Latest Articles and Blogs
Say ‘No’ or ‘Go’ Then Let It Go
Posted: 2:13 pm on April 20, 2013
Whenever an invite, opportunity, obligation, or something similar comes up – I go through quite the mental battle in my head if it’s something I really don’t want to do or dread doing.
You might think, “Why doesn’t she just say “no?” Well, you see…. I’m a good girl. A people pleaser. And a . . .
Read full articletags: beauty and image, compassion, empathy, health, people pleasing, self esteem, anxiety
When Someone Can’t Control You Anymore
Posted: 5:26 am on April 18, 2013
Sometimes in life, there are relationships that we hold very dear to us – especially family relationships. They seem to go along smoothly and we can’t ever imagine things being different. Changing. But they do. You grow up. You change your opinions. You evolve into your own person. And things . . .
Read full articletags: depression, family, family dynamics, family relationships, fear, friendships, image, relationships, self esteem, control
Is It OK for Christians to Speed?
Posted: 11:30 am on April 03, 2013
I have long contemplated this question. I have even developed a bit of a pet peeve out of it. Recently it seems to have exploded into my world, and has led me to examine scripture to see if it is just me, or if it is just my view.
There are many times I am tempted to speed, especially when . . .
Read full articleCan God Still Reach You?
Posted: 4:30 pm on March 21, 2013
"There is no pit so deep that God's love is not deeper still." -- Corrie ten Boom
Ever feel like God is just too far away to help you? Or that your sin is so terrible, He can't, or won't, rescue you? I think we all feel this way at times. And when Christians feel that way, that's when they are . . .
Read full articletags: love, perfection, strength, weakness
Come to Me
Posted: 7:29 pm on March 19, 2013
'Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.' (Matthew 11:28)
I have made lots of mistakes in the past. I have hurt people, I have assumed things that were not true, I did not keep promises. I failed...a lot. I still do.
I am grateful that knowing Jesus has . . .
Read full articletags: burdens, comfort, forgiveness, Jesus, rest
Do You Know How to Respond to Your Neighbor’s Pain?
Posted: 9:51 pm on March 02, 2013
Engaging with someone in the middle of a trial is difficult and at best, a learned skill. It is uncomfortable when we engage in others painful lives. Not everyone has experienced difficult times, so it is hard to know what to do and what to say. We don’t always have the insight or experience . . .
Read full articletags: comfort, pain, suffering
We Can’t Always Be Ready
Posted: 7:19 am on February 25, 2013
I knew my grandpa was getting older, but I still wasn’t ready to hear that he had cancer and I would lose him in just three weeks time.
I wasn’t ready to wake up one morning and have to make the decision to put my cat to sleep due to a blood clot.
I could never be ready to watch something . . .
Read full articletags: challenges, faith, inspiration, sorrow
Gallup: Mississippi Remains ‘Most Religious’ State
Posted: 10:59 am on February 14, 2013
Mississippi remains America's most religious state, according to the results of Gallup research released Wednesday.
Eight of the 10 most religious states were in the South. The second-most religious state-Utah-has a vast Mormon population.
Overall, 40% of Americans nationwide were classified . . .
Read full articletags: Mississippi, Mormon, religion, research, survey, Gallup, demographics
Prayer and Fasting With Diabetes
Posted: 11:01 pm on January 31, 2013
"Declare a holy fast; call a sacred assembly. Summon the elders and all who live in the land to the house of the Lord your God, and cry out to the Lord." (Joel 1:14)
In the July issue of Today's Dietitian, we published an article titled "Prayer and Fasting With Diabetes". If you're a . . .
Read full articletags: diabetes, fasting, prayer
Lance Armstrong’s Downfall: A Spiritual Perspective
Posted: 12:21 pm on January 28, 2013
“Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” (Proverbs 16:18)
“When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.” (Proverbs 11:2)
“A man’s pride brings him low, but the humble in spirit will retain honor.” (Proverbs 29:23)
“Before his downfall, a . . .
