Category Archives: Uncategorized

Merge With Care

Posted on October 12, 2011 by Carl Simmons

Over the last few months, in what ways have you seen your faith and everyday life become more “mixed”? How has that changed you? How has it challenged you? Here’s one more question: How have others in your life—both Christian … Continue reading →

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Leader, Equip Thyself

Posted on October 10, 2011 by Carl Simmons

Last Monday we looked at the idea of developing a spiritual health plan and how it can help us to “stay lit” when our circumstances threaten to “blow us out.”  Let’s build on that today — by continuing to develop … Continue reading →

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fragments of Lay Down Your Addiction

Posted on October 7, 2011 by Carl Simmons

For our purposes, let’s define addiction as anything you need to “get through the day” that isn’t God. Because all of our addictions—all of our sin, really—is a response to the gnawing sense we have, deep down, that God doesn’t … Continue reading →

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Moving From Why? to What Next?

Posted on October 6, 2011 by Carl Simmons

Let’s make this easy: If you love the title, you’ll like the book. If not… well, there are still a few things you could learn from it. Ramon Presson. When Will My Life Not Suck?: Authentic Hope for the Disillusioned. … Continue reading →

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Standing in the Truth

Posted on October 5, 2011 by Carl Simmons

When has God seemed far away? What helped you—or would have helped you—be faithful during that time? How did you get through that time, and looking back, how did you grow? If you haven’t faced a time when it’s been … Continue reading →

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Keeping the Fire Lit

Posted on October 3, 2011 by Carl Simmons

What do you do to keep your life in Jesus from getting “blown out”? As leaders—or as Christians in general—we need to stay lit in Jesus, and by Jesus. As we’re doing His work, we often encounter more and more … Continue reading →

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Lay Down Your Anxiety

Posted on September 30, 2011 by Carl Simmons

My dad has a phrase I’ve used a lot in the past couple decades: “He’s the God of 11:59.” In other words, God intervenes in our lives when He’s supposed to, at our time of deepest need—not when we think … Continue reading →

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The D-Word (Discipline)

Posted on September 28, 2011 by Carl Simmons

Got a bag of M&Ms or potato chips? Go get a candy or chip one right now—but only one. Then we’ll talk. Ready? Good. Last Wednesday, we looked at what it takes to commit ourselves to pursuing the better things … Continue reading →

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Learning to Let Go

Posted on September 26, 2011 by Carl Simmons

Previously, we looked at the challenges of handing over responsibility to others. Here’s the second half of that story. Let’s assume for a moment that you’ve overcome the obvious challenges (and eventually, you will). You’re figured out what you can … Continue reading →

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Lay Down Your Ambitions — a few fragments

Posted on September 23, 2011 by Carl Simmons

In his book The Spiritual Man, Watchman Nee points out, “The enemy well knows how we need our mind to attend the spirit so that we may walk by the spirit. Thus he frequently induces us to overuse it that … Continue reading →

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