Beverly LaHaye, founder of Concerned Women for America, passed away yesterday at the age of 94.

The NAIA issued a ruling that will only allow athletes to participate in NAIA-sponsored women's sports if their biological sex assigned at birth is female.

Most pastors will tell you of the importance of small groups. Speaking from personal experience, I know that if someone is connected in a small group, there is a greater likelihood that they'll be involved in a wider mission and more involved within the local church's life. They also have a built-in support system to help them grow in Christ. A recent LifeWay study found what I already knew through personal experience—small groups are important. Scott McConnell summarized the study with these words:"Small groups and Sunday School classes provide the relational glue that allows a local congregation to be a place where people love one another. Groups and relationships that are centered on the Word of God unify a congregation and motivate people to work together on the mission of the church. Churches with few people participating in groups are not in a healthy position to make more disciples."? [1]We also know that, just as with Sunday morning attendance, there are more women than men in attendance—about 60-40. Why is it harder to get men to be actively involved in small groups? Do they not like going? Or are there other reasons?Before answering these questions, I should say that in my own experience, I have witnessed many men absolutely love going to small groups. If a man is engaged in other disciplines within the body of Christ, these "reasons" are usually not a big enough hurdle. And in my experience, many of the men who attend small groups say it's their favorite time of the weak. Nevertheless, it can be a tough hurdle for some to overcome. Here are some of those reasons: ? [1]? https://research.lifeway.com/2023/03/07/research-reveals-importance-of-small-groups-evangelism-assimilation-for-church-growth/Photo Courtesy:? ? Jantanee Rungpranomkorn from? Getty Images

The NAIA issued a ruling that will only allow athletes to participate in NAIA-sponsored women's sports if their biological sex assigned at birth is female.

By Kit Knightly | Off-Guardian Yesterday, a group of senior women from Switzerland won what is being called a “landmark” human rights case concerning “Climate...Why Climate Change Court Cases Are on the Rise

Often in the quest towards marriage and finding “the one,” something happens. It's easy to overlook things that may not seem that big of a deal while dating, but these things could be destructive patterns once married. But love doesn't have to be blind. There's no reason to settle for unhealthy or harmful relationships, simply to pursue being married.We all have sin issues that we deal with on a daily basis. We've all made mistakes that we often wish we could do-over. We all need the grace and freedom that only Christ Himself can offer. But our marriages are healthier when we recognize red flags in our dating relationships, instead of choosing not to see problems at all.God cares about the decisions we make. He cares about who we marry. And we can trust He will give guidance, and help us see some red flags to be aware of along the way.Photo credit: ©GettyImages/dragana991

"The function of prayer is not to influence God, but rather to change the nature of the one who prays." - Søren KierkegaardAll throughout history, people have turned to prayer to deal with tests and hardships. Men and women from all walks of life have found comfort, strength and guidance by lifting up their concerns to God.Here is a collection of 10 prayers that reach for something more. Each reflects a deep desire to not only receive God's blessings, but to become a blessing to others. And every one of them reminds us that God will make us able and ready to do that.? Let's allow these prayers to inspire us to grow in our faith and to live more like Christ.Photo credit: ©Getty Images/FotoDuets

"The function of prayer is not to influence God, but rather to change the nature of the one who prays." - Søren KierkegaardAll throughout history, people have turned to prayer to deal with tests and hardships. Men and women from all walks of life have found comfort, strength and guidance by lifting up their concerns to God.Here is a collection of 10 prayers that reach for something more. Each reflects a deep desire to not only receive God's blessings, but to become a blessing to others. And every one of them reminds us that God will make us able and ready to do that.? Let's allow these prayers to inspire us to grow in our faith and to live more like Christ.Photo credit: ©Getty Images/FotoDuets

On Monday, President Joe Biden signed an executive order promoting women's health research in light of Women's History Month.

Today's category: FarmersAll Booked Up? ? ? ? ? ? A newlywed farmer and his wife were visited by her mother, who immediately demanded an inspection of the place. The farmer had genuinely tried to be friendly to his new mother-in-law, hoping that it could be a friendly, non- antagonistic relationship. All to no avail though, as she kept nagging them at every opportunity, demanding changes, offering unwanted advice, and generally making life unbearable for the farmer and his new bride.? ? ? ? ? ? While they were walking through the barn, during the forced inspection, the farmer's mule suddenly reared up and kicked the mother-in-law in the head, killing her instantly. It was a shock to all no matter their feelings toward her demanding ways...? ? ? ? ? ? At the funeral service a few days later, the farmer stood near the casket and greeted folks as they walked by. The pastor noticed that whenever a woman would whisper something to the farmer, he would nod his head yes and say something. Whenever a man walked by and whispered to the farmer, however, he would shake his head no, and mumble a reply.? ? ? ? ? ? Very curious as to this bizarre behavior, the pastor later asked the farmer what that was all about. The farmer replied, "The women would say, 'What a terrible tragedy and I would nod my head and say 'Yes, it was.' The men would ask, 'Can I borrow that mule?' and I would shake my head and say, 'Can't, it's all booked up for a year.'"View hundreds more jokes online.Email this joke to a friend

I have a shocking revelation for you today—according to a new study, men and women are different from one another!

