We are all guilty.  We check our Facebook messages while driving down the road.  We post tweets at the dinner table.  We get up in the morning and check our email.  As a matter of fact, you are probably reading this article because you linked it from a social outlet.  We are social creatures and are therefore naturally interested in what is going on in the lives of others (that is a nice way of saying we are nosy).

There is nothing inherently wrong with being plugged in; there is nothing wrong with staying connected with friends and family.  In …

Recent trends in Christianity reveal that the church is revamping traditional worship services to accommodate the world. More and more congregations are calling off Sunday evening services in an attempt to promote family and leisure time. Wednesday evening services are reduced to small “connect groups.” Statistics prove that although America is still a religious nation, it is placing less emphasis on faithful church attendance with the average parishioner only attending 2-4 services a month. However, the current trends that de-emphasize church attendance are not producing “on-fire” Christians; on the contrary, the results show that more and more believers are becoming …

Recent trends in Christianity reveal that the church is revamping traditional worship services to accommodate the world. More and more congregations are calling off Sunday evening services in an attempt to promote family and leisure time. Wednesday evening services are reduced to small “connect groups.” Statistics prove that although America is still a religious nation, it is placing less emphasis on faithful church attendance with the average parishioner only attending 2-4 services a month. However, the current trends that de-emphasize church attendance are not producing “on-fire” Christians; on the contrary, the results show that more and more believers are becoming …

I am about to make a pretty bold suggestion: If you are a parent, and you only have time to read one book this entire year I would greatly encourage you to read Passionate Parenting by Cary Schmidt. Pastor Schmidt was the long-time associate pastor of Paul Chappell at Lancaster Baptist Church in Lancaster, California. He is now the pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Newington, Connecticut.

Cary Schmidt has authored many other books published through Striving Together Publications, but Passionate Parenting is by far his best. His practical insight, easy-to-read style, and honest assessment about his own failures as …

I am going to confess something…I have to really work at being positive. I am not a naturally-optimistic person; as a matter of fact, I lean toward pessimism more times than not. So for me to stay positive requires a lot of effort on my part.

I know most of you who are reading this do not have this issue (did I mention that I am sarcastic as well); but I have learned that being and staying positive really is a choice that we make about the everyday decisions in life. I have studied various causes for pessimism and they …