Author: John W. Crowder
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Refined by Fire
But he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold.” — Job 23:10 When life feels unfair, uncertain, or unbearable, it’s easy to wonder where God is. Job knew suffering intimately. He lost his children, his health, and his wealth. His friends accused him. His world crumbled.…
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Anchor of Hope – Steadfast and Secure
📖“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure…”— Hebrews 6:19a (NIV) In times of uncertainty, when life’s storms surge and the winds of change howl through our circumstances, we all instinctively search for something — anything — to hold on to. The author of Hebrews offers a compelling image to…
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Reinventing the Wheel
We spend a lot of time, energy, and resources “reinventing the wheel.” I see it most often in disaster recovery. Each community affected by a new disaster has to figure out how to navigate their recovery, starting from scratch. “Reinventing the wheel” is also a common occurrence in ministry, business, leadership, and even raising a…
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New Book Coming Out Soon
After the explosion in 2013 I discovered that each time there is a disaster, the affected community has to “reinvent the wheel” and learn from scratch how to manage their recovery. I spent the next decade or so studying recovery and working with people who were leading through recovery. I wrote “the book”Anchor Point” in…
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How Should I Give to Disaster Relief?
I often have people ask about which organizations they should send money to after a disaster. The best way to decide is to recognize that there are 2 main phases of recovery: short-term disaster relief, and long-term disaster recovery. The best way to give is to support both of those phases. First, give to immediate…
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Church Growth or Church Health?
Is the church an organization or is it an organism? How we answer that question determines how we view “success” in the church. If it is only an organization, numerical growth is a valid expectation and means of evaluation. If, however, the church is a living organism, growth is not nearly as important as health.…
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Stars of Hope
We usually don’t even notice them anymore. I guess that’s to be expected, because they have been hanging there for over a decade now. Those wooden stars have just become a part of the backdrop of our community. There are dozens of them scattered throughout town. Each one is unique, powerful, and beautiful in its…
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Top Ten Things Your Pastor Is NOT Thinking About 5 Minutes Before Worship Begins
10. Last week’s committee meeting 9. Next week’s committee meeting 8. That issue you’ve been thinking about all week so you could bring it up the next time you saw the pastor 7. Paper towels in the men’s room 6. The name of that couple who sat behind you two weeks ago 5. The most…
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Old Testament Summary
Reading the Old Testament can be challenging sometimes, because it is not always chronological and it contains a variety of genres. That can make it difficult at times to understand the context or the purpose of a particular passage. A few years ago a teenager who was leading a Bible study during lunch at his…
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“Ain’t Nothing As Over As Christmas”
The holiday has passed. The festivities have ended. Wrapping paper which once hid wonderful mysteries and adorned thoughtful gifts now clutters a cold floor. The stockings that were hung by the chimney with care now lay empty and forgotten on the hearth. The guest room is empty once again. The house is strangely quiet and…
John W. Crowder 