Receive

Christians volunteer because they are giving people. Volunteering, however, is not only a Christian act of devotion to one’s fellow man but also is a good career activity for the volunteer. There are many reasons why volunteering helps volunteers not only to secure future jobs but also to thrive in their present jobs. First, let’s talk about future jobs. Volunteer experience can positively impress a potential, future employer. This positive impression can help a resume stand out over other resumes. The volunteer experience also can help the volunteer during job interviews. There are different reasons for this positive bias during resume reading and during the conduct of job interviews. Employers want to hire people who can get along well with the other employees in their organizations̵...

Skip to main content Skip to toolbar As we were hinting in a previous post, in God’s perfect providence, an opportunity to share our testimony of coming of the deception of the Word of Faith/Prosperity Gospel movement presented itself a few months ago. Emily reached out to Doreen in early September and let Doreen know how much her ministry had been such a blessing and how it had helped us not feel alone in the journey of healing from deception. Doreen was heavily involved in Christian Science/New Thought New Age (all very similar ideologies as Word of Faith) and was a practicing medium. But Jesus saved her and pulled her out of the deception of those movements in 2017! Praise God! Emily shared a little with Doreen of how Paul grew up in the Word of Faith/prosperity gospel moveme...

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, meaning Christmas is nearing as well. If you are graciously hosting a holiday event this season, take a moment to whisper this prayer to Jesus, a man who loved to gather all sorts of people together around His table. When the turkey turns out less than desirable, or you cannot handle one more awkward question from a distant relative, know that He cares about you, gracious hostess. He sees you are trying your best; girl, He loves you even if you can’t replicate Grandma’s stuffing recipe or your house has mismatched furniture and looks nothing like Pinterest pictures. Relish in your imperfections, and rejoice in your obedience to Him who calls us to practice hospitality with everyone. May this holiday season be filled with joy and always point you back...

I was looking down. Notebook in my lap. Not writing. Not thinking much either. But drawing inward. Listening to my breath. Asking my heart how it’s doing, what it’s feeling. It can take patience. And comfortableness with sitting in silence. For my heart is shy most days, taking a bit of coaxing to come out, communicate what it is it wants to say. I consider whether I am trying to coax it now, as I write these words to you. And I realize I’m not. Not really. Not in the same way that I attempt to coax my heart to speak to me when I write poems. Writing these words to you is different than me writing poetry. Here, I am trying to create an argument. Or follow some train of thought. I am trying to have some linearity to my thinking.  But when I do the first draft of a poem, it is rare that...

                                             www.insideoutwithcourtnaye.org I don’t know about you, but I LOVE checklists! They just help me to get things done. I would gather that you like them too – otherwise I think you would’ve skipped this post. With that being said and before Thanksgiving Day hits, how about getting ready for it? I’ve provided a quick checklist to help your day spent with family and friends go well! Here’s the Thanksgiving Checklist (oh and feel free to print this one out and circle the dash when you’ve completed it or thought it over)… –      Get to the store NOW…yes today if you can, sis. However, if you can’t get ou...

The New Testament Teaches Us Not to Second-Guess Surprising Conversions Kanye West bows his head in prayer at the Gateway in Salt Lake City Long before Kanye, even the most unexpected believers—like Paul himself—point us toward acceptance over suspicion. Kanye West’s move from saying “Jesus walks” to confess “Jesus is King” has divided Christians. Some are overjoyed that such a prominent figure has made the public turn to faith. Others are more hesitant, taking the “let’s see if this sticks” approach. Kanye himself expected the latter, singing on his new album, “What have you been hearin’ from the Christians? They’ll be the first one to judge me. Make it feel like nobody loves me.” While some believers want to wait and see whether his faith is genuine, we don’t find much evidence for this ...

Growing Small Ideas into Big Vision Remain steadfast. Growth almost always takes time.  Sometimes, considerable time. We live in an instant world with a deep desire for instant gratification. There is value in the process. There is value in the mistakes and the lessons that followed.  Don’t give up, because you aren’t an overnight success.  Put in the time. Remain planted.  There are sowing and reaping seasons.  Rarely do people experience instant successes. Even so-called “overnight” successes often have traveled the journey for years.  Never compromise your character.  Little things will become big things.  Don’t steal the stapler. Don’t fudge the numbers. Don’t exaggerate the benefits of your product. Don’t manipulate to get a sale.  Remember...

Tears fell from my eyes as I tried to grasp the reality that my name and my family members’ names were being spoken of in a hurtful way, our reputations and character muddied with gross untruths.  How could someone I know and love say that about me? How could my family be trampled on in such a misrepresentation of who we are?!  Worse, why are people believing this about us?! I just couldn’t wrap my mind around why someone would say something so hurtful about me or my family.  And then I realized whether it was factual truth or not, they were acting out of real emotion, misled or not.   As Bible believers and Jesus followers, we know we ought to avoid speaking falsely about another… but what do we do when someone speaks falsely about us?  What if there is ...

I resist talking to her. Although I am desperate to hear her voice. Or have her hear me. It is confusing, which way the conversation will go.  I see her there–separate from me though part of me–and I edge in closer. I have been watching her from a distance, studying her posture, the way her hands hang at her sides, the jut of her hips. But it is her eyes I am afraid to read. For that would require closeness. Intimacy. Begging for permission. And her time. Her attention. Her voice. Oh, how I long to hear her voice. But I have told you that already. How would a conversation with her begin? Can I even speak the first words? “Hello. You are unknown to me though I can’t keep my eyes off you. Do you mind? Do you mind my staring? Do you mind my curiosity? Can we speak, face to face? Will you...

An assessment of the Hispanic Church Planting Report reveals the necessity of training. Brendan Jones Earlier this year, the Send Institute at the Billy Graham Center commissioned a study on Hispanic Church Planting. It was a joint sponsored project between 12 denominations with an advisory team of 8 Hispanic church planting leaders. Members of the Church Planting Leadership Fellowship provided lists of new Hispanic church works, and LifeWay Research fielded the study. Send Institute Director Daniel Yang provided an overview of what church planting organizations can learn from the survey. Then, Robert Guerrero shared on what we can learn about grit and faith. Today, Ramón Osorio, Ethnic Relations Director at the North American Mission Board, talks about why basic training is critical for c...