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illustration
First Hating, then Loving, Coffee
When the Venetian botanist Prospero Alpini introduced the use of coffee to Europe from Egypt, the Vatican advocated against its infernal influence. That is, until Pope Clement VIII tried the foreign b... -
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The Cheerful Barista
In Know Your Why , Ken Costa related an encounter with a barista in an airport in Austin, Texas. When he went to pick up a coffee before an early flight, he noticed that she was “cheerfulness itself”... -
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The Best Cup of Coffee You'll Ever Drink
A Coffee-Cup for Valentines Day? Keep Reading! August 2018 About 3 months ago, having just packed up our whole house and driven for 15 days across the country in the middle of winter with a 2 year ol... -
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Kingdom-Based Coffee
Brandon and Faith Lee, who started Bird and Branch Coffee, are what faithful witnesses look like. When they sat down across from my wife and me, they had a dream to start a coffee shop that would serv... -
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Innovation or Heresy
It’s funny how sometimes members of the church can associate anything new with “heresy.” We often make the mistake of confusing technological innovations or scientific discoveries for changes to the g... -
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Our Bodies Need Silence
Your body knows about schedules. It gets used to those times of day when it says, Feed me right now. I’m hungry, and those times of night when it says, Get me to bed. I’m exhausted. Your body will spe... -
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When Ideas have Consequences
In 1889, the French novelist Paul Bourget penned The Disciple , where he depicted the life of a renowned philosopher and psychologist, whose existence was marked by a seemingly monotonous routine... -
blog
Finding the Right Pastoral Work–Life Balance: A Few Unbalanced Thoughts
I might not be the best person to be writing this. After an eleven-year career in business in my twenties and early thirties, I’ve been an ordained pastor now for nearly twenty-seven years. There are... -
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A Coca-Cola Philosophy & Empty Calories
Studies reveal that 37 percent of Americans take fewer than seven days of vacation a year. In fact, only 14 percent take vacations that last longer than two weeks. Americans take the shortest paid vac... -
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The green oasis, the little grassy meadow in the wilderness, where, after the week-day’s journey, the pilgrim halts for refreshment and repose. -
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We Need Conversation Partners when Discussing our Work
When it comes to our work we likely need at the very least three conversation partners. Two of these should ideally be peers—perhaps one who is in a similar line of work (e.g., a fellow nurse who know... -
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Lose an hour in the morning, chase it all day -
liturgy
Call to Worship for Labor Day Weekend
In the midst of your striving Your labor Your responsibilities Your hustle Hear the invitation, “Come to the Feast!” Come, eat and drink Come, rest and rejoice Come, dance in the presence of our Gene... -
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The Gift of College Students
I have been moved to a different course of action, however, inspired largely by my daily exposure to college students in a great university during the course of a preaching and teaching ministry that ... -
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The Fuel of our Identities
If you think of your identity and heart as an engine, you could say there is a kind of fuel that powers it cleanly and efficiently—and a kind of fuel that is not only polluting but also destroys the e... -
liturgy
Opening Prayer for Labor Day Weekend
Blessed Jesus The Carpenter, the Rabbi, The Healer, the Good Shepherd, The One who washes feet, the Ruler of all that is seen and unseen We bless you and thank you for the good gift of you and the go... -
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But you take pleasure in the faces Of those who know they thirst. -
liturgy
Eternal Father, we come to you at the
Eternal Father, we come to you at the close of day (change as applicable) , when from long ago men and women have always turned aside to seek your face. Wearied by the conflict of life, worn by the b... -
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We just philosophize, complain of boredom, or drink vodka. It's so clear, you see, that if we're to begin living in the present, we must first of all redeem our past and then be done with it f... -
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God made wheat. We make bread! God made grapes. We make wine. Wheat is good. Bread is very good! Grapes are good, but wine—that is very good. -
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The Good News or the Bad News
I read in a book recently about a young pastor who was fired from his church over a theological controversy. When he went to share the news with his wife, he said, “I’ve got good news and bad news, wh... -
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The Evangelist Wasting his Time
As a college student, I was returning to school one year on a Greyhound bus. One of the other passengers was a middle-aged man who seemed to be making the rounds, engaging various people in quiet conv... -
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The Sacred Alters of Modern Life
Our 24/7 culture conveniently provides every good and service we want, when we want, how we want. Our time – saving devices, technological conveniences, and cheap mobility have seemingly made life muc... -
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A Christmas Surprise
There was a woman who was baking her Christmas cookies and she heard a knock at the door. She opened the door to find a man who was dressed in pretty tattered clothes, and he was obviously poor. And h... -
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Dostoyevsky and the Last Judgment
At the last Judgment Christ will say to us, "Come, you also! Come, drunkards! Come, weaklings! Come, children of shame!" And He will say to us: "Vile beings, you who are in the image of... -
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The Aroma of that Room
Sometimes, of course, the sense of God with us becomes much more distinct. My oldest brother, J. I. Willard, served for over thirty years as a minister under the blessing of God. But his entry into th... -
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The Gingerbread Man
There’s a charming story about a little boy who made a gingerbread man. He poured his heart into crafting it, carefully decorating it with candy eyes and a cheerful smile. It was his creation, and he ... -
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Work is not always required. There is such a thing as sacred idleness. -
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Food that nourishes, roofs that hold out the rain, shade that protects from the heat of the sun. . . . the satisfaction of the material needs and desires of men and women . . . when businesses produce... -
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Just Charge It!
