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Inside My Mentoring Group
In late 2011, I posted that one of my goals for 2012 was to start a mentoring group for young adult guys. I had a couple of guys who were somewhat interested, but it did not materialize. But I really wanted to do this, so I changed how I approached asking guys to join in. Instead of a wide-open, anybody can apply approach, I started keeping a list of guys I specifically wanted to be part of the program. They are young men in whom I see a great deal of potential. I have a true passion for seeing younger men grow and mature into strong leaders for God and…
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It Does Hurt Others
“What I do in my private life is my business.” “I’m not hurting anyone.” “Even if I hurt myself, I’m not bothering anyone else.” If you stand for morality, you have no doubt heard phrases like these. In fact, if you are honest, you have probably said (or thought) them yourself, because we all struggle with sin, but we try to keep it private. When we open our minds, though, we realize that our sin–even private sin–does hurt other people. It may be in ways that are subtle, but sin does not just hurt or harm the one committing it. Of course, the clearest example of this in Scripture is…
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25 Ways to Get Traffic to Your Blog
A few weeks ago, we wrote a post on how to start a blog if you are not a techy person. If you are interested in starting a blog, I highly suggest you go back and look at those basic steps. Now, you’ve started your blog and you are posting articles, pictures, videos…whatever you want. But you also want people to actually come to the site. How do you do that? I am nowhere near an expert, but I have learned a few things that work (usually by learning what didn’t work!). Sometimes one will work, while at other times another will. Sometimes none of these work. If you will…
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An Open Letter to the United States Supreme Court
Your Honors, I may not be a person of great influence, but I understand that, if I do not use what influence I have, I am squandering a great gift. So, though I wonder if you will ever see this letter, I am going to write it anyway in the hopes that it comes across your screen or desk in some way. In just a few days, you will most likely hear arguments that pertain to the future of marriage in our nation. I was born in the United States of America and I am proud to call this nation my home. As a Christian, I realize that my…
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Page Turners Episode 003 : Game Plan
Welcome to Page Turners, where we interview the authors of some of our favorite books. On this third episode, we are pleased to be joined by Joe Wells, author of Game Plan: Develop a Spiritually Winning Strategy for Adults and Teens in Today’s Culture. The Interview Enjoy the interview with Joe, and then we’ll tell you how to get a copy of this excellent book in print or Kindle format. Trouble seeing the video? Click here to watch it on YouTube Get Your Copy Now that you know a little about this great book, here is how you can get a copy. Game Plan is available in both print and Kindle…
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The US Government, Google Reader, & Church
The first time I saw the “news,” it was in a joking tweet. Soon, I figured out it really was true: Google is shutting down their well-known (and quite heavily used) Google Reader service. At first, I was upset. Then, I started to see why Google made this decision. While I didn’t understand every word of their statement (I’m not a business expert), I got the point. They wanted to focus more resources in fewer areas to do those things well. We have all just shaken our heads when we saw government organizational flow charts. Sometimes, a Congressman will use one to show the inordinate amount of “red tape” and…
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I Love Shaky Hands
Once each month, Lebanon Road is responsible for a worship service at a local assisted living home. What makes this home unique, however, is that the vast majority of the residents are members of the Lord’s Church. Each month, 15 or so will gather in a nice activity room to worship God. It is always a joy to be with them. Sometimes I preach, while other times I lead singing. Most of the time, though, I am just there to worship and be with these aging saints. I might lead a prayer or pass the communion, but the experience of being with these men and women always lifts my spirit.…
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Tomorrow
Several songs over the years have used the imagery of “tomorrow,” but none has captured the hope that the picture of tomorrow is supposed to mean more than that simple song from Annie. You know the one. “The sun will come out, tomorrow.” (By the way, you’re welcome. That song will be stuck in your head for the rest of the day now.) We get out our calendar and write what we will do tomorrow. Most days, I fill up tomorrow’s calendar with the “must-do’s” and hope to get to other things. I am naturally a planner. I tell people that I live by my calendar and by the clock. While…
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An Unlikely Palace
One of my goals each year is to read through the Bible. I try to do it in different ways, however, and this year I am reading the One-Year Bible, which gives a passage each day from the Old Testament, the New Testament, Psalms, and Proverbs. I like using this reading method every few years to help me not “jump ahead” in my mind, like I often do when reading cover-to-cover. Anyway, yesterday I made a mistake in my reading, but it caused me to do a lot of thinking. I was reading Mark’s account of the crucifixion of Jesus. I try to read slowly and basically “mentally sound-out” the words…
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Acts by the Numbers : Acts chapter 8
Here’s the handout for Acts 8. We hope these are helping you learn this book and teach it to others, especially your children. Acts by the Numbers Chapter 8 by
