I Threw My Bat and Learned a Lesson
I was a 20-year-old college student playing in a city-league softball tournament. I was having a bad game and was becoming more frustrated with myself as each inning passed. In my final at-bat I got out…again. I was so mad that I threw the bat down and yelled in frustration. Then I remembered that my friends were there, along with their two young sons. I was very close with this family, and the boys were young and impressionable. They were cheering me on and witnessed every bit of my outburst. Our words… Read More
What Are You Chewing On?
Have you ever watched a cow eat? The longer you watch, the more entertained you are. She bends her neck to the ground, grabs a clump of grass or hay, uses her tongue to position the food in her mouth, and starts chewing in a motion that is as much “round and round” as it is “up and down.” Then, after a long time of chewing, you think she’s finally finished. She pauses for a bit, but then starts chewing again. Part of a cow’s digestive process involves the cow chewing, swallowing,… Read More
Praise is Not Merely Your Gift to God; Praise is God’s Gift to You
Praise is a choice, not a feeling. It’s easy to associate emotions with praise, because praise ushers into your life the manifest presence of God, which often prompts deep feelings of gratitude and joy. Praise, however, is not limited by how I feel. In fact, my choice to praise God when I don’t feel like it may be the strongest praise I can offer to God – it says, “Father, You are worthy of praise and I choose to give you praise in spite of my circumstances or feelings.” My worship of… Read More
How a Lifestyle of Worship Can Set You Free
Anger is a familiar emotion to nearly every person, whether it stems from a sibling who took your favorite toy, a friend who broke a privileged confidence, or an inhumane public act of violence. But anger can also be a spiritual stronghold – a controlling, debilitating, demonic force that results in harmful thoughts and behavior. Having hardened his heart through jealousy and pride, King Saul had opened himself up to a tormenting spirit – one that drove him mad. What began with “small” acts of disobedience escalated to the murder of priests,… Read More
Pastor Dale Jenkins 