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My Shadow

Stephan Tchividjian
7 Oct 2021
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shadow

Have you ever experienced a situation that was so far out of your comfort zone that you thought perhaps you were crazy? In addition, was this experience by choice?  Had you been advised by someone you respect to move forward, take the next step, be bold?   Diving in I remember, years ago, getting my SCUBA diving certification. The certification allowed me to go diving in the open water and I really enjoyed it.  I remember one experience where we decided to go night diving. Yep, you heard me, night diving.  Night diving in the open ocean is one of […]

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Repent. Reorient. Reimagine.

Edwin Copeland
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I was recently asked, “If you could do anything to help the American Church in the next season what would it be?” My answer not only surprised my fellow pastor friend, but it surprised me. I spend a lot of my time thinking about the people of God – the Church. I believe they are God’s “plan A” for the renewal of all things and the means by which God has chosen to demonstrate and build his Kingdom here on earth. As an idealist and optimist to the core, I dream of a unified Church – a people so rooted […]

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repent

Children of a Lesser God

Les Feldman
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children of a lesser god

I was all prepared to talk about “Children of a Lesser God.” It is a Broadway Play concerning the significance and lack of opportunity for people with disabilities and in this case, deaf actors, and how a playwright’s decision to write a script about and for a deaf woman and a male speech therapist was so moving that it won the Tony Award for Best Play in 1980.   The thought that there would be children of a lesser God intrigued me. We see people with one or another form of disability all around us and to think, they can’t help but think they […]

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Franklin Graham: Grateful for Those Who Will Never Back Down

Franklin Graham
6 Oct 2021
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The U.S. Supreme Court will soon convene for its fall term, with a number of significant cases to consider. Cases that have come before the current court relating to religious freedom have turned up mixed results—even with the conservative justices appointed by the prior administration. It appears as if the court is willing to somewhat protect the religious rights of institutions, but on very narrow grounds. And it’s extremely troubling that the justices have failed to rule on behalf of believers who have been persecuted by state and federal agencies for their personal faith and Biblical convictions. This summer, Barronelle […]

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grsateful

God’s Handprint

Jen Pacienza
5 Oct 2021
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God's handprint

God “sees you, hears you, knows you, and loves you.” These became familiar phrases our children would say as we tucked them into bed, phrases that came from our daughter Lilianne’s favorite book, Be Still, (by Kathryn O’Brien, a meditation on Psalm 46:10). Before our Lilianne went to live with the Lord she had repeated this verse, “Be still and know that I am God.” I would put her on my lap and she would anticipate the next words. We made up hand motions to recall God’s character: “He’s all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-loving God.” Lily may not have understood the […]

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The Next Generation Needs You

Dr. Jason Rachels
29 Sep 2021
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(Scroll down to leave a comment on how you cam help the next generation.) We may only be a little over a year into this new 2020s decade, but I think we can all agree it has surely made an impression so far. As seasoned Christians, seeing all that’s going on in the world may be disheartening, but we ultimately know that these are the labor pains that must pass before Christ returns and makes all things new. He is our hope to face tomorrow and why we persevere with purpose. However, today’s children and teens struggle to have this […]

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generation

How to Wait for Heaven Well

Krislyn Placide
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wait

I long for heaven. My heart burns for the day when King Jesus descends from heaven with a loud commotion, the dead in Christ rise, and the living are caught up in the air to be with Him forever (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). In many ways, it seems like our lives will only truly begin on that day. We’ll have new, sinless bodies. We’ll be able to see our God in fullness. We’ll be able to know a perfect existence without tears, without pain and without evil. The desire in my heart for this kingdom to come is so great, but […]

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Sheeple

Stephan Tchividjian
15 Sep 2021
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I have this recurring visual in my head of when I was a child. During the summer, we would go up to the mountains. I remember that there was this forest surrounded by a field that shepherds would bring their sheep too. We found great delight watching the sheep rest, hearing the occasional baa and seeing the shepherd provide for them. Each day appears to present us a world that is unraveling. The news can be hyper personal, very local or simply global in nature. There is a depth of sadness and loss that I have not experienced in my […]

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State of the Church South Florida Promotes Learning And Collaboration

Edwin Copeland
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state of the church

I was recently talking with a local pastor who reminded me that there are two battles in the book of Joshua that are recapped with some detail. The first is the famous battle of Jericho. God miraculously moved almost inexplicably through nothing more than their shouts and trumpet blasts of faith. It taught God’s people that He is a miracle worker, and they are utterly dependent on Him. The other battle is the second battle against Ai. This is strikingly different than Jericho. There was nothing bizarre or overtly supernatural. But it was a brilliant battle strategy. Both battle plans, that […]

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Bookends

Omar Aleman
14 Sep 2021
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You “old timers” probably remember the “mandatory” books that students were expected to read during their young adolescent school years. While a freshman, I was “forced” to read a historical novel by Charles Dickens which vividly brings to life the French Revolution in two European capitals. “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way,” were the first lines of A Tale of Two Cities, well known words ascribed to one […]

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bookends