“To be human is to worship.” Those are the opening words of Daniel Block's excellent new book on worship, For the Glory of God. Men and women are inveterate worshippers. Paul makes this clear in Romans 1. Even those who reject the plain knowledge of God which can be perceived within the created order do not cease worshiping. Rather they simply begin worshipping created things instead of the Creator (Rom 1:18ff). Given that we all worship and that our hearts tend to be deceptive, it is vital that our worship be shaped by what God has made clear in His Word rather than by personal opinions, past experiences, or intuitions.While not an exhaustive list, the following 7 points help us think more biblically about worship:

Nashville, TN (March 12, 2024)? Following the President’s State Of The Union Address? on Friday night, FOX News? interviewed a panel of leading conservative Christian voices. Julie Harris, wife of Voice Of Truth Quartet? member, Jonathan Harris, is the President of the National Federation Of Republican Women? and was featured in the discussion. We spoke with Julie about this and Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Family Research Council (FRC) along with post-abortion expert Dr. Martha Shuping submitted an amicus brief last week in the case of U.S. Food and Drug Administration v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine, which is currently before the U.S. Supreme Court and will be argued on March 26. At issue in the case is the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) approval of the abortion drug mifepristone and the agency's 2016 and 2021 removals of health safeguards for women and girls. Dr. Shuping, a North Carolina psychiatrist, has witnessed first-hand the psychological trauma women have experienced because of abortions, including through the effects of intimate partner violence....

Walk by Faith: Choosing Faith on a Daily BasisTerrie ChappellTue, 01/02/2024 - 01:14 Take a walk with me through what many have called “the great hall of faith”—Hebrews chapter 11. The men and women listed in this chapter are people whose lives were pivot points in Bible history.? Notice the portraits lining the walls in this hall of faith. Here we find Abel, whose faith to obey God's command for a blood sacrifice singled him out as the first martyr. Here is Enoch—a man who by faith, walked with God so closely that he was privileged to skip death. Here is Noah, whose faith changed the entire course of human history.We move on and see Abraham and Sarah, the father and mother of God's chosen people. The landscape of the Old Testament was shaped through the faith of this couple. Then there are Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph—three more great heroes in Scripture. Further on we see Moses, Rahab, Gideon, David, Samuel, and others—all people we recognize and admire.? All who are portrayed in this chapter lived lives of great significance, not because they were powerful people who could control others and manipulate their circumstances, but because of their extreme faith in God. Most of them were ridiculed, misunderstood, and knew what it was to suffer defeat. Most of them started as insignificant and would have been labeled as very unlikely to succeed. They just didn't have what we think people need to favorably shape their destinies.So how did they do it? The key is faith. These people lived and walked by faith. A life of godly significance is always a life of faith. And this faith is developed one day at a time.? Exercise Your Faith to See it GrowPerhaps you've heard the statement, “Faith is not a pill you take; it is a muscle you use.” As we exercise our faith, it grows.? True faith moves beyond belief to action. Faith is not simply a feeling, but rather a choice to obey God and trust that He will come? through.I've been privileged to closely observe a man of great faith—my husband. In the forty-two years of our marriage, I've watched him over and over seek God's vision for our family and our ministry and then by faith move forward into humanly impossible undertakings. And every time, I've seen God honor his faith.I know that my faith often isn't great. Sometimes when I see the great faith of others, I question if my faith is too small for God to even bless. Matthew 17:20 gives a promise that I have learned to love and claim: “. . . verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.”? The very essence of faith is remembering our great God and trusting Him to do what we cannot. When we place our focus on how little our faith is, we forget to focus on how great our God is. Furthermore, if we wait to use our faith until it is great, we will never do anything by faith. Faith grows through use.? Nurture Your Faith by Walking with GodFrom our earliest years we've learned to be cautious of trusting those we don't know. We drill this into our children as soon as they are old enough to walk and wander away from us in public places. Many times this caution explains why we struggle to trust the Lord. We simply don't know Him.Notice in Psalm 9:10 that the people who trust God are the people who know God: “And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek? thee.” We may know in our head that God is absolutely and completely trustworthy, but until we grow in our relationship with Him, we will struggle to trust Him.Faith doesn't come just because we want it. Faith comes as we read God's Word and discover who God is. As we grow in our knowledge of Him, we learn that He can be trusted. Romans 10:17 explains, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”Additionally, there's nothing like seeing God answer prayer to increase your faith. I've found over the years that keeping a prayer journal provides a written record of God's answers and becomes a great faith-booster. I simply record the date I begin praying for a particular request. Then, when God answers, I record that date and a brief description of how He answered.? Build Your Faith by Claiming God's PromisesWhen you are faced with overwhelming circumstances, open God's Word and remember the unchanging promises of God.There are two important keys to claiming God's promises.? First, we must know God's promises. For many women, the promises of God mean nothing—simply because they don't know them. As you read your Bible, begin marking the promises that speak to you. Write them down in a journal. Memorize them. Make them accessible for easy reference when you need to claim them.Second, we must use God's promises. Like a check that is only valuable when cashed, God's promises do not help us unless we trust them.? Trust God One Day at a TimeWalking by faith is a daily journey. As A.W. Tozer said, “Faith is not [just] a conclusion you reach; it is a journey you live.”? God calls us to a continuing journey of faith as we grow in our relationship with Him. Hebrews? 11:6 reminds us that the diligent exercise of faith is key to our growth in the Lord: “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” God desires to reward your life as you pursue Him in faith one day at a time.? Category Christian Living Ministry Resources The Choice Is Yours The Choice Is Yours Terrie Chappell Tags Women Ladies Ministry Faith Christian Living

