fisher of men

When You Want to Give Up – Beloved Women – October 30, 2019 READ “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” (2 Timothy 1:7 ESV) TODAY’S ENCOURAGEMENT “How far would you go for what you want?” the speaker asked. Someone shouted, “I will do anything”. I’ve often heard similar statements at motivational events. People, revved up by the words of the speaker, believe anything is possible. But soon enough, reality sets in and their dreams never come to fruition. And the question we often ask is “why?” We’re left wondering why someone so committed would give up and stop trying. There are two common culprits: fear and lack of discipline. Fear often stops us from trying and a lack of discipline stops us from following through even when we start. Perhaps...

Borrowing a phrase from Friedrich Nietzsche, Eugene Peterson wrote a book entitled, A Long Obedience in the Same Direction. It’s a phrase that captures our call as followers of Christ. In the Jewish world of Jesus, it was customary for disciples to follow their rabbi so closely that they got covered in the dust from his footsteps as he walked up the sandy path ahead of them. They wanted to hear every word, to understand every instruction, to stay close to their rabbi as he led the way. Spending hour after hour, day after day, following him around, they not only listened to what their rabbi said. They watched what he did and the way he reacted. Their goal was to become as much like him as possible because they believed he was living a life that pleased God. That’s how we should ...

Honoring All Souls  by Sarah Phillips Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. And even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, he who is coming into the world.” John 11: 17 – 27 Most of us who’ve been around for more than a couple decades have expe...

[embedded content] Joe Thorn details his family’s thought process with Halloween, factoring in both his past in the occult, and the helpful ways they could engage in their neighborhood. www.joethorn.netwww.christianity.com Originally published October 10, 2016.

The Pharisees were a Jewish group mentioned, either collectively or as individuals, ninety-eight times in the New Testament, mainly in the Gospels. The root meaning of the word “Pharisee” is uncertain. It is probably related to the Hebrew root meaning “separate” or “detach.” From whom did the Pharisees separate? From those, especially priests or clerics, who interpreted the Law differently than they? From the common people of the land? From Gentiles or Jews who embraced the Hellenistic culture? From certain political groups? All these groups of people the Pharisees would have been determined to avoid in their resolution to separate themselves from any type of impurity proscribed by the Levitical law — or, more specifically, their strict interpretation of...

As I sat in Jessica’s office she could already observe the medication she had prescribed for my anxiety was making a difference.  “I didn’t know life could be this way. I don’t panic about my kids playing outside in the front yard. I’m not terrorized by racing thoughts at night. I don’t feel like I’m in ‘fight or flight’ mode. And these are just the little things,” I commented.  For years I’ve lived with depression and took my medication faithfully. But life was still difficult because of the anxiety. At the time I didn’t realize it was anxiety, I was convinced there was a serious health issue. I sought out a doctor and then a counselor after a friend suggested this type of intervention. I was sick of everyone telling me, “Just believe more. Just have more faith. Just pray about ...

My friend Rick Warren famously wrote about the purpose-driven life, but before that he wrote about the purpose-driven church. In The Purpose Driven Church, he contends that the church has a five-fold purpose (worship, ministry, evangelism, community and discipleship) and should therefore be driven by those purposes (as opposed to what commonly drives churches such as tradition, money, programs, personalities or events). The idea of an organization of any kind being “purpose-driven” is not only strategic, but it is what will most capture the attention of the youngest, largest generation on the planet—Generation Z. I wrote about this in my book Meet Generation Z, but the studies continue to confirm and even enlarge upon understanding how important this is to this generation. The 2019 Porter ...

Honor My Husband… How Do I Do That? By Gina Smith “It is better to live in a desert land than with a quarrelsome woman.” – Proverbs 21:19 “An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life.” – Proverbs 31:1 I was sitting at my dining room table with a friend. My husband had just left for work when my friend bravely spoke, “May I tell you something?” She asked. “Sure.” I answered. She paused and then she said, “The way that you speak to your husband is wrong.” I had been married for almost 3 years and had just begun spending time with this young woman. She was a year older than me, but she had a walk with God that I had never observed ...

  BIBLE VERSE OF THE DAY: So Jesus proclaimed, as he taught in the temple, “You know me, and you know where I come from. But I have not come of my own accord. He who sent me is true, and him you do not know. – John 7:28 We are Placed Where We are on Purpose By Meg Bucher The hallway light flicked on at 5am, and the pitter patter of sweet little feet followed by a flush and a brush and a spit gave way to a sweet face up and ready to start the day. “Mommy,” she whispered, “you weren’t downstairs reading your Bible yet, can I read with you today?”  (God sometimes give us an easy, ‘yes,’ doesn’t He?)  We sat there side by side in the dark early hours, reading our Bibles and writing prayers in our journals. All I kept thinking was, ‘If anything...

BIBLE VERSE OF THE DAY: “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” – Psalm 16:11 Fight the Good Fight for Joy By Mark Altrogge Christians should be marked by joy. Joy is one of the fruits of the Spirit. If knowing Jesus doesn’t bring us a deeper joy than those who don’t know him, what’s the point? This doesn’t mean Christians don’t suffer and experience depression, discouragement, sadness and grief. Paul said in 2 Co 6:10 that he was “sorrowful, yet always rejoicing.” So somehow, even in the throes of sorrow, Paul had joy. Jesus promised us joy. “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full” (John 15:11). Ultimately our fullness of joy will b...

“The Eternal is the source of my strength and the shield that guards me. When I learn to rest and truly trust Him, He sends His help.” Psalm 28:7a (VOICE) It was years ago when my firstborn traipsed through a muddy pumpkin field in search of the perfect pumpkin, but I can picture him now. Wrapped in a fuzzy yellow sweatshirt and an ornery grin, he moved up and down the rows of tangled vines and inspected the bulging orange fruit. I’d already made it clear we were leaving with just one, so he stooped to consider the shape and texture, the width and height of every pumpkin that caught his eye. He wiggled them and slapped them, sniffed them and studied them. Finally, he gave a Goliath-sized gourd a gentle kick and stared at me with an expectant grin. “I want this one, Mom!” Weigh it, the...