Thu, 13 Mar 2008 01:18:29 -0400 http://www.24x7alive.com/new/ Faith Alive en-us http://www.24x7alive.com/new/images/http://24x7alive.com/old/_borders/Faith%20Alive%20Color%20Logo.jpg http://www.24x7alive.com/new/ webmaster@24x7alive.com http://www.24x7alive.com/new/Article53.html What does the book, Moby Dick, have in common with the Bible? You might be surprised. Thu, 13 Mar 2008 01:18:29 -0400 http://www.24x7alive.com/new/Article52.html A group of two or three people within Faith Alive can become "Running Partners." Running Partners meet weekly outside the Alive Group time to ask these questions of one another and pray for each other. Running Partners sign a covenant where they commit to being confidential and supportive. Accountability Questions: 1) Have you been a positive testimony to the greatness of Jesus Christ with both your words and your other actions this week? 2) Have you been exposed to sexually alluring material or allowed your mind to entertain inappropriate sexual thoughts about another this week? 3) Have you lacked integrity in your dealings or coveted something that does not belong to you this week? 4) Have you been honoring, understanding, and generous in your important relationships this week? 5) Have you damaged others by your words, either to their faces or behind their backs this week? 6) Have you given in to an addictive behavior this week? Explain. 7) Have you continued to remain angry toward another? 8) Have you secretly wished for another’s misfortune? 9) (Personalized Accountability Question) 10) Did you finish your Bible reading and hear from God? What action will you take as a result? 11) Have you been completely honest with me just now? These are from the House Church Manual by Bill Tenny-Brittian, Chalice Press, St. Louis, 2004. Sun, 17 Feb 2008 08:17:44 -0500 http://www.24x7alive.com/new/Article50.html A strong Biblical faith is very possible while accepting the scientific validity of Evolution. The problem is that many Christians and Jews try to make the Bible something it isn't. The Bible isn't and was never intended to be science. The Bible deals with who and why rather than the Evolution questions of how and when. Tue, 15 Jan 2008 23:28:32 -0500 http://www.24x7alive.com/new/Article49.html In Western Philosophy one of the arguments for the existence of God is on the basis of design. Here is a video restatement that is well done. Check it out. The Watchmaker Video For balance, fter you view the video, you might also be interested in an article where Randy Williams explains why evolution is not an anti-bible position. Tue, 15 Jan 2008 22:59:12 -0500 http://www.24x7alive.com/new/Article48.html When the home team is losing game after game, you have to go back to the basics! This is embarrassingly obvious. The Bill Easum article I just read was like the coach getting in my face sternly reminding me of the basics. It’s a short read and a strong one. It is worth any Christian’s time to follow this link. How to Grow a Church Under 500 in Worship Tue, 11 Sep 2007 23:24:58 -0400 http://www.24x7alive.com/new/Article47.html Martha Grace Reese's new book is helping the reluctant to tell their faith story. But her beginning point is different that you might suspect. Sun, 26 Aug 2007 07:51:43 -0400 http://www.24x7alive.com/new/Article46.html Disciples are gearing up to help the residents of Greensburg, Kan., where a powerful tornado in early May nearly destroyed the town. The Kansas mission stations, based on the model used in the Gulf Coast area, opened last week. Already about eight groups from around the country have signed up to help out in the area. At this point, volunteers will primarily be involved with light clean-up work in residential neighborhoods. Read more about how you can help. Sat, 16 Jun 2007 14:58:23 -0400 http://www.24x7alive.com/new/Article43.html Someone has said if Christians really understood the full extent of the power we have available through prayer, we might be speechless. According to one internet source during W.W.II there was an advisor to Churchill who organized a group of people who dropped what they were doing every day at a prescribed hour for one minute to collectively pray for the safety of England, its people and peace. There is now an informal group of people organizing the same thing here in the United States. If you would like to participate: Every evening at 9:00 pm Eastern Time(8:00 PM Central)stop whatever you are doing and spend one minute praying for the safety of the United States, our troops, our citizens, our leaders and for God to show mercy to our nation. Please encourage others to join this daily prayer time, too. Tue, 13 Feb 2007 22:53:52 -0500 http://www.24x7alive.com/new/Article41.html YouTube Video Explains Organic Church This is a quest to become the church Jesus envisioned in the first place. You've got to see this video. Tue, 13 Feb 2007 00:31:41 -0500 http://www.24x7alive.com/new/Article40.html Church Planter Mike Jentes uses strawberries to talk about the organic way his church grows. Strawberries are not a typical fruit. Most fruits reproduce by having seeds inside. Strawberries have their seeds on the outside. But their growth comes by sending out a shoot or runner that becomes another a whole plant. The new plant then reproduces by sending out more runners of its own. See Mike's Story with more pictures. You might ask,"Why is strawberry growth a good model for churches?" Sat, 10 Feb 2007 01:23:24 -0500 http://www.24x7alive.com/new/Article39.html In 1935, Bill W. and Bob Smith founded AA. It is still the most effective treatment for alcoholism. AA groups are every where and can be started by anyone who wants to stop drinking. Power is not centralized. Classes are not required. Certification is not needed. The organization runs with authority completely distributed. The Organic Church as envisioned by Neil Cole has this same distributed power. Authority is not withheld. Power is not controlled. Permission is not required. Apparently, AA is not the pattern as much as it is an illustration of the Organic Church structure. Fri, 09 Feb 2007 22:53:51 -0500 http://www.24x7alive.com/new/Article38.html Wow! What a conference! 