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# Spirit & Truth

Becoming like Christ together

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## Posts

- [Dealing with Difficult People God's Way](https://stfi.org/articles/dealing-with-difficult-people-gods-way/) - Do you have difficult people in your life? When we're stressed, dealing with difficult people can feel like the tipping point. The popular idea of “cutting people out” of our lives is tempting when we're just trying to make it through the week. But before you walk away, let’s take a closer look. Difficult relationship
- [Why Weakness Doesn’t Disqualify You from God’s Mission](https://stfi.org/articles/why-weakness-doesnt-disqualify-you-from-gods-mission/) - When it comes to the hustle and power moves of my peers, I just can’t compete. While they’re growing careers, raising families, volunteering, and serving on the mission field, I’m just hoping to string coherent words together and walk around the block. As much as I fight to stay strong, the truth is I feel
- [The True Meaning of Biblical Hospitality](https://stfi.org/articles/the-true-meaning-of-biblical-hospitality/) - How would you describe hospitality? Is it a well-decorated party? An open-door policy? Does it depend on whether guests are having a good time? The surprising truth is that biblical hospitality is none of these. In ancient times, hospitality was a highly valued practice. But perhaps the most defining example of hospitality is found in Luke
- [Touring Turkey & Greece: Delphi Inscription & New Testament Chronology](https://stfi.org/articles/touring-turkey-greece-delphi-inscription-new-testament-chronology/) - How Archaeology Helps Date Paul’s Ministry in Corinth How do we know when the events in the New Testament actually happened? For many readers of the Bible, the book of Acts can feel like a fast-moving story. Paul travels from one city to another, preaches in synagogues and marketplaces, faces opposition, establishes churches, writes letters,
- [Touring Turkey & Greece: Miletus and Didyma](https://stfi.org/articles/touring-turkey-greece-miletus-and-didyma/) - Paul’s Farewell, Ancient Harbors, and the Religious World of Asia Minor Some biblical locations are powerful because of what happened there. Others are powerful because of what they reveal about the world surrounding the biblical story. Miletus and Didyma do both. Miletus is remembered in the book of Acts as the place where Paul delivered
- [Touring Turkey & Greece: Ephesus](https://stfi.org/articles/touring-turkey-greece-ephesus/) - Paul’s Powerful Ministry, Cultural Clash, and the Gospel in Asia Minor Ephesus was not just another stop on Paul’s missionary journeys. It was one of the greatest cities of the ancient world, a center of commerce, religion, politics, magic, and culture. It was a city where crowds gathered, merchants profited, idols were honored, and the
- [How to Draw Near to God in Hard Times](https://stfi.org/articles/how-to-draw-near-to-god-in-hard-times/) - Does it ever frighten you to imagine what things could pull you away from God? This used to scare me a lot, especially in my late teens and early twenties. I realized around that time that I had never faced anything truly and deeply daunting in my life—nothing that truly tempted my trust or made me doubt
- [Touring Turkey & Greece: Troas & Assos](https://stfi.org/articles/touring-turkey-greece-troas-assos/) - Gateway to the Gospel in Europe Some places in the Bible are easy to pass over because they appear only briefly in the text. Troas and Assos can feel that way at first—two ancient cities mentioned in the book of Acts as Paul moved from one region to another. But when we slow down, these
- [Recap - Spirit & Truth 35 Anniversary National Event](https://stfi.org/articles/recap-spirit-truth-35-anniversary-national-event/) - The weekend of September 27-29, 2024, attendees, volunteers, and the team had such an incredible time celebrating 35 wonderful years of this ministry’s heritage and looking forward to the future of Spirit & Truth! Event Recap This celebratory National Event started with a fun ice-breaker game, followed by an incredible praise and worship session, corporate
- [Touring Turkey & Greece: Corinth & Cenchreae](https://stfi.org/articles/5783024-2/) - Ministry in a Powerful Roman City Corinth was the kind of city that could overwhelm you. Wealth, trade, politics, religious devotion, social ambition, and moral confusion all converged there. For the Apostle Paul, Corinth became one of the most important ministry locations in the New Testament. After leaving Athens, Paul traveled to Corinth, a major
- [Trusting God's Timing (Even When It's Hard)](https://stfi.org/articles/trusting-gods-timing-even-when-its-hard/) - God’s timing will not always look like ours. This simple fact is one we often hear repeated in Christian spaces, from online posts to discussions with friends to pulpits on Sunday morning. Like the numerous Scripture accounts that prove just that—think Joseph in prison, David awaiting the promised kingship while on the run from Saul,
- [How God Shows His Love](https://stfi.org/articles/how-god-shows-his-love/) - It’s taken a lot of my adult life to learn to recognize God's love for what it is, where it is. But sometimes I still miss it! And He brought that front and center to my mind one day when I was out and about with my son. Now, this kid loves trains. And he loves praying.
