Tag Archives: Marriage

The Most Abused Word in the English Language

Posted on January 29, 2019 by cchrisholland

One of the striking traits of letters written in the 19th century is the level of thought put into them. For example, notes sent home during the American Civil War contain sentences filled with deliberate, carefully crafted terms of endearment. … Continue reading →

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Considering Shamgar

Posted on December 20, 2018 by cchrisholland

Thought about Shamgar lately? Probably not. He was one of the Judges of Israel like Samson and Gideon. However, he rarely makes the cut for children’s Sunday School lessons because the entire biblical narrative of his life consist of only … Continue reading →

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Truth and Opinion

Posted on December 14, 2018 by cchrisholland

Opinions are cheap and endless. They’re printed, posted, tweeted, spoken, and advertised; but at the end of it all, these words will still be true: “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands … Continue reading →

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The Elements of Trust

Posted on November 27, 2018 by cchrisholland

“Confidence” and “expectation” are elements of “trust”. When it comes to people, to place trust in someone is to have confidence or expectations regarding their character. The interesting question is, “What produces the confidence or expectation?” Does it come from … Continue reading →

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Day-by-Day Renewal

Posted on November 26, 2018 by cchrisholland

How does renewal come from the Lord? Is it something received at a Sunday worship service or Bible study? It can be. However, even though gatherings can have a powerful impact, the biblical picture of God’s sustaining often looks more … Continue reading →

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Unchained and Free

Posted on November 20, 2018 by cchrisholland

What does freedom and liberty in Christ look like? Is it throwing off the shackles of religious legalism? Yes. Is it hope of being without condemnation at the judgement? Yes, by God’s grace that’s absolutely true! But what about day-to-day … Continue reading →

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Pleasing Aromas

Posted on November 17, 2018 by cchrisholland

Do you like the smell of cookies baking? Steaks grilling? Fresh coffee brewing? How about your wife’s perfume or husband’s aftershave? In life, there are emotions, memories, and mental images tied to aromas and fragrances. In 2 Corinthians 2:12-17 Paul … Continue reading →

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One Foot in Front of the Other

Posted on November 15, 2018 by cchrisholland

When the trail of life gets long, it often comes down to simply putting-one-foot-in-front-of-the-other. It’s the point where the scenery is no longer inspiring, the small talk isn’t interesting, the pack has gotten heavy and rest seems far away. In … Continue reading →

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Love is…

Posted on November 12, 2018 by cchrisholland

The word “love” is often used carelessly. In the Bible, however, the word love carries much more weight than just feelings that come and go, it involves an act of the will. It describes a “decided” love between people, love … Continue reading →

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Stronger Together

Posted on November 10, 2018 by cchrisholland

In the ancient world, Hittite craftsmen made bows by layering materials that were held together by a simple, but surprisingly strong glue. The “composite” design shot arrows faster and made the bow more durable. Modern technology has made many improvements, but the composite principle discovered long … Continue reading →

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Whatever Actually Means Whatever

Posted on November 9, 2018 by cchrisholland

Details can be important. For example, one wrong calculation can cause a spaceship to miss its target by thousands of miles, and a decimal point can turn a good business deal into a disaster. As a former Pharisee, Paul was … Continue reading →

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Watch Your Step

Posted on November 8, 2018 by cchrisholland

Banana peels are slippery. Thankfully it’s not common to see one on the sidewalks, but there’s a lot of spiritual “banana peels” tossed onto a disciple’s path each day. The danger is getting too comfortable with their presence, which can lead … Continue reading →

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Overcoming

Posted on October 11, 2018 by cchrisholland

Evil is restless. It’s never content with marginal status, and the Bible teaches that a proper defense is actually a posture of offense. In Romans chapter 12, there’s a series of directives given for the active, grace-filled life. There are things like … Continue reading →

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Wisdom 4.23

Posted on September 26, 2018 by cchrisholland

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” – Proverbs 4:23 NIV The enemy is always scattering seeds of doubt, fear, anger, lust, jealousy (and other things) that aren’t of the Lord. The battle to … Continue reading →

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Fair

Posted on September 20, 2018 by cchrisholland

Is God fair? Before you answer, consider the next question, “What’s “fair”?” Is it an agreement between differing sides, a declaration from a judge, or an evenly dispersed resource? The difficulty with “fair” is that most people have opinions and they … Continue reading →

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Winning

Posted on September 13, 2018 by cchrisholland

Do you ever feel like the “bad” is winning all around you while the “good” struggles? Perhaps some days you wonder if it’s even worth the effort to seek out and do what’s right, but the Bible reminds us God … Continue reading →

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Wisdom 3.5

Posted on September 12, 2018 by cchrisholland

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” – Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV Is your confidence built exclusively on the Lord, or … Continue reading →

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Measures

Posted on September 7, 2018 by cchrisholland

Why do experienced builders still bother with measuring equipment? With all that practice, shouldn’t a seasoned carpenter be able to simply take a good look, mark, cut, place and nail without a measuring tape or level? Not exactly. The experienced builder knows … Continue reading →

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The Unbreakable Law

Posted on September 6, 2018 by cchrisholland

Laws are often violated; either on purpose, through negligence, or lack of knowledge. However, there’s one that cannot be broken: “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.” – Gal. 6:7 NKJV … Continue reading →

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Wisdom 3.3

Posted on September 5, 2018 by cchrisholland

“Let not mercy and truth forsake you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart, and so find favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man.” – Proverbs 3:3-4 NKJV Is God’s … Continue reading →

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