400 came from all over the world to hear Neil Cole, author of "Organic Church" and others share in the first ever, Church Multiplication Association Conference. It was in Long Beach, California, from January 26th through the 28th and it was exceptional. The more the Organic Church philosophy is understood, the more radical it becomes. The word for such growth is KABOOM! Let me explain. Tue, 30 Jan 2007 02:32:56 -0500 http://www.24x7alive.com/new/Article36.html Noted political columnist and cultural commentator Mark Steyn discusses the rising influence of Islam on the West, as outlined in this new book, America Alone: The End of the World as We Know It. He argues that the demographic reality is set in place already. Professor Rosenberg claims this is the most important book of 2006 and maybe of the decade. Click & Scroll down to Mark Steyn. Real Audio discussion with WGN's Milt Rosenberg Wed, 17 Jan 2007 00:17:31 -0500 http://www.24x7alive.com/new/Article35.html House Churches Are More Satisfying to Attenders Than Are Conventional Churches January 8, 2007 (Ventura, CA) - With the growth of house churches across the country, a new study by The Barna Group sheds light on how these independent, non-denominational churches operate. Levels of Satisfaction Perhaps the most compelling insight from the national study was an evaluation of the levels of satisfaction of those who attend a house church compared with the views of adults who attend a conventional local church. Four aspects of people's church experience were gauged. Overall, people attending a house church were significantly more likely to be "completely satisfied" with their experience in each of the four dimensions examined. Click link to read more. The Barna Group Thu, 11 Jan 2007 21:25:02 -0500 http://www.24x7alive.com/new/Article34.html In the 1950's Carl Hamblin was a well known radio host/comedian/song writer in Hollywood. He was known for his drinking, womanizing, and partying. One of his bigger hits at the time was "I won't go hunting with you Jake, but I'll go chasing women". Then he had an encounter or two. Tue, 09 Jan 2007 11:28:03 -0500 http://www.24x7alive.com/new/Article33.html When you attend an Alive Group usually 7 things happen and one thing won't. We won't pressure you to believe or do anything you don't want to. Here are the Seven to expect: 1. You are received well. 2. You enjoy eating with other people. 3. You share your celebrations and prayer concerns. 4. You are prayed for. 5. You are given information about an action project. 6. You share in an open faith discussion if you want. 7. You experience worship. Read more about these seven options. Wed, 03 Jan 2007 12:54:25 -0500 http://www.24x7alive.com/new/Article32.html King Solomon sought wisdom and collected smart proverbs for successful living. Just imagine what he would do with the Internet. Here are 28 items he would love. Some Instructions for Life 1. Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully. 2. Marry a person you love to talk to. 3. Don't believe all you hear, spend all you have or sleep all you want. 4. Mean it when you say, "I love you." Wed, 03 Jan 2007 12:46:11 -0500 http://www.24x7alive.com/new/Article31.html Can you imagine spending a weekend coaching kids on how to get closer to Jesus? Mon, 13 Nov 2006 16:05:54 -0500 http://www.24x7alive.com/new/Article30.html Tracy Ryan Marsh, 25, ended her own life Saturday, October 21, at 4:15 AM. She was a precious person filled with promise and generosity. The Reverend Craig Svenson conducted the service. It was outstanding. Attending her funeral was a blessing. The service is posted here that it might encourage others dealing with Tracy's or someone else's self-violent decision. Do you want help dealing with suicide? Fri, 27 Oct 2006 13:33:10 -0400 http://www.24x7alive.com/new/Article29.html Our movie outing was super. Fourteen of us enjoyed the movie and then the trip to Monical's for pizza. This all happened Sunday Night, October 15. However, we really didn't get to evaluate the production. It was a lot louder at Monical's than we expected. Some of our rowdier ones, though, did wonder why we were spared all the blood. We will process the experience this next week back at the Carrell's. We will be comparing "One Night with the King" with the biblical narrative of Esther itself. Sheila brought seasonal M&M’s. Check it out One Night with the King Mon, 16 Oct 2006 00:01:44 -0400 http://www.24x7alive.com/new/Article27.html Faith Alive is part of the earliest church movement with its origins in the United States. Do you like it when your thoughts and positions are valued? Fri, 13 Oct 2006 11:19:15 -0400 http://www.24x7alive.com/new/Article16.html There was power released when the Rev. Barbara Anthony of Ellsworth, Illinois presented the morning devotion before a Chrysalis Team Meeting on Saturday, 9/30/06. Her dramatic interpretation was based on John’s 4th Chapter, the Samaritan Woman at the Well. Barb said she read the Chapter several times the prior week and the following letter came to her. It was such a strong sharing that we have included it here to bless you, too. Tue, 03 Oct 2006 00:15:43 -0400 http://www.24x7alive.com/new/Article15.html Joyce Banks of Community Builders prayed an incredible prayer at the 34th Annual Peoria Area Leadership Prayer Breakfast. It was such a strong experience our Sr. Developer, Randy Williams, urges all Peorians to pray it together. Please follow the link to read more and find the full text of the prayer. "Let's pray it everyday for the next 30 days," says Williams enthusiastically. Thu, 28 Sep 2006 15:08:07 -0400 http://www.24x7alive.com/new/Article14.html Wayne Huizenga, Jr. spoke very deliberately about how after developing three Fortune 500 Companies his life was empty until he formed a personal relationship with Jesus. Wow! Thu, 28 Sep 2006 14:47:23 -0400 http://www.24x7alive.com/new/Article12.html Every two years all of the churches that are part of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada have a family reunion. All the departments fromthe General Units and all the Regions come. It is a great chance to learn more about the power of our being connected. The next General Assembly is in Ft. Worth, July 21-25, 2007. Click link. General Assembly Info Wed, 27 Sep 2006 13:52:11 -0400