Principles for Retaining a Godly Testimony in the New YearDr. Paul ChappellTue, 01/09/2024 - 16:38 1. Avoid an uncertain sound. Don't engage in activities or associations that make your testimony for Christ unclear.“For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?” (1 Corinthians 14:8).2. Let not your good be evil spoken of. Be willing to limit your Christian liberty to avoid causing a stumbling block to others.“Let not then your good be evil spoken of” (Romans 14:16).3. Do not make a major decision without godly counsel. I have sought men who are my seniors to ask counsel of for significant decisions.“Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety” (Proverbs 11:14).4. To change the world, you must not let the world change you. The men and women who have changed the world have been the men and women the world could not change.“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58).5. Do all to the glory of God. There is no insignificant activity when it is done to the glory of God. And even seemingly insignificant activities can be done in a way that dishonors God.“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).6. Remember that what you do in moderation, the next generation often does in excess. As you weigh a decision, remember the impact it could have on your children or grandchildren, and purpose to walk in such a way that you would be glad for them to follow your example.Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. (1 Corinthians 11:1) Category Christian Living

Principles for Retaining a Godly Testimony in the New YearDr. Paul ChappellTue, 01/09/2024 - 16:38 1. Avoid an uncertain sound. Don't engage in activities or associations that make your testimony for Christ unclear.“For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?” (1 Corinthians 14:8).2. Let not your good be evil spoken of. Be willing to limit your Christian liberty to avoid causing a stumbling block to others.“Let not then your good be evil spoken of” (Romans 14:16).3. Do not make a major decision without godly counsel. I have sought men who are my seniors to ask counsel of for significant decisions.“Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety” (Proverbs 11:14).4. To change the world, you must not let the world change you. The men and women who have changed the world have been the men and women the world could not change.“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58).5. Do all to the glory of God. There is no insignificant activity when it is done to the glory of God. And even seemingly insignificant activities can be done in a way that dishonors God.“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).6. Remember that what you do in moderation, the next generation often does in excess. As you weigh a decision, remember the impact it could have on your children or grandchildren, and purpose to walk in such a way that you would be glad for them to follow your example.Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. (1 Corinthians 11:1) Category Christian Living

