by Dan Jarvis | Feb 13, 2020 | Forgiveness, Say Yes to God, Six Responses to God
An Open Letter to Any Who Have Loved and Lost. Dear Suffering Friend, I wish there were words that could reverse the many tears you have shed. Experiencing loss of those we love is, I think, the worst pain a human can endure. The causes of loss are many—drugs,...
by Bill Elliff | Feb 7, 2020 | Church Leadership, Personal Growth
“Whatever you fear, you will serve,” said Rebecca Pippert. If you follow this logic, you will see how completely your fears rule you. Fear drives your thoughts and actions. It controls your life. Proverbs speaks of one of these fears and its consequences: The fear of...
by Andy Boone | Feb 5, 2020 | Say Yes to God
For months, I found myself in a place of fear, doubt, anxiety, etc. Every day, I had to push to get myself out of bed, get myself ready, and drive myself to work. My brain was firing a million thoughts a second, and my heart was beating to a similar drum. Thoughts,...
by Bill Elliff | Jan 17, 2020 | Church Leadership, Personal Growth
To be holy is to be like God Himself—different from the sinful parts of the world; sanctified, our body and soul cleansed from the ever-present defilement of sin. We are not completely, outwardly holy (in the daily, practical sense) the moment we come to Christ. God...
by John Avant | Jan 10, 2020 | Presidents Column
One hundred years ago today, on January 10, 1920, a young teenager lay dying after helping win the last battle of World War One. He called himself Homer Tommie, the names of his two best friends, because he was too young to join the army with his real name. He was...
by John Avant | Jan 2, 2020 | Presidents Column
What would happen if 65,000 college students gathered in protest? Wouldn’t it be a top news story? Well, 65,000 college students have gathered, and at least it is making the news! Here’s why they are meeting: The purpose of Passion 2020 is “you and me saying goodbye...
by Life Action | Dec 31, 2019 | Say Yes to God
Are you devoted to things that will outlive you? Or, to put the words of Colossians 3:2 in the form of a question: Is your mind set on things that are above? As believers, we are positioned to live in time, for God who exists outside of time, for a glory that will be...
by Donna Avant | Dec 25, 2019 | Say Yes to God
As I welcome Christmas morning here on Rocky Top, a dense fog has settled on the lake and is completely hiding its existence. It would be difficult at this moment for me to convince anyone that there is a beautiful lake behind my home. Yet I have seen the lake and...
by Donna Avant | Dec 24, 2019 | Say Yes to God
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you...
by Donna Avant | Dec 23, 2019 | Say Yes to God
At the Avant household, the rule has always been, “No Christmas music before Thanksgiving.” We broke that rule this year. With my surgery scheduled for December 2 and the outcome unknown, we decided we needed to worship. So on the way to celebrate Thanksgiving in...
