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How to Answer Tough Questions Uncategorized

How to Answer Tough Questions

How do you do answering tough questions? Jesus has a lot to offer on that skill. He must have been good at answering because people felt comfortable asking. “What is truth?” “When will the end of the world happen?” “How can we learn to pray?” “Who gave you the authority to do what you do?” “Why didn’t you show up when we needed you most?” Five insights into answering tough questions: 1. Start with the answerer. People may ignore, forget or reject the answer you give to their question, but they will remember how you answered. No one likes a condescending or self-righteous answer, even if the answer is a good one. People will remember you long after they forget…
Bob Jones
September 23, 2013
HARVEST TIME Uncategorized

HARVEST TIME

It's harvest time in Alberta! “Rural Alberta is a noisy, dusty, hectic place these days — and nights — as farmers on combines harvest their crop." Harvest Time In the spiritual realm, there is also a waiting harvest. Jesus said, “Open your eyes, and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.” John 4:35 (NIV) Alberta has had “ideal growing conditions” for a harvest of souls: Moisture – the blessings of God have been abundant in Alberta making it a prosperous province. Now is the time to use our prosperity generously to reach out to others. Heat – believers in Alberta have been praying for months for this harvest. Wind – the “wind of the Holy Spirit” is blowing…
Bob Jones
September 17, 2013
Questions and Answers Uncategorized

Questions and Answers

Answers reveal what you know. Questions reveal what you value. These were the thoughts I jotted down after reading North Pointe’s Bible chapter of the day: John 9. The passage begins with a question. Upon seeing a blind man, Jesus’ disciples questioned: “…who sinned, this man or his parents?” Their question revealed their values. They valued being right. Upon observing a man’s blindness they only cared to know why it happened to him. Who was responsible? For them, life was a simple equation – “sickness = sin” - so who done it? Their question revealed they needed a value adjustment. Jesus valued doing the works of God. It mattered not to him why the man was blind but that he…
Bob Jones
August 26, 2013
WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD FOR YOU? Uncategorized

WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD FOR YOU?

What does the future hold? If the past 100 years is any indication, you are in for quite a ride. * 100 years ago 8% of homes owned a telephone. * 30 years ago there was no Internet. Motorola offered the 1st commercial cell phone for $3,500. * 20 years ago there were only 130 websites total and you had to pay for an email account through an ISP. * 10 years ago Skype, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Tumblr, Dropbox, & Instagram didn't exist. * Today, 8% of people in North America DON'T own a cell phone. Check out the running tally of Internet actions IN A SINGLE SECOND at this site. What About The Future? 1. Creativity, invention and innovation…
Bob Jones
August 21, 2013
READY Uncategorized

READY

Thief! I couldn't believe it happened to me. Here I was, enjoying a summer vacation with my family in Florida. We had just walked through a crowd on the way to purchase groceries. At the check-out I reached for my wallet and it was gone. My wallet was always in my back pocket. That was its place since I first owned a wallet. I hadn't forgotten it. It was gone. Someone had stolen it. My first reaction was to be angry at the thief. It wasn't just the money that had been stolen, but my driver's license and other important documents that would have to be replaced. Holiday inconvenience at its worst. The next reaction was to be mad at…
Bob Jones
August 19, 2013
GOD NEVER WASTES OUR PAIN Uncategorized

GOD NEVER WASTES OUR PAIN

God never wastes anything…not even your pain. The pain we experience in life is precious. God cares for you, so He will never waste your pain. Greg and Sherry Stevens understand that truth. Their 13-year old daughter Cassie passed away on July 17, 2013 after a courageous battle with cancer. I knew Cassie only “from a distance.” She lived in Nevada and made summer visits to our church, North Pointe, to be with her grandparents. She was there when her grandfather, Richard, was baptized in water. Then there were the prayer times when she was hospitalized in California after the onset of brain cancer. Though distant, she was close to our hearts. Cassie passed away in July 2013 from cancer.…
Bob Jones
August 13, 2013
8 WAYS TO LOVE LIKE YOU’VE NEVER BEEN HURT Uncategorized

8 WAYS TO LOVE LIKE YOU’VE NEVER BEEN HURT

She was running and skipping with abandon, as though nothing could hurt her. That is until the asphalt pathway jumped up and tripped her. When was the last time you got shocked and hurt so badly that it took your breath away? Our granddaughter Quinn's mouth was open and tears were in her eyes but no sound was coming out. And then, when it did come, it was a wail. What happened next was awesome. Her mum held her in her arms, gently brushed off the dirt and kissed the wound. The tears were dried. Then Quinn was up and running again with her former carefree abandon. She ran as though she had never been hurt. The beauty of childhood…
Bob Jones
August 6, 2013
One Shining Moment Uncategorized

One Shining Moment

Here’s the kinda story I love. July 11th, the Salt Lake Sidewinders' under 12 team became the first Utah team to win a championship at the Cooperstown Dreams Park in Cooperstown, New York, home of the Baseball Hall of Fame. The Sidewinders won on a three-run walk off home run by Ethan Fowlks. Their accomplishment is newsworthy, but when you get to know more about Ethan, the story becomes extraordinary. Ethan was diagnosed with autism at the age of two. His supportive parents have helped him discover his capabilities, one of which is playing baseball. Playing baseball and being a part of a team has been helpful for Ethan as he and his family cope with the challenges of autism.…
Bob Jones
July 23, 2013
WHAT IT MEANS TO GO ALL IN Uncategorized

WHAT IT MEANS TO GO ALL IN

A band of brave souls became known as one-way missionaries a century ago. They bought tickets to the mission field without the return half. Instead of suitcases, they packed their few earthly belongings into coffins. As they sailed away, they waved goodbye to everyone they loved and all they knew, knowing they’d never return home. Mark Batterson leaves no doubt about his opinion - "Jesus didn't die to make us safe. He died to make us dangerous." Enough To Be Transformed Batterson’s book All In is just that – an "all-your-chips" in the middle call for commitment for followers of Jesus. All In examines the lives of biblical characters like Abraham, Noah, Elisha, and the rich young ruler of the New…
Bob Jones
July 21, 2013
The Truth Does Not Set You Free Uncategorized

The Truth Does Not Set You Free

Jesus said, "You will know the truth and the truth will set you free." At face value, his words are misleading at best. I know people who know the truth but are anything but free. They have Bibles on their smart phones. They not only read the Bible - they have memorized whole sections of it. “Truth that is not experienced is no better than error, and may be fully as dangerous. The scribes who sat in Moses' seat were not the victims of error; they were the victims of their failure to experience the truth they taught." A.W.Tozer The truth does not set you free. Truth obeyed sets you free. Faith is simply bringing God’s Word to bear on…
Bob Jones
July 16, 2013