Faith
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Building Bethel: Focusing and Re-Focusing
From June/July 2015 Bethel Bell Tower newsletter But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ~ Matthew 6:33 Vicki and I enjoy watching TV … it’s a guilty pleasure. We recently stumbled upon a reality show on CNBC called “The Profit” (www.cnbcprime.com/the-profit). I admit…
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Devotion: Advent – Vertical Relationship with God – part 1
We tend to do a lot of waiting this time of year. Waiting often seems to be a waste of our valuable time. Whether it is standing behind a line of people at the checkout lane, being stuck in traffic or anticipating test results, waiting is not a very appealing activity, and certainly not productive. I…
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Devotions: Facing the Giants
Bethel will press pause on The Story through the Advent and Christmas seasons as we prepare for the coming of a king. This is the one for whom John the Baptist prepares the way declaring that he is “the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight’”…
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Devotion: Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening
My mom served as an elementary school teacher for about 31 years. Toward the end of her career, she grew more frustrated at some of the teaching techniques that were being championed as “new” and “more effective” when, in actuality, they were cleaned up versions of techniques used a dozen or more years earlier. Like…
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Devotion: Fear vs. Faith
Imagine that you’ve been given a writing assignment. You are to write in a typical form with an introductory paragraph stating your thesis, paragraphs supporting or developing your thesis, and a concluding paragraph. Your topic is: “Where fear and faith collide”. What would your main points be? In other words, how do you understand…
Epicurious Lutheran 