Series: Featured

July 12, 2014

Christian Standard

Wayne’s Words

By Jack Cottrell (From our series “The Best or Worst Advice I’ve Ever Received.”) As early as junior high school I had decided I wanted to be a preacher, but well-meaning high school teachers pressured me in other directions. I grew up on a farm and was active in vocational agriculture during high school, and was awarded a nice scholarship by our county farm bureau. Thus, by the time I was a senior, I had changed my mind and decided to enroll in the University of Kentucky to study agriculture. Either in the summer of 1954 or 1955, during senior

July 11, 2014

Christian Standard

Two-Week Trial

  By Lloyd M. Pelfrey (From our series “The Best or Worst Advice I’ve Ever Received.”) H. Lynn Gardner provided advice I have used and given to others. Lynn is a former academic dean at Ozark Christian College and a former teacher at Central Christian College of the Bible. Lynn”s advice concerned a procedure when making a major decision: Make the decision (after careful consideration), and then live with that decision for two weeks to see if you are still comfortable with it. Others involved in the decision may be informed of the two-week time factor. This allows a different

July 11, 2014

Christian Standard

From Secretary to Field Rep

By Veva Appel (From our series “The Best or Worst Advice I’ve Ever Received.”) The best advice I have ever received, other than taking the advice of the man who asked me to marry him, came from my boss, George Gahr, president of Christian Homes, where I was his secretary. After my beloved husband, Leon Appel, died at a young age, I thought I would be continuing in the secretarial position I enjoyed. But one day, Mr. Gahr asked me, “Veva, would you be willing to do some development work for Christian Homes?” I replied, “George, don’t ask me, I

July 11, 2014

Christian Standard

Advice to a Dad

By Dave Stone (From our series “The Best or Worst Advice I’ve Ever Received.”) The best advice I ever received was this: “The best way to be a good father is to be a good husband.” It was given to me by Chuck Lee, a former staff member, who shared it with me soon after the birth of our first child. Dave Stone serves as senior pastor with Southeast Christian Church, Louisville, Kentucky.

July 10, 2014

Christian Standard

Better Leadership, Healthy Churches, Money Matters

By Ben Merold (From our series “The Best or Worst Advice I’ve Ever Received.”) The best advice I ever received came after I moved to Southern California in 1969, during the peak of a Pentecostal movement in that area. The movement was very sophisticated in its approach and seemed to touch every segment of that society. There were many good things about this, but there were also things that became very divisive to the work of a New Testament church. As a result, I went through a lengthy period of pressure and frustration in my ministry. One morning I accepted

July 10, 2014

Christian Standard

Experiences, Relationships

By Greg Nettle (From our series “The Best or Worst Advice I’ve Ever Received.”) Best advice: Wess Stafford, then president of Compassion International, was mentoring me on how to disciple my own children. He advised, “Give your children experiences, not things.” Worst advice: One of my Bible college professors advised, “Never be close friends with people in the church you lead.” Greg Nettle serves as president with Stadia, Irvine, California.

July 10, 2014

Christian Standard

Course Correction

By Doug Lucas (From our series “The Best or Worst Advice I’ve Ever Received.”) The best advice I ever received was from Professor Tom Gemeinhart at Kentucky Christian College (now KCU) in 1977. Over the course of the first nine weeks in his class, “Principles and Methods of Missions” (which I had to take as a requirement), we studied the Great Commission as found in five different books of the Bible. We analyzed the story of the watchman on the wall in Ezekiel. We looked at Jonah, Barnabas, and of course Paul. In fact, by the time we were done,

July 9, 2014

Christian Standard

Be Patient!

  By David Faust (From our series “The Best or Worst Advice I’ve Ever Received.”) Worst advice about choosing a career (from my high school guidance counselor in 1972): “Don”t go into ministry. You will waste your life.” Best advice about choosing a career (from my Bible college professor, Charles A. Lee, in 1974): “Spend your life on things that matter. The worst curse in a job isn”t working for a difficult boss or being underpaid. The worst curse is meaninglessness.” Best advice about marriage (from a magazine article I read shortly after getting married in 1975): “Don”t overanalyze your

July 9, 2014

Christian Standard

Too Much Preparation?

By Bruce Templeton (From our series “The Best or Worst Advice I’ve Ever Received.”) The worst advice I ever received was from an elder who knew a lot about running a bank, but very little about leading a church. I was “young and dumb,” but I loved the church and was willing to listen to any advice I could get! I was serving a church coming off its best year in the last 25: more baptisms, greater attendance, and a greater spirit of excitement and joy. He believed the real way to build a church was to visit people who

July 9, 2014

Christian Standard

Mind My Speak

By Eddie Lowen (From our series “The Best or Worst Advice I’ve Ever Received.”) “Always speak your mind.” That”s the worst advice I”ve ever received. Buried beneath the rubble caused by this axiom, there is a bit of noble instruction: be honest and transparent. There are times when “a word aptly spoken” (Proverbs 25:11, NIV, 1984) is refreshing and important. A bold word of truth can turn a conversation or decision or life in the right direction.  However, people who announce, “I”m an open book,” or, “You always know where I stand,” are often belligerent people in search of justification

July 8, 2014

Christian Standard

Bad Sermons, Big Vision

By Alan Ahlgrim (From our series “The Best or Worst Advice I’ve Ever Received.”) One of my favorite elders is the source of both the best and worst advice I can think of. Just after we occupied our new building, with a huge debt, and just before a Sunday service, Norm said, “This church is just two bad sermons away from disaster!” That was the worst. The best came from the same man a few years later when we were celebrating our 10th anniversary. He delivered the heartfelt and encouraging reminder, “God”s vision for this church has always been bigger

