Money can be intoxicating. Whether taken straight or mixed with cars, sound systems, clothes, and apartment furnishings, money is heady stuff—it can leave you stoned, high, drunk, blotto. Like any intoxication, the first taste of wealth may bring an exhilarating rush, but eventually it can take over a person's life, leaving that person under the Influence of Affluence.
Author: Bob Stone
Working Hard Or Hardly Working
How can we get motivated when we don't feel like doing anything?
First, I think what we need to do is continually commit the area of work to the Lord Jesus and allow the Holy Spirit to change us. Then we should begin to associate more and more with those who are industrious, and less and less with our sluggish friends. 1 Cor. 15:33—"Do not be misled: 'Bad company corrupts good character.'" We should follow the guidelines outlined in Proverbs.
A Father’s Race
I want to examine with you A Father's Race and what that means in the context of Hebrews 12:1-11.
Hebrews 12:1-11
Some time ago when I was in Wenatchee, I stopped in at one of the places I remember from growing up—Dusty's In and Out. When I got there I looked on the wall, and saw this picture of the 1957 Dusty's In and Out team, and the guy in the top row in the middle was me!
A Father’s Day Reflection
Luke 18:10-17
10] "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11] The Pharisee stood up and prayed about [ Or to ] himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12] I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.'
Raising Men of Character
Near the end of the 19th century, on the heels of a bloody civil war Josiah Holland wrote, "God, give us men! A time like this demands strong minds, great hearts, true faith and ready hands"—The Best Loved Poems of the American People, p. 132.
Throughout history, long before the Marines, God has been looking for a few good men: "For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him"—2 Chron. 16:9a. "I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap..."—Ezek. 22:30a.
Did God find men with strong minds, great hearts, true faith and ready hands? Did He give us such men? Yes!
Man to Man
Biblical Resources for Men Living for Christ Raising Men of Character How does the way we relate to children reflect our understanding of God’s kingdom? from the series, “The Person God Uses” “A Father’s Race,” taught Father’s Day 2000 Ever feel unmotivated to work? How can we get motivated? Reevaluate your work life, with the study...
Lamentation and Hope: A Response to 9-11-01
All of us in this church, this community, this nation and on this earth have witnessed this week, clarity. Evil (Satan’s vocation and hobby) is so often masked in our lives and in our world. This week evil boldly and brazenly unmasked itself from its many disguises and killed.
We are shaken. Our future seems uncertain, our daily tasks trivial in comparison to the death, destruction and heroics of the past week. The personal griefs we bear (too often alone) are weighing in on us and are overwhelmed by the attacks in New York and in Washington, D.C. We are powerless, it seems, to help. Our anger is red hot (but we know we must not be consumed by it); we demand justice (and certainly that will come, but we know not without further sacrifice and—for the church—not without mercy). We search for reasons for this monumental loss, and know explanations are elusive but that God enters fully into human suffering and we the church are called to follow.
A Response to Terrorist Attacks
I want to thank Matt, Dale and Wayne for the way they handled the service last week and for their words and perspective. (A summary of their statements is on this site. I encourage you to read it.)
As we think again today about the horrific tragedy in New York, I want to encourage you to continue to pray for our country. We should be praying:
- for all of those who are in authority in government—1 Timothy 2:1-4
- particularly for our President
- for the victims’ families
- for Congress
- for the Cabinet
- for our law enforcement officials and officers everywhere in our nation
- for our military forces
- for those who fly and manage our airplanes—all of our transportation systems
- for the firemen and policemen of New York City
- and for all the children and adults everywhere who are still traumatized, fearful and in a great quandary because of the events of September 11th (How ironic it was a 911 call for America.)
Theological Foundations
In a general fashion, this is a review session and will simply lay out for the us the theological underpinnings for any ministry, especially a discipleship ministry. Participants in the seminar will have a chance to rewrite or affirm this theological statement. Theological Foundations
Defeating Discouragement and Burnout
Spiritual Fathers who are burned out, have lost the zest for ministry; they ‘go through the motions’ day after day; but with little joy, and with greatly reduced capability for effective service. The sad part of this is that leaders who burn out are among our most dedicated people. The hopeful part is that burnout...