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Learning from the Master
I recently adopted an Aussie lab puppy named Baxter. At three months old, he is a bundle of energy and has been a great addition to my house as well as an occasional terror. We had a few pets over the course of my childhood, but Baxter is the first dog I have had on my own. As such, while I am training him, he is also training me in some significant ways, many of which have biblical parallels and spiritual implications. To create an exhaustive list would take much longer than one article, but there is one that has stood out among the rest in these first few weeks…
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It’s Not Just about Coaching Styles
A recent conversation about a couple of basketball coaches made me do some thinking. It didn’t take long for my thinking to go way beyond college basketball. I started thinking about how parents relate to their children, how elders and preachers relate to the congregations they serve, how bosses relate to employees, etc. As I thought about all of that, I began to realize that some individuals who are in positions of some authority focus on mistakes. The emphasis seems to be on what was done wrong, how someone didn’t live up to expectations, etc. A great deal of emphasis is put on things done, not done, or not done correctly.…
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Week of January 20 “Into the Heart of the Bible” and “Something from the Margin of My Bible”
On Leah’s YouTube channel this week, she finished a two-part lesson on the Wandering Period of Bible history. You can watch it below or click here to watch on YouTube. On the “Margin of My Bible” podcast, Adam shared a note about the placement of Numbers 7. Listen to the episode here.
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Using Up Our Leftovers
It is bitterly cold outside here in Paducah, as it is in many places in our country today. It makes you want to just stay in the house where it is warm and cozy. Now, for those of us who eat out often, since there are just two of us, this can present a problem. It means that I have to cook a meal. Honestly, I don’t mind cooking, so it isn’t that big of a deal. However, this time I decided to do something different. I decided to organize our freezer and use up our leftovers from past meals. I was amazed at the variety of items we had,…
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Love ______ Church
There was a popular slogan a couple of years ago, where people wore T-shirts or had other items that said “I love my church.” It was basically a way for people to show love and support for their congregation, and that’s a good thing (as you’ll see below). However, there are several ways to fill in that slogan, and each one of them needs to be true. Love HIS Church. We need to love that the Church belongs to Jesus, Who is the Head. We need to love that He is the One Who purchased it with His Own blood. If we do, then we will obey Him. We will…
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The Funeral of An Elder
I was recently asked to speak at a funeral service for a man who served as an elder in a congregation where I had formerly served as the minister. About a month or so before he passed into eternity, I received a telephone call from this brother. He knew that his time was short. He had called to ask me to speak at his service. Since my family and I had left that community and that church about 28½ years ago, I was somewhat surprised by his request, but I told him that I was willing to do whatever I could to help. In 1985, there were three elders in this…
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Week of January 13 “Into the Heart of the Bible” and “Something from the Margin of My Bible”
This week on Leah’s video series, she begins a two-part episode on the period of the wilderness wanderings. To watch the episode, click here or watch below. On the podcast, Adam gives a couple of quick notes on Philippians 2:6-8. To listen, click here.
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Who is Rejecting God?
It happened again. A familiar passage, but a new way of hitting the heart. This past Sunday night, our minister was doing the second in a series of lessons called “Conversations with God.” This lesson was about Moses and the conversation He had with I AM at the burning bush. Most who are reading this have probably heard the list of excuses Moses gives before finally getting down to his final plea of “Send someone else!” (Exodus 4:13) Somewhere in the middle of the list is his fear of rejection. Now, if we are honest, this is probably one of our greatest excuses about sharing the gospel with people. We…
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The Leading Cause of Death
[NOTE: It is very rare that I reproduce my bulletin article for Central as a post on our site. However, I felt this article was one that would benefit the thinking of both, so this article is also my bulletin article for this coming Sunday at Central. I hope it makes us all think. –Adam] At the end of each year, a mountain of statistics is released, giving a snapshot of the state of various aspects of the world. One of those statistics that can a little difficult to read, but which is still helpful, is to see what the leading causes of death were around the world for the…
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Who Is Like God?
As Moses and the Israelites passed through the Red Sea, they recognized that everything had changed. What had once been an enslaved mass of Abraham’s descendants was now a mighty nation fighting by the power of the God of Abraham. In recognition of their redemption and transformation by God, Moses led the people in a victorious song of praise and adoration to God (Exodus 15:1-18). While there are many expressions within this song that are worthy of a second look, one in particular caught my eye: “Who is like you, O LORD, among the heavens?Who is like you, majestic in holiness,Awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?” These questions (found in…
