Coming to the Still Waters

HOW DO YOU BUILD YOUR CHARACTER? I want to share 3 practices (other than classical spiritual disciplines) that challenge and encourage my character development. Practice the Presence of People: Treat every person you come in contact with as though Jesus died for them. Treat every person as if Jesus left heaven to rescue them. Treat every person as if they are made in the image of God and really matter to Him. This will keep you from treating people as though they are less than made in the image of God. Practice Being a Servant: People do not exist to serve you, you exist to serve them. Look for ways to serve people besides preaching a sermon. Jesus washed His disciples’ feet. Whose feet are we washing? This will keep you humble and accessible. Practice the Presence of Christ: Abide in Christ. Revel in Christ. Enjoy Christ. Make much of Christ. Live in constant dependency on Christ. This will keep you relying on Jesus as your source of power. You build you...

11 Differences between a College Football Fan and a Church Member - Thom S. Rainer Warning: The article below is a bit of sarcastic humor. I am speaking in hyperbole to make a point. The football fan noted represents a very rabid football fan. The church member represents some, but certainly not all, church members. Disclosure: I tend to be a rabid college football fan. I see my allegiance as an area of devotion that needs significant adjustments downwardly. So I don’t necessarily practice what I preach. For example, even as I type these words, I am reminded that the kickoff for my team’s first game of the season is exactly five weeks from today. Caution: While I do write these comparisons with some humor and a lot of hyperbole, you might get just a bit uncomfortable reading them. That may indicate there is some truth in each of them. A college football fan loves to win. The typical church member never wins someone to Christ. A college football fan gets excited i...

From their live sessions - State I'm In      1 Peter is coming along and this Sunday is one of those messages that I am looking forward to giving because I have learned so much from it.  Watching Peter string together a truth and then apply it to all situations with a motivation that spans everything that we do is so "neat" when it finally pops out at me.  We, as Christians, are to submit to God and then to others in regards to the general public (especially non-Christians) and to the governing authorities and to our bosses and then to our mate.  Why submit?  First because Jesus did and then because it is through our obedience to Him that people start to see Jesus and some will come to Him with the aid of Jesus working through our obedience.  They are not won by our words but aided by observing our obedience to His words even in the most difficult situations.  In respect to the section to the husbands, that obedience is crucial f...