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Category: Personal

Social Media Intelligence (SMI)

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Agencies and authorities in our nation, such as FBI, CIA, and DEA, exist to protect people and keep order. When it comes to social media, way too many people get offended, angry, and become bitter. The “SMI” is intended to protect oneself from purposefully or non-purposefully becoming the bully and offender on social media.

  1. Is what I’m going to say God honoring and God representing? If it is against God, God’s Word, or God’s principles, then don’t say it. Can you say what you’re about to say in God’s name?

Colossians 3:17 — And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. 

1 Corinthians 10:31 — Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

 

  1. Is what I’m going to say hurtful or helpful to others? Are you speaking out of emotion, aggravation, reaction, frustration, or jealousy? Do you have a hidden agenda? Is it going to edify or destroy others? 

1 Corinthians 10:23 — All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.

1 Corinthians 8:9 — But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.

 

  1. What’s the tone? Since people can’t see your face, be careful how you use your words (all caps, exclamation points, and question marks might appear sarcastic to others reading it). Re-read before you send it out. 

 

  1. Does it really need to be said by you? Maybe a person was wrong (Biblically, ethically, or factually), but do you have to be the person to point it out or can you let someone else? You don’t have to worry about judging or correcting someone, there are lots of people who enjoy being the judge… so let them do it instead. 

1 Corinthians 6:7 — Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?

Galatians 5:15 — But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.

 

Social media is a useful tool to promote, stay in contact, and follow the activity of friends, but social media also can be the downfall if not careful. Decide you won’t allow the devil to use your social media platform as one of his tools. As Christians, specifically as Christian leaders, we should strive to be above reproach, exemplary, and Christlike in all we do.

Here to Serve, 

Jeffrey Bush

Marriage Advice After 63 Years

Jeffrey Bush 6 Comments

I was able to have breakfast with a man years ago who was married for over 63 ½ years and had just recently lost his wife. It was a great privilege and very challenging hearing this man speak of his wife and how much he loved her –  I hope these 10 principles can be a blessing to you as they were to me.

1. Love her
Maybe a general statement, but as Ephesians 5 says, love her as your own body – don’t neglect, forget or ever hurt her.
Love is patient, forgiving and gives multiple chances.
Love is never failing
As Christ loved the church, the husband is to love his wife – and we shouldn’t forget that we love Him because He first loved us – so we should love our spouse first.
I once heard someone say: greatest thing you can do for your children is to love their mother, your wife.

2. Love kids she gave you
Child bearing is a very painful and difficult thing – and when a father chooses not to love or spend time with the children your wife gave birth to, you are not only saying that you don’t love the children, but also that you don’t care about the pain she went through to give birth to them.
Spend time with the children, love them.

3. Don’t discuss problems and certain things in front of children
Children are a lot smarter than we give them credit for – so be careful what you talk about in front of them.
It is wise to stop the conversation, go to the bedroom or another room in moments of disagreements.

4. Kiss her every day
It cost nothing and shows affection.
You don’t get to kiss just anybody, so take advantage of the one you can kiss ☺

5. Kiss her before going to bed at night
You never know when the last night might be with your spouse, so end the day with a kiss.

6. Be kind to her
I’ve heard some say, “I love you but I don’t like you”.
Being kind proves you’re not just with your spouse because you have no other option and don’t want to divorce, being kind proves that you really are happy that you are married to your spouse.
I Corinthians 13 says that charity is kind.

7. Show her you love her
Actions speak louder than words. Words are cheap – so show your spouse you love her.
Sometimes we forget manners and get too “comfortable”, but a little romance of keeping the manners – opening doors, saying kind words, complementing, hugs, etc show and prove love.
God loved so much that he showed it – we would be wise in proving our love, showing it so there is no doubt it is true.
Time is a great way to show your love.

8. Try and get her anything she wants
We don’t have to wait until Christmas, we can buy or do things that our spouse wants now.
The majority of things that our spouses want are not things of great value – with a little creativity, time and effort, we could do or get things our spouse would like – which is a great gesture of love.

9. Tell her you love her all the time
No one expects to leave and not return to see their spouse again, but there will be a time in life that will be our last to see our spouse – make sure the words “I love you” are constantly on your lips.
It cost no money or energy to say these words, yet many times they are not said enough in a marriage.

