Practical Application

Overstuffed

Steve Davis
6 Nov 2017
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Thanksgiving day dinner is coming, and oh what memories! We look forward to Mom’s steaming golden brown turkey, a wallop of stuffing and lumpy mashed potatoes on the plate (I like ‘em lumpy!), and hot buttered corn-on-the-cob. Then comes Aunt Mary’s macaroni and three-cheese casserole. Wow! We won’t forget the cranberry sauce, and Mom’s amazing gravy! After a piece of homemade pie, plus a bite (or two), it’s time for…a nap. While most of us know the physical sleepy effect of too much food, you may not know that “over-stuffing” is a principle in learning, and even in spiritual growth. […]

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Operation Christmas Child: The Greatest Journey of a Shoebox

Bob Woods
3 Nov 2017
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Operation Christmas Child is one of the many programs and activities done by Samaritan’s Purse, which also has year round disaster and relief programs. Every year prior to Christmas, churches, individuals and groups throughout the United States, Canada and the Western world donate over 11 million shoeboxes that are gathered and transported to Third World countries and areas hard hit by natural disasters or war.   Window of opportunity This time of year many of us are thinking about our plans for the holidays and planning our Thanksgiving activities, as well as getting ready for Christmas and New Year’s. It […]

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Sacrifice of Thanksgiving

Dr. Tommy Boland
1 Nov 2017
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sacrifice of thanksgiving

“Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving… The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me” (Psalm 50:14, 23 ESV). This month we celebrate Thanksgiving, so I would like to give you a word of encouragement that is rooted in the words of the psalmist above, as well as in a number of other places throughout sacred Scripture. Now, at first glance, a “sacrifice of thanksgiving” seems to be incongruent. How could being thankful for receiving some blessing be a sacrifice? It seems like such a natural response. We receive a blessing, and we respond with thanksgiving. But clearly […]

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A Heart for the Lost in Japan

Tami Gomez
26 Oct 2017
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If asked to imagine where missionaries ought to serve, our imaginations typically conjure up pictures of the humid rainforests of the Amazon or the arid deserts of northern Africa. When we think of those who have not heard the gospel, we assume they must be living in remote areas or in squalor. The fact is that huge metropolises across the globe are teeming with lost souls roaming their streets in search of meaning and purpose. Japan—Tokyo in particular—is in desperate need of the gospel. This country, which we associate with advancement, technology and luxury, is actually a spiritual wasteland where […]

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Is Bible Prophesy Being Fulfilled in Our Time?

Jerry Newcombe
19 Oct 2017
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There’s an item in the news that caught my attention and made me wonder if Bible prophesy is possibly being fulfilled in our time. Having written a book almost twenty years ago that compares the major views Christians hold on the return of Christ, I think we must be wary of “newspaper exegesis.” Don’t read into every current event some aspect of the return of Christ. Nonetheless, the book of Revelation says this about “the beast of the earth,” a major helper to the beast, who is the Antichrist to come: “It also forced all people, great and small, rich […]

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Trapped

Stephan Tchividjian
6 Oct 2017
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A Floridian Beachwalk I was walking the beach one day, a pastime of mine. Living in Florida, it’s common to talk to a fellow Floridian who confesses they rarely walk the beach. I find that a travesty, akin to working in the Louvre and looking past the art or working backstage at an Elvis concert wearing headphones to keep out the noise. However, I find great solace in the beach walk experience. I’m not sure why; however, the sense I get looking out at the ocean’s horizon and experiencing a sense of wonder is addicting. Too much of my life […]

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trapped

When a Stone is Better than Bread

Dr. Tommy Boland
1 Oct 2017
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stone

“Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone?” (Matthew 7:9). In His Sermon on the Mount, the child in Jesus’ example asked his father for bread, which is something that is right, good and necessary. And we would expect a loving father to give what is right, good and necessary to his child. But I have a very important question to ask you right now: “When is getting a stone better than getting bread?” The answer of course is – when it is our Savior who is giving us the stone. Why? Because it […]

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Cosmic Compassion

Dr. Tommy Boland
8 Aug 2017
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“Record my misery; list my tears on your scroll – are they not in your record?” (Psalm 56:8). How do you see God? Sadly, far too many of us see Him as some distant deity, a “blind watchmaker,” disengaged from His creation and uninterested in them individually. Yet this verse makes it crystal clear that nothing could be further from the truth. Several of the best Bible translations render the middle section of Psalm 56:8, “Put my tears in your bottle.” Now, how is that for cosmic compassion?! How blessed we are to have a God who is not like […]

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cosmic

Interdependence is Better than Independence

Steve Davis
3 Jul 2017
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“Free,” she sang! The short soprano’s powerful voice firmly hit and held such a high note I actually looked up to see if the glass in the chandelier would shatter! We were standing in the outside lobby at the American Adventure pavilion in Epcot at Disney World Orlando. A group of eight professional singers were entertaining us. They were amazing! The presentation included several patriotic songs featuring the different singers one-by-one. The tall lady soprano had a strong lush tone perfect for her part. Next, a short thin man with an amazing high tenor voice rich with tone delighted the […]

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Control – The Grand Illusion

John Hawkins, Sr
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We want control; that is the human condition. Different personalities can express their desire for independence in various ways. Some will be overt and very aggressive in their words and actions. Others will act more compliant but be passive aggressive. The people pleaser will take years to build up enough resentment to rebel. However, the reality is control is an illusion. There is very little in life we have control over. We can’t control the weather, the economy, other nations, nature, time, people – even ourselves at times. This list could go on. So why do we fool ourselves into […]

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