Read full articletags: humility, Oprah Winfrey, pride, sin, Lance Armstrong, destruction
Acting Out Acts
Posted: 11:48 am on January 28, 2013
(WNS)--Imaginary waves toss three men from one side of the church stage to the other. The audience in the pews hear the wind blowing and water crashing as the men—depicting the Apostle Paul; Julius, his prison guard; and the captain of the ship—grip the wall, yelling and praying they’ll make it . . .
Read full articletags: Acts, Bryce Lenon, Paul, theater, Vinicius Machado
Study: Divorce Stunts Spiritual Growth
Posted: 12:00 pm on January 27, 2013
(WNS)--A recent study concludes children whose parents divorce when they are young are less likely to be religious later in life.
According to the study, two-thirds of young adults who grew up in a home with married parents are more religious than young adults who grew up in families with . . .
Read full articletags: divorce, family, spiritual growth, WinShape for Communities Camp
Kaepernicking Replaces Tebowing
Posted: 11:56 am on January 27, 2013
(WNS)--The Associated Press declares that NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who leads the San Francisco 49ers in next Sunday's Super Bowl, “is quickly becoming a household name, and his touchdown celebration—flexing his right arm and kissing his biceps—is trending all over social media. Tebowing? . . .
Read full articletags: Colin, football, Kaepernick, Tim Tebow
Study: Religion Strains Neighborly Love
Posted: 11:51 am on January 27, 2013
(WNS)--A recent story in U.K. newspaper The Telegraph claims a new study proves religion does not make people love their neighbors more. But a closer look at the study raises questions about its conclusion.
The study, done by economists at Nottingham University Business School, took Malaysians . . .
Read full articleChris Tomlin’s New Album Tops Pop Chart
Posted: 11:46 am on January 27, 2013
(WNS)--Christian singer-songwriter Chris Tomlin’s latest album hit number one on the Billboard 200 charts earlier this month, only the fourth time a Christian CD has ever reached that milestone.
Tomlin’s Burning Lights sold 72,000 copies during its first week, which is small compared to the . . .
Read full articletags: Chris Tomlin, Christian music
Walking on the Road of Compromise
Posted: 7:37 am on January 25, 2013
Choices. We all make them hundreds of times a day. Should I go here or there? Should I say this or that? Do I react, respond, or pray? Do I get involved? Do I say something? Do I give in?
And I wonder how many of our choices and decisions would be made easier if we truly knew what God’s Word . . .
Read full articletags: guilt, knowledge, pride, sin, truth, compromise
Knoxville Is Nation’s Most Bible-Minded City
Posted: 9:22 pm on January 23, 2013
A new study by the American Bible Society ranks Knoxville, Tennessee as the most Bible-minded city in the U.S.
The rankings, released Tuesday, analyze 96 geographic markets in the U.S. Following Knoxville as the most Bible-minded city were Shreveport, Louisiana; Chattanooga, Tennessee; . . .
Read full articletags: American Bible Society, Barna Group, Bible, Bible study, surveys
It’s All About Me
Posted: 7:32 pm on January 22, 2013
We’d all like to think we are kind people. Thoughtful. Generous. We give to charities, we volunteer, and we appreciate other people’s way of living – as long as it works for them. For most of us, we try to stay out of trouble. We bite our tongue and we don’t get involved in heated debates, . . .
Read full articletags: freedom, narcissim, news, tragedy, values, society
Survey: Worldwide Christian Persecution on the Rise
Posted: 8:52 am on January 12, 2013
(WNS)--For the 11th straight year, Christians in North Korea suffered the most persecution in the world, according to 2012 rankings released Jan. 8 by Open Doors International, a U.S.-based group that keeps track of worldwide persecution of believers.
Its annual World Watch List revealed . . .
Read full articletags: Christian persecution, North Korea, Open Doors International, persecution
New Indiana Governor Mike Pence Carries Faith Into Office
Posted: 8:48 am on January 12, 2013
(WNS)--The Christian conservative movement may be dwindling in other parts of the country, but in Indiana politics it has matured into a dominant influence in state government. The handoff from Gov. Mitch Daniels to his successor, former U.S. Rep. Mike Pence, on Jan. 7 illustrates the . . .
Read full articletags: Indiana, Mike Pence, Mitch Daniels, politics
