Leaders Who Don’t Tithe
I just discovered that one of our highly visible leaders (a volunteer) doesn’t tithe, and hasn’t tithed for some time.  Should I speak to the leader about this, or leave it alone?  Should I have some type of policy in place regarding tithing for our leaders and workers?  For our church employees?  How involved should I be in setting policies for this kind of thing, in monitoring it, or should I just leave it between the individuals and God?  What do other pastors do in this regard? Read the responses.

Weak Leaders
by Rev. Tony Cooke

Martin Luther said, “God creates out of nothing. Therefore, until a man is nothing, God can make nothing out of him.” It takes a very secure person to acknowledge his weakness and to rely totally in God’s strength. It’s the kind of child-like faith expressed in the words of the song so many learned at a very young age: “Little ones to Him belong; they are weak, but He is strong.” We’ve got to become comfortable with our inadequacy and His adequacy.  Read the article.

Tony & Lisa Celebrate 30 Years

On June 2, 1979, Tony and Lisa were married in Kokomo, Indiana.
 “I am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine.” Song of Solomon 6:3

Lisa Cooke's New Blog

Click here to check out Lisa's brand new blog.

Are You a Workaholic?
By Rev. Dean Hawk

You might be a workaholic if…

• Work always seems to take precedence over family and leisure time.
• You consider sleep and leisure a waste of time.
• There is no clear separation for you between work time and home time.
• You and your lap top have a more personal bond than you and your wife.
• You believe your self worth is tied to your success in the ministry.
• You prefer labor to leisure.  You get depressed and anxious on your day off and holidays.
• You have no friends or social life other than work-related functions.
• You get offended when others recommend you cut back on your work.

Read the article.

Attitude Adjustment
by Pastor Stan Saunders

Did your Mom ever tell you that your needed an attitude adjustment? There have been so many times in my life that I needed to do just that. I used to be a negative person. I could tell you what’s wrong with many things and many people. I have to fight being critical and judgmental. I hated winter, tax preparation, slow moving traffic, standing in lines, etc. How about you? Here is what I do to change my attitude. First, I change my... Read the article.

New CD Series:
Recovering from the Losses of Life

We all face loss, and we all have friends who will face loss.  How do we receive help, and how do we help others?  In this 2 CD series, Tony address vital issues and presents wisdom from God’s word to help us understand the grief recovery process.  What are the common issues faced in grief, and what makes each person’s experience unique?  Prepare to receive instruction on receiving God’s peace and comfort, and to become better equipped to help others recovering from the pain of loss.  Click here to order.

Especially for Father's Day

Father's Day Quotes, Humor, & Stories

Thoughts Regarding Father's and Son

Joseph - Father's Day Message

Don’t Quit

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you’re trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest, if you must – but don’t you quit.

Read the full poem.

The Ambulance Down in the Valley

A Poem/Parable on the Power of Prevention

Click here to read.

Read all of our quotes by visiting our Quotes Page.

CRITICISM
“It is good that we at times endure opposition and that we are evilly and untruly judged when our actions and intentions are good.  Often such experiences promote humility and protect us from vainglory.  For then we seek God’s witness in the heart.”
- Thomas à Kempis

TEAMWORK
“Staff officers of inharmonious disposition, irrespective of their ability, must be removed.  A staff cannot function unless it is a united family.”
- General George Patton

PRAYER
“Prayer is not designed to inform God, but… to humble man’s heart, to excite his desire, to inflame his faith, to animate his hope, and to raise his soul from earth to heaven.” 
- Adam Clarke

RESENTMENT
“Resentment is like taking poison and waiting for the other person to die.”
- Malachy McCourt

WORK
“The body of every organization is structured from four kinds of bones.  There are the wishbones, who spend all their time wishing someone would do the work.  Then there are the jawbones, who do all the talking, but little else.  The knucklebones knock everything anybody else tries to do.  Fortunately, in every organization there are also the backbones, who get under the load and do most of the work.”
- Leo Aikman