…free from your burdens!
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 New Agnostics
''Winging It' from Stan Smith
Around the start of the 21century we saw the rise of the "New Atheists". They're "brighter" and louder and more "anti" than merely "not" theists. Now, they can discuss among themselves whether this is really new or whether the term is even applicable, but in the same sense I think we can see a rise of the "New Agnostics".
First, as a matter of basis, we need to define "agnostic". While "atheist" refers to those who are making a positive claim -- "There is no God" -- the "agnostic" term refers…
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As Near as Life
'The Way' from Kevin Pauley
What other nation is so great as to have their gods near them the way the Lord our God is near us whenever we pray to him? – Deuteronomy 4:7
God tells us in Amos chapter 5 “I hate, I reject your festivals. Nor do I delight in your solemn assemblies. Even though you offer up to Me burnt offerings and your grain offerings, I will not accept them; and I will not even look at the peace offerings of your fatlings. Take away from Me the noise of your songs; I will not even listen to the sound of your harps. But let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like…
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Say On (1-4-11)
'Today's Little Lift' from Jim Bullington
“But when they [Paul and Barnabas] departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and sat down. And after the reading of the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent to them, saying, 'Men and brethren, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, say on.'” (Acts 13.14-15).
Regardless of what chronology one believes, the journey of Paul and Barnabas into the mission fields of the Jews and Gentiles was not one second too soon. Needless to say, they were not well received in all ports, but that…
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The Picture Here Is Similar to Our 2025
'Word from Scotland' from Sandy Shaw
In Isaiah Chapter 57, we are reading of things, which Israel did before they were carried off captive into Babylon. Society had decayed before the Exile. Israel had become idolatrous and unfaithful, and to this people God has sent Isaiah.
They are now going back to their own land - they are……
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Difference between rocks and stones?
'Refreshment in Refuge' from Gina Burgess
My very first inkling there was something magnificent in Scripture when God used the word rock was in a youth retreat study comparing the Israelites trek through the wilderness and the Christian lifestyle. There I came face to face with the notion of strict obedience to God’s word because He has special meanings for that obedience. At the time, I had no real idea of the kind of spiritual truth God was portraying with the physical illustration. When He told Moses to strike the rock for water at the first place of contention, Moses did and sweet, fresh water came pouring…
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Playing With Eternity
''Christ in You...'' from Dale Krebbs
“The edge of eternity”!, “from here to eternity”!
Movie makers have used the word eternity to create movies to illustrate the finality of actions taken in stories of everything from western gunfighters to supplicated speculations about the destruction of the earth and even the universe. Why this play on the word eternity?
The Bible holds a clue:
“He has made everything beautiful in its time. He also has planted eternity in men’s hearts and minds [a divinely implanted sense of a purpose working through the ages which nothing under the…
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I See Dead People
'Voice of Inspiration' from Andy Castro
It's true. I see dead people.
It's not a daily occurrence but, on average, every couple of weeks or so. I have to wonder why I am privileged to see them. I didn't ask for this, and I certainly didn't expect it to happen. When it first happened, I was quite shocked and moved emotionally. …
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Give The Gift Of You!
'Inspiration For You' from Randy Mitchell
I was sitting at home this past Saturday morning, thinking of several ways to spend the day. I needed to do some things: a grocery run, dry cleaners, write, lay by the pool and soak up some rays, catch up on correspondence. But, rather than making the day about me, I decided instead to drive across town and visit someone who I’ve known my entire life. A man whose approaching ninety five years old, one of my dad’s best friends, a gentleman who showed interest in me ever since I was able to walk, a guy whose given far more to the world than it’s given him,…
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Our Cloud of Witnesses
'God's Words For US' from Cecelia Lester
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such
a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off
everything that hinders and the sin that so easily
entangles, and let us run with perseverance
the race marked for us.” Hebrews 12:1 (NIV)
Our Cloud of Witnesses, who is in it? The writer of Hebrews tells us the heroes of the faith from chapter 11 are there. We believe that people who walked with God and whom we have known when they lived are interspersed throughout.
Can we imagine being in that cloud of witnesses…
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Bible and Quote - April 7-11
'Bible verse and quote' from Jan Couns
O sing to the Lord a new song, For He has done wonderful things; His right hand and His holy arm have gained the victory. Psalm 98:1 We may break ourselves off from all that is sinful in our past lives, and begin afresh, saying, ‘God helping me! I will write another sort of biography for myself for the days that are to come. Alexander Maclaren, 1826-1910, British Baptist expository preacher
Serve the Lord with gladness.. Psalm 100:2a Be not an eye-servant or a man-please; serve God with singleness of heart and the Lord who gives you grace to serve, will…
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One Big Bug
'Chip Shots from the Ruff of Life' from Tom Kelley
I have always found nature fascinating, even frightening at times. Lightening and thunder storms have been able to keep me riveted for their duration. I have sat and stared at tornadoes in the distance from the front porch of my ancestral home in Ohio. But what has kept my attention more than anything else are the critters that populate nature. Not the big ones that big game hunters bag for wall decorations, but the little ones under our feet that collectors obtain for...uh...er...wall decorations. You know, insects.
Many of the people I know are shorter than me while some…
The great singer, Beverly Sills, was once asked about what spurred her to be the accomplished vocalist she had become. In the course of her answer she said, "You may be disappointed if you fail, but you're doomed if you don't try." I wonder if she played golf. If ever there was a sport which combined disappointment tainted with impending doom, it is golf.Perhaps the best scripture that can be associated with golf is Romans 7:15. "For what I am…
Daily Refractions
Words to Ponder
I cannot pray, but I sin: I cannot hear or preach a sermon, but I sin: I cannot give an alms, or receive the sacrament, but I sin: nay, I cannot so much as confess my sins, but my confessions are still aggravations of them. My repentance needs to be repented of, my tears want washing, and the very washing of my tears needs still to be washed over again with the blood of my Redeemer. - Bishop Beveridge (19th century?)
'Daily Reading Plan'
from StudyLight.org
Bible-in-a-Year — NAS
1 Kings 2; Hosea 5:5-15; Mark 11:15-33:
"I am going the way of all the earth. So be strong, and prove yourself a man. "Do your duty to the LORD your God, to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, His commandments, His ordinances, and His testimonies, according to what is written in the Law of Moses, so that you may succeed in all that you do and wherever you turn, so that the LORD may fulfill His promise which He spoke regarding me, saying, 'If your sons are careful about…