- [Expanding Your Focus](https://stfi.org/articles/expanding-your-focus/) - Do you ever get tunnel vision? Writing weekly devotionals for the body of Christ can be really fun! And also really challenging. When I’m feeling passionate about a certain subject or when God teaches me something, it's easy to extrapolate lots of examples. But sometimes I get consumed by a concern, a fear, a struggle, or something
- [In The Seasons of Wandering](https://stfi.org/articles/in-the-seasons-of-wandering/) - It took me 32 years, but I finally did it—I went into a corn maze. As my husband, son, and I wandered the stalks for a good half hour, it occurred to me how often I led them one direction or another, certain I knew the right path…only to go in circles or wind up
- [Touring Greece & Turkey](https://stfi.org/articles/touring-greece-turkey/) - The World of the New Testament The New Testament was not written in isolation. It unfolded in real cities, along real roads, beside busy harbors, in crowded marketplaces, before Roman officials, and under the shadow of temples dedicated to the gods of the ancient world. When we read about the Apostle Paul in the book
- [Touring Turkey & Greece: Philippi, Via Egnatia, Neapolis: Apostle Paul’s First Mission into Europe](https://stfi.org/articles/philippi-via-egnatia-neapolis-apostle-pauls-first-mission-into-europe/) - Philippi, Neapolis, and the Via Egnatia Where the Gospel First Entered Europe What did it really look like when Christianity first crossed into Europe? For many readers of the New Testament, Paul’s journeys in the book of Acts can feel compressed into a few short verses: names of cities, brief encounters, and quick transitions from
- [Touring Turkey & Greece: Thessalonica and Berea](https://stfi.org/articles/thessalonica-and-berea/) - Two Cities, Two Responses to the Gospel Two cities. One message. Very different responses. That is one of the powerful lessons that emerges from Paul’s ministry in Thessalonica and Berea. After leaving Philippi, Paul continued westward along the Via Egnatia, the great Roman highway that connected cities across Macedonia. His next stops brought him into
- [Touring Turkey & Greece: Athens](https://stfi.org/articles/touring-turkey-greece-athens/) - The Gospel Confronts Philosophy Athens was not just a city. It was a symbol. For centuries, it had represented philosophy, learning, art, politics, and the search for wisdom. By the time the Apostle Paul arrived, Athens was no longer the political powerhouse it had once been, but its intellectual and cultural reputation remained influential. For
- [Don't Survive on Spiritual Fast Food](https://stfi.org/articles/dont-survive-on-spiritual-fast-food/) - When babies are first born, they usually eat on demand. This carries on into childhood, too…even at five years old, my son, with his superspeed metabolism, had a pretty short window between “hungry” and “hangry”. But when you break it down, it really comes to this: his body needs nourishment, and he sees no reason
- [Where Sin Slips In](https://stfi.org/articles/where-sin-slips-in/) - I recently felt the Lord impressing on my heart to purge my book collection—specifically books that had content that I knew was contrary to Scripture. Many of the books had powerful themes of friendship and family that had really resonated with me and even helped me grow as a writer. Yet I struggled to untangle
- [Be Still and Know](https://stfi.org/articles/be-still-and-know/) - I wouldn’t necessarily say I’ve ever felt called out by Psalm 46:10, which tells us to “Be still and know that [God is] God!”…until one day when I was processing some mental health struggles with my brother. I’d worked myself up about my lack of direction and some recurring burnout, feeling like I couldn’t slow
- [Living in the Shadow of Grief](https://stfi.org/articles/living-in-the-shadow-of-grief/) - Grief can be incredibly heavy on the soul. I've been praying for many people as they navigate life’s end at an unpredictable but inevitable pace, whether precious family members, lifelong friends, or those losing beloved animal companions. Seeing their grief and facing my own has made me mindful of how present God is in times