I recently attended an event sponsored by Compassion International, the International Child Sponsorship Organization. The event was called “Stepping into My Shoes”. The purpose being to show children ...
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A
- A Fresh Start
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B
- Balance
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C
- Cain and Abel
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D
- Danger
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- Debt
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E
- Earthiness
- Economics
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- Expectations of Children
- Experience
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- The Earth
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F
- Failure
- Faith
- Faith and Doubt
- Faith and Prayer
- Faith in Action
- Faith in Christ
- Faith of the Church
- Faith Seeking Understanding
- Faith vs. Works
- Faithfulness
- Fallacies
- Fame
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- Fathers
- Fatigue
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- Firm Belief
- Five Senses
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- Focus
- Food
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- Football (American)
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- Fruit
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- Fulfillment
- Fullness of Life
- Fun
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G
- Games
- Garden of Eden
- Gardening
- Gardens
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- Generosity
- Genesis
- Genetics
- Getting Fired
- Gifts
- Giving
- Giving and Receiving
- Giving Freely
- Giving God the Glory
- Giving to the Poor
- Gladness
- Glory
- Goals
- God
- God Cares For You
- God the Creator
- God's Abundance
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- God's Majesty
- God's Name
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- God's Power (Omnipotence)
- God's Presence
- God’s Presence
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- God's Work
- God's Works
- Going to Church
- Golf
- Good Life
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- Goodness of God
- Government
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- Grace vs. Works
- Graduation
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- Greatness
- Greatness of God
- Grief
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- Grumbling
- Guidance
- Guilt
- Guilty
- The Glory of God
- The Golden Rule
H
- Habits
- Hands
- Happiness
- Hard Work
- Hard-Heartedness
- Hardship
- Harmony
- Harvest
- Healing
- Healing the Past
- Healing Wounds
- Health
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- Hearing What We Want to Hear
- Heart
- Heart Change
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- Hiding Our Sin
- HIV/AIDS
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- House
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- Humanity
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- Humble Leadership
- Humble Living
- Humble Prayer
- Humble Service
- Humility
- Hunger
- Hurry
- Hustle
- The Holy Spirit
I
- Ideas
- Identity
- Idolatry
- Ignorance
- Ignoring God
- Illness
- Image Bearers
- Immigrants
- Impact
- Improvisation
- Inadequacy
- Infants
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- Interdependence
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- Investments
- Invitation
- Israel
- The Image of God
- The Incarnation
- The Internet
J
L
- Labor
- Labor Day
- Lack of Control
- Lack of Forgiveness
- Lack of Leadership
- Law (Torah)
- Laziness
- Leaders
- Leadership
- Leadership Challenges
- Leadership Development
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- Learning
