God did not leave us here to isolate ourselves from this darkening culture or to identify with the culture. He left us here to influence the culture.
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As followers of Jesus, courageously living out our faith in today’s world can sometimes feel like being stranded on a deserted island that is surrounded by shark-infested waters. We can become physically and spiritually exhausted as we deal with wave after wave of difficult relationships, disappointing circumstances, persistent addictions and sins, and the anxiety and suffering that are an unavoidable part of life in this world.
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Rising 29,029 feet into the clouds, Mount Everest is the tallest peak in the world. For years people tried to conquer Everest without success, but on May 29, 1953, mountaineers Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay became the first explorers to scale Everest. Two years earlier, Hillary had tried and failed to reach the summit. He reportedly shook his fist at the mountain and said, “I will come again and conquer ...
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Let me ask you three questions: 1. Do you believe God blesses those who obey Him? (See Hebrews 11:6.) 2. What do you believe God is leading you to do that you haven’t done yet? 3. What is preventing you from obeying God and receiving His blessing in your life?
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A lot of Christians no longer accept that there is only one “right” religion. The implications of rejecting that faith in Jesus Christ is the only hope for eternal life are obvious. How do we know which god to worship and what that god requires of us? When we pray, are we addressing Allah of Islam, Jehovah of the Bible, or one of the many gods in Hinduism? And which ...
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It’s one thing to believe an Intelligent Being is responsible for the existence and complexity of the universe. However, it is a giant leap to conclude this Being is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob who implanted Himself in the womb of a Jewish teenager, was crucified to atone for the sins of the world, rose from the dead, ascended into Heaven, and will return to earth to establish ...
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One thing that often surprises people who move to Texas is our weather. What starts out as a clear, beautiful day can change dramatically in an instant. Ominous clouds appear on the horizon, and suddenly warnings are being issued for severe thunderstorms and tornadic activity. It’s interesting how people respond to these warnings. When some people hear that a tornado is coming, they go outside to film it on their ...
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In January 1961, a few days before he was inaugurated, president-elect John F. Kennedy invited Billy Graham to join him for a round of golf. On the way back from the golf course, Kennedy asked, “Billy, do you believe that Jesus Christ is coming back to earth one day?”
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Occasionally, somebody will ask me, “What’s your favorite verse in the Bible?” My favorite verse is one that Christians, historically, have clung to in times of uncertainty, confusion, or tremendous loss. It’s Romans 8:28: “We know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”
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Imagine you’ve been asked to participate in an experiment with a group of people. Everyone is instructed to toss a ball back and forth. What you don’t know is the rest of the group has been instructed never to let you have the ball. The others toss the ball back and forth between them, but it never comes your way. How do you feel? Isolated? Frustrated? A little angry? Eventually, ...
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