Active Faith

Grateforgetfulness

Stephan Tchividjian
21 Sep 2022
no comments
grateforget

Imagine with me that you are experiencing some type of chronic pain.  The pain is excruciating and without cure. The pain has affected every aspect of your life. You are no longer able to work, except in some very limited capacity and your dream job is gone. The pain has affected every relationship you have, including your marriage and family. You are unable to embrace your loved ones and feel their touch. Loneliness has become your constant companion. Your loved ones and best friends make every effort to live up to the expectations you have of them, but they have become weary […]

-Read More

Special Delivery

Omar Aleman
20 Sep 2022
no comments

Yes, I played cowboys and Indians as a child; yes, I always wanted to play the first because, reasonably enough, a gun is preferred to a bow. Yes, I shot the Indian many times, who was played by my best friend Raúl. And yes, he always went unscathed during my search and destroy missions, which meant the battle continued for many months until we matured into flipping baseball cards. Yes, I am guilty. But if the truth be told, a cowboy was not my first preference. What I really wanted to be was a pony express rider, but there was […]

-Read More

deliver

The Heart of Worship

Rebekah Sward
no comments
heart

The truest model of worship is love Himself — Jesus. It’s evident that Jesus loves through the eyes of His Father, yet the only way He knows the heart of His Father is by being in the secret place, deepening His knowledge of God.   Love As we read in the Scriptures, we see that our first act of worship is love. The way that Jesus walks stems from that understanding of love. Christ Himself says it in Matthew 22:37-38, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your […]

-Read More

Do you know where you’re going?

Les Feldman
7 Sep 2022
no comments

Normally I offer what some may consider nonsensical in contrast to the big picture. I offer this story that may be second or third hand, but the message is the important thought that I’m confident is direct and authentic. Where is God going with us? When Billy Graham was 92 years-old, he was struggling with Parkinson’s disease. In January, a month before his 93rd birthday, leaders in Charlotte, North Carolina, invited their favorite son, Billy Graham to a luncheon in his honor. Billy initially hesitated to accept the invitation because of his struggles with Parkinson’s disease. But the Charlotte leaders […]

-Read More

going

The Gift of Work and Rest

Tommy Boland
no comments
rest

Because we celebrate Labor Day this month, I wanted to write a word of encouragement regarding God’s gift of work to mankind. Work is not, as many mistakenly believe, a result of the curse. Before Adam and Eve sinned and rebelled against God, they were given the great gift of work. As image-bearers of God, they were called to co-labor with the Lord to expand the cause of His Kingdom, for His glory, and for the flourishing of all mankind. Sadly, as a result of their sin, work was cursed with thorns and thistles and became much harder to perform […]

-Read More

Which Voice Are We Listening To?

Joshua Sherman
11 Aug 2022
no comments

This current age and time is distinctly unique because there are so many influential and significant voices. Social media, televised news, written publications, local and national social trends, and even our own conscience speaks daily several times throughout the day. When leading worship or ministering the Gospel in any way, we directly combat these voices with the Truth! Ministering the Truth is such a vast task, to say the least. According to 2 Timothy 3:16, God’s Word is inspired by God and profitable for reproof, correction, and righteous instruction. God’s Word is true from Genesis to Revelation. With this concept […]

-Read More

voice

Trials and Tribulations

Omar Aleman
10 Aug 2022
no comments
trial

As someone who today enjoys the limelight, it is interesting how anonymity was my greatest ally during my formative years. Sitting in the middle of the classroom and utilizing the student in front of me as a shield allowed some protection from total disaster…the teacher calling on me!! The mere thought of being singled out and asked to speak was more than I could bear. It made no difference if the correct answer was available; fear took over. The Trial Begins That all came to an abrupt end when I became a federal agent. There were so many exciting aspects […]

-Read More

Are Faith and Enterprise Compatible?

Art Bailey
no comments

Several years ago I met a local businessman who by all accounts was very successful in developing and running an enterprise. His business was operating out of several locations and there seemed to be a steady stream of clients at the door. At that time he admitted that he was struggling with the idea that his Christian walk was compatible with his business operation.  Faith and Enterprise The Bible makes connections to vocation and faith clear, indicating that we should do, “All things to the Glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). There are numerous stories of business events that require […]

-Read More

enterprise

We All Live in Four Different Worlds

Dr. O.S. Hawkins
9 Aug 2022
no comments
four

“So the governors and satraps sought to find some charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find no charge or fault, because he was faithful; nor was there any error or fault found in him” (Daniel 6:4 NKJV). We will begin finding our way through a culture that has lost its way when we begin to realize that each of us lives simultaneously in four very distinct spheres of life and therefore influence.   Private You live in a private world. There is a part of your existence that no one else ever enters. Not even those closest […]

-Read More

I Had (Have) A Friend

Stephan Tchividjian
no comments

Friendship is talked about…but seldom experienced. I would like to tell you about my friend. My friend grew up in another country. He was born in a small town where he was raised by an angel of a mother and a complex father. He was part of a large family. My friend became a Christian in his teen years. I first met him when he was in his early twenties and just starting a family. He had two families, and he was devoted to both of them. Please don’t imagine that he actually had two wives and two lives, no. […]

-Read More

friend