Top Ten Predictions for 2014
Excellent or Praiseworthy is posted on Monday and Thursday nights. Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in Me will…
Ten Questions to Start 2014
Excellent or Praiseworthy is posted on Monday and Thursday nights. Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you…
Getting in Shape in 2014
Excellent or Praiseworthy is posted on Monday and Thursday nights. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. – I Timothy 4:8…
Christmas–“A Military Maneuver”
Pastor Tommy Nelson, of Denton Bible Church in Texas, gave a sermon to his church for Christmas, 1988, entitled “Jesus’ View of Christmas.” The text for this powerful sermon was an unlikely one . . . Luke 11:21-26. Those verses are several chapters away from the traditional Christmas story which we all know and love, Luke 2:1-20: “And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed . . . “ I was intrigued. How could verses about Jesus and Satan give us a message for Christmas? Pastor Nelson began his sermon with the story of his father-in-law—a veteran of the World War II war in the Pacific—injured in battle. Pastor Nelson explained why his father-in-law is so patriotic . . . and challenges us to see patriotism from the heart of a soldier. To one who fights bravely and sacrificially, American patriotism means “the price paid”—suffering experienced for victory in battle . . . and the suffering of battle buddies killed. In other words, patriotism from the side of the donor . . . not the recipient.
Four Christmas Promises
“The Word became flesh and lived for a while among us.We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”—John 1:14 We all love the drama and…
Christmas Presence
“Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift.” —2 Corinthians 9:15 Is this the Bible verse that you normally think of when you think of Christmas? Probably not . . . . Traditionally we go to the second chapter of Luke and begin with, “In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.” (Luke 2:1) But it makes a wonderful study to look throughout the Bible for verses which point to the coming of God’s gift of Jesus Christ!
Thanksgiving Reminders
Excellent or Praiseworthy is posted on Monday and Thursday nights. "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Our family has a tradition of gathering…
A Look at Parenting During Deployment
Excellent or Praiseworthy is posted on Monday and Thursday nights. Editor’s Note: I asked Diana Juergens, author of Wife of a Soldier, A Journey of Faith, to share with me her thoughts on parenting during deployment. Rich and Diana are…
Small Groups on the Front
Excellent or Praiseworthy is posted on Monday and Thursday nights. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. —…
October 31st
Today is October 31st—a date most well-known for the holiday we call Halloween. In a 2007 report, the estimated economic impact of Halloween is between 4 billion and 6 billion dollars—and now estimated to exceed $8 million. In Al Mohler’s article “Christianity and the Dark Side—What about Halloween?” he quotes historian Nicholas Rogers as saying, “Halloween is currently the second most important party night in North America. In terms of its retail potential, it is second only to Christmas. This commercialism fortifies its significance as a time of public license, a custom-designed opportunity to have a blast. Regardless of its spiritual complications, Halloween is big business.” But did you know that October 31st is also the anniversary of the day Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses to the church door in Wittenberg, Germany?