10. Hold her or put your hand on her shoulder and talk to her
Acts, gestures, and physical touch are super important in marriage. Simply giving a hug or putting your hand are very comforting and supportive to your spouse.
Holding hands in public tells everyone, “we’re still in love”.
Hugs and just holding someone to listen to them has a great power of showing you support them, back them up and are there for them – everyone needs a cheerleader to say, “I’m on your side, you’re doing great”.

Here to Serve,
Jeff Bush

It’s Your Turn

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Joshua 1:1-2 — It’s your Turn

“the Lord spake unto Joshua… saying” (vs. 1) “Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise” (vs. 2).

Moses, God’s servant was the leader of Israel. Israel now is a mega power after leaving Egypt and 40 years in the desert. Whether hundreds of thousands of people or over 1 or 2 million people, it is still a lot of people for one man to be leader over (especially with no cell phones, emails, FB status’, Twitter and any form of social media to let everyone know what is going on), but God used Moses to lead this massive group. Now Moses dies before they cross into the promise land and God tells Joshua it is time to step up. How in the world can Joshua fill Moses’ shoes? How can Joshua know what to do and where to even start? But this book, Joshua (named after the new leader), relates how Joshua was ready and prepared. Here are a few of the reasons why I believe Joshua was ready when it was his turn to lead:

  1. He had been Moses’ servant for a long time (Num 28:11 — “And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Moses, one of his young men”)
  2. He had his own personal relationship with God (Ex. 33:11 — “his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle”)
  3. He had been serving in positions of leadership (one of 12 spies, meaning he was representative of his tribe as well as captain of army. Ex. 17:9 — “And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek”)

Sadly, many people are not ready for the next step in life or ministry that God may have for them because they have not prepared as Joshua. Who are you serving right now? Do you have a personal relationship and walk with the Lord or are you depending on someone else’s relationship with God to keep you going? What ministry and area of leadership are you working in right now? If we are not preparing right now, what makes us think that we will be ready tomorrow when God says, “it’s your turn, time to step up to the plate”. No sports player enters into a game without practice before. No musician plays in a concert without lots of practice time. No doctor goes into surgery without many hours backing up his profession. So why do we think that we can just “shoot from the hip” in God’s service, the most important work in the world. May we be faithful in preparing right now… and we will do fine performing when it is time.

Rehearsing What God Has Done

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Acts 14:27 — Rehearsing what God has Done

“And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.”

After arriving back from their missionary journey, Paul and Barnabas get the people together to rehearse (run through, go over) all that the Lord had done and the open doors God had given. I love that the first thing they did when they arrived back was not complain, give prayer request, talk about the challenges and difficulties, rather tell everyone how great God was to them while they were out.

This practice should be a regularity for us as Christians, we should be quick to share with others and remember ourselves how great God has been to us. If we would look at every situation, there is always something for which we can praise God. It would do us good to “rehearse” regularly how good God has been to us, it would change our mindset, our attitude and our outlook… we would almost look for blessings throughout every day instead of just trying to get through a day with the least amount of problems possible.

Rehearsing what God has done should be on the tip of our tongue. In Acts 15:3 they were declaring the conversion of the Gentiles”. In vs. 4 “when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them”. In vs. 12 they began “declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them”. And in 21:19 Paul “declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry”. It appears Paul walked around reminding himself and reminding others of how good God had been to him. We would be smart to do the same.

Proverbs 3:6 tells us that in all of our ways we are to “acknowledge him”. Every day and in every situation a Christian should acknowledge God’s hand of protection, guidance and blessing. God has been good and we should acknowledge that fact… and rehearse it constantly in our life.

Jeff’s Personal Reading List

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Jeff’s Personal Reading List:

Jeffrey Bush (updated 12-2020)

I do not endorse everything in these books, but I’ve found them to be useful in areas I am studying or trying to grow in. I am a child of God and the Bible is the best of all books, but I believe it wise to study and to better in every area as a husband, father, friend, leader, preacher, and encourager. I trust that some of the books listed below will challenge you as well.  

