Church Life Archives - Page 7 of 10 - The Artios Center for Vibrant Leadership

For Those Who Grieve

Brian Franks2022-07-20T09:38:36-06:00

By Whaid Rose Reflections on the passing of David Ross and words of encouragement to Makayla, her girls, and the Artios Community Life in our fallen world presents us with regular occasions to grieve. We grieve job change, loss of health, divorce, and major life transitions. But nothing rocks our world like the death of a loved one, which is what Makayla Ross, Artios’ Co-Director, just experienced. Walking with her husband David through the valley of the shadow of death for weeks, Makayla watched him take his last breath this past Sunday evening, May 16th. This isn’t the outcome I and [...]

For Those Who GrieveBrian Franks2022-07-20T09:38:36-06:00

Three Ways We Get Vocation Wrong

Brian Franks2023-08-23T15:59:35-06:00

By Amber Riggs A huge chunk of your life revolves around your work. It isn’t just clocking in, clocking out, and everything between. You plan your entire day around your work. It determines when you wake up, when you go to sleep, when you eat, and when you play. When it comes to being a Christian who works, we find ourselves asking questions about how our job fits in with God’s plan for our lives. My job doesn’t give me any sense of purpose; does God care? Am I doing what God wants me to do? or maybe How can I serve God more when I [...]

Three Ways We Get Vocation WrongBrian Franks2023-08-23T15:59:35-06:00

Ground Zero Perspectives New: Remembering September 11 and the Lessons We Learned

Brian Franks2022-07-20T09:30:11-06:00

By Whaid Rose GROUND ZERO For those old enough to recall them, the images remain vivid: the twin towers of the World Trade Center belching smoke and spewing debris; people leaping from the burning inferno to their death a hundred stories below; the buildings collapsing; terrified New Yorkers running, their clothes covered in ashes; the west wing of the Pentagon burning in the nation’s capital; in an open field in Pennsylvania, shocked residents viewing the scene of a downed airplane. That disastrous day is now twenty years past. It doesn’t seem so long ago. Lest we forget, this milestone anniversary is [...]

Ground Zero Perspectives New: Remembering September 11 and the Lessons We LearnedBrian Franks2022-07-20T09:30:11-06:00

Are We a Supportive Community

Brian Franks2022-07-12T13:12:49-06:00

By Brian Franks We’re meant for community. In the beginning, the perfect, self-existent, self-sufficient, all-powerful, living God chose to create. In this creation He laid the groundwork, and literally the ground itself, for His vision. He made the stars, flora, and fauna of every kind. Indeed, everything we see sprang to life at His command or hand. Then, He continued with two more creation acts: “let us make humanity in our image” (Genesis 1:26) and God set apart the Sabbath day and blessed it (Genesis 2:3). Both of these are deeply intentional acts of community. The Sabbath is not a day of sleep. [...]

Are We a Supportive CommunityBrian Franks2022-07-12T13:12:49-06:00

Why Jesus Tells Us to Forgive Without Limit

Brian Franks2022-07-12T13:11:01-06:00

By Andrea Slawson I’m going to let you in on a secret: being a Christian leader is hard. You’re called to influence those around you for the sake of Christ? This is a tall order. Know what else is hard to do? Forgive. It’s hard because sometimes forgiveness is attached to confrontation. These situations are especially hard for those who are introverts at heart. Yet, when God tugs at my heart, I cannot help but obey because I love Him and I love to please Him. Although leadership and forgiveness are difficult tasks in our own strength, thankfully His Spirit enables [...]

Why Jesus Tells Us to Forgive Without LimitBrian Franks2022-07-12T13:11:01-06:00

Soaking Up the Meaning of Worship in the Scriptures Part 2

Brian Franks2022-07-11T10:18:31-06:00

By Brian Franks WORSHIP IN THE GOSPELS Matt 2:11 “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.” The wise men from the east arrive to find a toddler Jesus and worship him as King and Messiah. Matt 4:9-10 “And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.”Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’” Satan tries to [...]

Soaking Up the Meaning of Worship in the Scriptures Part 2Brian Franks2022-07-11T10:18:31-06:00

Soaking Up the Meaning of Worship in the Scriptures Part 1

Brian Franks2022-07-12T12:28:33-06:00

By Brian Franks WORSHIP? Worship is a challenging word. We might use it in our normal lives, when we say someone worships a sports team or an entertainment star or even a loved one. “She worships the ground they walk on.” Or we might say something like “Let’s go to worship” or “It’s time for worship.” We are probably familiar with or are part of the Worship Team in church. Yet, worship is a far bigger and more important issue than we tend to make it. In fact, worship could be said to be THE issue of faith and the universe. That may sound dramatic, but let’s review some [...]

Soaking Up the Meaning of Worship in the Scriptures Part 1Brian Franks2022-07-12T12:28:33-06:00

The Power of Prayer

Brian Franks2022-07-11T10:11:31-06:00

By Brian Franks There’s a powerful ministry available to the church! It’s one that can easily be practiced by a small child, someone nearing 100 years old, and anyone between. It’s a ministry that any Christians can do together at any time. It can be intricately planned or done on the fly. Yet, often this ministry is seen as an afterthought. Many times, it is not seen as a solution to issues. Sometimes it’s not thought of at all. This ministry is prayer and in prayer there is much power. It is not powerful because we tell God what to do and command the Lord to [...]

The Power of PrayerBrian Franks2022-07-11T10:11:31-06:00

Our Work and Our Worship: Labor Day Reflections for Committed Disciples

Brian Franks2023-08-23T15:58:38-06:00

By Whaid Rose Talk of Floyd Martin, a Georgia mailman, filled the air as some 300 people gathered for the surprise block party planned to mark his retirement! Floyd was retiring after 35 years with the Postal Service, and the people celebrating him lived along the downtown Marietta route Floyd worked for the last 20 of those years. To these folks, Floyd was much more than a mailman. Each day he delivered positive energy and encouragement, even feeding the birds and animals as he did his work. So they decorated their mailboxes, raised money for Floyd’s getaway trip to Hawaii, and [...]

Our Work and Our Worship: Labor Day Reflections for Committed DisciplesBrian Franks2023-08-23T15:58:38-06:00

A Compelling Case for Contemporary Worship Songs

Brian Franks2022-07-11T10:07:37-06:00

By Israel Steinmetz I grew up singing old traditional hymns. I loved to worship singing them as a child and I love to worship singing them now. Few things draw me as quickly or closely to God’s presence as the simple, heartrending Near the Cross or the poetic strains of Be Thou My Vision. Yet I also love many of the contemporary songs being composed today. Sadly, people’s love for traditional or contemporary has often resulted in conflict and division within the Church. “Worship wars” rage on as people tout their tastes and preferences and all too often we act as though we are [...]

A Compelling Case for Contemporary Worship SongsBrian Franks2022-07-11T10:07:37-06:00

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