Sharon R. Hoover's Blog, page 2

Goal of Missions (Part 3)

In the past several posts, we have been laying the biblical foundations for missions. The first reason we serve is to glorify God. The second reason is to obey Christ’s calling. This post explores the final principle for our missional engagement. The third purpose for missions is to meet the needs of others. We Serve...

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Real Goal of Missions (Part 2)

What principles serve as guidance for missions? People describe the church’s purpose for engagement in a wide range of definitions. A review of Scripture helps us discover foundational principles for missions. It reveals three ways Christian mission differs from random acts of kindness. Last week’s post highlighted the first principle: We serve to glorify God. Our...

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Beyond feel-good feelings: The real goal of missions

Why do we serve? How does Christ-centered outreach differ from today’s pay-it-forward, random-act-of-kindness culture? What is Christian mission? The global church willingly gives millions of hours and dollars every year in the name of missions and outreach. We serve in the far corners of the planet and in local schools. We teach English as a...

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Joy of Parenting

Among the greatest challenges in my life is the journey of parenting. My husband and I want to be loving, encouraging, and Christ-centered. We also know correction, training, and discipline are necessary. Tension rises when imbalances emerge among these various aspects of parenting. With a plan, the tension decreases. My friend, Shelly Wildman, has written...

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Best Intentions for Church

Many years ago a story about a little lighthouse caused me to re-think church. Although it’s original author is unknown, Brent Hunter’s classic telling of the Parable of a Lighthouse has been around awhile. Have you heard the tale? On a dangerous seacoast where shipwrecks often occur there was once a crude little life-saving station....

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Generosity flows out of faith

Life lessons intrude at the most inconvenient times. When I am most wrapped in my own world, the actions of others shouts a lecture of life that I cannot avoid. My friend, Lynn, pulled her arms out of her coat. We had paused on our city walk to talk with a woman on a bench....

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How to walk in another person’s shoes

In our increasingly diverse world, how can we better understand one another? If only we could walk in the shoes of another person, we would learn of their struggles and hopes and difficult choices. News articles, editorials, blogs, and movies have helped. True. I have gained insights into the lives of people from different ethnic,...

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How Embracing God’s Holiness Releases Contentment

I used to find comfort in my ability to figure things out. I organized and mapped and planned. But then life’s complexities continually complicated the plans. It took a few decades but eventually I figured out how much I could not figure out. Things never go as planned. Friends and family react differently than I...

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Can You Hear the Light?

I am struggling to understand the culture and climate in our country. Tension grows. Some share a heart for resolution but lack of direction leaves us immobile. Communities are on the brink of anger. Some tread lightly. Others, not so lightly. Few are listening… Can you hear the light? Loud shadows drape the land. In...

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A Note to My Younger Self

Wouldn’t you love to go back in time and give your younger self advice? Looking over my decades, I have plenty I would have loved to tell me! If only I had had my future wisdom for my previous present, my worries would have decreased and my choices-IQ would have increased. My friend, Andrea Lucado,...

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