Finances

    • Money, Possessions, and Eternity by Randy Alcorn 
    • The Treasure Principle by Randy Alcorn
    • Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey
    • Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert T. Kiyosaki
    • The Richest Man in Babylon by Denis Waitley

Marriage for Husband

    • If Only He Knew by Gary Smalley
    • 7 Ways to Be Her Hero by Doug Fields
    • 52 things wives need from their husbands by Jay Payleitner
    • For Married Men Only by Tony Evans
    • Worthy of Her Trust by Stephen Arterburn
    • Tender Warrior by Stu Weber
    • Men Who Love Fierce Women by Leroy & Kimberly Wagner

Marriage for Wife

    • Fierce Women by Kimberly Wagner 
    • Control Girl by Shannon Popkin
    • The Most Important Year in a Woman’s Life/Man’s Life by Robert Wolgemuth
    • Capture His Heart by Lysa TerKeurst
    • The Christian Girl’s Guide to Great Sex by Sheila Wray Gegoire

Marriage for Both Husband & Wife

    • Love and Respect by Emerson Eggerichs 
    • The Best Advice I Ever Got on Marriage by Jim Daily
    • The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman
    • Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus by Dr. John Gray
    • When Risqué is Okay by Clint Caviness
    • Boundaries in Marriage by Henry Cloud and John Townsend
    • The Intimate Marriage by RC Sproul
    • Four Seasons of Marriage by Gary Chapman
    • Turn up the Heat by Kevin Lehman
    • How to Re-spark and Keep Chemistry in your Relationship Forever by Leil Lowndes
    • Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas
    • Fall in Love, Stay in Love by Willard Harley, Jr. 
    • Married and Still Loving It by Gary Chapman
    • Trading Places by Les and Leslie Parrott
    • His Needs, Her Needs by Dr. Willard F. Harley, Jr. 
    • How We Love by Milan Yerkovich 
    • Sheet Music by Kevin Lehman
    • Sex Begins in the Kitchen by Kevin Lehman
    • Have a New Sex Life by Friday by Kevin Lehman
    • Marriage Done Right by Jim Daily

Dating

    • The Purity Principle by Randy Alcorn
    • Passion and Purity by Elizabeth Elliot
    • The New Rules for Love, Sex, and Dating by Andy Stanley
    • Things I Wish I’d Known Before We God Married by Gary Chapman
    • Saving your Marriage Before it Starts by Les and Leslie Parrot

Leadership

    • Spiritual Leadership by J. Oswald Sanders
    • Lincoln on Leadership by Donald T. Phillips
    • Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell
    • Leadership Gold by John Maxwell
    • Axiom by Bill Hybels
    • The Motivation Mastery by Chris Widener
    • Courageous by Bill Hybels
    • The Book on Leadership by John MacArthur
    • The Go-Giver by Bob Burg
    • Becoming a Person of Influence by John Maxwell
    • The 21 Most Powerful Minutes in a Leaders Day by John Maxwell
    • The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader by John Maxwell
    • Making Vision Stick by Andy Stanley
    • Mistakes Leaders Make by Dave Kraft
    • Never Eat Alone by Tahl Raz and Keith Ferrazzi
    • The Spiritual Leader by Paul Chappell
    • Developing the Leaders Around You by John Maxwell
    • Good to Great by Jim Collins 
    • The Leader in You by Dale Carnegie
    • The Coaching Habit by Michael Bungay
    • Training Camp by Jon Gordon
    • The 360 Degree Leader by John Maxwell
    • How to Lead When You’re Not in Charge by Clay Scroggins
    • What Makes a Leader by Daniel Goleman
    • What The Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast by Laura Vanderkam
    • The Lasting Impact of Positive Leadership by Stan Toler

Leadership, Time Management

    • Time Management in an Instant by Karen Leland
    • Eat That Frog by Brian Tracy
    • Time Warrior by Steve Chandler
    • Listful Thinking by Paula Rizzo

Leadership, Determination—Drive

    • The Rhinoceros Success by Scott Alexander
    • The 10 X Rule by Grant Cardone
    • The Way of the Fight by Georges St.-Pierre 
    • Grit by Angela Duckworth
    • Start by Jon Acuff
    • Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin
    • Excellence Wins by Dean Merrill
    • Be Obsessed or Be Average by Grant Cardone
    • Start by John Acuff

