Articles written by Bill Lanes
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CONNECTING POINT: Help My Unbelief
Biblical arguments and debates in Christian circles about “belief” have abounded over the years, especially when it comes to faith and healing. Here’s my two cents…as humans we are rather frail and at times even the best among us doubt God....
Connecting Point: Unanswered Prayers Answered
Throughout history, countless unanswered prayers are spoken, some trite and many others sincere from those who honor God. What are some unanswered prayers you have? In time we may get discouraged, thinking God doesn’t care or is somehow...
Connecting Point: Faith & Facts by Dr Luke
Luke is one of the four synoptic Gospels authors of the New Testament and provides an interesting perspective on the life of Jesus. Here are some facts regarding the author and historical background. Luke was a physician as noted by Paul in...
Connecting Point: IMPLEMENT FORGOTTEN TOOLS
Have you ever used a specific tool for the wrong application? Recently, I came home and my wife, Dina, showed me all her hard work on the interior painting project. She did a fine job, but there was one caveat; I could sense it in her voice as she...
Connecting Point: The Motivator
Television has been a time for my children, wife, and I to be entertained, and not an exception to the rule was the ABC family show called Wipeout. Contestants were eager to compete on a wild and crazy obstacle course. One of the biggest menaces incl...
Connecting Point: No More Yes Man
Today, I’m not sure many of us are aware of how easily we over-extend ourselves. Still. In general, we often wish to help someone in need because of an honest desire to be compassionate, at least that’s how I operate, how about you? Then there...
Connecting Point: Wrong Way, Clyde
I’ve noticed our culture is adrift, rudderless, and maybe exhausted. Maybe you’ve seen the same dynamic played out in a variety of ways. Wrongs have become rights. First, I’m not writing in any attempt to persuade anyone politically. My goal...
CONNECTING POINT: Society Run By Feelings
Clearly, we are living in frightening times; modern culture is far different than even one generation ago. The peace of WWII is fading. Relativism is understood as the belief that there’s no absolute truth, only the truths that a particular...
Connecting Point: WHERE IS THE SKELETON?
No one is perfect, well, last time I checked. But, past failures and sins need not define our future, and I am thinking about right now. Is a failure haunting you? Through Jesus Christ we find redemption when we seek his forgiveness. “If you...
Connecting Point: A Healthy Self-Image
A balanced Biblical view of who we are is both necessary and healthy. Author and theologian Josh McDowell states, “A healthy self-image is seeing yourself as God sees you, no more and no less.” Certainly, there are viewpoints that get quite unbal...
Connecting Point: A CLEAR PICTURE OF GOD
Thinking about the character of God, we all see God through our own eyes, and more specifically, through our experiences. Many of these experiences are negative. The great American Poet, Robert Frost, who is the closest thing to Poet Lauriat our...
Connecting Point: Untold Strength
Being accused, “You don’t listen,” hurts. One unexpected result of the Internet and the Cell Phone age is that people are conditioned into impatience. Why is this? It is the incessant bells and whistles going off to condition us to look at our...
CONNECTING POINT: Bob's Story
Bob’s childhood was very difficult, certainly unexpected, considering that his parents were part of a ministry organization that traveled around the world preaching the saving grace of Jesus. But at home: intemperateness. Bob’s father was absent...
Connecting Point: Waste Not Fresh Tears Over Old Griefs
Monica’s first story is one of balance tragic. At 22 she brimmed with life. Her fiancée and she planned to go into ministry. Then suddenly he broke the engagement, and the rejection sent her into a spin. Having grown up a quiet girl and mostly...
Connecting Point: God & Nature - What is a Loving Relationship?
Once upon a time, Americans agreed that to THRIVE every individual went the short route by identifying what we longed for and what we craved. It was agreeable and married people, especially married old couples, learned the secrets and they were...
CONNECTING POINT: What Do You Long For?
We are created by God with natural longings. Some of these longings are honorable and pleasant within the safe boundaries taught in the Bible. Other longings are harmful, even destructive to ourselves or others as warned against in the Bible. Author...
Connecting Point: Starting Point - TO THRIVE
Our friends at Merriam-Websters define thrive as: to FLOURISH, or to progress toward or realize a goal despite or because of circumstances. With spring in full swing, I’ve noticed the dandelions thriving. I’ll be treating them real soon. Most of...
Connecting Point: Seven Closing Directives
I’ve heard literally thousands of sermons in my 52 years. As a pastor, I’ve preached hundreds of sermons over the past 35 years. One common expression a pastor often uses when wrapping up their message includes “in closing.” That’s...
Connecting Point: Hardship & Discipline
Our topics today, hardship and discipline, weave together, watch for them. Who doesn’t feel for an individual or, for that matter, a people enduring hardship and suffering? Perhaps you recall watching the movie classic The Grapes of Wrath, the...
Connecting Point: Who's Watching Us
As technology has advanced, I’ll be the first to admit distrusting the so-called “Cloud”, the online system that saves my pictures, documents, and more on a server in Butte, Bozeman, Seattle, Washington, Sacramento, California, or Dillon, just...
Connecting Point: Hebrews Chapter Eleven's Hall of Faith
To recognize exceptionality, the Pro Hall of Fame was constructed in Canton, Ohio in 1963 to recognize franchise owners, officials, front-office personnel, coaches, and players for their sweat and devotion. Since then, other endeavors have followed...
Connecting Point: Endurance and Recollection
For word history, the Cambridge Dictionary shines as one of the best, and those folks say that Endurance is “The ability to keep doing something difficult, unpleasant, or painful for a long period of time.” I’m betting, immediately, you’re...
Connecting Point: Seated on the Job
Seems today that we sit more and more. Our jobs, of course, are the culprits; and for youth, particularly boys (but increasingly girls too) gaming occupies us. Then, there is office administration, taxi services, computer programing. In the past...
Connecting Point: Is the Devil in the Details?
Are you into details? Maybe you know an aproned tart whose apple pie recipe is to die for? A mechanic so honest he loves making old cars hum? A cabinet builder whose biggest thrill: seeing the happiness in the customer’s eyes when first she sees...
Connecting Point: Out with the Old, In with the New
As spring approaches many individuals have an itch, it's time to start mucking through possessions. My friends and I helped another person in need of this kind of service, sifting through a lifetime of collections. Our community benefited from this...