My Sheep Listen to My Voice

Jesus referred to his disciples as sheep in John 10. Like sheep, we as are easily led astray if we do not recognize the voice of our shepherd. Jesus said in verse 14 that he is the good shepherd who knows his sheep and whose sheep know him. However, it can be confusing when there are so many voices demanding our attention. We most commonly hear the voices of God, our enemy, ourselves and others. Therefore, not every voice is from God. We have to distinguish between truth and error. The only way to know truth, our shepherd’s voice, is […]

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A Reliable Approach to Bible Study

Sometimes Bible Study may seem complicated and a bit overwhelming, but here is a reliable, practical approach to help you dig into God’s word. First, take a deep breath. The Holy Bible is a collection of 66 books written in three different languages over about 1,500 years on three different continents by at least 39 authors. To the glory of God alone, the Bible is cohesive and harmonious. How is this possible? It is inspired completely by God. The Bible is not just a book; it is living and active (Hebrews 4:12). Jesus said in John 14:6, “I am the […]

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Survivors of Sexual Abuse Find Healing at Trees of Hope

Based on the statistics, someone you know has probably been sexually abused at some point. It’s difficult to know what to say. “What did you do to make this happen?” “You mean you didn’t tell anybody when it happened? So why tell now?” “I don’t believe you were ever abused.” “Can’t you just let go of it? Nothing is happening to you now.” Offering the right words to say, and so much more, is the mission of Trees of Hope.   Definition, effects & statistics Sexual abuse is any sexual activity (verbal, visual or physical) engaged in without consent that […]

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Bullying: A Silent Epidemic

Across the media, bullying has been portrayed as a part of life, even a rite of passage, and put in a comical light. We can probably admit to laughing with the stereotypical bully in comics and movies. Nevertheless, the truth about bullying reveals that it is far from comical. Effects About 80 million children attend private and public schools K-12 in the U.S. and 20-25 million are reported as being bullied each year. Reportedly 200,000 children fear being bullied each day enough to miss school. 400,000 children have either attempted or talked about committing suicide due to bullying, and 7,000 […]

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Republicans Vie for Congress in District 22

The Republican Primary election on August 26 has three republicans competing to represent Florida’s 22nd Congressional District. After that date, one will have the chance to replace incumbent democrat Lois Frankel in the general election on November 4. That person will represent about 650,000 people across five cities. He or she would be their voice on the federal level. All three candidates – Andrea Leigh McGee, Paul Spain and David William Wagie – support a limited government, a balanced national budget, a simplified tax code and making changes for job growth; however, you may find that they vary on social […]

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Bringing the Bible to Life With Art

Remember reading picture books as a kid? Then, one day, the teacher assigned a book without a single picture in it. What a disappointment! In addition to making the book seem shorter and more fun, the illustrations also made it easier to understand. Now consider The Holy Bible. Even someone with a good imagination may have difficulty picturing everything written in it. So how can we connect with God when there are no pictures to help us connect with the words? Peter Olsen Thankfully, local artist Peter Olsen has spent 40 years researching and using his artistic gifts to transform […]

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Breaking Free From Unhealthy Relationships

After attending church for about 13 years by her mid-twenties, Tewannah Aman, director of Broward Right To Life and the Guard Your Heart ministry, said she felt convicted about her relationship with a man at the time. She had asked in prayer, “Lord if it’s not your will that we’re together, I need you to show me. If you make it clear, I’ll leave.” A few days later, Aman’s pastor posed a series of questions: Does he really love Jesus? Does he read the Bible on his own and live it? Does he pray about his life? Does he care […]

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What You Need to Know about Eating Disorders

In the United States, eating disorders account for the highest mortality rate of any mental illness. Nearly 24 million people suffer from an eating disorder. Coupons tempt us with cheap, late-night fast-food. Tabloids frighten us with “imperfect” bodies and blurred-out faces. Billboards discourage us with “perfect” bodies offering liposuction. Should we eat or not? Are we supposed to gain or lose weight? We need food to live. Unlike drugs and alcohol, abstinence from food is not an option. Eating disorders seem to be one of the most downplayed illnesses that afflict our country. The three most common types of eating […]

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Be Mine

Ah, here come those chalky, colorful heart candies that whisper sweet nothings like “Tweet Me”. Things sure have changed since we traded cards in elementary school and talked face-to-face! Valentine’s Day history The history of Valentine’s Day is actually pretty intriguing. Many sources confirm that “Saint Valentine” was actually the name of several martyred saints under the Roman Empire. He is said to have ministered to persecuted, third-century Christians. He performed weddings for soldiers who were forbidden to marry. He also signed a letter “From your Valentine” to his jailer’s daughter. At the time, Claudius II had outlawed young men […]

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Love is Patient

Which standards are we singles using to find a spouse? It certainly goes beyond a stable income, vehicle and residence. Just being a Christian is not enough because many of us are unhealthy. Jesus explains in Luke 5:31 that, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor – sick people do.” Unless our most important relationship is with God, we cannot expect other relationships to thrive. Marriage is a life-long commitment, so we need all the wisdom we can get, but where do we find it? Thankfully, the Bible defines true love. Two areas of scripture provide a great litmus test in […]

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