Preaching

    • Preaching that Pleases God by Tom Farrell
    • Teaching on Preaching by Jack Hyles
    • Teaching on Teaching by Jack Hyles
    • Biblical Preaching by Haddon Robinson
    • The Power of Preaching by Tony Evans

Public Speaking

    • Everyone Communicates, Few Connect by John Maxwell
    • The Quick and Easy Way to Effective Speaking by Dale Carnegie.
    • Speak Like Lincoln, Stand Like Churchill by James C. Humes
    • TED Talks by Akash Karia
    • Talk Like TED by Camine Gallo
    • Public Speaking to Win by Dale Carnegie
    • The Art of Storytelling by Jeff Davidson
    • 7 Laws of the Learner by Bruce Wilkinson
    • 7 Laws of the Teacher by Howard Hendricks
    • The Seven Laws of Teaching by John Milton Gregory
    • Smart Talk by Lisa B. Marshall
    • The Art of Public Speaking by John R. Hale
    • Communicating For Change by Andy Stanley
    • What Great Teachers Do Differently by Todd Whitaker
    • How to Talk to Anyone, Anytime, Anywhere by Larry King
    • How To Speak So People Will Listen by Ronald L. Willingham 
    • The Essential of Persuasive Public Speaking by Sims Wyeth
    • Public Speaking Confidence by Glenn Harrold
    • Communicate What You Think by Earl Nightingale 
    • How to Make Our Listeners Like Us by Dale Carnegie

Christian Life

    • Tale of Three Kings by Gene Edwards
    • Ordering Your Private World by Gordon MacDonald
    • Pilgrims Progress by John Bunyan
    • The Normal Christian Life by Watchman Nee 
    • Cat and Dog Theology By Bob Sjogern
    • Zeal Without Burnout by Christopher Ash
    • The Red Sea Rules by Robert Morgan
    • The Calvary Road by Roy Hession
    • The God Ask by Steve Shadrach 
    • Reclaiming Surrendered Ground by Jim Logan
    • The Bumps are What You Climb On by Warren W. Wiersbe
    • 14-Day Worry Cure by Dale Carnegie 
    • Love Focused by Bob Hughes

Freedom From Temptations

    • Finally Free by Heath Lambert
    • When Young Men are Tempted by Bill Perkins
    • Demolishing Strongholds by Johnny Hunt
    • The Invisible War by Chip Ingram
    • The Strategy of Satan by Warren Wiersbe
    • The Fight of Your Life by Tim Clinton
    • True Purity by Hayley & Michael DiMarco
    • Sexual Detox by Tim Challies 
    • Every Young Man’s Battle (also Every Man’s Battle) by Stephen Arterburn and Fred Stoeker

Prayer

    • When We Say Father by Adrian Rogers
    • Power Through Prayer by E.M. Bounds
    • Prayers For Freedom Over Worry and Anxiety by Bruce Wilkinson 
    • Praying The Bible by Donald S. Whitney

Parenting Girls

    • Better Dad’s Stronger Sons by Rick Johnson
    • Bringing Up Girls by James Dobson
    • Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters by Meg Meeker
    • Be the Dad She Needs You To Be by Kevin Lehman
    • 52 Things Daughters Need From Their Dad by Jay Payleitner

Parenting Boys

    • Bringing up Boys by James Dobson
    • Better Dad’s Stronger Sons by Rick Johnson
    • Raising Men, Not Boys by Mark Faberez
    • Take the Lead by Robert J. Kurtz

Parenting General

    • 52 Things Kids Need From a Dad by Jay Payleitner
    • Making Children Mind Without Losing Yours by Kevin Lehman
    • How to Have a New Kid by Friday by Kevin Lehman
    • How to Bring Your Children to Christ..& Keep Them There by Ray Comfort 
    • The Tech-Wise Family by Andy Crouch
    • Point Man by Steve Farrar
    • Grace Based Parenting by Tim Kemmel
    • Planet Middle school by Kevin Leman
    • Hero by Meg Meeker
    • Family Worship by Donald S. Whitney
    • King Me by Steve Farrar 
    • How to Help Your Anxious Teen by Jessica Thompson 
    • God-Confident Kids by Cyndie Claypool de Neve
    • Family Worship by Donald S Whitney