Four Keys for Raising Up a New Generation of MissionariesDr. Paul ChappellFri, 11/10/2023 - 16:24 One of the highlights to me of World Impact Missions Conference at Lancaster Baptist Church is seeing missionaries who grew up at Lancaster Baptist and/or graduated from West Coast Baptist College and and are now serving the Lord on mission fields around the world. (The picture above is of WCBC alumni who were here for Missions Conference '23 earlier this week and are now planting churches around the world.)? The Lord has allowed us to see many young people from our own church family—kids who grew up right here in our Sunday school classes and, in many cases, whose parents trusted Christ through the outreach ministry of our church—who are now preaching the gospel in foreign countries. Additionally, there are hundreds of WCBC alumni serving the Lord on over forty foreign fields.? One of the trends that concerns me, however, is a decline of young people across America surrendering their lives to missions. The world population is growing, but fewer American young people seem burdened to reach the world with the gospel.? Certainly God is still calling young people to surrender their lives to preach the gospel. Why then does it seem that fewer are responding?There are certainly many contributing factors we could cite to answer that question. But I believe there are four simple areas of emphasis that could change the trend. And when these four are working together, they can bring a monumental shift.? What is needed to raise up a new generation of missionaries?? 1. Parents who believe it would be a privilege if God calls their childChildren are the gift of God and entrusted by God to parents to raise for God's honor and glory.Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate. (Psalm 127:3–5)Yet, too often Christian parents raise their children with goals of personal satisfaction. These parents are measuring by the world's goals of financial security and career success.? It's good for young people to grow up knowing that their parents' greatest goal for their lives is that they would serve God in whatever way He calls them—including the foreign field.? 2. Churches that emphasize missionsIn Acts 13–14, we read of the first organized program for missions in the New Testament. It began as the church at Antioch sent out Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey. After preaching the gospel through many cities and establishing churches, Paul and Barnabas returned to report on all that God had done.? And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles. (Acts 14:27)Can you picture what it was like for the children and young people listening to this first missionary report? They heard about the hardships and the blessings, and I can imagine the sense of wonder and even adventure that Paul's stories stirred in their hearts. No doubt some of them eventually became missionaries themselves.? One of the great strengths of the independent Baptist model of missions, based on Acts 13–14, in which a church sends out missionaries who then come back and report of all God has done on the field, is that young people are exposed to missionaries on a regular basis.? To raise up a new generation of missionaries, churches need to keep the Great Commission of Christ—“Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15)—before young people. Encourage children to pray for missionaries. Host regular missions conferences. And highlight the need for laborers in spiritually-dark places around the world.? 3. Christian schools with vibrant chapel services, emphasizing a life of surrender to JesusIn Acts 13, it was the Holy Spirit who called Paul and Barnabas to the work of missions.? As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. (Acts 13:2)But this calling happened in an environment of total dedication to Christ and service for the Lord. These were people who were already ministering to the Lord and fasting.? Effective Christian schools are not just a place to keep your children from the harmful influences of secular education and cultural brainwashing. They are places that proactively encourage a life of surrender to the Lord and are filled with teachers who model the joy of serving Christ.4. Bible colleges led by soulwinning pastors and instructors who teach missions and bring missionaries to campusIt was striking to hear how many of our West Coast Baptist College alumni who came as missionaries to this year's conference mentioned that they had sensed God's call to missions during their time at WCBC. Several even mentioned that it was during one of the Lancaster Baptist Church missions conferences.? Many young people who have surrendered to serve the Lord in full time ministry do not know right after high school in what capacity God would have them serve. Whether or not they ultimately serve as missionaries, being in a Bible college environment where missions is emphasized will strengthen their understanding of and commitment to being part of the Great Commission of Christ to go into all nations with the gospel.? Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. (Matthew 28:19–20)About a year and a half ago, while hosting Spiritual Leadership Conference Egypt, I had the opportunity to visit the gravesite of William Borden in Cairo. Borden was a young American missionary living in Egypt to learn Arabic while preparing to preach the gospel to Muslim people in China. While still in Egypt, he contracted meningitis and died at age twenty-five.? As Terrie and I walked through the American cemetery there in Cairo, I was stirred to see the gravesites of other missionaries as well, many who, like Borden, gave their lives for the sake of the gospel on foreign soil. I couldn't help but pray that God will raise up a new generation of men and women who will fully and freely surrender their lives to the spread of the gospel around the world.Whether you are a parent, pastor, Sunday school teacher, Christian educator, or someone with any other influence in young people's lives, I challenge you consider how you can be part of helping young people obey the instruction of Christ to “Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest” (John 4:35). Category Christian Living

I have a shocking revelation for you today—according to a new study, men and women are different from one another!

Hundreds of Christian men, women, and children have been relentlessly targeted by Muslim Fulani herdsmen and slaughtered since Christmas, leaving behind a trail of devastation and despair. I witnessed firsthand the aftermath of these brutal attacks in a recent visit to the area.

When we take the whole Bible, the entire narrative, we begin to realize that every verse has a context that must be understood.

As young adults are getting married and entering parenthood later in life than their parents' generation did before them, a new Pew Research study finds that among young adults without children, men are more likely than women to say they want to be parents someday.?

It takes far more guts to confront your ideological compatriots than your foes and a recent book documenting the assault of gender ideology on women's rights from a leftist perspective exhibits such courage in spades.

The Christian Post spoke with three women who have opened up about their past abortions and how they eventually forgave themselves after struggling with indescribable emotions and, in some cases, addictions, which they learned later were tied to their abortions.

Until 1980, in fact,? the sexes voted? within a few percentage points of each other. Since then, things have changed dramatically.