63 results found

Who will win the battle for your worship?

December 5, 2013 | Advent, advent conspiracy, Christ, christmas, consumerism, culture, Gary Combs, God, jesus, materialism, money, spending, worship

“And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh” (Matthew 2:11 ESV). The word “worship” comes from the Middle English, “weorthscipe,” literally meaning to “ascribe worth.” We were created to worship. From dandelions to dinosaurs, no

F.A.T. from Thanksgiving

November 28, 2013 | available, F.A.T., faithful, full, fullness, Gary Combs, God, jesus, teachable, thanks, thanksgiving

“Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty” (Acts 6:3 ESV). “On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, ‘If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.

Against the FLOW of Black Friday

November 22, 2013 | Black Friday, Christ, consumerism, Gary Combs, generosity, giving, God, materialism, thanksgiving

You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your

Experiencing FLOW

November 15, 2013 | bible, flow, fulfillment, Gary Combs, generosity, giving, God, happiness, jesus, joy

“Jesus stood up and cried out, ‘If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water’” (John 7:37-38 ESV). “Freely you have received, freely give” (Matthew 10:8 NIV). “Flow is… being completely involved in an activity for

The Davion Effect

November 8, 2013 | an orphan's hope, Davion Only, Gary Combs, jesus, orphan, orphan care, orphan conference, WCC

“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” (John 14:18 ESV). “Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you” (James 1:27 NLT). This past September, 15-year old, Davion Only made the news

Sabbatical still bearing fruit

November 1, 2013 | abide, fruit, fruitfulness, Gary Combs, reflection, rest, sabbatical

“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5 ESV). This Sunday we will conclude the seven “I AM” sayings of Jesus sermon series. I’ve tried to interweave our sabbatical learnings throughout each

Crown five is here!

October 25, 2013 | birth announcement, crown, Gary Combs, God, grandfather, grandparent, jesus, Samuel

“Grandchildren are the crown of the aged…” (Proverbs 17:6 ESV). Our fifth grandchild arrived this week! His name is Samuel Abbott Mitchell and he was born at the Wilson hospital at 9:14 AM this past Wednesday, October 23, 2013, weighing 7 pounds and 11 ounces. Both of his grandfathers (me and Stewart Mitchell) and his uncle

Two tombs and the anastasis

October 18, 2013 | anastasis, Bethany, Garden Tomb, Gary Combs, Israel, Jerusalem, Lazarus, resurrection

“Jesus said to her, ‘Your brother will rise again. ‘ Martha said to him, ‘I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.’ Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you

The gates of Zion

October 11, 2013 | Damascus Gate, Eastern Gate, Gary Combs, gates, God, Jaffa Gate, Jerusalem, jesus, walls

“The Lord loves the gates of Zion more than all the other dwellings of Jacob” (Psalm 87:2 NIV). “Therefore Jesus said again, ‘Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep’” (John 10:7). What a wonderful time we had in Israel this past summer! Robin and I learned so much in the land of the Bible.

Why are we dipping instead of drinking?

October 4, 2013 | bread, communion, cup, Gary Combs, intinction, Lord's Supper

“For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also