- [Be Mindful of Your Thoughts](https://stfi.org/articles/be-mindful-of-your-thoughts/) - I went through a phase where I struggled with fear and shame about a project I had written. In fact, I was so afraid of “messing up” or “disappointing people” with my writing—which I fully trusted and believed was a story God gave me to tell—that I resisted sharing it at all. This compounded my
- [Stirring Up the Gift](https://stfi.org/articles/4084285-2/) - The day my husband proposed to me had so many unforgettable moments. He decided to pop the question at Lake Char­gogg­a­gogg­man­chaugg­a­gogg­chau­bun­a­gung­a­maugg—yes, that’s the real name, and yes, I am convinced he chose this spot mostly so I could never easily recount the details of the day. But at said lake, one moment that stood out was
- [You're Set Apart!](https://stfi.org/articles/youre-set-apart/) - When my son was a toddler, I went through a period of feeling anxious about anything that made him “different” from other kids—probably because in my own youth, “different” was often synonymous with “wrong”. So if my son acted differently from his peers, I obsessed over it, trying to figure out how I needed to
- [Judged by the Righteous Judge - Of Decaf and Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/judged-by-the-righteous-judge-of-decaf-and-delight/) - “Justice” has become something of a buzzword in our modern culture. Across the globe, many well-intentioned people take the cause for justice into their own hands, bringing about everything from rallies to riots, from earnest involvement to vigilantism, from due process to revenge. Lit within every unseared conscience is a flame of right and wrong,
- [Love or Idolatry?](https://stfi.org/articles/love-or-idolatry/) - The older you get, the more you realise how inadequate another person really is at fulfilling your every need, be it physically, emotionally, and most importantly, spiritually, which in my opinion, is a great realisation. Why? Because it points you to the One who can fulfil you in every way possible, and then some! Honestly,
- [Journey with God](https://stfi.org/articles/journey-with-god/) - There is a common saying among those of us who enjoy the world from the top of a horse’s back: “I feel closer to God right here on top of my horse than anywhere else”. I adhere to this statement as an avid trail rider. I find myself in constant praise to God for His
- [Will God Forgive Me?](https://stfi.org/articles/will-god-forgive-me/) - Forgiveness. At one point or another, we’ve all needed it. We’ve fallen short, hurt someone we loved, broken a promise, fallen into a behavior pattern or habit we shouldn’t. When we come face-to-face with our own shortcomings, one of the most frequent questions and cries in the human heart is, “Will God forgive me?” In
- [Where To Turn In Uncertain Times](https://stfi.org/articles/where-to-turn-in-uncertain-times/) - Where do you run when the world feels uncertain? There’s no denying that things have felt heavy, unsteady, and uncertain for a long time, especially in recent times. It’s difficult to imagine that anyone has not felt unsettled lately by something heard in the news, witnessed in person, or encountered in the spiritual realm. My role as
- [What It Means to Walk By Faith](https://stfi.org/articles/what-it-means-to-walk-by-faith/) - There’s an aspect of human nature that wants to understand everything before we take step one. Some people are more concerned with having the whole picture, but most of us want to know what we’re stepping into before we move forward. This makes it extra challenging when God calls us to walk by faith, rather than by
- [The Power of Relationship](https://stfi.org/articles/the-power-of-relationship/) - Growing up, I heard that a little girl’s relationship with her father shapes her view of God. While this may not be true for every woman, the phrase has popped into my mind over the years as I’ve pondered how I see God. How much of our view is true to who He is rather than defined by
