Categories
Forgiveness

Moving Ahead

Catalina Bay

Moving Ahead

They say that the times are too heavy—
They’ll fill you with fear and with dread,
To enlist in their negative levy,
Don’t listen—keep moving ahead.

Categories
Prayer

Failures for Christ: Stretching Out in Prayer and Love

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A few days ago I climbed a very steep trail, a narrow dirt path filled with rocky outcrops and littered with slippery stones. As I reached the summit, I was rewarded with a magnificent panorama of the ocean and the beautifully sunlit California coast.

Categories
Jesus Christ

Jesus in the Gospel of John, Part 3: Loving the Father

Tasha and apple

It was never difficult for me to love my Dad. Since I can remember, he and my Mom loved me and provided everything that I needed.

Categories
Jesus Christ

Jesus in the Gospel of John, Part 2: Fulfilling the Law and Keeping the Feasts

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In Part 1 of this series, we learned that the gospel of John shows Jesus as the Son of God. His genealogy in John calls him “the only begotten of the Father.” We also saw that Jesus often spoke of bringing eternal life as savior.

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Jesus Christ

Jesus in the Gospel of John, Part 1: Bringing Eternal Life as Savior

Sea of Galilee
The Sea of Galilee

I once worked on a team of four studio camera operators. Each of us had a different angle and emphasis on our subject, usually a person speaking on stage. Back in the tech room, the director had a large computer screen that showed all four camera views at once.

Categories
Giving

Giving in the Church Today

Thanksgiving 033

Most Christians believe they should give money to their church. Many churches require their people to give a minimum of ten percent of their income and allow the church leadership to use that money as they see fit. Is this what God really wants?

Categories
Leadership

God-up Leadership, Part 3: Serving in the Body Today

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We’ve seen that the church is an organic and growing, spiritual reality with Christ as its foundation. Jesus Christ made his heavenly Father the source and center of all he did. Today Christ is the head of the church, the body of Christ.

Categories
Leadership

God-Up Leadership, Part 2: Beginnings, the Early Church

NS 14

During his earthly ministry, Jesus Christ set the foundation for leadership and service to God. He taught his twelve apostles how to lead. They became the genuine leaders in the early church.

Categories
Leadership

God-Up Leadership, Part 1: The Foundation

fermin

th[5]I went for a run this morning along the ocean. At Point Fermin Park, I noticed a couple with a remote control glider. The operator controlled every move the glider made with the help of a rudder, ailerons, and a small engine. Then I saw a sea gull fly by. It glided, swooped, and continued on its natural path northward. They both flew, they both had direction—and they reminded me of the church today.

Categories
Body of Christ

Understanding the Scriptures: Can Women Teach in the Church?

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Recently a young woman asked about two scripture verses. She was concerned that they did not fit with other truths in God’s Word, or with life. When that seems to happen, it’s good to take a closer look at what the Word really says.