As always, articles are presented for their thought value. Neither agreement nor endorsement is implied.
FactChecker: Is ISIS Beheading Children in Iraq?
There is no doubt that ISIS is persecuting the Christians in Mosul and other areas of Iraq. But almost all have already fled the city and the few that remain are continuing to leave the area. There are, however, journalists from Iraq and Western news agencies still in the city. Why have none of them taken photographs of these atrocities, or even reported on their occurrence? Why have such stories not been reported by the Christians who have fled to the cities controlled by the Kurds?
This Is Why We’re Mad About the Shooting of Mike Brown
Can you explain why Mike Brown was gunned down in the street while James Eagan Holmes, who killed twelve people and injured 70 others after opening fire in a movie theater, was escorted into a squad car? Can you explain why Dzhokhar Tsarnaev is still alive but Mike Brown isn’t? What about Jared Lee Loughner?
Can you explain why Mike Brown’s body was left uncovered in the middle of the street for hours for any reason other than to send a message to his community?
10 Early Warning Signs You’re Headed For An Affair
We don’t believe anyone ever goes looking to have an affair. Instead, affairs happen over time when we let our guard down and quit focusing on our marriages. One of the best things you can do to keep your marriage strong is to pay attention to the signs that your relationship is headed in the wrong direction. So here are ten early warning signs someone may be headed for an affair…
Chariots of Fire and Olympic Law and Gospel
We imagine that the law says, “If you run on Sunday, you will be a sinner. If you refrain, you will be righteous.” But this is a tragically malformed version of the true law. God, unfortunately, doesn’t judge in the way the rest of us do. We look on the outside (whether or not you run) while he looks on the heart (1 Samuel 16:7). In that of the true nature of the law—and God’s judgment—we might say that what the law says is something more like, “It doesn’t matter whether or not you run on Sunday…you’re a sinner just the same.”
What Students Remember Most About Teachers
Because we want our students to think we’re the very best at what we do and we believe that this status of excellence is achieved merely by doing. But we forget- and often. Excellence is more readily attained by being.
Being available.
Being kind.
Being compassionate.
Being transparent.
Being real.
Being thoughtful.
Being ourselves.
And of all the students I know who have lauded teachers with the laurels of the highest acclaim, those students have said of those teachers that they cared.
9 Ways to Become More Creative in the Next 10 Minutes
Creativity is a skill to be learned, practiced, and developed, just like any other. Juggling takes practice, as does surfing, coding, and driving a car. Creativity is no different. The more you make creativity part of your daily life, the more it will grow.
Boyfriend welcomes lover home with romantic candle message – and wrecks home in blaze
Amanj Yassen, 29, had not seen Jana Stankeviciute, 25, for a month while she was on holiday in Latvia.
Eager to show his love was still burning, he arranged dozens of tealights on his bedroom floor in the shape of a heart with an arrow through it and spelt out her name.
But when he closed the door to hide the surprise the carpet caught fire and the flames tore through the entire room.
A Facebook group that I’m part of, called Compadres, is having a blog tour. The general theme is The Glory of The Son and each of us will pick a story, event or teaching of Jesus that reflects His glory. Here are the posts so far:
June 3: Jeremy Schopper: Leaving the Noise Behind
June 5: Danny Holman: Jesus Challenge
June 10: Carl Jenkins: Give A Man A Fish
June 17: Jonathan Dobbs: Why Me, God?
June 19: Scott Elliott:The Beauty of the Gospel
June 24: Chris Hodges: The Glory of the Son
June 26: David Smith: then they can see my glory, which you gave me
July 1: Jeremy Hoover: Matthew and Mission
July 3: Allen Carr: The Glory in the Welcome
July 10: Daniel Burns: Not So With You
July 15: Rex Butts: A Place For Lepers
July 22: Jennifer Rundlett: A Vision of Harmony
July 24: Don Middleton: Come To The Table
July 29: Tim Archer: Do Not Be Afraid
August 5: Paula Harrington: When Doubt Met Divine
August 7: Holly Barrett: He knows me inside and out
August 12: Patrick Barber: Nothing But Leaves
God is deadly serious about having people who bear good fruit. If we don’t know how to apply this lesson, then we can start by asking if we’re living up to the expectations of these texts. Are we fruitful, or are we just a bunch of crooks playing church? Look at what God said through Jeremiah! How do we treat people when we have the power to abuse or ignore them? To apply Jeremiah 7, what are we doing for the widows, orphans, and strangers? Could we do more? Are we bearing God’s fruit? This doesn’t just mean, are we baptizing people. This means, are our natures aligned with God’s? God is not a withered branch. If we live by his Spirit, then our lives will bear his fruit, and the fruit he bears is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.