Tag: Christian Living

Ministry

In Case You Ever Wondered . . .

Chris

YouTube is an amazing tool on the internet. Not only does it showcase commercials, homemade video messages, and various other videos, it is a vast platform to spread a message. I ran across one of these messages while looking for a TV spot to open this Sunday’s sermon.

Sometimes we wonder why the doors of our church only let visitors in once. Why don’t they come a second time? Is it something we’re doing, or not doing?

This video, by the Beyond Relevance guys, is a peek into the answer to that question.

Christian Living, Ministry

Are You Developmentally Challenged?

Chris

Okay, okay. I’m not trying to belittle any true challenges or struggles people face today. Please, don’t send any hate mail.

The question posed here has to do with your continual growth, both personally and professionally. Are you growing? How are you facilitating that growth? Do you even believe that you need to grow?

You’ve probably heard this adage: “You cannot truly sit still. You are either moving forward or backward.” It’s been applied to our Christian walk, our relationships, and our professional lives. But do we take it seriously? Do we live like this statement is true?

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Book Reviews

Book Review: All In

Chris

Risk is a part of our lives, almost every moment of every day. In the past twelve months, salmonella ran through 42 states because of what some thought was tomatoes, though many would confess they don’t have a clue where it came from. And now it’s been linked to peanut butter. From driving in your car, to opening a milk carton, risk is everywhere. Whether we realize it or not, we’re risk takers. For some of us, the risks are more obvious. For example, this past summer my mother went parachuting. (I’m not ready for that one yet.) The real question is, are we taking the risks that matter? That’s point of Michael DiMarco’s book, “All In: Gambling on Life, Love & Faith in a World of Risk ”

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Bible

Give Me A Reason

Chris

My wife and I often find ourselves in different rooms in the house during the day. She’s kind of a neat freak and baker, and I’m more of a computer-book nerd. When we get in our individual modes, she’s usually off in the kitchen and I’m in my home office. My office doesn’t have a traditional door, just a couple of curtains hung in the open thruway. So when she has the radio on up in the kitchen, I get bits and pieces of what she’s listening to while I’m trying to do my own thing.

She was recently listening to a radio program, and the speaker mentioned how when he had honest questions about God and Christianity, those around him who were Christians failed to fulfill a task we should all be ready for.

Continue reading “Give Me A Reason” →

Uncategorized

Why Obama Might Be President

Chris

[No, I’m not taking sides publically one way or the other.  I have voted already (with absentee ballot), but I’m not giving that away, either.  In this post, I will speak as part of a collective, though my opinions or experience may not be the same as the generalizations made.]

Many evangelical Christians support John McCain, and would be devastated if Barack Obama were to win the White House next week.  It doesn’t sound as if there is a great exodus planned in that event, as many hardcore Democrats threaten every election to “run for the border” of Canada should a Republican take office.  Still, the disappointment of “losing” the top office in the country to such a staunch liberal would eventually manifest itself in our pulpits, our magazines, books, and coffee house conversations.  All of this leads me to the number one reason I believe Barack Obama might win on November 4th.

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Christian Living

How do you know, that you know, that you know?

Chris

In a small group meeting this weekend, I talked about the Theory of the Heart, and I mentioned how one aspect of including our heart in worship is to love God. One of our discussion questions asked how we can fall more in love with God. The answers were your typical Bible study answers: pray, read your Bible more, talk to God, worship. And I heard one member of the group comment, “Man, I wish someone would just give a straight answer.”

Continue reading “How do you know, that you know, that you know?” →