If we were to review the year, there’s a lot to be negative about. There’s an ongoing pandemic that is sickening family members and putting cities in lockdowns and restrictions. There’s the aftermath of racial tension and riots that have us beckoning for not only healing but understanding for the complexity of issues that we may not understand. There’s political chaos and uncertainty as America prepares to usher in a new administration.
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Consider that most conversations surrounding mask requirements focus solely on restrictions and control, which certainly exist. But there are also unexpected freedoms afforded by mask-wearing. I know individuals who have voiced an appreciation of these unexpected freedoms and social interactions.
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A spiritual church is one that not only encounters persecution, but embraces it. If everyone is a cheerleader of your acts, you’re doing something wrong. Persecution is healthy. It’s proof that the church can endure growing pains.
What questions should the church ask when it comes to persecution?
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The Italian plural word confetti originates from the Latin confectum, meaning “small sweet”. It symbolizes the sweet blessings in life. The sweetest blessings are often the fruit of hard work, discipline, planning and sacrifice. They often include difficult, bitter seasons. But are those bitter moments part of the blessing?
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In a time and age of economic peril, we have seen many lose hope, faith, and trust. Many Americans have seen their financial security totally collapse due to COVID, lockdowns, and economic uncertainty. While the government is looking for solutions to combat this pandemic, I believe the answer is simple: Americans need to decrease their dependence on the government.
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What a strong indictment it would be upon believers if we were to call ourselves Christians but not have the name of Jesus branded upon us. We can ill-afford to be generic or have a mediocre, pedestrian approach to our faith. There must be something about us that sticks out from everyone else: Our authenticity and our identity.
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The term “caveat emptor” is a Latin term that means “let the buyer beware.” Its use as a disclaimer of warranties arises from the fact that buyers typically have less information than the seller about the goods or services they are purchasing. Defects in the goods or services may be hidden from the buyer and only known to the seller. The Church needs to become aware of some things. The enemy, the antagonist of our soul, Satan himself, is trying to sell the Church a message of anxiety and fear through a pandemic and crises.
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Many will abandon the message of truth. Many will say that repentance and baptism and the infilling of God’s Spirit is no longer essential. Many will say that living holy and being separate from the world is no longer required. Now is the church’s time to protest against sin, but not the foundation of our freedoms: The Word of God.
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It’s within our nature to desire upgrades. When we get to the airport, we’re excited to learn we’ll go from flying coach to flying first class. There’s a sense of satisfaction when we get the Audi AUV instead of the Toyota Camry we expected from the rental agency. But it is not technology that encourages us to upgrade to better resources; it’s a scriptural promise.
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Most parents desire to shelter their children from discomfort, pain, and fear. Despite our efforts, there will be times when our children will experience emotional or physical distress. – Using the acronym G.R.I.T., you’ll learn four steps you can use to help children manage stress, recover from trauma and adversity, and build resilience.
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Anthropologists believe that storytelling is important to human existence. We use stories to make sense of our world, find meaning, and share understanding. Fairy tales teach values, ethics, social and cultural norms and differences in an inspiring and captivating manner. Listeners learn how to imagine, problem-solve, identify with others, and practice respectful listening.
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Some Christians believe fairy tales are hurtful to children and may tempt them away from their Christian faith. In fact, fairy tales provide a wonderful foundation upon which to build a Christian perspective. Consider Pinocchio, Chronicles of Narnia, or the Legends of King Arthur. J.R. Tolkien believed fairy tales to be essential for all humanity. Tolkien said stories are needed so we can see that fairy tales are fulfilled in Christianity. Both Scripture and fairy tales point to our human weakness and our need for help. We share stories not to scare our children but to demonstrate their great need for God.
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