Closer to Home – Men: Consider the Person

Consider the Person
 
Key Bible Verse: Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up … (Ephesians 4:29 NIV). Bonus Reading: Romans 15:2-3
 
The friendship of a couple I knew was amazing. They were able to say the toughest things to each other, things that are [...]

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Closer to Home – Parenting: Home is a Small Group for Mission

Home is a Small Group for Mission
Home is the ultimate small group for growth and mission in this world.  Think about it.  Home life provides a context of discipleship unlike any other where parents serve as primary pastors to their children.  Mark Driscoll writes,
Because parents love their children the deepest, know them the best, and [...]

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Closer to Home – Women: U.S. Women More Religious

U.S. Women More Religious Than Men
This is according to a newly released bit of number crunching from the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life, which bases the numbers on its massive U.S. Religious Landscape Survey. Most of the research was conducted in 2007 and the survey remains a treasure trove of facts and figures on [...]

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Closer to Home – Men: Every-day Conversation

“Everyday” Doesn’t Mean “Insignficant”
Key Bible Verse: “What you say flows from what is in your heart.” (Luke 6:45). Bonus Reading: Matthew 12:33-37
Your everyday communication influences the shape, quality, and direction of your relationships. Every day your words give your relationships their tone. Every day you tell  people what you think of them, what you want [...]

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Closer to Home – Singles: Letting go

Letting Go of a Relationship
Most of us know that letting go of a relationship, even if it’s a toxic relationship, is one of the most difficult thing to do. In a previous article we mentioned when it might be a good idea to let go of a relationship However,  many single Christians have communicated to [...]

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Closer to Home – Women: Setting Realistic Goals

Setting Realistic Goals at Home & Work
Practical ways to beat the “too much to do” blues.
Mary M. Byers

Do you have too much to do and not enough time to do it? If so, you’re not the only mom who wrestles with the “If I only had more time” syndrome. Here’s how to help insure your [...]

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Closer to Home – Men: Consider the Problem

Consider the Problem

Key Bible Verse: Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs (Ephesians 4:29 NIV). Bonus Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:14-6:1
Every word an ambassador speaks is directed by the king’s interest and will. What we say must be driven [...]

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Closer to Home – Singles: Confronting Cohabitation

Graciously Confronting Cohabitation
The Wall Street Journal reports, “Marriage is on the Rocks.”  In a recent piece by Mark Penn, entitled “Committed Cohabiters” we are reminded that fewer than one in four U.S. households consist of a married couple with children. Married couples of any kind have fallen into the minority as of 2005.  Its not [...]

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Closer to Home – Marriage: Fighting about Money

What Fighting About Money Will Cost You
Tips to keep you out of the red.
Ellie Kay
 
Most couples, when asked if they argue about money, will reply, “We really don’t fight about money, we just have occasional disagreements.”
Yeah, right.
When my husband, Bob, and I were newly married he (the born spender) went into an electronics store to [...]

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Closer to Home – Women: Biblical Description of Women

Interesting how little being “hot” comes into the picture, or having a sense of humor, being a great conversationalist or whatever else e-harmony or whatever thinks makes a good match.
Biblical Descriptions of Women
Here’s a fairly exhaustive study of the word “woman” in the Bible, with all of its uses and descriptions (from the ESV version, [...]

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