What do people pray for most of the time?  If you are in group settings where prayers are offered, or if you are in your churches “prayer chain” to help with requests for prayer, you know the answer.  People pray most often for those who are sick.  I understand that.  When I’m sick, I covet prayer also.  In his book on prayer, author Philip Yancey says, “More than half the spontaneous prayers I he...  Read More

I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase about Bible promises that goes, “name it and claim it.”  I’ve always had a problem with that.  It tends to take promises out of the biblical context and turn them into a magical wand for personal gain.  “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for good and not for evil” from Jeremiah 29 becomes a personal promise for goodness.  Never mind that...  Read More

             “Earth gapes, hell burns, fiends roar, saints pray…” Shakespeare, Richard III.“Electricity will replace God.  The peasants should pray to it; in any case they will feel its affects long before they feel any effect from on high,” said Vladimir Lenin during the Russian Revolution.  Years later when President Roosevelt suggested to Lenin’s successor Joseph Stalin that they check with the...  Read More

Tomorrow night is the LAST Youth Group Night of this school year! Don't miss out on a fun night of games that first includes a delicious TACO BAR for EVERYONE! It's Cinco de Mayo, so we thought we would go with that theme and enjoy homemade tacos for dinner, then proceed with Middle and High School games outside (weather permitting) and Elementary games in another area.Join us Wednesday, May 5th, ...  Read More

Thailand is a country in Southeast Asia that borders Cambodia and is located near Vietnam. Southern Heights Christian Church (SHCC) began supporting the late David Filbeck many years ago with his missionary work in Thailand.  This mission continues under the leadership of his family and associates and the Lanna Theological Center is an outgrowth of this mission established in 2003 for church leade...  Read More

Have you ever gone to a professional counselor during tough times, to allow them to help sort things out?  I have.  One time was a bad experience, with a secular, obviously non-Christian counselor.  The council I received floored me, was very non-Christian, encouraged me to sin in order to meet my needs!  It almost soured me on counselors in general.  But then there was the other experience, this ...  Read More

We talk about prayer in a connection sort of way, as if it’s a key to communicating with God.  And yet I’ve admitted openly in this series of Cross Point articles that I can be frustrated in prayer, because things often do not go like I want, or like I think they should.  Am I (are we) left with this frustration, simply to cry out without response?  Isn’t something missing? The answer is yes, inde...  Read More

Some unanswered prayers trace back to a fault in the one who prays.  Some unanswered prayers trace back to God’s respect for freedom and his unwillingness to coerce.  Some unanswered prayers trace back to dark powers of Satan contending with God’s rule on earth. Some unanswered prayers trace back to the impact of sin in this world, through disease, violence, and accidents.  When unanswered prayers...  Read More

Jot these dates down in your calendar!  Registration opens on April 25th. Type your new text here....  Read More

Have you ever been frustrated with no answer to a prayer?  Unless you don’t pray, I’d be surprised if that hasn’t happened.  The simple truth is: Many prayers do not clearly have an answer, at least not that we can discern.  We pray for healing, and the healing doesn’t come.  We pray for Uncle Derwood, near death, but he dies in-spite-of our prayers.  We pray our church grows, but it seems stuck e...  Read More

I like things to be upbeat at church, don't you?  No one wants a negative vibe at worship time, not on the surface at least.  But down deep, when things aren't going well in life for us, there are times when being upbeat just doesn't work.  If we are honest with God (and why wouldn't we be, since he knows our thoughts and desires anyway) we want times when others share in our problems, when we can...  Read More

I love a walk/hike in the woods. It's freeing!  Free of traffic, noise, and free of distractions only the solitude of nature.  Gasconade Christian Service camp is nestled in the woods, with all this and an added plus of sharing this get-away experience with friends (old and new).  “Church camp” as some call it, is friends, campfires, swimming, games, growing in your faith and so much more.  For so...  Read More