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Nourishing Yourself and Feeding Others
What do you as a pastor do on a personal level to keep yourself fed and spiritually nourished? What are your personal reading and devotional habits? Also, what do you do in terms of your study and message preparation habits? How much time do you spend reading, studying, and listening to others preach, and how does that integrate into your message preparation? Read the responses.
A Divider, Not a Uniter
Rev. Tony Cooke
Jesus, in one of his more difficult and startling statements, said: “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword” (Matt 10:34). Luke renders that statement, “Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division” (Luke 12:51). Why is Jesus’ statement (that he came to bring division) so shocking to us? I think that we’ve been conditioned—even subconsciously perhaps—to believe that Jesus is more like “the Candy Man” than the real Redeemer portrayed in Scripture. Read the article.
Season Shift
By Lisa Cooke
Has one season of your life ended? Are you facing an uncomfortable transition? Lisa’s poem may encourage you. Read the poem.
A Bold, Powerful Altar Call
Do you know how to give an effective altar call? We realize there are many styles and methods, but Jim Cobrae, pastor of the 20,000 member Rock Church in San Bernardino, gives an amazingly compelling call for salvation and re-dedication.
- To watch/listen, click here.
- You can also listen to Tony interview Pastor Jim about altar calls by clicking here.
- Learn about “Pastors 2010” by clicking here. Pastor Jim and his wife, Deborah, have been in ministry more than 30 years, and are opening up their heart and life-experience to pour into other pastors. There is no registration fee for this conference (May 18-20), and all meals and materials are provided free-of-charge by the host church.
Five Ways to Fight Fraud in Your Church or Ministry Organization
By Mark Helland, CPA
Financial fraud (i.e. embezzlement, misappropriation of funds, etc.) is a fairly common crime in America and religious organizations are certainly not immune from the occurrence of this crime. There are many reasons for the continued growth of financial fraud. Fraud typically initially takes place due to extreme financial stress on an employee’s life as a result of certain life events (i.e. high amounts of debt, divorce, addictions such as gambling, etc.). However, from my experience the major reason why financial fraud continues to grow… Read the article.
Connecting with your Staff
Pastor Dean Hawk
At Rock Family Church in Colorado Springs we are intentional about building and developing quality relationships on our leadership teams. I have found the closer knit we are as a staff the more productive we are. Acts 2:42 gives us some practical insight. It says, “They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” Here are four simple principles to engage with your staff and leadership team. First… Read the article.
The Bridge Builder
A story about helping the next generation… Read the poem.
Read all of our quotes by visiting our Quotes Page.
UNITY
“We decline to determine as binding what the Scriptures have left undetermined, or to argue about mysteries impenetrable to human reason. In this regard, we hold to the principle, ‘In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; and in all things, charity.’”
- Moravian Covenant for Christian Living
KINDNESS
“Kind words do not cost much. Yet they accomplish much.”
- Blaise Pascal
GOALS
“We choose to go… not because it is easy, but because it is hard, because that goal will serve to measure and organize the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win.”
- John F. Kennedy
SOULS
“Some wish to live within the sound of church or chapel bell; I want to run a rescue shop within a yard of hell.”
- C.T. Studd
DISCRETION
“The easiest way to save face is to keep the lower half shut.”
- Unknown