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Church-related posts, ministry ideas and influences, etc.

3 Steps to Feeling Closer to God

By Church
The question of God’s distance is one of the most personal we will face. Here’s why: we were designed to have a relationship with our creator. The relationship between God and humans begins in a garden. But it doesn’t take too long before the garden turns into a wilderness and then a desert. It’s what author C.S. Lewis once called the Law of Undulation. Undulation is the rising and falling waves. We have peaks and valleys. We even describe our spiritual highs as "mountaintop experiences." But to have a mountaintop requires a valley, too. We feel good about the peaks and struggle when in the valleys. Generally speaking, we prefer the garden over the desert. But life isn’t always bouncing from mountain top to mountain top, from peak experience to peak experience. Even the Apostle Paul experienced this. While on trial, Paul experienced the deepest kind of abandonment. Here is how he described…
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Is God Distant

By Church
Is God everywhere? And if so, how is this different than the idea of pantheism? While these are interesting questions, Frederick Buechner makes a good point: “It is not objective proof of God’s existence that we want but … the experience of God’s presence.”Watch more videos at the Mountainview YouTube channel. Need a Speaker or Presenter? Interested in having me speak for your church, conference, or organization? Follow this link to learn more. Looking for a Speaking Coach? The most successful people are not always the smartest people. But they have one thing in common: they communicate well. I'd love to help you become a better communicator. Click here.
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Is God in Control

By Church
What does the sovereignty of God mean? Are there such things as accidents? How does free will factor into the providence of God? These are all questions that we ask when trying to make sense of what is happening around us.Watch more videos at the Mountainview YouTube channel. Need a Speaker or Presenter? Interested in having me speak for your church, conference, or organization? Follow this link to learn more. Looking for a Speaking Coach? The most successful people are not always the smartest people. But they have one thing in common: they communicate well. I'd love to help you become a better communicator. Click here.
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Setting the Oppressed Free (video)

By Church
There are several reasons why a person might be oppressed. There is the oppression that is put upon us by society because of our skin color or gender. An extended season of challenges and difficulties may also leave us feeling oppressed. Whether or not we experience freedom depends on whether or not we rely on the truth.Watch more videos at the Mountainview YouTube channel. Need a Speaker or Presenter? Interested in having me speak for your church, conference, or organization? Follow this link to learn more. Looking for a Speaking Coach? The most successful people are not always the smartest people. But they have one thing in common: they communicate well. I'd love to help you become a better communicator. Click here.
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You Can’t Outsource Your Pushups

By Church, Leadership
As the senior leader in our organization, I am a firm believer in delegation of tasks and the development of talent. For us to grow and expand, I must be comfortable with a shrinking knowledge of every detail regarding every activity that we are involved in. Someone must know — but it doesn’t (and shouldn’t) be me. To help streamline our operations, we also outsource various functions such as facilities management, payroll, and even video work. This allows us to keep our costs down while also focusing on our strengths. While there are many things you can effectively hand-off or outsource to someone else, there are things that you cannot. Brushing your teeth. Asking your girlfriend to marry you. Naming your children. It’s possible you might become so rich that you could afford a personal tooth-brushing assistant; however, I’d recommend you not outsource the other two. And even if you could afford…
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