Life

Unequally Yoked

Cole NeSmith
19 Nov 2012
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Commentary Growing up in church, there was always this discussion about the phrase, “Do not be unequally yoked” (2 Corinthians 6:14). Of course, it was wielded as an instruction not to date someone who wasn’t a Christian. And, actually, I’m not here to say anything different. It’s just – for me – I don’t do well with “don’t” statements that aren’t explained. Especially when I think there’s an explanation. Let me start by saying that, of course you and I are called to be in relationships with people who aren’t followers of Jesus – people who don’t agree with the […]

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Less Spiritual, More Free

Lori Harding
18 Nov 2012
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I’ll be honest, I’m wrestling these days. These words have echoed in my heart this week; less spiritual, more free. I doubt that I will ever be the same. Although God grabbed hold of me eleven years ago, I feel like I have been reborn again. It’s a bit scary. It’s like losing a foothold and losing control. It’s like having the roadmap ripped out of my hands while traveling at breakneck speed. It doesn’t seem to make sense but at the same time it seems too good to be true! More and more these days I find myself singing […]

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Is Pornography Grounds for Divorce?

Dawn Coates
15 Nov 2012
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God’s Perfect Plan  According to the scriptures, and contrary to conflicting opinions in today’s society, God ordained marriage as a covenant between one man and one woman, in which “the two are united into one”(Genesis 2:24). During his earthly ministry, Jesus also taught that, “Since they are no longer two but one, let no one split apart what God has joined together” (Mark 10:9-10). One man, one woman, united as one flesh, forever — this is God’s desired will, out of his infinite wisdom and because of his great love for His children. Our Broken Reality When sin entered the […]

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The Performance Trap

Matt Manry
12 Nov 2012
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“The great mistake made by people is hoping to discover in themselves that which is to be found in Christ alone.” –A.W. Pink Many people grow up in the church feeling a burden of having to perform. They think that devotion to God looks like rigorous effort and righteous improvement. However, the stunning truth that should rock all Christians to the core is the fact that they don’t have the ability within themselves to be fully devoted to God. Say what? Performance freaks, which applies to many Christians, love to convince themselves that they have the ability to “do it.” […]

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Food Supplements for Better Health

Dr. Jeff Hazim
10 Nov 2012
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Did you know that more people die each year from diseases of excess than from hunger and starvation? Yes, it’s true! Obesity, overeating, and being overweight are linked to more deaths worldwide than famine. While it is universal for churches to emphasize ministries that feed the poor in far off lands, the disease-causing indulgences of their very own congregants are often simply ignored. Let’s face it, when was the last time you heard a sermon rebuking our unhealthy eating practices and exposing the industries that actively promote these deadly behaviors? In a nation that leads the world in obesity, it […]

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The Man at The Bottom

Tullian Tchividjian
8 Nov 2012
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Contrary to popular belief, Christianity is not about good people getting better. If anything, it is about bad people coping with their failure to be good. That is to say, Christianity concerns the gospel, which is nothing more or less than the good news that “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15). “[Christ] was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification” (Romans 4:25). The gospel is a proclamation that always addresses sinners and sufferers directly (i.e., you and me). The prevailing view in much of contemporary Christianity […]

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Rethinking Discipleship

Jeremy McKeen
7 Nov 2012
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What comes to mind when you think of discipleship? Is discipleship a life of moral reform or inner spirituality? Is discipleship serving soup lines and social activism in the name of Jesus? Is discipleship a doctrinal course or a forty-day Bible program that a person completes and then suddenly pops out as a disciple? Discipleship has become one of the Christian “buzz words” today, and for good reason. Thankfully, there seems to be a growing group of young people who are seriously seeking to follow Christ and obey his command to “make disciples.” But what is a disciple? Why is […]

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What Color Is Your Holiday?

Dr. John Hawkins
6 Nov 2012
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Bing Crosby sang he was dreaming of a “White Christmas”. Merchants see the holidays in hues of green. A large number of people see this season in red for the over-extended debt they accumulate. Then there are those whose holiday color is blue as in “feeling blue.” For many, this is a time of year full of rich traditions, beautiful decorations, festive celebrations and wonderful memories. However, for another large group of people, it is a season of depression, anxiety and the holiday blues. Why do so many dread this season every year? If you are in this latter group, […]

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What is CrossFit?

Mickey Cohen
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Is it possible that you get to the gym everyday just out of habit but it’s the same old routine? Monday is chest and arms, Tuesday is back and legs, Wednesday is cardio day on the treadmill, etc. That routine was mine until just a few years ago. Some of us have had the same routine for years without having any results as far as increase in strength, body fat loss, or whatever our fitness goal was when we began training. If the gym works for you and you are happy with your success, I would not recommend changing anything. […]

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What’s In a Name?

Carmen Goodier
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Romeo and Juliet had a short discussion on the power of a name, as it was their very names that were tearing them apart. Juliet decided that names do not matter, stating, “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” But would it? Would a rose smell just as sweet if it were called “vomit”? In other words, does a name make us or do we make a name? One thing we see in the Bible is that names are important to God. God makes Himself known to man through […]

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