Home

Benevolence and Justice

Jeff Masters
2 Aug 2016
no comments

How do you respond when you see the person walking the street between waiting cars with his sign stating: Will work for food… but he is seeking handouts? What are your thoughts towards the single mom or widow who comes to church to ask for financial aid? In Thessalonians 3:10 the early apostles did not want to be a burden to anyone, and they gave this rule: “If a man will not work, he shall not eat.” But Matthew 5:42 tells us to “Give to anyone who asks you, and do not turn away.” Finally we have heard: “Don’t throw […]

-Read More

Answering Questions about Homosexuality

Christina Sneeringer
no comments

Christians need to be prepared to answer the myriad questions we hear in today’s increasingly pro homosexual culture. This is perhaps the most complicated and contentious issue we face in our culture. Most churches are poorly equipped to handle it; parents are even less prepared. In his new book Critical Conversations: A Christian Parents’ Guide to Discussing Homosexuality with Teens, author Tom Gilson crafts a well-written apologetic for the morality of Christianity. He cautions, “Let’s not be fooled here: The big question isn’t whether homosexual behavior or same-sex marriage is moral. The big question is whether Christianity is credible. Gay […]

-Read More

The Compassionate Judge: Mercy Triumphs

Marcie Blackstone
no comments

“Sometimes the best way to help a man who has fallen into a hole is not to throw him a rope, but to climb in.” – Scott Pelley, CBS Evening News   I recently heard a heartwarming story on CBS Evening News about a retired army sergeant named Joe Serna, who served 3 tours in Afghanistan as a Green Beret and earned two purple hearts. After surviving a tragic truck accident that killed three other soldiers, he developed PTSD and a fear of small cramped spaces. A few years ago, Joe had been arrested for drunk driving and was sentenced […]

-Read More

Back to School Tips from a Teacher

Linda Nunez
no comments

The first day of school is fast approaching, and for most kids this day is full of excitement and new everything. For first timers though, (like kindergarteners or kids attending a completely new school) the first day of school can be more stressful than thrilling. But what about us parents? We also get nervous on the first day of school. I must admit that I definitely get a little anxious. With a five-year-old entering kindergarten and stepkids going into 5th and 12th grade, I worry if my kids will like their new teacher and classmates; if their school is safe […]

-Read More

The Battle Within

Dr. Tommy Boland
no comments
within

(Scroll down to leave a comment on your battle within.) One of Satan’s most destructive schemes is to convince the believer that all is well, and there is nothing to be concerned with. “You’re doing so much better than that person over there,” the serpent slyly hisses. “You don’t need to worry about making any particular changes in your own life.” But this is not for you. The apostle Paul was keenly aware of his own sin, and he knew well that acknowledging that he was the chief of sinners — a title that you and I can also honestly […]

-Read More

Jesus’ Rebuke of Three Cities

Dr. Susan Michael
no comments

“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light” (Isaiah 9:2). The common application of Isaiah 9:2 is a spiritual one in which the “people walking in darkness” are those who lived prior to Christ and without knowledge of his saving power. And while that is a valid spiritual application, this verse is actually referring to the people of a specific geographical area: the land of Zebulun and Naphtali, known as the Galilee of the Gentiles. Upon them a great light would shine when, according to Isaiah 6, “unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son […]

-Read More

Engaging Muslims with Wisdom and Love

Daniel Ebert
no comments

The Lord calls Christians to relate wisely and virtuously with all people. This includes how followers of Jesus engage Muslims. Acts of terrorism done in the name of Islam, against both Muslims and non-Muslims, can tempt us to respond in ways that are neither wise nor virtuous. If people have never had Muslim friends, their only impressions come from news and social media, which tend to build a distorted picture. Even among Christians, heated debates break out about the very language we use on issues relating to Islam. In politics we debate whether or not terrorists should be called “radical Muslims.” […]

-Read More

Close to 500,000 Christians Attend Together 2016 despite Overwhelming Heat

Tami Gomez
no comments

Together 2016 in Washington DC was an event to remember with as many as 500,000 Christians coming together for prayer and worship in the National Mall. Upon arrival, there was a line stretching well over half a mile full of believers waiting patiently to go through a government-enforced bag check. While walking past them, one could witness every kind of Christian: Protestants, Catholics, black, white, Asian, left-wing, right-wing, those preaching fire and brimstone, others handing out pamphlets about their sect; there were even a couple who were literally carrying crosses. The beautiful thing about it, though, was the fact that […]

-Read More

Local Screenwriter Produces “Salted Christmas”

Gabriella Morris
no comments

“Salted Christmas: One Family, One Day, One Purpose” is a feature-length film being filmed in South Florida that depicts a day in the life of the Fairway family as they walk through a Saturday prior to Christmas, deeply involved in ministry. The brainchild of Don McChesney, a local founder of Equip Education, an education system for older homeschool students, “Salted Christmas” is an undertaking by serious people doing serious work while not taking themselves too seriously. The family structure is a result of their work in foster care, adoption, homeless ministry and retirement community ministry. McChesney is hopeful the film […]

-Read More

A Biblical View of our Escalating Culture of Violence

Rob Hoskins
no comments

Violence is familiar to me, having grown up in Beirut, Lebanon and spent most of my life traveling to the neediest places on earth. Many times I have experienced the scourge of deadly warfare. Yet recent shootings in Michigan, Louisiana, Minnesota and Texas and recent terror attack in my adopted country of France hit closer to home. While the circumstances are different, the underlying causes that perpetuate a culture of distrust and hysteria, that escalates and threatens to shove society into the oncoming traffic of anger and hate remains the same.   Othering It’s what philosopher Michael Foucault referred to […]

-Read More

violence