- Learning from Your Mistakes
- Legacy
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- Life
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- Life Story
- Limitations
- Listening
- Listening to God
- Living
- Living for Christ
- Living Humbly
- Living Life
- Living Sacrifice
- Loans
- Loneliness
- Longing
- Longings
- Losing Control
- Losing Yourself
- Loss
- Love
- Love of Money
- Loving Kindness
- Loving Other Christians
- The Law
- The Lord's Prayer
- The Lord's Supper
- The Lordship of Christ
M
- Making a Difference
- Mammon
- Management
- Manna
- Marital Problems
- Marriage
- Martyrdom
- Mercy
- Message of the Bible
- Messages
- Mind
- Mind and Body
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- Modern Life
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- Money
- Moral Choices
- Moral Failures
- Moses
- Motivations
- Motives
- Music
- Mystery of Life
- The Meaning of Life
- The Military
- The Mind of Christ
- The Morning
N
O
P
- Pain
- Palm Sunday
- Parenting
- Parents
- Passion
- Pastors
- Paths
- Patience
- Peace
- Peacemaking
- Penalty of Sin
- Perfection
- Perfectionism
- Performance
- Persecuted Church
- Persecution
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- Perseverance of the Saints
- Persistence
- Personal Agendas
- Perspective
- Persuasion
- Pharisaism
- Philosphy of Life
- Place
- Plans
- Play
- Pleasing God
- Pleasure
- Politics
- Poor
- Poor in Spirit
- Poverty
- Power
- Power and Weakness
- Power of Prayer
- Power of Sin
- Praise
- Praise Music
- Prayer
- Prayer Life
- Prayers for Funerals
- Preaching
- Preaching Christ
- Preparation
- Presence
- Preservation
- Presidents
- Price
- Pride
- Priesthood of All Believers
- Priorities
- Prisoners
- Private Faith
- Problem Solving
- Problems
- Procrastination
- Productivity
- Products
- Professionalism
- Progress
- Promises
- Prosperity
- Protection
- Proving the Existence of God
- Provision
- Pruning
- Psychology
- Public Faith
- Public Witness
- Punishment
- Punishment for Sin
- Purity
- Purpose
- Putting God in a Box
- The Passing of Time
- The People of God
R
- Rain
- Reading the Bible
- Real Estate
- Reality
- Reason
- Rebellion
- Receiving
- Receiving Forgiveness
- Receiving Gifts
- Receiving God
- Receiving Grace
- Receiving Love
- Receiving Thanks
- Receiving the Gospel
- Receiving the Word
- Recognizing our Sin
- Reconciliation
- Redeemer
- Redemption
- Reflection
- Refugees
- Rejection
- Relationships
- Reliance on Others
- Religion
- Religion and Public Life
- Religions
- Religious Conflict
- Religious Liberty
- Religious Persecution
- Religious Practices
- Renewal
- Renewing our Minds
- Renouncing Faith
- Repentance
- Rescue
- Resilience
- Resistance
- Resisting Temptation
- Responsibility
- Rest
- Rest in God
- Restoration
- Resurrection
- Resurrection from Sin
- Resurrection of the Dead
- Retirement
- Retreat
- Returning to God
- Revelation
- Rewards
- Rhythms
- Rhythms of Rest
- Right and Wrong
- Right Relationships
- Righteous Indignation
- Righteousness
- Rock of Ages
- Role Models
- Roles
- Roles and Responsibilities
- Routines
- Rule of Life
- Running from Your Problems
- Running to God
- Rural Areas
- Ruthlessness
- The Resurrection and the Life
- The Rich
- The Risen Lord
S
- Sabbath
- Sacred vs. Secular
- Sacrifice
- Sacrificial Giving
- Salt and Light
- Salvation
- Salvation History
- Sanctification
- Satan
- Satan's Lies
- Saved by Grace
- Saving Faith
- Savior
- Schedules
- School
- Science
- Science and Religion
- Screens
- Scripture
- Search
- Searching for the Truth
- Seasons
- Secularism
- Security
- Seeds
- Seeking God
- Seeking Happiness
- Self-Acceptance
- Self-Achievement
- Self-Centeredness
- Self-Deception
- Self-Discovery
- Self-Expression
- Self-Glory
- Self-Importance
- Self-Improvement
- Self-Indulgence
