Equipped Church Blogs

  Catharsis: The Hidden Dangers of Venting “The man who is master of his passions is reason’s slave.”  attributed to Cyril Connolly “Our bodies are our gardens, to the which our wills are gardeners: so that if we will plant nettles, or sow lettuce, set hyssop and weed up thyme, supply it with one gender of herbs, or distract it with many, either to have it sterile with idleness, or manured with industry—why, the power and corrigible authority of this lies in our wills” William Shakespeare “If you wouldn’t write it and sign it, don’t say it.”  Earl Wilson “Be careful with your words. Once they are said, they can be only forgiven, not forgotten.”  Unknown “The tongue is the only tool that gets sharper with use.”  Washington Irving “Speech is silver, silence is golden.” Arabic Proverb “The greatest remedy for anger is delay.”  Seneca “We are masters of the unsaid words,...

  The Sabbath: Significance and Application in Modern Christianity “A Sabbath well spent brings a week of content, and strength for the toils of tomorrow; but a Sabbath profaned, whatso’er may be gained, is a certain forerunner of sorrow.” Author Unknown “The Sabbath is the day on which we rest not for the sake of the body, but for the sake of the soul. Resting for the sake of the soul is a strange thing, for we are always in danger of worshiping our own tiredness.” G. K. Chesterton “Sabbath rest is an imitation of God and the most blessed of human ways of living. Setting apart Sabbath is an act of freedom from slavery, work, anxiety, and the feverish pursuits of gain and his own ambition.” Abraham Joshua Heschel “O day of rest! How beautiful, how fair, how welcome to the weary and the old! Day of the Lord! and truce to earthly care! Day of the Lord, as all our days should be.” Henry Wadsworth Longfellow “The Sabbath ...

The Elusive Balance: Correctly Defining Love in the Church “Everyone wants to define love, but no one wishes to practice it.” Mwanandeke Kindembo “‘Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?’ And He said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.’” Matthew 22:36-40, ESV “Amor vincit omnia, et nos cedamus amori.” Love conquers all things, so we too shall yield to love. Virgil [Publius Vergilius Maro] “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, ESV      In a w...

  Balancing Achievement and Humility: Tall Poppies and Participation Trophies “Success makes so many people hate you. I wish it wasn’t that way. It would be wonderful to enjoy success without seeing envy in the eyes of those around you.” Marilyn Monroe “The deepest principle in human nature is the craving to be appreciated.” William James “Acknowledging the good that you already have in your life is the foundation for all abundance.” Eckhart Tolle “Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm.” Winston S. Churchill “True humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less.” C. S. Lewis      In a world that increasingly fluctuates between tearing down those who excel and celebrating mediocrity, there is a palpable tension between striving for achievement and the fear of standing out. Two cultural phenomena encapsulate this paradox: the tall poppy syndrome—the societal impulse to cut down those who rise above the rest—a...

  It's Time! Application from Sunday's message 12/29/24 Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. Ephesians 4:1 (NLTSE) Joshua 24:15  …choose today whom you will serve…But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.”      The call to live a life worthy of God's purpose is not just for pastors or church leaders - it's for every believer. We are all called to be part of a priesthood of believers who impact the world around us. Why Does God Call All Believers to Ministry?      God designed each person with specific gifts and talents to fulfill His unique calling for their life. While we may feel inadequate or point to others who seem more qualified, God made you in His image with certain abilities to impact the world in ways no one else can. What Does it Mean to Live a Life Worthy of Your Calling?      Living worthy doesn't mean being perfect - it ...