- [What To Do When You're Feeling Stuck](https://stfi.org/articles/what-to-do-when-youre-feeling-stuck/) - Periodically in life, I’ve found myself feeling stuck—sometimes in relationships, sometimes spiritually or physically, but most often, I feel trapped in mental ruts. The trouble with remaining stuck in recurring patterns or in a certain mindset for too long is that sometimes I don’t know how to escape. I hate to admit it, but occasionally I
- [Nourish Yourself!](https://stfi.org/articles/nourish-yourself/) - The best way to be at our best—and equipped to show up and serve the Lord—is to ensure we’re nourished. Not just nourished as in well-fed, but nourished spiritually, mentally, and emotionally by spending time in the Word, in fellowship with like-minded people, in worship and prayer, and with our Creator. But sometimes we get lost in a quick-paced
- [Whose Strength Are You Relying On?](https://stfi.org/articles/whose-strength-are-you-relying-on/) - Nothing has taught me the limits of my own capability quite like motherhood. From the time my son was a newborn, I rapidly discovered the furthest reaches of my own strength, patience, and peace—especially while sleep-deprived! I also learned that trying to rely on my own abilities left me unable to show up how I
- [The Call to Sacrifice](https://stfi.org/articles/what-are-you-willing-to-sacrifice/) - Recently, I reflected on the life of Abraham. He gave up a lot to follow God’s leading—his home, his family, possibly some wealth and grandeur in his homeland, and the familiarity of the polytheistic worship of his ancestors. He sacrificed comfort to travel to the land God called him to. Then, after receiving the son he and his
- [Your Struggles Are Not A Surprise](https://stfi.org/articles/your-struggles-are-not-a-surprise/) - When I heard clearly from God about a story He wanted me to write, I was ecstatic. But when I started experiencing the same burnout I’d experienced with countless other projects, despite a strong start, daily prayers, and purposeful focus on the project, I quickly became disheartened. I cried out to God. “I thought I heard You
- [Finding Freedom in the Spirit](https://stfi.org/articles/finding-freedom-in-the-spirit/) - Are there places in your life where you don’t want the spirit of the Lord present? This may seem like a no-brainer. Why would any Christian not want the Lord to be present in every aspect of their life? Yet as I dwelt on the freedom mentioned in 2 Corinthians 3:17, I thought about a concept called comfortable chaos. Comfortable chaos is
- [Learning to Abide](https://stfi.org/articles/learning-to-abide/) - The biblical word abide means to remain, dwell, or stay. When it comes to walking with our Heavenly Father, it's not that I struggle so much with showing up when He calls—at least, not when I’m certain it’s His voice. Abiding is where I tend to have the most trouble. After talking to other faithful believers, I’ve learned I’m
- [Bring Your Questions to God](https://stfi.org/articles/bring-your-questions-to-god/) - Transitioning from a homeschool environment to a public-school setting was a big change when I was in 6th grade. Math has never been my strength—something my mom, of course, understood! When we were invited to bring our questions to our math teacher during class, I approached her desk with confidence that my struggles would be heard and
- [Your Place in the Culture Wars](https://stfi.org/articles/your-place-in-the-culture-wars/) - Harsh replies. “Barking back” on social media. Accusations of “You’re not a real Christian!” These were all things my friend faced from the author of a book she reviewed…an author who also proudly professed herself to be a Christian. All of us sin and fall short, but sometimes we also walk willingly into the trap
- [How Do You Relate to God?](https://stfi.org/articles/how-do-you-relate-to-god/) - While doing a deep dive into the Old Testament in the summer of 2025, I found myself drawn to the account of a man named Uzzah. I wanted to understand why he died when he put a hand on the Ark of the Covenant to stop it from tipping over (2 Sam 6:6-7). One commentary
