Category Archives: Spiritual life

Faith in the Future: Christmas as a Symbol of Hope

Posted on December 18, 2021 by salooper57

d the Corp of Engineers to dam a river, and that meant evacuating a small town that would be permanently flooded. It took years of hearings and tons of paperwork before the plan finally went into effect. Eventually, the state purchased the property from the town, and gave people ample time to find other places to live.

As soon as the decision was finalized, a fascinating thing began to happen. The once beautiful town fell into disrepair. When things stopped working, machines failed, or windows broke, the people of the town just let them go. One of the residents said, “Where there is no faith in the future, there is no work in the present.” Continue reading →

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Grumble, Grumble (Philippians 2:12-16A)

Posted on December 13, 2021 by salooper57

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and … Continue reading →

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Waiting Too Long to “Get Religion”

Posted on December 11, 2021 by salooper57

I went from early elementary school through high school with a boy named David. He was sometimes my friend – we started a club together in late elementary school – and he was sometimes my enemy – the club lasted … Continue reading →

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Wide Angle: On the Mountain of the Lord it Will Be Provided

Posted on December 9, 2021 by salooper57

As Abraham came in sight of Mount Moriah, the place where Abraham was to sacrifice his son, Isaac spoke up: “Father?”  “Yes, my son?”  “The fire and the wood are here, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” … Continue reading →

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Build an Altar: Worshiping Well

Posted on December 5, 2021 by salooper57

We cannot thrive when we do not worship God, but when we do, other things start falling into place. Decisions we once agonized over almost make themselves. Trials become easier to endure with faith. Relationships are set in order. We are nearer, or more continually near, to joy than ever before.

But when we are not worshiping God, decisions paralyze us, trials defeat us, relationships get crazy, and discouragement dogs our every step. Continue reading →

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You Are Perfectly Positioned (for what God wants you to do next)

Posted on November 29, 2021 by salooper57

This message explores the reasons why a Christ-follower might miss the fact that God has something for them to do, why they can believe that is true, and what to do about it.

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The Secret of Gratitude: Receiving Life as a Gift

Posted on November 27, 2021 by salooper57

G. K. Chesterton wrote, half in jest: “The worst moment for an atheist is when he is really thankful and has no one to thank.” Never having been an atheist, I cannot know whether this is true, but I find it doubtful. I do know, however, that it is a bad moment when a believer who does have someone to thank is not thankful. Continue reading →

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Wide Angle: You Don’t Get to Know God in an Easy Chair

Posted on November 25, 2021 by salooper57

…nowhere in the Bible do we find God calling people by saying, “I have a no-hassle life-plan for self-fulfillment, and it has your name on it.  All I ask is that you do me the honor of signing up.”   God’s call stretches people.  Continue reading →

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Consider Yourself a Disciple of Jesus? Don’t Make This Mistake

Posted on November 21, 2021 by salooper57

If you spend five minutes a day with your Bible, spend less than five minutes with news media. If you spend an hour a day with your Bible, spend less than that – half of that – with news media. Mind your mind and the information you take into it. Otherwise, you will never “have this mind in you which was also in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 2:5). Continue reading →

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Is the Bible Relevant to Your Life? Maybe Not

Posted on November 20, 2021 by salooper57

…many people use the Bible like the box top to a jig saw puzzle. They look at it, then try to order the pieces of their lives according to what they see. The trouble is that the pieces they are working with came from a different box. They try to use those pieces to construct the picture of peace and joy as it is presented in sermons, but no matter what they do, they cannot make the pieces go together. Continue reading →

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