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CREATIVE FUTURE FAMILY TREE

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  Today I want to share with you a plan for preparing a future family tree. The one I am working on I have called “Prayers for the Future: Allen Family” 2026-2126. The idea comes from one of my books called Dare To Walk On Water: Treasuring God. This DARE is one of more than eighty in the book. Each DARE provides a practical and action-oriented way in which you can put into practice Biblical truth about God Almighty. Here is the DARE from chapter 41, The God Who Is Enough. DARE to commit the future of your family to the God who is Enough. Write out a 100 year “hope” for your children and later descendants. Plan the godly future you would like to have them experience. Ask God to give your children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren godly spouses. Ask Him to be preparing right now the parents of those who will one day marry your descendants so that those parents will raise the future spouses in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Outline the education you would like you...
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CREATIVE CHILDREN'S BOOK

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  Katie Allen writes: After 9 years of writing, sketching, repainting, editing… I am SO EXCITED to say we have (self) published our first children’s book!!! Backstory: About 9 years ago, in a small and cozy townhouse, it was 20 below zero and I desperately wanted to be gardening in the sunshine. Seed catalogs were coming in, and all I could do was plan and wait… and then I started sketching veggie dragons. And where would said dragons grow? In a castle! Who would tend them? A shy but brave girl who has Vitiligo. Why Vitiligo? Because a friend of mine was struggling with it and I think it’s absolutely beautiful. I can’t write. But Chris sure does! So here we are! This is our first book in a series. You can find it here: https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084...  
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CREATIVE COOPERATION

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  After publishing “Who Killed the Bible College?” I heard from several individuals concerning the continued prosperity of some schools. That was great news because the success of biblical institutions of higher learning is exactly what I would like to see, and is the reason I wrote the book. One of those individuals was my friend Rick Brooks who has served with Word of Life Bible Institute for many years. It has just been announced that Word of Life has formalized a new partnership with Dallas Theological Seminary. This involves three primary components. Word of Life and DTS will become symbiotic partners across all Word of Life regions. This involves unity and continuity theologically, ministerially, and philosophically. Secondly, the two entities will provide a united framework for collaboration in biblical and theological education worldwide. And finally, it will allow regional agreements to be formed as opportunities develop. This is already underway in Brazil and Argentin...
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CREATIVE MUSEUM

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  One of the blessings of working with the Golden Agers at Fourth Baptist Church is the privilege of discovering sites here in Minnesota which I never knew about before. One of the places we visited recently was the Bible Museum in Apple Valley. Although the Museum is small and could certainly use more room, it is full of fascinating and insightful information concerning the Bible. Our host began by taking us into the art gallery. He introduced just a few of the many reproductions of famous paintings depicting scenes from the Bible. We could have spent the entire day just gazing at the ways artists have brought Bible events to life through painting. Next, we visited the Bible exhibit. A display of the discovery of the Dead Sea scrolls at Qumran explained that more recent discovery. Codex from Sinai, numerous copies of the Bible from various time periods, and a model of the Gutenberg press brought the history of the Bible to life. The museum is open on weekdays from 10 to 4 ...
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CREATIVE SCHOLARSHIP

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  The germination of a scholarly book takes time. Seeds were planted during the process of writing a doctoral dissertation at Dallas Seminary in 1999. Growth came through the development of a presentation for the MacDonald Lectures at Central Baptist Seminary and the preparation of articles published by Shepherd’s Seminary, the Detroit Baptist Seminary Journal , and Gloria Deo Journal of Theology. Now the full plant has emerged in the form of a new book called My Sheep Follow Me , published by Kregel Academic. Dr. Jon Pratt explained the process in an interview with Micah Tanis on the Central Seminary Podcast Videos, episode 79, which can be viewed on You Tube. The subtitle for Dr. Pratt’s book is “A Study of Perseverance and the Threat of Antinomianism.” The book surveys New Testament teachings about sanctification. It explores what progress toward holiness looks like and reminds Christians that all those who belong to Christ, who are His sheep, will follow Him by living h...
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CREATIVE EASTER HYMN

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  The sermon abounded with Easter imagery, hosannah, cross, and empty tomb. But one phrase caught attention: He came with the lambs. Bethlehem, surrounded by shepherd’s fields. Shepherd boys rushing to discover the babe in the manger. He came with the lambs. Jerusalem, sacrificial lambs crowding the very streets where a donkey carried Christ for the triumphal entry. Preparations for the Passover. He came with the lambs. The lyrics and music flowed. Allow the theme and thought to penetrate your heart and soul as well. Click the following link and make “He Came With the Lambs” part of your Easter celebration. Sing it. Offer it to one of your soloists at church. Include it free of charge in your Easter services. https://drive.google.com/file/d/18pph-V6ayL7Z6F7qnzHY6waQ-Rt2OebM/view?usp=sharing “Behold! The Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29 NKJV). He came with the Lambs.
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CREATIVE INVESTIGATION

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  The Bible College movement has supported and furthered the work of the church for many years. Now, some of those schools have closed.   Who Killed the Bible College?   suggests a lineup of (un)usual suspects, not for the purpose of assigning blame, but in the hope that further deaths may be avoided. It would be easy to focus on one culprit and make that suspect the scapegoat. Extensive research reveals a cumulative effect from many problems Bible colleges face. By considering each subject in the lineup sequentially, it is hoped that decisions in many individual areas may prevent that cumulative effect leading to further demise. Churches today desperately need the pastors, missionaries, musicians, teachers and biblically trained laymen historically produced by the Bible College movement. Perhaps by taking an honest look at the past we can solve potential problems before they take an even greater toll on our schools. Twenty-four (un)usual suspects are listed, along with a...
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