- [Your Focus and Your Fascination](https://stfi.org/articles/your-focus-and-your-fascination/) - All of us are fascinated with certain things. One of my lifelong fascinations is tornadoes. As a kid, I was actually terrified of them! But over time, the more I researched tornadoes—followed the reports of nationwide storm chasers, tuned into weather reports on severe weather awareness days, and watched documentaries and movies about tornadoes to
- [What Is Your Measure of Maturity?](https://stfi.org/articles/what-is-your-measure-of-maturity/) - Ever since he was nine months old, my son has been a train enthusiast. When he was around three-and-a-half years old, he started asking for real model trains. We explained that he needed to be bigger before he could move from toy trains to model trains, but what we really meant was that he needed
- [Be Careful of Your Council](https://stfi.org/articles/be-careful-of-your-council/) - Surrounding ourselves with godly people who give wise council can be an absolute game-changer in life. But at a crucial time in my life, I found myself struggling with what steps to take next when a usually-wise councilor gave me advice I knew was just…not right. I wondered, is this how Job felt when his
- [Don't Forget to Laugh](https://stfi.org/articles/dont-forget-to-laugh/) - Do you take life so seriously that you forget to laugh? Growing up, there was a portrait in our house simply titled, “Jesus Laughs.” I stared at that portrait often as I did my schoolwork, and it always made me so happy. As a kid, I loved the idea of Jesus laughing. I wondered sometimes if he
- [Being Mindful Of The Moment](https://stfi.org/articles/being-mindful-of-the-moment/) - Somehow, it's already October! Time sure seemed to fly in 2025. A steady routine can change how we perceive the passing of time, especially when life feels like a constant cycle of to-do lists and scheduled events. But in the midst of our routine, we can easily overlook the present moment. Lately, God has been
- [The Death Penalty: Godly or Ungodly? (Full Version)](https://stfi.org/articles/the-death-penalty-godly-or-ungodly-2/) - Man did not invent the death penalty. God commanded that man carry out this form of justice so as to deter violent crimes. This short booklet shows that the...
- [The Death Penalty: Godly or Ungodly? (short version)](https://stfi.org/articles/the-death-penalty-godly-or-ungodly/) - Man did not invent the death penalty. God commanded that man carry out this form of justice so as to deter violent crimes. This short booklet shows that the...
- [What does the Bible say about Armageddon?](https://stfi.org/articles/what-does-the-bible-say-about-armageddon/) - The Bible tells us that “Armageddon” is a geographical location in Israel where a great battle will be fought between an army of Christians and angels, led by Jesus, against an army of the kings of the earth, lead by the Antichrist (called “the Beast” in the Book of Revelation).
- [The Pause – Of Decaf and Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/the-pause-of-decaf-and-delight/) - There is something uniquely powerful to me in the fact that the contents of Psalm 23 flow directly from 22. Where Psalm 22 was a Messianic Psalm, this Psalm to me feels like a pause. A prayer and a praise. We hear it quoted often in movies during times of peril, in real life at
- [The Faith vs. Fear Forecast](https://stfi.org/articles/the-faith-vs-fear-forecast/) - In the last few years, I have noticed major changes in weather patterns. It now snows where it never snowed, it rains where it would never rain, it’s cold where it should be hot and hot where it should be cold. The seasons are off. I’ve seen pink blooms on trees one week and withering
- [Binding and Loosing](https://stfi.org/articles/binding-and-loosing/) - What is the “binding” and “loosing” that Jesus referred to in Matthew 16:19 and 18:18, and does it refer to binding and loosing demons?
