Scharf: That the world may know

Have you ever heard someone pray for you?

The wind is blowing!

When Pentecost Day arrived, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound from heaven like the howling of a fierce wind filled the entire house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be individual flames of fire alighting on each one of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages as the Spirit enabled them to speak.

Just a thought: your work matters

Do you know your work matters to God? Yes, and it matters to your employer and your co-workers.

Holy Spirit transforms

Do you show evidence of the transforming power of the Holy Spirit in your daily life? A look back at the disciples before and after photos gives us some things to look for in our own personal lives.

Thanks again, Mom!

How can I describe the emotions of parents who love their children? We stamp a remarkable similarity in heart and in appearance on the character of small children. This is especially true of mothers, who have even more sympathy than fathers toward the feelings of their children because they gave birth to them in great pain.

An ounce of mother

There's an old Spanish proverb: "An ounce of mother is worth a ton of priest." So, on this Mother's Day weekend, let's thank God for many ounces of godly mothers.

McCoy: Always follow the true leader

Do you remember playing games when you were younger? I love to watch children play Simon Says or Follow the Leader.

Scharf: Listen to the shepherd’s voice

McCOY: Don't get tired of doing good

I pray that your love will keep on growing and that you will fully know and understand how to make the right choices. Then you will still be pure and innocent when Christ returns. And until that day, Jesus Christ will keep you busy doing good deeds that bring glory and praise to God.

Scharf: Peace in everything

Peace be with you. That's one of those things churchgoers hear all the time. So how is it working for you? Is there peace in your world?

Burnham: All in your head

You have heard it said, "It's all in your head." Well, it is true. Every battle is first fought in the mind.

McCoy: Come on home

After this, I saw a large crowd with more people than could be counted. They were from every race, tribe, nation, and language, and they stood before the throne and before the Lamb.

Scharf: I love to tell the story

"I love to tell the story of unseen things above, of Jesus and his glory, of Jesus and his love. I love to tell the story because I know it's true; it satisfies my longings as nothing else can do."

Burnham: We do have something to do

It is wonderful God saves us from the penalty of sin and by his victory at Calvary, he frees us from sin's power.

McCoy: Share the good news

Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done.

It’s a wonderful life

Every Christmas, I look forward to watching, once again, "It's a Wonderful Life." I love seeing George Bailey in that most wonderful moment when realizing that he has his life back says, "My mouth's bleeding Burt, my mouth's bleeding!" The lead character in this 1946 classic learns the wonderful truth that what is most valuable in life isn't riches, fame, or adventure, but rather relationships. George Bailey learns that a good family and true friends ...

Exercising your spiritual muscles

"We even take pride in our problems, because we know that trouble produces endurance, endurance produces character, and character produces hope. This hope doesn't put us to shame, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us."

Scharf: Are you ready?

It's getting closer. The end of the Mayan calendar has caused so many to talk about the end of the world. They say it will be next Friday, Dec. 21. Of course, God said we wouldn't know when - but we do know he's coming. So it is important to ask if you're ready. Are you?

Dees: What is Advent?

I remember being a little boy watching families in my church light Advent candles on the Sundays leading up to Christmas and not really having any idea what they were doing or why they were doing it. You may have been a part of an Advent service in the past and had similar questions so let me take me in these few words answer the question, What is Advent? The word advent comes from the ...

Burnham: Lady wisdom

"A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. (Prov 31:10) How intimidating it would be to stand side by side with perfection in a room full of mirrors. Every flaw we have would be drastically exposed. I imagine it is much like a woman reading Prov. 31. So lets take a different look at this passage ladies. First, there is a difference between "perfection" and "exemplification." In other ...

McCoy: The voices of Christmas

"Comfort, comfort my people! says your God. Speak compassionately to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her compulsory service has ended, that her penalty has been paid, that she has received from the Lord's hand double for all her sins! A voice is crying out: "Clear the Lord's way in the desert! Make a level highway in the wilderness for our God!"

Scharf: Are you ready?

T minus 14 days and counting. Are you ready? According to the Internet (and you know if it's on the Internet it has to be true, right?) ...according to the internet on Dec. 21st, 2012, at exactly 11:11 a.m. there will be a conjunction of the Winter Solstice with the crossing point of the Galactic Equator and the Ecliptic path of the sun. The Mayans predicted it 2500 years ago and ended their calendar on ...

McCoy: Life lessons learned

"Make your ways known to me, Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth - teach it to me - because you are the God who saves me. I put my hope in you all day long. Lord, remember your compassion and faithful love - they are forever! But don't remember the sins of my youth or my wrongdoing. Remember me only according to your faithful love for the sake of your goodness, Lord."

Burnham: Our potential

God has created every individual with great potential. In order for one to reach that full potential, he must pursue the one who gave it to him with all his heart (Deut. 6:5), allowing God to lead, guide and direct him in the paths and through the doors of opportunity and purpose. King Uzziah in the Old Testament is a great example of this. Made a king at 16 years old, as long as he ...

Scharf: The greatest gift ever given

Well, it's official. Thanksgiving is over and the Christmas season is upon us. I know, the 12 days of Christmas actually start on Dec. 25, but our society can't wait that long to start celebrating. So Christmas creeps up earlier and earlier in the year. I even saw Christmas trees coming out already in October in one local store. But now that Thanksgiving is past, it is full on. Christmas is everywhere.

Dees: Are babies born good?

Are babies born good? You may have joined the millions who have asked this question from the beginning of time. Some people say that babies are born naturally good and it is only societal influences that teach them to do what is wrong or evil. Some say that babies do not have a moral compass; they are blank slates that society impresses upon. Still others say that babies are born naturally bad and it is ...

Three Thanksgiving proverbs

Thanksgiving is not aimed at general thanks. It is a holiday aimed thanks to God for his care and for his provision. If you really want to celebrate Thanksgiving, you must realize that there is a God who in his divine providence has decided to bless you and you must thank him. Thanksgiving is a day of worship. But this year, more than just thanking God with our words, my hope is that we can ...

Carter: Blessings aren't for counting

Perhaps it's a cliché - the columnist recounting all he has to be grateful for in this season of Thanksgiving. But, the problem with the obvious truths in our lives is that we've forgotten they're actually true.

Just a thought: Adoption

When we think of adoption, we sometimes think of the heartache of the child put in that situation and the joy of the parents whose lives are fulfilled through this process.

Scharf: This is living – really!

Last week, I defended my statement that being a church person is really living. But I know how hard our society and our own sinful natures fight against that. I've heard all the arguments against the whole "religious scene." I know it's popular (foolish, but popular) these days to say, "I'm spiritual, just not religious." I've heard so many reasons the "church" world makes life hard. And I know, often the "church" messes up. Often, ...