A Christian is one who follows Jesus as his Lord. Instead of serving our own desires and conforming to what our surroundings tell us to be and do, we have found the freedom and life found in Jesus alone! How wonderful it is to follow our Master, for he is loving and His burden is light. I never realized what a load I had been carrying until I came to Jesus and found strength and…
Mildred Timmerman, a beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother said goodbye to this mortal world earlier this week, and is now in the presence of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We who knew her were blessed for the time we shared with her here, and she left an indelible impression on so many who had the privilege of spending time with this wonderful lady. What did she have that caused her to live the way…
“What is truth?” These words, uttered to Christ by Pontius Pilate during the trial of Jesus are an old-world example of a “new” and popular view in our culture today. It goes like this: “what’s good for me is good for me; what’s good for you if good for you. There’s no real standard, we just make it up ourselves.” Sounds nice, doesn’t it? What could be wrong with such a friendly and tolerant worldview??…
What do you do when you negative things come your way? When a friend disagrees with you and puts you down, do you lash out? When your brother cancels your poker game at the last minute for the third time in a row, do you yell at him for being so irresponsible and unreliable? What about when a coworker belittles your ideas and makes you feel small? Do you react by gossiping about her behind…
Do you consider yourself to be a friendly person? Would the people who see you, whether at work, as you leave your house, or at the supermarket, speak of how you sought them out in friendship and treated them great? Do you routinely smile and greet those you pass on the street or in the hall, or is your daily focus primarily on yourself? Two Ignore, One Helps Jesus was once asked by religious leaders…
What does it mean to be spiritual? Does a person with a strong spiritual life simply keep all the rules? And what’s the point of living in true spirituality anyway, when it seems like all you get for your sacrifices is some undefined goody-goody feeling? Today we’ll explore these questions and more, and learn what the world’s greatest teacher had to say on the subject. Actions Speaking Louder Many of us have had less than…
Do you expect that following God’s way will make life easier? If you study the Scripture and seek to keep all its precepts, will your circumstances be easy and smooth? While our loving Heavenly Father promises many good things to us, His children, a life of comfort and ease isn’t one of them! Psalm 3 (New Living Translation) 1O LORD, I have so many enemies; so many are against me. 2So many are saying, “God…
Caught Red-Handed Imagine you walked into a grocery store just in time to see a young man slip an item off the shelf and into his pocket. As he turns toward the exit, a security guard grabs his arm, saying, “Come with me, sir.” The man ends up being arrested, and you are called as a witness to the court. What would you feel like, being asked to honestly tell your story to the court? …
In many of today’s movies and TV shows, the lesson is put forth that we should follow our hearts above all else. From Disney cartoons to adult-rated dramas, the idea that what is best for us is to look deep within ourselves and do that which we inwardly desire. But will this philosophy really bring blessing to our lives? Hidden Assumptions Oftentimes, ideas that seem pleasant on their surface carry along with them disastrous and…
I had the incredible privilege a few weeks ago to travel with a group from my church, Calvary Baptist, to Indiahoma, Oklahoma. We partnered with a local church in that area, Post Oak Mennonite Brethren, to host a Vacation Bible School for the kids and reach out to the community through fun events and worship services. Today, I’ll share some of the great experiences we shared together as we proclaimed the gospel of Christ with…