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Jan, 05, 2010 0
I saw in the distance a sight that nearly took my breath away. It was Mount Kilimanjaro. I stood and stared . . . I was drawn to it by the magnetism of its grandeur. -John Bowling, Making the Climb
That first sighting divided John Bowling's life into two phases: before and after Mount…
Jan, 05, 2010 0
It's Sunday morning in Paramaribo, Suriname, and a group of girls dressed in their prettiest attire have gathered to sing a song for the congregation at New Charlesburg Church of the Nazarene. A fresh-faced girl with braids begins to fervently sing the words, and four others follow her lead. The…
Jan, 05, 2010 0
It's Sunday morning in Paramaribo, Suriname, and a group of girls dressed in their prettiest attire have gathered to sing a song for the congregation at New Charlesburg Church of the Nazarene. A fresh-faced girl with braids begins to fervently sing the words, and four others follow her lead. The…
Jan, 05, 2010 0
What is the most valuable asset an organization has? Every successful organization, whether for profit or not-for-profit, has a mission statement. How do they achieve that mission?
The background: Joshua was a great leader whom God used to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land. Our first…
Dec, 25, 2009 0
Trouble abounds. Sin seems to run rampant. Nearly every media outlet (and there are many!) constantly reminds us of the heartache, evil, and trouble around us.
While it is good to stay informed, sometimes the intense and constant influx of messages full of fear, death, and trauma can overwhelm…
Dec, 25, 2009 0
The formal study of theology involves many of the characteristics of learning any established and long-explored field of study. To study theology properly, one must learn nuances of theological language, including terms that are difficult to pronounce. We explore trends in thought, various methods…
Dec, 25, 2009 0
Many will recognize that the title of this devotional comes from the 1967 Paul Newman film Cool Hand Luke. In this film, set in the 1940s, Paul Newman’s character (Luke) gets arrested and placed in a brutal Florida prison. After trying to escape, Newman’s character is placed in solitary…
Dec, 25, 2009 0
When I was a teenager, I heard a preacher make an impassioned plea in regard to the work of Jesus on the cross: “Jesus went through a lot of trouble just to get your attention!”
Even a cursory understanding of the life and work of Jesus reminds us that there was a great deal of inconvenience in…
Dec, 25, 2009 0
In Scripture, God reminds His people, “Be holy, because I am holy” (Lev. 11:44-45; Lev. 19:2; 1 Ptr. 1:16, NIV). For those who desire to obey this command to “be holy,” it is helpful to discover how God is holy.
There are many ways that Scripture describes the holiness of God. God is the very…
Dec, 25, 2009 0
Holiness is a central tenet of Nazarene theology. However, there have been misconceptions about holiness and what it means in the lives of believers for many years. In many of his writings and sermons, John Wesley found himself clarifying what is and is not meant when we use words like “holiness”…