“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7 Imagine going on a hike through the forest and getting lost. What was supposed to be a 2-hour…
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Being part of a church is a good thing because Christians need each other. We should be devoted to one another (Romans 12:10). We should encourage one another (2 Corinthians 13:11). We should serve one another (Galatians 5:13). And the list of “one anothers” goes on. But it is very possible for our participation in…
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Marriage is awesome! It can also be difficult. There are numerous factors that contribute to it being a mishmash of both. In conversation and counseling with couples I am convinced God’s blueprint for marriage, particularly as outlined in Genesis 1-3, needs to be stated and restated. One feature to that blueprint that requires emphasis: male leadership….
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One of the most startling stories in the gospels is found in Mark 2. Jesus has gained a reputation for being a miracle worker. He’s healed countless people and demonstrated his authority over the demonic world. A paralyzed man has caught wind of this and through the help of his friends hatches a plan that…
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“I know what I need. My motives are pure. Certainly this prayer request is something God would want to answer.” How often do these thoughts run through our minds? And when He doesn’t give us what we asked for, we’re perplexed and even a bit agitated. How do we deal with unanswered prayer? Jesus addresses…
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High school was challenging for me. I attended a large public high school in Green Bay, Wisconsin, with a graduating class of 460 students. Socially it was a nightmare. I had come from a very small, private middle school and as a result was clueless to what was and was not “cool.” Early in my…
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So you say you have ‘faith’. Great! But is the faith you say you have the kind of faith that will save you? The Bible clearly elucidates a kind of faith that is fraudulent; one that will not hold up under the scrutiny of a holy God on the last day. Are you sure the faith you…
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I’ve often asked myself, “How do I know I really believe God is faithful?” I can say the words, “I believe God is faithful,” but a well-trained bird can do that too. So how do I know I really believe that? Hebrews 13:5 says this, “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be…
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Pain. Suffering. Adversity. Hardship. You name it, we experience it. So much of it is out of our control. Money won’t stop cancer. A great health insurance plan is no guarantee against a car accident. The best cardiac surgeon won’t make you immune to a lethal heart attack. Much of the difficulty we experience in…
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The gospel is different than any other religion or worldview out there. How so? “Religion” says, “I obey, therefore I’m accepted.” That is, when I morally or spiritually perform well, God will bless me and reward me with a good life and even heaven. The “gospel” says, “I’m accepted through the life and death of…
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