July 8, 2014

Christian Standard

Loving God Wholeheartedly

By Indu Lall (From our series “The Best or Worst Advice I’ve Ever Received.”) “God has made us relational beings. He has given us the commandments for our best. When it comes to living a Christian life, “˜love God with all your heart and love your neighbor as yourself.”” I received this “best advice“ from my Heavenly Father and my earthly parents. My parents were committed servants of the Lord Jesus Christ. They sacrificially served lepers all of their lives in a very remote village of India. If God wanted them to have an easy, comfortable, happy, luxurious life””and if

July 5, 2014

Christian Standard

5 Things to Do at the NACC

By Susan Lawrence As usual, the North American Christian Convention is packed with possibilities. You might not know where to begin. If you”ve attended for years, you might drift through this year”s event””July 8 to 11 in Indianapolis””on autopilot. Or, perhaps you want to take in as much as possible, so you”ve highlighted your program to maximize every day from sunrise to well past sunset. Take a deep breath. The NACC isn”t just a program for you to power through. 1. Make eye contact. Notice people around you. Stroll. Sit. Savor. Don”t rush from one session to another and miss

June 27, 2014

Christian Standard

The Upside of Failing

By Danny R. Von Kanel Devastated or disappointed by your recent failure? Maybe you should see it as the first step toward your success. Christian businessman James Cash Penney Jr., who founded the J.C. Penney retail chain in the early 1900s, failed in his first foray into business in 1898, after he refused to give liquor to the cook of the hotel that was buying a good percentage of the meat from his butcher shop. Though Penney was devastated by the blow, in the end, it proved to be a blessing. Penney had a unique view of failing that resulted

June 26, 2014

Christian Standard

How Much Can We Accomplish Without God?

By Brett Andrews “I love agitation and investigation and glory in defending unpopular truth against popular error.” “”President James A. Garfield My father-in-law died of cancer a few short weeks after being diagnosed. Until diagnosed, he worked, hunted, and enjoyed his grandchildren to the fullest. Although slowed by lower energy levels, he still worked. Although bothered by nagging back pains, he still felt he had many good years left to enjoy working, hunting, and time with his grandchildren. Then he dared see a doctor. The doctor dared to be honest about what he saw. And my father-in-law didn”t like what

June 24, 2014

Christian Standard

Room for Doubt””Reason for Hope

By Mark Mittelberg “Mom, Dad . . . I don”t want to hurt you, but you need to know that since moving away from home I”ve started to have a lot of doubts about spiritual stuff you taught me growing up. I”ve been thinking about it quite a bit and, well, the whole idea that there”s a supreme being who made everything and who hears all our prayers and is trying to guide our lives””I just can”t accept it any longer. . . .” I can”t tell you have many times I”ve heard words like these when I talk with

June 23, 2014

Christian Standard

Where Will We Go Without God?

By Richard Knopp Those who refute the possibility of cosmic intelligence””they won”t allow that God created the universe””make several demands on those who do believe. Are their demands reasonable? And do they abide by them themselves? Many Christians are aware that apologetics involves “defending” the faith. Peter says we are to be ready always to “make a defense [Greek, apologia] to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you” (1 Peter 3:15, New American Standard Bible). The need for apologetics is illustrated by the disturbing number of churched young people who are wandering

June 21, 2014

Christian Standard

This Is MY Story

By Casey Tygrett I remember walking through the double doors onto the well-worn rose carpet of our church”s foyer. There were smiling people wearing suits and ties, or at least dress shirts, and the smell of perfume was strong enough to cause numbness if you inhaled too deeply. Two handle-free, faux-walnut doors swung open into a wood and white sanctuary. Inside, we sang familiar melodies with well-worn lyrics: “This is my story, this is my song.” “I heard an old, old story, how a Savior came from glory.” Then we heard about Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. And Jesus, who stepped

June 20, 2014

Christian Standard

Failure to Convince

By Jonathan Williams “I don”t need your God to make me good.” I was having lunch with Tom, a close friend and devout atheist. I ordered the Reuben. He went light with the salad. The topic was heavy. “Then what”s your foundation for goodness and morality?” I asked him. “What stops you from being a compulsive liar or a career con artist?” “Morality and goodness are biological,” Tom replied, “they”ve been with us from the beginning. That”s how our species not only survives, but also thrives.” I brought up the late Jeffrey Dahmer, a convicted murderer and sex offender, who,

June 19, 2014

Christian Standard

Finding a Point of Contact with Anyone

By John Castelein What does it mean that Jesus wants his disciples to be “in the world . . . not of the world” (John 17:13-19)? “In the world” involves more than merely being involved with the world or being aware of the culture. I believe it means being able to connect with people who have not committed to God”s kingdom. “Not of the world” means living out kingdom values and commitments that differ from those of worldly people. Unfortunately, as many Christians become more and more “not of the world,” they have less involvement and connection with people “in

Help Keep Christian Standard Free & Accessible with a Tax Deductible Donation

We can do more together!

Every gift makes a difference!

No, thank you.
100% secure transactions - receipts provided.
Does Your Church Want to Support Christian Standard?

Would your church consider including support for Christian Standard in its annual missions budget? Your support would help us not only continue the 160-year legacy of this unifying ministry, but also expand the free resources, cooperative opportunities, and practical guidance we provide to strengthen churches in the U.S. and around the world.

We can do more together!

Every gift makes a difference!

No, thank you.
100% secure transactions - receipts provided.
Secret Link