Contributed by Todd Stiles on May 16, 2007
Truth is, I’m no different. I, too, want to extend my influence beyond just the few years I have on this earth. And I bet you do as well.
To show you what I mean, I brought a couple of items with me this morning that help me in my own quest for living what I call a “beyond the horizon” kind of
...read more
Denomination:
Baptist
Contributed by Todd Stiles on May 2, 2007
Just off the shore of North Carolina on the island of Cape Hatteras is a village known as Nag’s Head, a small shoreline town where, back in the 1800’s, the “wreckers” lived. These “wreckers” made their living gathering up parts and cargo from ships that had run aground in the night. But these ships
...read more
Denomination:
Baptist
Contributed by Todd Stiles on May 2, 2007
Every time I read this story in Genesis I recall a scary situation that happened to me as a boy. I was in Jr. high (my exact age slips me, but I know I couldn’t drive yet), and I was riding my bike to the gym, which was about 30 minutes away in another part of Chattanooga. I had no sooner left the
...read more
Denomination:
Baptist
Contributed by Todd Stiles on Mar 27, 2007
When we engage in that type of witnessing – when we follow the prescription here in Luke 24 – we have the honor of partnering with God as he opens their eyes, minds, and mouths. Those who once didn’t know, now know! Those who have never heard, now hear! Those who before didn’t understand – they now
...read more
Denomination:
Baptist
Contributed by Todd Stiles on Mar 27, 2007
I was introduced to “different” the summer I took about 30+ Jr. Highers to Mexico. What an experience! Yes, our own Mike Hain was with me (and what a trip he had). The things I saw on that trip changed my life -- forever! I can’t begin to tell you the broadening I experienced during that two week
...read more
Denomination:
Baptist
Contributed by Todd Stiles on Mar 27, 2007
based on 1 rating
| 932 views
This syndrome also reminds me of when we had our first child. We’re in the delivery room in Northside Hospital in Atlanta, while my parents and her parents are in the waiting room getting minute-by-minute updates form me! In fact, I recall running out there telling everyone it was a girl because as
...read more
Denomination:
Baptist
Contributed by Todd Stiles on Feb 8, 2007
Let me illustrate by telling you about how my kids used to respond to me and Julie during discipline when they were very young. When they would disobey or do wrong, and the sin called for a spanking, I recall vividly the words, “Mercy, daddy, mercy!” Or, “Mercy, mommy, mercy!” What were they asking
...read more
Denomination:
Baptist
Contributed by Todd Stiles on Feb 1, 2007
I was a young youth pastor in Augusta, GA, doing my best to train a group of kids to reach out to others. Granted – some of my ideas met resistance (imagine that!), and the culture there turned out to be very different than what was actually communicated to me at the beginning. However, I figured
...read more
Denomination:
Baptist
Contributed by Todd Stiles on Jan 18, 2007
based on 3 ratings
| 2,339 views
In the early 60’s, Vince Lombardi, just after losing a Superbowl and on the eve of a new season, rallied his team in the locker room one day and mounted the bench for a speech. He reviewed last year’s loss, then began to talk about the plans for a return trip to he great game and how they would
...read more
Denomination:
Baptist
Contributed by Todd Stiles on Dec 14, 2006
You see, our presence is really the best way to reveal our love. (Don’t worry, kids, I’m not encouraging your parents to boycott presents, but I do want to make a point.) And I can say this from experience, for when I was a kid our home was burglarized just before Christmas one year. Man, was I
...read more
Denomination:
Baptist
Contributed by Todd Stiles on Dec 13, 2006
Many of you don’t know this, but when we started FFC, it was our goal to blitz the city – to visit every home in Ankeny. Now remember, there were only about 60 of us at that point, so this was one daunting task. Yet, did you know that right about 80% of our town was visited personally
...read more
Denomination:
Baptist
Contributed by Todd Stiles on Dec 5, 2006
In Operation Desert Storm, our military had one objective on the first night of operations: attack all communications installations and destroy them! Here’s why – if you can dismantle and disable someone’s communication network, you can defeat them.
The same is true in our relationships,
...read more
Denomination:
Baptist
Contributed by Todd Stiles on Nov 16, 2006
Sacrifice is what Milton Olive III was all about! As a Pfc. in the Vietnam War, he and four other soldiers were moving through a Vietnam jungle together when a grenade was thrown into their midst. Pfc. Olive saw the grenade, and then saved the lives of his fellow soldiers at the sacrifice of his
...read more
Denomination:
Baptist
Contributed by Todd Stiles on Nov 16, 2006
Often it is not just what we give but we give in relation to what we have. That’s the idea behind proportion. For instance, when I was in Atlanta as a youth pastor, we were feeding the homeless and passing out winter coats one fall evening. In fact, it was actually snowing that night! While I was
...read more
Denomination:
Baptist
Contributed by Todd Stiles on Nov 14, 2006
That’s right – “slavery” is the primary word used to talk about service or ministry in the Bible. In fact, let me bring you up to speed on our most biblical title: “doulos!” That’s right…you’re a doulos! Simply a slave. Feel better now, don’t you?
• Paul calls himself this every time, along with
...read more
Denomination:
Baptist
Contributed by Todd Stiles on Oct 26, 2006
based on 1 rating
| 1,756 views
I doubt if anyone knows the name of the man in the picture on the screen, but once I tell you his name, you’ll know him, at least in some way. Who is he? Adolf Coors IV! (show picture) And yes, his father was killed in the 60’s by a mad gunman. But years later Adolph became a Christian and realized
...read more
Denomination:
Baptist
Contributed by Todd Stiles on Oct 25, 2006
T.W. Manson said, “The coming of Jesus to the world puts every man to the test and compels every man to a decision. And that decision is no light matter. It is a
...read more
Denomination:
Baptist
Contributed by Todd Stiles on Oct 23, 2006
Mormons believe salvation comes in two parts: General and Individual. Generally, all of humanity will be saved when they are resurrected and judged according to their works. Individually, if a person wants to earn forgiveness from personal sins, they must meet certain requirements, including faith,
...read more
Denomination:
Baptist
Contributed by Todd Stiles on Oct 23, 2006
Today in Israel, if you are a follower of Judaism, you must fix all meals in advance of the Sabbath in case of company. You wouldn’t want to work on the Sabbath, would you? There is even a Sabbath elevator that stops on every floor so you don¡¦t have to press
...read more
Denomination:
Baptist
Contributed by Todd Stiles on Oct 12, 2006
based on 1 rating
| 1,164 views
One day Vice President Calvin Coolidge, while presiding over the Senate, heard one senator tell another senator angrily, “Go to Hell!” The offended senator complained to Coolidge, who, while leafing through a book, simply looked up
...read more
Tags:
Denomination:
Baptist