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Scharf: The good power of God
Last month, my congregation (Abiding Grace) celebrated our 10th anniversary. And there is plenty to celebrate. In 10 years, we've grown in people, in facilities, in opportunities to serve our community and spread the word around the world - in so many different ways. Things are rocking at Abiding Grace. So, looking at that, we must be doing something right, right?
Just a Thought
We spend billions of dollars as a nation every year on physical health and fitness.
The power of a name
Mary was standing outside the tomb crying, and as she wept, she stooped and looked in. She saw two white-robed angels, one sitting at the head and the other at the foot of the place where the body of Jesus had been lying. "Dear woman, why are you crying?" the angels asked her. "Because they have taken away my Lord," she replied, "And I don't know where they have put him." She turned to leave ...
From tears to triumph
I'll admit it. I am a big college basketball fan, which means I'm loving life right here in the middle of March Madness.
McCoy: A plan and a purpose
At that hour, Jesus said to the crowds, "Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me as though I were a bandit? Day after day, I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not arrest me. But all this has taken place, so that the scriptures of the prophets may be fulfilled." Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.
Scharf: Death, on purpose
Today is Good Friday. The name seems like a misnomer when you consider that it marks the day of an execution - three in fact.
Just a thought: Control your tongue
Oh, my aching tongue! You may never say that unless you bite your tongue. And while biting your tongue is painful and most of us avoid doing it as often as possible, it may be a something we should practice on a much more regular schedule.
A powerful Easter journey
I look at the calendar and realize tomorrow is already Easter4Kids. Let me explain. That's an event Abiding Grace has been putting on for years now, a free event for all the 3 to 10 year olds in our community. It's a day to celebrate the real meaning of Easter. (You still have time to register your children at e4k.abidinggrace.com, but I digress). But here's the thing. It always takes place the day before Holy Week starts.
The things we must do
As the time approached when Jesus was to be taken up into heaven, he determined to go to Jerusalem.
Archive By Section - Columnists
"Just a Thought"
Just a Thought: Who will experience eternity? Some think this is a topic only for Christians, but it is not. All of us will experience eternal life. Life is like a hand in a glove. The glove is the outer shell (a temporary dwelling) and takes on the form and functions of the hand inside. The hand is like our soul and spirit - and one day it will withdraw from the outer shell leaving ...
Scharf: Love speaks precisely
With today's column, I'm starting a series of columns that play off of our church body's theme this year: "Christ's Love, Our Calling." It's all about how Christ's love for you gives you purpose - a calling. And this series looks at what God said about our calling to speak his truth in love. In 2 Corinthians, Paul writes: "It is written: 'I believed; therefore I have spoken.' With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak."
McCoy: Remember the times
Remember the things I have done in the past. For I alone am God! I am God, and there is none like me. Isaiah 46:9
Dees: How greed can overcome you
Jesus once said to his disciples, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions" (Luke 12:15 NIV). This is an interesting warning to be aware of, or to watch out for greed. It is as if Jesus is saying that greed can overcome you without you even being aware. The interesting thing about greed is that it is a sin ...
Scharf: The Door of Humility
In Luke 13, Jesus said that the door to heaven is narrow. At another place Jesus said, "I am the Gate" (John 10:9). The Greek word is the same. And the picture is the same, isn't it? The only way to heaven is through Jesus. Now, as we are in this series discussing how love speaks, last week we learned from Jesus how important it is to speak precisely because the door is narrow and ...
Dees: A legacy of Christians
A couple of months ago, my wife Paige and I left my (at that time) five-month-old daughter with my parents as we went on a short trip with some friends of ours. While most couples may be a little nervous to leave their infant child with parents or in-laws, both Paige's mother and my mother are in the category called "Super Mom." Thus, Paige and I are both comfortable with and grateful for God's greatest ...
McCoy: Living on the mountain
Who can live in your tent, Lord? Who can dwell on your holy mountain? The person who lives free of blame, does what is right, and speaks the truth sincerely; who does no damage with their talk, does no harm to a friend, doesn't insult a neighbor; someone who despises those who act wickedly, but who honors those who honor the Lord; someone who keeps their promise even when it hurts. Psalm 15:1-4
McCoy: Happy Anniversary
This day will be a day of remembering for you. You will observe it as a festival to the Lord. You will observe it in every generation as a regulation for all time.
Dees: Running away from home
Becoming an atheist is a lot like running away from home. I have talked to many atheists who have left the church or belief in God and the idea of running away from home is what they communicate. Now they may not say this overtly, but in every atheist I know, there is a certain fear or lack of peace similar to the fear in every runaway child. When I was a child, I tried ...
Love speaks confidently
Reading my cousin's emails was sometimes kind of like cracking a code. It was pretty straightforward when she spoke of side trips she was taking and different sites she was seeing. But you had to pay attention to when she spoke of "friends" that she got to talk about "her Best Friend" with.
Directing Discouragement
Many begin their Christian walk with great confidence and a boldness that believes we can do anything through Christ. But then it happens.
More than just a meal ticket
"Alright, let's eat!" When you hear those words, what thoughts come to your mind? "Let's eat!" I hear that and I'm starting to sniff the air for what's on the menu. I'm thinking about that meal we had in here last week. And sure, I had breakfast this morning, but that was already a long time ago. And even if I have eaten recently, who cares? The thought of good food like that gets my ...
Burnham: Just a Thought
How do we trust God when a trial seems to swallow us whole? Some turn to clichés: "Oh, it will all work out..." or, "Remember God works all things together for good." But deep inside we feel like we are drowning. First, there are no easy answers or one verse quick fixes. Many have turned to Job to see how to deal with difficulties and suffering. But, as Philip Yance points out, "The point of ...
McCoy: Back to school
Make an effort to present yourself to God as a tried-and-true worker, who doesn't need to be ashamed but is one who interprets the message of truth correctly.
Dees: Meaning behind church names
It doesn't take too many clues to know a lot about a church. I can usually tell you when a church was founded, where it is located in the town, and its demographic just by hearing the church name. In Baptist life, if the church is a First church it is usually very old, dating back to the 19th or even 18th century depending on the region. First Churches are usually downtown and usually have ...
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