Learning to Trust Posted: Sep 28, 2010 by Brittany Valentine I still remember the moment when I first saw him. He was everything I had ever dreamed of. He was tall, well-muscled, and had a red coat that rivaled the brightest flame. In addition to his dashing good looks, he was the most gentle of giants. I was sure that I would never again in my lifetime see such a fine horse at such a price. To put it bluntly, it was love at first sight. I brought him home and marveled at how easily he unloaded from the trailer and entered into his new pen. There was no balking, no fear at the strange new sights and sounds; in fact, he seemed to be enjoying this new adventure. Then it happened. As I was petting him in the field, I reached up to rub between his ears. Strider's gentle, brown eyes widened, his nostrils flared, and he began to rear. Terrified, I leapt back, barely escaping his flailing hooves. By the time he settled down, we were both terrified and Strider immediately lowered his head, burying it into my chest.  Read the full article…

Book Review: "Radical" by David Platt Posted: Aug 12, 2010 by Jeremy Crittenden Have you ever taken an objective observation of the average Protestant church in America and then read how the early Church functioned in the book of Acts? It does not take too long to figure out there are a lot more contrasts than comparisons. In his book Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream, David Platt explores how modern day Christianity has diluted the cause of Christ by intertwining the spirit of American self-reliance with the gospel call.  Read the full article…

Back But Better Posted: Jul 30, 2010 by L.L. Davis "Now I have you, and I have God. I will never be alone again. I have so much happiness bubbling inside I cannot say in English!" the young woman exclaimed. That was one week after our arrival in a country closed to the Gospel. Two days later, the new convert received the first Bible she had ever seen. One week later, she was asking such probing questions as, "How can we keep from sinning when we have such great forgiveness?" The Holy Spirit can work fast with a deadline looming. Days later, the short-term mission trip (STMT) was over, and the fledgling Christian was left with only God's Word and her inner Comforter to be her Teacher, Guardian, and Guide. As a mission participant, I also experienced indescribable joy. A carefree attitude carried me across the ocean, over a perilous commute, and through three weeks of the most taxing ministry I have ever attempted. That calm and cared-for confidence brought me back home and lasted for many months but, unfortunately, has started to fade. Somehow my "do the dishes" and "carpool the kids" life doesn't seem as God-ordained as sharing Christ's love with someone who has never heard the name of Jesus. It's the time of year when short-term mission participants are coming back from the field energized. They are longing to invigorate our churches, not merely assimilate. This is the season to cultivate that newfound excitement in the body of Christ, as mission participants and supporters. How can we hold onto the spiritual "high" that accompanies mission work amongst the cares and commitments of life? It is imperative that we incorporate the short-term mission mindset for a lifetime of ministry.  Read the full article…