Ministry

    • Lectures to my Students by Charles Spurgeon
    • Order in the Church by Paul Chappell
    • Some Things I’ve Learned by Curtis Hutson
    • Criswell Guidebook For Pastors by W. A. Criswell
    • Hyles Church Manual by Jack Hyles
    • Meet Generation Z by James Emory White
    • Deep and Wide by Andy Stanley
    • DiscipleShift by Bobby Harrington
    • Building a Discipling Culture by Mike Breen
    • 4 Chair Discipling by Dann Spader 
    • When Work and Family Collide by Andy Stanley

Missions

    • The Challenge of Missions by Oswald J. Smith
    • The Master Plan of Evangelism by Robert E Coleman
    • Deputation Manual by Austin Gardner and Tony Howeth
    • Mentoring for Missions by Günter Krallmann
    • Training of the Twelve by A.B. Bruce
    • Missionary Methods: Saint Paul’s or Ours by Rolland Allen 
    • Faith Promise for World Witness by Norm Lewis
    • Missions in the Twenty-First Century by Tom Telford
    • LAMP, Language Acquisition Made Practical 
    • Today’s All-Star Missions Churches by Tom Telford
    • The Creation of a Student Movement to Evangelize the World by Timothy Wallstrom
    • Go Ye Means You by Norman Lewis
    • Chocolate Soldiers by CT Studd

Missions, Church Planting

    • The Anatomy of a Missions Church by Ron Maggard
    • The Indigenous Church by Melvin Hodges
    • Starting a New Church by Ralph Moore
    • The Planting and Development of Missionary Churches by John Nevius 
    • Simple Church by Thom Rainer
    • The Effective Invitation by R. Alan Streett
    • The Principles and Practices of Indigenous Church Planting by Charles Brock

Missions, Culture Adaptation

    • Culture Shock by Myron Loss
    • Black Like Me by John Howard Griffin
    • Have We No Rights by Mabel Williamson
    • Cross-cultural Servanthood by Duane Elmer
    • The Ugly American by William Lederer 
    • Buried in Bitter Waters by Elliot Jaspen
    • Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe
    • This is Where You Belong by Melody Warnick

Thought Life

    • Crashing the Chatterbox by Steven Furtick
    • As a Man Thinketh by James Allen.
    • The Power of Attitude by Mac Anderson
    • The Power of your Subconscious Mind by Joseph Murphy
    • Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill
    • Keys to Positive Thinking by Napoleon Hill
    • Making a Good Brain Great by Daniel G. Amen
    • How to Battle Depression and Suicide by Ray Comfort 

Sharing The Gospel

    • One Thing You Can’t Do in Heaven by Mark Cahill
    • The Passion for Souls by Oswald J Smith
    • To Seek and to Save by Paul Chappell
    • Out of the Comfort Zone by Ray Comfort

Discipline

    • The Power of Discipline by Brian Tracy
    • Developing Winner Habits by Dennis Waitely
    • The Disciplines of the Christian Life by Eric Liddell
    • The Obstacle is the Way by Ryan Holiday 
    • Atomic Habits by James Clear

Personal Growth

    • Talent is Overrated by Geoff Colvin
    • Stressaholic by Heidi Hanna 
    • The Energy Bus by Jon Gordon
    • Stopping Stress before It Stops You by Kevin Lehman
    • The Birth Order by Kevin Lehman
    • The Dream Giver by Bruce Wilkinson
    • In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day by Mark Batterson
    • 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do by Amy Morin
    • The Motivation Manifesto by Brendon Burchard
    • Ziglar on Selling by Zig Ziglar
    • Dangerous Calling by Jack Tripp
    • How to Stop Worrying by Dale Carnegie
    • Intimacy with the Almighty by Charles Swindoll
    • The Prayer of Jabez by Bruce Wilkinson
    • The Positive Dog by Jon Gordon 
    • Foxe’s Book of Martyrs by John Foxe
    • The Wisdom and Teaching of Stephen R. Covey
    • The Man in the Mirror by Patrick Morley
    • Man of God by Charles Stanley 
    • Move Your Bus by Ron Clark
    • The Last Arrow by Erwin McManus
    • The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer
    • Who Moved My Cheese by Spencer Johnson
    • Anger is a Choice by Tim LaHaye
    • Why Revival Tarries by Leonard Ravenhill

