Category: Uncategorized
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The Legacy of a Small Bible
My father gave this small Bible to my Uncle Dale back in the 1950s. Even after my dad died, Uncle Dale kept up with it and carried it in his pocket at my wedding. Almost 30 years later he gave it to me with a heartfelt inscription after I had been through a very difficult…
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The Five Stages of Spiritual Community: How a Small Group Grows
Healthy groups don’t skip these steps; they move through them in order, naturally and prayerfully.
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Feeding Hungry Sheep
When John Milton wrote the line, “The hungry sheep look up, and are not fed,” he was not speaking about literal sheep, but about people. He was thinking about people who come to church but are starving because those who are supposed to feed them fail to do so. When Milton wrote that in 1638, it was common…
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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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Walking with the Shepherd
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.”— Psalm 23:4 (ESV) 1. God’s Presence in the Dark David didn’t say, “If I walk through the valley.” He said, “Even though I walk through…
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The Ultimate Pursuit
Deep in the human soul there is a longing that cannot be satisfied by wealth, success, or even the love of others. It is the longing for God Himself. Scripture affirms this truth: “You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13, ESV). To seek God is not merely…
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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…
John W. Crowder 