God

Spring Thaw

John Hawkins, Sr
8 Mar 2017
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Many years ago, while pastoring in a small town in Pennsylvania, I remember a winter so cold the frost line went down to four feet. One consequence of this was a backhoe couldn’t penetrate the ground to dig a grave. We had funeral services for people that winter but had to wait for the spring thaw to actually bury the people. Frozen ground can be awfully hard. Sometimes our hearts can become frozen and hard like that ground. Nothing can penetrate it until heat is able to bring about a thaw and soften that heart. What hardens a heart? People […]

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Jesus and Comedy

Dr. Samuel Lamerson
7 Mar 2017
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“The presence of laughter and the comedic imagination is one of the greatest gifts that God has given us, and Jesus certainly made use of it.” How comedic are the sayings of Jesus? Are any of the things that Jesus says meant to be funny or comedic in the Hebrew or Greek sense of the word? To answer this question we must first decide exactly what constitutes the comedic. After all, the Church has been reading these sayings for these many years and very few people have been laughing in church (and most of those who have been were usually […]

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Refugees and the Gospel: A Call for More…from Everybody

John Houmes
1 Mar 2017
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When it comes to refugees, I would be surprised if you didn’t have a strong opinion. Maybe you are calling for a removal of the temporary ban on refugees, including those from Muslim countries. Or maybe you think a temporary ban on refugees from the seven Muslim countries is necessary for our country’s safety. Both the “let them in now” and “temporary ban” positions, even in more nuanced forms, are short-sighted. The “let them in now” position sees Old Testament scripture as a reflection of the heart of God. (enter “sojourner” into an online Bible search). This voice says we should […]

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Focus on the Family’s Jim Daly to Speak at Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast in April

Shelly Pond
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Jim Daly, president of Focus on the Family, and Brad Formsma, founder of I Like Giving, will be keynote speakers at the 55th Annual Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast on Friday, April 28 from 7:30 – 9:30 a.m. at the Fort Lauderdale Convention Center, presented by Church United. The mission of the Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast is to unite and encourage the community in fellowship and prayer for our civic leaders. We face multiple challenges every day, both personally and corporately. But we believe that together we are stronger and collectively we can bring our needs to the Lord. John 5:14 states, “And […]

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jim daly

Who Will Rescue Us?

Daniel Ebert
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Refugees often experience fear, confusion and shame. Their plight is a picture of the broken human condition. We all live in a time of danger — none are immune. The life and death questions we face desperately need answers. Our brokenness, and the brokenness of our nation, can rob us of our dignity. We, too, can feel shame, like the world’s refugees. Who will rescue us? The question is risky. The wrong answer, in a time of fear, can lead to violence and tyranny, especially if trust we in human saviors. The right answer can finally bring us safely home. […]

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No Vacancy

Elizabeth Mitchell
20 Feb 2017
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“And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger because there was no place for them in the inn” (Luke 2:7). “No room in the inn” would become a signature piece for how the Son of Man would be regularly excluded from the world he came to save. Repeatedly throughout the Gospels, a “No Vacancy” sign was extended to Christ as he journeyed toward the cross. In the synagogue of his hometown of Nazareth, he stood and read Isaiah from the scrolls and then informed the audience of their […]

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Rachel’s Challenge Brings Message of Kindness Around the World

Melissa Presser
1 Feb 2017
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On April 20, 1999, two teenagers walked into their own high school in Littleton, Colorado and went on a shooting rampage that ultimately killed thirteen people. The two shooters, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, then turned the gun on themselves. The Columbine school shootings were the worst in United States history and prompted discussions and outcries across the country. Although many debated the issue of gun control, the central focus of discussions across the country amongst parents, children and educators was on bullying. The two young gunmen had extensive histories of being bullied at school and were perceived as social […]

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Scout Brings Solar to Haitian Community

Bob Woods
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Zak Myers is a typical young man from Central Florida, relocated to South Florida, and is a Boy Scout, which is not remarkable in itself. But Zak is also an Eagle Scout, which puts him in a more restricted and elite group of scouts. To become an Eagle Scout, one must do a project of lasting significance to demonstrate initiative and ingenuity. Zak chose one of the more unique and challenging projects ever undertaken by a prospective Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America. He and his family have been members of the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood for […]

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Don’t Let Life Drain Your Contentment

Steve Davis
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On the CD, I heard the instructor’s statement. Then I hit the back button to hear it again, and again. “You can eat right, rest well, exercise, build your inner self up to feeling very strong and 15 minutes later feel totally drained.” “Yow!” I thought. “That’s happened to me…and I didn’t understand it.” I, for one, sure need solutions to not feel so weary, depleted and exhausted at times. Anybody with me? I listened to this instructor and other CD’s, added further research and the answer became increasingly clear. The key really was the last word of the instructor’s […]

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Church Community Responds to Fort Lauderdale Airport Shooting

Edwin Copeland
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  I’ve always thought of God’s people as hardwired “first responders.” Where there is chaos, God’s people bring peace. Where this is pain, God’s people bring healing. Where this is brokenness, God’s people bring restoration. Where this is hopelessness and despair, Gods people bring hope. It is every Pastors dream to see their people live out their faith. From connecting the intersection of faith and vocation, taking in a foster child, sharing a meal with the marginalized, or simply taking a moment to emphatically listen and pray with someone who is hurting — the journey from head to heart to […]

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Fort Lauderdale Shooting