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When We Love Our Stuff Too Much
Have you ever heard The Parable of the Rich Fool? It is an ancient story Jesus once told. Crowds would often follow Him and people would ask questions. A young man once asked Jesus to get involved...
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The Answer to Racism
Levi was among the earliest disciples to follow Jesus and hosted a large dinner gathering for Him. Because Jesus was celebrity-like He attracted attention wherever He went and on this occasion, while...
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Finding Calm in the Storm
Once after a long day of work, Jesus and His disciples climbed into a boat to cross the sea. They pushed out and settled in for a little break until work would kick back up again on the other side....
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The Sports Obsession
The ancient people of Israel escaped their Egyptian slave masters for freedom. As they exited Egypt, Moses their leader, often spent time with God seeking Him for guidance in governing the people....
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How Christmas Defeated Evil
As I sat down to prepare for this column, I began thinking about Christmas and the end of the year. I pondered some news headlines like the nationwide sex abuse scandals spawned by Harvey Weinstein,...
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My Sustaining Hope in the New Year
Two months ago my family and I laid my father (Paul Decker) to rest, after he unexpectedly died of advanced pancreatic cancer on November 13; three days after his diagnosis. The holidays were...
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When Pride Becomes Your Downfall
Years ago when I was studying to become a minister at MidAmerica Nazarene University, a professor dedicated the class time to teaching on sexual temptation in ministry. It was not for academic...
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Why We Desperately Need Easter
If you take a few minutes and read over any local or national news, you will find bothersome stories. Like officials in a well-known college basketball program using prostitutes and strippers to...
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Turning The Tide on American Violence
Are you becoming increasingly concerned about your child’s safety at school? Has your church begun discussions on providing security during worship services? Have you had some uneasiness while at...
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Even The Devil Believes in God
“I believe in God.” I have heard the statement many times in my years as a minister in rural communities across the Great Plains. The regular at the local bar, the businessman, the county jail...
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Is Life Worth Living?
Clay Center, Kansas –The fall of 1993 was one of the most difficult periods of my life. I was a sophomore at a Christian college, studying for a career in ministry. I went through a valley that...
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What is America’s Future?
President Abraham Lincoln once said, “Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power.” An ancient prayer from the Bible says, “Two things I ask of you ....
View ArticleThe Danger of Thinking You’re a Good Person
Jesus once told a story about two men who went to pray. One was a high standing religious man, the other was a tax collector that had extorted money from people. The religious man prayed saying, “God,...
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Freedom from Alcohol
In the rural ministry God has given, I see the negative effects of alcohol on a regular basis. Most of the time people deny they have a drinking problem while it’s clear to everyone else, or they...
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How to Fight The Culture of Sexual Abuse
As I prepared to write this column, there were continuing news stories related to the devastating report about the 1,000 children whom were sexually abused by Catholic priests in some Pennsylvania...
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The Deep Meaning of Thankfulness
“Attitude of Gratitude”, “A Thankful Heart is a Happy Heart”, “Thankfulness is The Beginning of Happiness.” These are just some of the quotes you see after a quick search about thankfulness. On the...
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Sin. The Reason for The Season
Legendary country singer Johnny Cash is one of many artists that have recorded the famous Christmas carol, Silent Night. I can usually get the first verse by memory, but the second I always need a...
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Where is God in Your New Year?
A long time ago there was a King named David. His Kingdom had grown, and he became great in the eyes of his people and surrounding nations. One day he decided to take a census to see how large a...
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Choosing to Love and Forgive My Dad
This is not a February valentine column about a love between a man and woman. Rather, it is about a complex love between a father and son. Recently, my wife and I watched Ragamuffin, a movie about the...
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Homosexuality is Dividing the American Church
I have a fellow minister friend who has an effective and growing ministry to teens and college students. One of his challenges to them is to stop yelling at each other on sensitive issues and come to...
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