Two young boys were using a fruit tree to climb out of their second-story bedroom window and go to the swimming hole without their parents' permission. One day they heard their father say he was going to cut the tree down because it was dead. Fearing they would lose their escape route, they went to the…

FRUIT A new study released by the Barna organization found that 45 percent of Americans say they have made a personal commitment to Jesus Christ. The Barna Polling Company says based on the criterion they use, the numbers are accurate. The survey found 53 percent of Baby Boomers meet the definition of…

| In my experience, signs follow decisions. The way you overcome spiritual inertia and produce spiritual momentum is by making tough decisions. And the tougher the decision, the more potential momentum it will produce. The primary reason most of us don't see God moving is simply because we aren't moving.…

Jesus made a powerful statement in the Temple action. Israel generally regarded the Temple’s ruler the true Davidic king. This Temple action was a claim to such royal status by Jesus. Also, in this Temple action, Jesus enacts a symbol. This symbol said that the present system is corrupt. The Temple had…

Unknown Author These are more effective than 911 When - You are sad, phone John 14 You have sinned, phone Psalm 51 You are facing danger, phone Psalm 91 People have failed you, phone Psalm 27 It feels as though God is far from you, phone Psalm 139 Your faith needs stimulation, phone Hebrews 11 You are…

November 5, 2008 Original Red Delicious line lives on Mike Kilen Des Moines Register Dick Tracy and his sister, Elma Tracy, live together in the old home place off a rock road in rural Madison County, Iowa. Elma, 97, and Dick, 85, never married and remained rooted to the farm. They mow the yard as a…

Once upon a time there was a small green apple. It hung nicely on an apple tree and dangled in the summer sun, without much to do. In time a bird came by and began to tease the little green apple: "Your so small and so green, and I'll bet you're even sour." "So what?" said the little green apple. "Apples…

The following (edited) article is entitled "All I Need To Know About Life I Learned From Trees" (author unknown) It’s important to have roots. In today’s complex world, it pays to branch out. If you really believe in something, don’t be afraid to go out on a limb. Be flexible so you don’t break when…

Live so that if someone were to guess your “tree” by your fruit, they would know you were planted in Christ. A young American engineer was sent to Ireland by his company to work in a new electronics plant. It was a two-year assignment that he had accepted because it would enable him to earn enough money…

"Ministry is not something we pursue. Ministry is what gets left behind in our footprints as we pursue Christ." -- Jay Jackson, New Tribes Missionary (collected from ministers' meeting @ CSC -- 102907)