by Rob Amerine | Dec 21, 2015 | Articles, Testimonies
One morning over a year ago God provided a ministry opportunity at a local coffee shop. At the time I had been displaced from my home and in the throes of a very challenging and painful family situation. I was angry and financially wiped out. Feeling overwhelmed about the decisions I had made to this point and the consequences that it meant for my family I was broken and had cried out that morning for direction and mercy from the Lord. Just hours later I found myself in a conversation with a guy older than me who had moved to town weeks earlier and said he had come to the Lord a few years ago. In our first meeting when I asked why he moved here he said outright “I’m just looking to be discipled”. I was pretty taken back by this and knowing my current situation I was thinking that this guy needed someone older who had it more together and could invest the time and energy he needed. We traded contact information and I just went about my day trying to manage my emotions and pains the best I could. I ran into him again and again that week at the same coffee shop so we ended up having a few more conversations that quickly turned to spiritual matters. From what he shared he had a solid understanding of the gospel but really wanted to know how to study the bible. He had a very likable personality and seemed to know a lot of people. I soon found out that he was basically homeless but was finding...
by Ed Allen | Dec 14, 2015 | Articles, What Do You Think?
1 Corinthians 15: 1 Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep; 7 then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles; 8 and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also. (Observation) The gospel by which a man is saved, which Paul preached, which the Corinthians believed, was in accordance with the Scriptures. The death burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ was witnessed by many, including Paul. (Interpretation) The truth of the Old testament prophesies about Jesus and the truth of the words of Jesus Christ about Himself are demonstrated in His death burial and resurrection. I submit to you that the passage also demonstrates the ability of Jesus to keep His promise “…that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” (Cross-reference) John 14: 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through...
by Walt Henrichsen | Dec 7, 2015 | Articles, People Not Listening
“Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.” Revelation 3:11 Four times in Revelation Jesus said He would “come quickly,” this verse and three times in Revelation 22:7, 12, and 20. One of the tensions most difficult for me to maintain in my life is gratitude to God for His goodness, on the one hand, and my longing to be with Him in heaven, on the other. By any standard of comparison, I am a rich man. Not just the affluence of our environment, but more profoundly things such as my health, a wonderful family, my friends in Christ, the privilege of ministering in His Name – all of these fill me with gratitude. Still, I find I am so very eager for His coming. Partly it is because of the incredible hurt and lostness I see everywhere I look; and partly it is the depth of my own depravity. As I may have shared with you before, I am sickened by the fact that I am more easily influenced by circumstances than the presence of God in my life. I have walked with Jesus for more than 60 years, and had hoped that there would be some abatement in the perniciousness of sin. But I am chagrined to confess that such is not the case, at least in my life. Thus I find it hard to be grateful for a life so disappointing to the One I love the most. Despair is the absence of gratitude. It is hard to maintain balance between the discouragement I feel over the depravity...
by Skip Tschantz | Nov 30, 2015 | Articles, Mentors Corner
Responding to Society Titus 3:1-8 Part 1 – Identifying the Issue This short study on responding to our society may leave us with some challenging questions about our personal application. Certainly it begs the questions: “what about all the garbage that is going on in our society?” Aren’t we to take a stand against the moral decline, the political direction that we may not like and a whole host of other issues? Aren’t we to try our best to change society to reflect Biblical standards? What does a Biblical response look like? What kind of an obligation do we have to our children and grandchildren? These are serious if not daunting questions for the follower of Christ. No one can tell you what your application should look like in the area of stewardship or even the positive commands. The challenge is left up to each one of us to determine how God would have us respond. However, we can gain some valuable insight from Scripture to help us navigate this critical issue. To do this we will look at the epistle of Titus. Titus was ministering on the island of Crete where there were a number of pockets of believers scattered around the various cities of this island. This was an area that was as pagan and godless at we could possibly imagine and the purpose of Paul’s letter to Titus was to give him instruction on how to instruct the various churches in the area of Godly behavior. The epistle basically breaks down into three sections. Godliness in the church – Chapter 1 Godliness in the home –...
by Craig McAndrews | Nov 23, 2015 | Articles, Testimonies
I recently took a trip to Haiti where I had the opportunity to participate in my first international mission trip. I was hesitant to go and nervous about what to expect, but the work God did in me during that trip made me grateful for the opportunity. The experience taught me a number of things including what it means to live with boldness and courage despite my tendency to live with prejudice and fear. During the trip, there were so many uncomfortable moments for me that ultimately, I just let go and leaned in to whatever was happening. This was never more true than when I spent time in an orphanage. Don’t get me wrong, I love kids, but I am most comfortable with kids who look the same way my kids look, which is not what you get in Haiti. The first time I stepped through the doors of the Creche (means Cradle in Haitian), I was bumrushed by little boys. They ran up to us, and held up their arms which every parent knows is the international signal for “hold me”. I knew what it meant, but I didn’t know these boys at all, so it was really awkward. However, they didn’t care, and I didn’t have enough time to process the situation. The only response was to pick them up, or get knocked down in the process. So I scooped a couple to them up, and after a few minutes, I knew this was what I should be doing. The children in that orphanage were energetic, loving, kind, playful and curious. The boys just wanted...
by Gayle Jackson | Nov 15, 2015 | Articles, Mentors Corner
My brother once said to me when I ask if he was satisfied where he was in his life, he said, “I am satisfied with my dissatisfaction”. We are a driven people out of our unrest and drive for more. Contentment is considered a weakness and an anti-virtue of an American. Yet the bible teaches us that contentment is a requirement to live an effective life for Christ. Can we live with the call for contentment? Especially in business and on the job. Does this mind set work in your life? 2 Peter 3:11-14 ” Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, on account of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning and the elements will melt with intense heat. But according to His promise we are looking for a new heaven and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells. Therefore beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless”, From this we can say that an aim of man is his preparation for the return of Christ and to be ready to enjoy Him for eternity. Philippians 4:10-13 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity. Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am to be content. (Ref 1 Tim...
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