Relating to Others

    • How To Instantly Connect with Anyone by Neil Lowndes
    • Relationships 101 by John Maxwell
    • How to Connect in Business in 90 Seconds or Less by Nicholas Boothman
    • How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
    • How to Talk to Anyone by Leil Lowndes

Biographies (Missionary)

    • Bruchko by Bruce Olson
    • Adoniram Judson, Bound for Burma by Janet and Geoff Benge
    • Come Up to this Mountain by Lois Neely
    • Shadow of the Almighty by Elisabeth Elliot
    • Through Gates of Splendor by Elisabeth Elliot
    • Peace Child by Don Richardson
    • Lords of the Earth by Don Richardson
    • To The Golden Shore by Courtney Anderson 
    • Hudson Taylor’s Spiritual Secret By Howard and Geraldine Taylor
    • The Life And Diary of David Brainerd by Jonathan Edwards 
    • Brother Andrew by Janet Benge
    • Jacob Deshazer, Forgive Your Enemies by Janet Benge
    • Gladys Aylward, The Adventure of a Lifetime by Janet Benge
    • Bob Hughes: An Extraordinary Life by Monroe Roark 
    • Patrick of Ireland, The Boy Who Forgave by K.C. Murdarasi
    • In The Presence of Mine Enemies by Garcia Burnham
    • God’s Smuggler by Brother Andrew
    • Saint Patrick by Michael J. McHugh 
    • God’s Hostage by Andrew Brunson

Biographies (Others)

    • The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom
    • Tramp for the Lord by Corrie Ten Boom
    • Up from Slavery by Booker T. Washington
    • Jerry Falwell, His Life and Legacy by Macel Falwell
    • Billy Graham, America’s Pastor by Janet Benge
    • George Mueller, The Guardian of Bristol’s Orphans by Janet Benge 
    • Klaus-Dieter John by Janet Benge
    • Great Lives: Abraham by Charles Swindoll
    • Tortured for Christ by Richard Wurmbrand
    • Great Lives: David by Charles Swindoll 
    • Steal Away Home by Matt Carter and Aaron Ivey
    • Great Lives: Joseph by Charles Swindoll 
    • D.L. Moody by Nancy Drummond
    • Fanny Crosby, the Blind Girl’s Song by Lucille Travis
    • The Cross and the Switchblade by David Wilkerson 
    • Evidence Not Seen by Darlene Deibler Rose
    • Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus by Nabeel Qureshi 
    • The Heavenly Man by Brother Yun
    • The Last of the Giants by Harry Rimmer 

When Increase Comes

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Psalm 62:10 – “if riches increase, set not your heart upon them”

Many times in life, God blesses us – spiritually, physically, with friends, family, … and yes even materially. I don’t think anyone would turn down a raise at work, a bonus or a big financial gift, in fact, it makes it a pretty good day when God chooses to increase what we have. Although every person should be careful to not set their hearts upon the increase, I want to take this view from the point of someone in the ministry who receives increase in life. There are some grave dangers that can occur when the Lord chooses to give material increase in our lives, and I hope these simple thoughts can provoke strong reactions of carefulness as we minister for the Lord. Read More

When You Feel you have Plateaued

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Whether serving as a missionary, pastorate, assistant or lay person, we have probably all at one time felt like we have “plateaued” in our ministry or life. It is exciting when you are advancing, growing, and clearly seeing the Lord work, but what do you do when you feel you have hit a certain spot and have plateaued? This brief article has the intention of helping you see that there is still room to grow, go forward and see wonderful things accomplished in your life and ministry. God is still interested in your life and ministry. Below are some simple ideas to help you break the mediocrity and begin to advance once again. Read More

Self Motivated

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Every Friday from 9am to 1pm we hold classes at the Vision Baptist Church to discuss missions and ministry. Our pastor, Austin Gardner, moderates it and many of the OGTC students, VBM missionaries and other missionaries drive in to participate in these Friday classes. If you are ever in the area and want to be challenged about missions and ministry, this class is for you! Today, specifically, we had a wonderful class and I was inspired to write this blog about Self Motivation as a result. I personally believe that being self-motivated could be the break point for many missionaries and ministries. Being self-motivated has EVERYTHING to do with missions and ministry! Read More