester

“Give and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured in your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Luke 6:38 “Give . . .” What we do for someone in the name of the Lord, whether devoting our time, talents, treasure, or telling, God notices it. No matter in what form we give, God honors our effort. “. . . it will be given . . .” God sees what we do and he returns our deed through others. We might not receive back what we gave but in ways that we…