Like a Rock: A Classic Example in Character Formation
Jesus chipped away at Peter to make a re-shaped disciple, every bit the opposite of what he was when Jesus first met him, firm like a rock!
Jesus chipped away at Peter to make a re-shaped disciple, every bit the opposite of what he was when Jesus first met him, firm like a rock!
An accurate understanding of God is essential to loving and serving Him well. Reading and studying the Bible makes you a theologian.
What is the gospel? Before I answer that, we need to understand that many people answer the question with much excess baggage.
As someone who left my church but later returned, I suggest asking yourself these 7 questions before deciding to leave your church.
I came back to the church because God forgives and people prayed for me. I learned to forgive myself and others.
Are you concerned over the number of young adults who no longer attend church? Here are 5 Reasons I left the church.
Looking for a different and more effective approach to making New Year resolutions? You’ve come to the right place. Making New Year resolutions isn’t nearly as difficult as keeping them. Most of our “resolves” typically fall by the wayside just days into the New Year! As one wag observed, “Resolutions go in one year and […]
Actively love each other. Remember that your church family are members of the body of Christ, just as you are a member of the body of Christ.
Pouring into others or investing in them is never a losing proposition; challenge those whom you pour into to order their lives accordingly.
Is peace lost or missing among us today? Your desire is for relationship. Your desire is to restore and renew relationship.
Our model for spiritual leadership is Jesus. Seeing Him not only as Savior but as the full expression of the Father, we follow His example.
Esther emerges as one of the greatest leaders of God’s people, exercising leadership on a greater geographical scale other biblical leaders.
Have you heard or read something about what is in the Bible and wondered, “Is that really right?” How do you learn Biblical interpretation?
ACTIVE prayer is helping me. It has kept me focused so that my mind doesn’t so easily wander. This has greatly improved my time with the Lord.
That’s why we only reproduce who we are, and why what some people are, speaks so loudly that it is difficult to hear what they’re saying. And that’s why character is foundational to genuine and effective leadership.
(Excerpt borrowed with permission from the Southwest District Superintendent’s Blog) Are you acting in the roles of leadership and/or management? Last week, in discussion with SWD HOPE Ministry Co-Director David Burrell, we remarked to one another how launching into a project, even in turbulent circumstances when the way was still being charted, was not a […]
Mental Health and the Church: Save Our Slighted This is an urgent call to all leaders within the General Conference of the Church of God (Seventh Day). There is a segment of our brethren (in, and outside of our denomination) that is being underserved, and if we are to call ourselves Christians, we must make […]
I am not sure what God considers the last days, but to me, it sure seems that we are approaching those days rather quickly. As I read 2 Timothy 3:1-5, it appears that the Apostle Paul is describing our time: But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. 2 For men […]
Character Formation To set the stage for this article, it is necessary to reveal something of my dark past: I once got into trouble in high school! It was an incident involving my entire homeroom class. The teacher didn’t show up, and we kids seized the opportunity to goof off. Apparently, it was noisy enough […]
With all the information that is available to us today, we can’t believe something just because it is in writing or because someone on TV or the internet says it is so. Then what are we to do? Many times during Jesus’ ministry here on earth, He asked the question, “What do you think?” Seven […]
Visionary Leadership in a Global Crisis These are troubling times. As I’m writing, the World Health Organization is reporting over 16,000,000 global cases of COVID-19 and over 650,000 deaths. The Center for Disease Control reports that 4,000,000 of those cases and nearly 150,000 of those deaths are here in the United States. I know several […]
Do you ever wonder why our prayers don’t seem to be answered? Reality is, God answers prayer but we may not like the answer. He may say “yes,” “not now,” or “no.” Why is it that it seems we hear “not now” and “no” more than we like? What is it that hinders our prayers? […]
Where is the Joy of the Lord? I feel like I’ve failed my husband because…. I feel like I’ve failed my children because… I feel like I’ve failed my friends because…. Oh, God, I grieve over my past sins, stumblings, and failures, the way I have disappointed You and hurt others in the process. They […]
The Life of Christ in the Lives of True Disciples Greetings in the name of Jesus, faithful disciples of the Lord. Some of you may wonder why I am always writing positive things, even when times are difficult. First, it is a commandment recorded by the Apostle Paul under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. […]
Does the church have a mission to fulfill in this increasingly chaotic time? Can and should we make a difference in the world today? Yes, yes, and yes! Then what is the mission of the church? 4 purposes that make up the mission of the church: to worship God (John 4:23-24; Rom. 14:11; Rev. 7:10-12) […]
I’ll never forget my family’s first Sabbath gathering back with our church after thirteen weeks of covid-related cancellations. My four daughters could barely contain their excitement. They had dressed and prepared breakfast for themselves before I even crawled out of bed. At their young ages, my daughters have fallen in love with the church and the […]
Is salvation free? This was completely unimaginable to the first century AD world. It is in this backdrop that the apostle Paul wrote his letters. He preaches the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and the fruit of salvation and a new life for believers. Salvation and the new life in Christ can be confusing […]
When you answer the call to be a leader in your church denomination, you will find your place among others who serve Christ. This article is focused on the denomination of the General Conference of the Church of God (Seventh Day) or COG7, but the points of the article that focus on serving in your […]
Eighty-Seven. Ochenta y Siete. Octoginta Septem. Kanawalukumamāhiku. That number is meaningful in my Family. That number keeps growing. It represents the number of days my family has been sheltering in place, selectively going outside, and starting the social distancing of what is the “new normal” in our country. But, there is another number that I […]
Why Be a Leader in the General Conference? Read more to find out why. When I first started taking classes through LifeSpring School of Ministry (now Artios Christian College), my main motivation was to learn more about the Bible. After the first semester, I realized that I could be a support to the leaders of […]
John opens his first epistle by defending and establishing the understanding of the humanity of Christ. “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life…” (1 John 1:1). John is making the […]
Thoughts on Power, Authority, Influence, and Leadership (PAIL) from Chip Hinds. Dear Readers, Peace, joy, love, and hope in Jesus Christ to you is my wish. A thought has been shaping itself in my mind. I would like to share it with you for the honor and glory of God, the blessing of his children, […]
The Church and Our Duty As followers of Christ, we are commanded to be holy. Part of living a holy life includes engaging in the spiritual disciplines of Bible reading and study, prayer, fasting, worship, and obedience to God. Another part of living a holy life includes how we treat others. I will explore the […]