Author Archives: ThePreachersWord

September 22, 2015 · 5:47 am

Faith, Forgiveness and Pope Francis

Pope Francis waves as he leaves at the end of his weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2014. A U.N. human rights committee denounced the Vatican on Wednesday for ìsystematicallyî adopting policies that allowed priests to rape and molest tens of thousands of children over decades, and urged it to open its files on the pedophiles and the bishops who concealed their crimes. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Pope Francis is coming to America. He will arrive this afternoon at Joint Base Andrews. Wednesday there will be a welcoming ceremony at the White House where he will meet with President Obama. Thursday he will speak to a joint session of Congress. And Friday he will address the United Nations general assembly in New York.

There is much speculation on what issues the Pope will address. Stephen Moore, a Catholic Consultant to the Conservative Freedom Works Organization offers these suggestions. Continue reading →

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September 21, 2015 · 7:32 am

Word of The Week: Virtue

vIRTUE 

“Excellence is an art won by training and habituation,” wrote the Greek philosopher Aristotle. ” We do not act rightly because we have virtue or excellence, but we rather have those because we have acted rightly. We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.”

Whether you agree with Aristotle or not, this quote reminds us that the ancient Greeks used the word virtue differently than we do today in the English language. Continue reading →

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September 18, 2015 · 6:50 am

IT’S FRIDAY. BUT SUNDAY’S COMING! I AM The Vine

Jesus The Vine

Randy Aly tells a story about a native from a remote mountain village who had the opportunity to visit a large modern city for the first time. He was amazed at the electric lights which he saw everywhere. So he bought a sack full of electric light bulbs and sockets with switches so he could turn them off and on.

Arriving home he hung the light bulbs in front of his home and on his and  his neighbor’s trees. Everyone watched him with curiosity and asked him what he was doing, but he just smiled and said, “Just wait until dark–you’ll see.” Continue reading →

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September 17, 2015 · 6:07 am

Kingdoms in Conflict

Kingdoms conflict

“Let’s get something straight,” columnist Cal Thomas recently wrote, “America has never been a ‘Christian nation.’”

While that statement may be shocking to some, it’s true. For those who disagree Thomas asks, “What part of our history was uniquely Christian? Was it when slavery was legal? How about when women were denied the vote? The Gilded Age? The Roaring ’20s?” Continue reading →

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September 16, 2015 · 6:36 am

GREAT VERSES OF THE BIBLE: 1Corinthians 15:58

`1 cOR 15.58

As football begins I’m reminded of the story of Johnny who loved playing sandlot football, but was just a scrawny, little kid and a bench warmer on his high school team.

Johnny’s chance came when the first string quarterback broke his ankle and he became a starter. His dream was to play college football at Notre Dame, but was rejected. University of Pittsburg offered him a scholarship, but he failed the entrance exam. Finally the University of Louisville offered him a scholarship. Continue reading →

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September 15, 2015 · 6:50 am

6 Stages of Radical Repentance

Repentance radical

Last night Norma Jean and I visited the Lenexa church and heard Bruce Reeves preach on Radical Repentance. His lesson planted a seed for some thoughts for today’s post.

The word repent literally means “to perceive afterwards.” It is a change of mind that results in a change of life. Repentance is fundamental in primary obedience. When the Jews who crucified Christ were convicted by Peter’s sermon they asked, What shall we do?” Peter’s first word was, “Repent.” (Ax 2:38) Continue reading →

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September 14, 2015 · 6:06 am

WORD OF THE WEEK: ASK

Ask.God

Several years ago I read a neat book entitled The Aladdin Factor by Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen, authors of Chicken Soup for the Soul. The entire premise revolves around this little word ask.

They assert, “anything is possible…if you dare to ask!” The book promises “personal happiness. Creative fulfillment. Professional success. Freedom from fear–and a new promise of joy that’s your for the asking.”

The book details the barriers that prevent us asking. Knowing what to ask. Understanding how to ask. And then makes application to your family, work and other relationships. One chapter is entitled, “Ask a Higher Power.” Continue reading →

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September 13, 2015 · 6:24 am

Sunday Seed Thoughts: God Is (6)

Seed Thoughts

For the past several Sundays we have considered the attributes of God from A-Z. Remember these are only 26 of literally hundreds of His Divine qualities. Today we conclude with the final four that remind us how great God is.

GOD IS…. Continue reading →

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September 11, 2015 · 6:35 am

IT’S FRIDAY. BUT SUNDAY’S COMING! I AM The Way. The Truth. The Life.

Jesus 1 Way 

In a blog entitled “Six Things Christians Should Just Stop Staying, Dr. Steve McSwain wrote that Christians should quit saying “Jesus is the only way to heaven.”

“What you are really saying,” he writes, “is the way we interpret John 14:6 is that Jesus was clearly drawing a line in the sand and telling his hearers and the world: ‘If you do not believe in Me, you won’t go to the Father when you die.'”

The “Spiritual Teacher” and “Thought Leader” McSwain disagrees. “I am one of them, who do not interpret Jesus’ words the same way.” Continue reading →

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September 10, 2015 · 6:18 am

Walking To Improve Your Health

Walking

Yesterday the Surgeon General of the United States, Vivek Murthy, issued a prescription for the poor state of American health: a brisk walk.

It is estimated that half of American citizens are suffering from some chronic disease, and two-thirds are overweight, yet only half of Americans get the recommended amount of physical activity. Murthy wants the USA to make walking a priority.

“I’m asking for individuals and communities across America to reclaim the culture of physical activity that we once had,” said Murthy, who released a “call to action” on walking Wednesday. Continue reading →

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