- Self-Justification
- Self-Knowledge
- Self-Love
- Self-Promotion
- Self-Reliance
- Self-Worth
- Selfishness
- Sending
- Sense of Humor
- Sense of Smell
- Sermon on the Mount
- Servant Leadership
- Servanthood
- Service
- Sexual Immorality
- Sexual License
- Shalom
- Shame
- Sharing the Gospel
- Sickness
- Signs
- Sin Management
- Sin Nature
- Sinfulness
- Sinners
- Sinners and Saints
- Sins
- Sins of the Church
- Slavery
- Sleeping In
- Sloth
- Slowing Down
- Social Justice
- Societal Problems
- Society
- Soil
- Soldiers
- Solitude
- Solutions
- Solving Problems
- Sorrow
- Sounds
- Sowing and Reaping
- Sowing Seeds
- Speech
- Spiritual Disciplines
- Spiritual Formation
- Spiritual Growth
- Spiritual Leadership
- Spiritual Nurture
- Spiritual Practices
- Spiritual Problems
- Spiritual Transformation
- Spirituality
- Sports
- Spring (Season)
- Staying Humble
- Steadfast
- Steadfast Love
- Stewardship
- Stillness
- Storms
- Stranger
- Strength
- Stretching Experiences
- Stronghold
- Structures
- Struggles
- Struggles with Prayer
- Stuck
- Success
- Suffering
- Summer
- Sunday
- Surgery
- Surrender
- Sustainer
- The Saints
- The Sick
- The Soul
- The Spiritual Life
T
- Tabernacle
- Taking God for Granted
- Taking Stock
- Taking Up the Cross
- Targets
- Tasks
- Taste
- Taxes
- Teachers
- Teaching
- Team
- Teamwork
- Technology
- Temptation
- Ten Commandments
- Tenderness
- Terrorism
- Thankfulness
- Thanksgiving (General)
- Thanksgiving (Holiday)
- Theological Division
- Theology
- Theology of Work
- Thinking
- Thirst
- Thoughtfulness
- Thoughtlesness
- Throne of Grace
- Time
- TIme Management
- Timekeeping
- Tired
- Tithing
- Tongue
- Town
- Tradition
- Training
- Transformation
- Transgressions
- Transitions
- Translation
- Treasure
- Trees
- True Worship
- Trust
- Trust in God
- Truth
- Turning a Blind Eye
- Turning People Away from Jesus
U
W
- The Weak
- The Work of the Holy Spirit
- Wages of Sin
- Walls
- Wandering
- War
- Warning Signs
- Warnings
- Waste
- Wasting Time
- Weakness
- Weakness of Will
- Wealth
- Weariness
- Weather
- Weekend
- Weeping
- Welcoming
- Western Culture
- Wholeness
- Wickedness
- Wilderness
- Wine
- Wisdom
- Witnesses
- Wittiness
- Women
- Words
- Work
- Work and Rest
- Work-Life Balance
- Workaholism
- Workmanship
- Works-Righteousness
- World
- World Leaders
- World Peace
- Worldliness
- Worship
- Wrath
Y
Top_level_categories by Reference
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Deuteronomy
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Esther
Psalm
- Ps 1 (3)
- Ps 2 (3)
- Ps 8 (1)
- Ps 9 (2)
- Ps 13 (1)
- Ps 15 (4)
- Ps 16 (2)
- Ps 18 (1)
- Ps 19 (2)
- Ps 23 (5)
- Ps 25 (1)
- Ps 27 (4)
- Ps 30 (1)
- Ps 31 (1)
- Ps 32 (2)
- Ps 33 (1)
- Ps 34 (9)
- Ps 37 (4)
- Ps 41 (4)
- Ps 42 (5)
- Ps 46 (9)
- Ps 49 (2)
- Ps 51 (12)
- Ps 56 (1)
- Ps 60 (1)
- Ps 62 (2)
- Ps 63 (1)
- Ps 65 (2)
- Ps 67 (1)
- Ps 68 (1)
- Ps 72 (2)
- Ps 73 (5)
- Ps 78 (4)
- Ps 82 (2)
- Ps 85 (3)
- Ps 90 (11)
- Ps 91 (3)
- Ps 92 (1)
- Ps 95 (2)
- Ps 100 (5)
- Ps 103 (7)
- Ps 104 (3)
- Ps 106 (1)
- Ps 110 (1)
- Ps 115 (4)
- Ps 116 (2)
- Ps 118 (3)
- Ps 119 (12)
- Ps 121 (1)
- Ps 122 (2)
- Ps 126 (3)
- Ps 127 (9)
- Ps 128 (2)
- Ps 130 (2)
- Ps 131 (2)
- Ps 133 (4)
- Ps 136 (3)
- Ps 139 (16)
- Ps 141 (2)
- Ps 145 (1)
- Ps 146 (1)
- Ps 147 (2)
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
Isaiah
Ezekiel
Joel
Amos
Zephaniah
Zechariah
Matthew
- Matt 1 (1)
- Matt 2 (2)
- Matt 3 (1)
- Matt 4 (10)
- Matt 5 (19)
- Matt 6 (20)
- Matt 7 (7)
- Matt 8 (2)
- Matt 9 (3)
- Matt 10 (2)
- Matt 11 (2)
- Matt 12 (3)
- Matt 13 (5)
- Matt 14 (4)
- Matt 15 (1)
- Matt 16 (8)
- Matt 17 (2)
- Matt 18 (5)
- Matt 19 (5)
- Matt 20 (1)
- Matt 21 (2)
- Matt 22 (2)
- Matt 23 (7)
- Matt 24 (1)
- Matt 25 (18)
- Matt 26 (1)
- Matt 27 (1)
- Matt 28 (2)