Category: Christian Life
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The Strongest Word in the Hymnal
By John Crowder | View from the Vine | Faith & Christian Life There is a word we have sung for generations in Baptist churches, a word that shows up in some of the most beloved hymns and in the testimonies of ministers who describe how they came to their calling. The word is surrender.…
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Friendship is Intentional
“A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” Proverbs 18:24 Friendship is one of God’s sweetest gifts, but Scripture reminds us that it is not automatic. Proverbs 18:24 draws an important distinction. It is possible to have many companions and still feel alone,…
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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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If
I recently came across an old note written in my grandmother’s hand. The words on that old, yellowed sheet of paper reveal a timeless wisdom: If you want to dodge wrong, do right.If you want to jump high, don’t live low.If you want the world right, start with yourself.If you must publish someone’s faults, publish…
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Our Place
The instruments are quiet.The final notes have faded.The last amen no longer echoes.The room changes when the people are gone.It’s just You and me at Your house. The emptiness of pews and aisles make You seem even closer.In the stillness I sense You moving.In the silence I hear You speak.Thank You for meeting me here
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Intentionality
One of the life skills I am trying to learn is INTENTIONALITY. Instead of hoping a friendship will develop, I have to take steps to create friendship. Instead of waiting for a particular group to make me feel accepted, I have to make connections and build bridges. Instead of waiting to forget my failures, I…
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Fog It!
A few years ago I was going through one of the worst times of my life. My blood pressure was up and my stress was out of control. The turning point of my recovery occurred when I made a new friend. Ben was wise and compassionate. He had been through difficult times before and he…
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Check the Bushes!
When I was kid, some of the neighbors would play “War” with my older brothers and me. It was basically “Hide and Seek.” We would hide and sneak around and then “shoot” the other guys with our imaginary weapons. The goal was to be the last man standing. After playing the game a few times,…
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Meat, Masks, and Motivations
I can’t help but think there are some principles in Paul’s teachings about meat that some of us might be able to apply to our decisions about masks and social distancing. In Paul’s day people in the church were debating about whether or not they should eat meat, because some of the meat might have…
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I Won’t
I hope that some day when people disagree, we will be able to sit down and have sincere conversations in which we learn from one another. By listening to each other we will be able to catch a glimpse of the other’s point of view, to see things from a different perspective. Until that day…