Various Articles
Have you ever had to rebuild trust? Whether you are the one who has done wrong and needs to make amends, or are the one who has been wronged and are looking for signs of true repentance…you know it doesn’t happen overnight. There are some important steps that you can take to work this process and cement the change that God has begun.
…
We all hear of the crimes that happen on the news, or the next political outrage, or hear yet another reason why we shouldn’t trust this or that. Often, the churches response is to become afraid, and unwilling to trust the world we live in and form “holy huddles” so we only have to interact with people we already trust and know. This behavior is one of the largest criticisms of the church, “You guys talk of caring for the community but I never see you out here?” or “ I came to church once in need of some friendship and no one even acknowledged I was there!”.
…
Have you ever dealt with someone who’s ego was so large that they couldn’t fit their head through the door? Yeah, I have too, and they do not make it easy to enjoy their company (to put it likely). Wouldn’t it be so great to tell that person “the world doesn’t revolve around you!” or “you’re no better than the rest of us you know!”. There seems to be something in us that cringes at the idea of acting bigger than we really are.
…
Some scientists were tracking Golden Winged Warblers in the Appalachian mountains. See a picture below.
What is interesting is that right after they finished their seasonal migration, they left!
Scientists were confused, until a series of storms swept through the area which lead to a tornado outbreak. Checking the geolocation trackers on the birds later, they flew a bit over 930 miles to get just South of the Tornado's path, then came straight home again.
This immediately brought to mind:
...
Do you want to be an encourager? It’s something we all want to do, but knowing how to encourage others can be tough. And if you’re anything like me, sometimes I simply forget. Having a ready-to-go kit like this can help you to brighten someones day, lift their spirits, and remind them of God’s truth in their life.
…
You went to the classes. Listened to the messages. Sang the songs. And somewhere in the midst of it all, God reached in and tweaked something inside you. You heard Him.
Maybe it was like a lightning bolt to your heart. Maybe it was a tiny seed that He planted and is barely beginning to sprout. It could be a cloudy something that has been in your mind for months, only now it is crystal clear.
…
Once every four years, we find ourselves using phrases like “Lutz” and “triple Salchow” …during the Winter Olympics when we all become experts in sports we watch exactly once every four years.
Imagine if figure skating pairs got on the ice and each did their own routine. It would never work. Not only would they never medal, but they’d be laughed off the ice. Everyone knows, that’s not how paired figure skating works.
…
You likely have seen the recent first-ever picture taken of a black hole in space. Actually, the image looks a lot like a glowing donut approximately 55 million light years from earth - a nearly incomprehensible distance. It is a discovery that has generated considerable enthusiasm among the scientific community as they seek to know more about the origins of the universe.
…
Are you worried that you’ll do everything you can raising your kids in the faith and yet when they’re an adult they’ll walk away from it?
There’s no more important mission field we face than raising our children to adore God. You could be a hero of the faith, but that’s meaningless if you neglect to parent well. No pressure, right.
…
