Steve's Blog
Be alert, stand firm in the faith, be courageous, be strong. 1 Corinthians 16:13 (CSB)
Stories of courage and heroism inspire us. In the Bible, we read of Daniel facing the lion’s den, or Peter and the apostles, standing before the Council, declaring, “we must obey God rather than man.” Or we might recall Rosa Parks refusing to give up her seat on the bus. These are heroic moments, but what does it mean to live courageously every day?
What Is Courage?
The dictionary defines courage as:...
Insults have broken my heart. I’m sick about it. I hoped for sympathy, but there wasn’t any; I hoped for comforters, but couldn’t find any. Psalm 69:20 (CEB)
When people reject us for sharing the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ, we must be cautious that we do not assign the wrong attitude or motivation to those who do not receive our message. Without complete understanding, which is very difficult when it comes to other people, we may perceive that rejection of the good news is becaus...
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Yesterday, we celebrated Labor Day here in the United States. Without dwelling on the origins of the holiday or the meaning behind it, let us simply say that for many people, it was a day to relax and not labor. In any organization, but specifically in churches, there are both visible and invisible jobs to be done. However, do not assume that just because a job does not have visibility, it is not important. Therefore it is incumbent upon leaders to recognize and honor those who serve in jobs tha...
I listened as a friend offered a prayer for an acquaintance who was traveling. They prayed for smooth flights, easy connections, and no interruptions. I have also heard prayers before a church service, asking that everything go according to plan, smoothly and again with no interruptions. On the surface, these seem like very usual, even noble prayer requests, but what if we should pray that instead of our journey being on a smooth path, we ask for a road of opportunity?
There is a lot to be sai...
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*So Moses told the people of Israel what the LORD had said, but they refused to listen anymore. They had become too discouraged by the brutality of their slavery.* Exodus 6:9 (NLT) If we are rebuffed when sharing the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ, we must be very careful that we do not assign the wrong attitude or motivation upon those who do not receive our message. Without complete understanding, which is very difficult when it comes to other people, we may perceive that rejection of...
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“Now I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, what God in his kindness has done through the churches in Macedonia. They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity.” 2 Corinthians 8:1–2 (NLT)
I returned home a few days ago from a 12 day mission’s trip to Mexico. Although Paul was speaking of the churches in Macedonia, what he says here is equally applicable to many of the churches and peop...
Last week I had the privilege of participating in a Mission’s Conference at Phoenix Christian Assembly hosted by Pastor Don Grosvenor. On behalf of the AGIF I made some comments to the conference regarding the importance of missions and the honor that we should bestow upon those who are serving the cause of the gospel on the front lines and working diligently to fulfill the Great Commission. (Matthew 28:19–20 (NIV)
Missionaries serve as ambassadors for the cause of the gospel to facilitate the...