Affective
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Long Awaited, Unexpected
1 minute read time Reposted from December 25, 2016 They had waited so long for the Messiah, but they did not expect a child. Mary and Joseph did not expect a pregnancy. The shepherds did not expect a sky full of angels. Herod did not expect the Magi. The wedding guests did not expect the…
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What If We Made Disciples And Left Church Growth To God?
If we prioritized health, not as a means to growth, but as an end in itself, would we be in a greater position to represent Jesus to the world? Original Post on October 13, 2025 Imagine all the time, money, and resources that have gone into church growth in the last several generations. Is it…
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Sukkot – A Week of Thanksgiving!
Tonight (Wednesday, October 16, 2024) at sundown, the Jewish festival of Sukkot begins. It is the third of three annual Jewish Pilgrimage feasts. During these feasts, Israelites were commanded to make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. The first pilgrimage feast of the year is Pesach (Passover). Jewish families celebrate it as a feast of remembrance of…
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The Click Bait Trap
“I’m Billy Graham’s granddaughter. Evangelical support of Donald Trump spits on his legacy.” USA Today Op-ed. I’ve seen it multiple times and the article isn’t even 24 hours old. It’s like catnip. Some people can’t help but share this article, sometimes even before they read it. Most of them are Christians. The question is, “Why…
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Two Great Men Passed Away Last Night
[Six years ago I had the opportunity to hear from three recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, C. T. Vivian, U. S. Representative John Lewis and former U. N. Ambassador Andrew Young – each one a close friend and lieutenant of Rev. Dr. M. L. King. Last night both Vivian and Lewis passed away. The…
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We Were Made for Moments Like This
[Written as the COVID-19 outbreak started] You and I were made for moments like this. We would rather choose times of comfort and plenty, but we were created for times of chaos. We might dream of places serene and peaceful, but we were created for places of disorder. Gen 1:1 (ESV) In the beginning God created…
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Does God Really Want You To Grow?
Why do we always assume that God wants us to “grow” spiritually? We don’t always grow physically. We have periods of growth, or seasons of growth. Every parent knows that their children experience spurts of growth. Growth is good and healthy, but there are times when we pause, and at some point stop, growing. If…
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Pita Bread and Blasphemy
It was well rehearsed and performed with passion. Talented young voices singing in perfect harmony. The ballad rose dramatically in energy and intensity. “The goodness inside you will be your guide to the God in others. We are God. God is us.” Thousands cheered. Some shouted, “Amen!” and stood to their feet, moved by melody…
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On A Cold, Dark December Evening
I was reminded today about a moment twenty years ago during the Christmas season. I was on my way home from a rather contentious meeting. We were going to be leaving Holland, Michigan soon (not knowing that we would end up in New Castle, Indiana). Cheryl had just given birth to our second daughter, Emily.…
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I’m Blessed, Not Guilty
The “thankful” posts I’m seeing on social media started me thinking. I have, without question, many things to be thankful for. Unfortunately, there is a sport swelling in our culture where contestants redefine some of those gifts as “privileges” and I refuse to play that game. All the blessings in my life are gifts from…
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