- [When Less Is More Than Enough](https://stfi.org/articles/when-less-is-more-than-enough/) - We may not always see it, but less can be more than enough. It was a difficult thing when God brought me face-to-face with my inner desire for more, more, more—at least, when it comes to writing—while browsing the bookshelves at our local Walmart. Much to my surprise and initial delight, I spotted a novel
- [The Importance of Doing God's Work](https://stfi.org/articles/the-importance-of-doing-gods-work/) - The Christian walk is no walk in the park! We’re called to live like our Lord, who lived a life of service, obedience, and ultimately, sacrifice. Jesus warned us that the world would even hate us because it hated him first! Nevertheless, we’re still called to do good, to pray for our enemies, to care
- [Where Does Your Energy Come From?](https://stfi.org/articles/where-does-your-energy-come-from/) - Are you feeling energized? When I sat down to write this weekly devotional, I found my eyes crossing. My brain felt like a sparking wire. As I tried to pray and listen for what the Lord wanted me to share with his people this week, it felt as if I was underwater. Thoughts wandered, attention
- [How To Treat The Lost](https://stfi.org/articles/how-to-treat-the-lost/) - How do you treat the Father's lost children? I recently reflected on the parable of the Prodigal Son. It's a well-known account—so well known, in fact, that many of us, myself included, might be tempted to skim over it as we read through the Gospels. After all, we know the overarching beats by heart. The
- [Seeking the Son](https://stfi.org/articles/seeking-the-son/) - A lack of sun can seriously effect our lives! In January 2024, the State of Indiana experienced a noteworthy 22 gloomy, overcast days - not all in a row, thank God, but still the better portion of the month. And, boy, did I feel it! Lack of Vitamin D and the absence of even a
- [Your Part in the Plan](https://stfi.org/articles/your-part-in-the-plan/) - Are you content with the role God has given you in His plans? In 1 Corinthians, Paul reminds the believers of Corinth that the work of the Lord is not about them. It’s not about what believers can do in their own strength, the grandeur of specific titles, or being renowned themselves; it’s all about
- [The Lesson of Daily Bread](https://stfi.org/articles/the-importance-of-daily-bread/) - Until I became a mother, I never realized just how invested one could become in another person's eating habits. Despite our best efforts, right around the time our son turned two, my husband and I ended up with with a picky eater on our hands - something I later learned is totally normal, developmentally speaking!
- [How to Beat the Overwhelm](https://stfi.org/articles/how-to-beat-the-overwhelm/) - There are many things in this world that can overwhelm us—from crowded places to loud sounds to too much work and long to-do lists, and beyond! Sometimes, even the work of the Lord can overwhelm us, too. We are called to be workers of God’s harvest, and that is no small task. There are countless
- [Who Do You Fear?](https://stfi.org/articles/who-do-you-fear/) - Who are you doing "this" for? "This" could mean your job, ministry, calling, schoolwork, hobbies, community service, etc. We do a lot of things in our day-to-day lives for a host of reasons. It's good to be mindful of our reasons. Our motivations impact our effectiveness and even our rewards in the next life. Recently,
- [How To Feel Closer To God](https://stfi.org/articles/how-to-feel-closer-to-god/) - You are not alone. We hear this a lot both inside and outside of Christian circles. For some, it's a reassurance that they are walking with a friend or loved one through a difficult time; for others, it's a reminder that God is the one who is with them, never leaving them or forsaking them.
- [The Easy Choices and the Right Ones](https://stfi.org/articles/the-easy-choices-and-the-right-ones/) - Often, I find myself equating the best course of action with the least-scary one. At some point in my life, I decided the scarier the road, the less likely it was to be the right path, the God-ordained path...so the less likely I was to take it. Some of this reasoning came from years of
- [Patterns And Rest](https://stfi.org/articles/patterns-and-rest/) - I was recently reminded of my very human limitations in a new way—I discovered that even as an avid reader and writer of long book series, I get burned out after three books. I need a break from writing or reading if I’m going to continue creating or consuming content. When I realized this “pattern
- [Breaking Bad Habits](https://stfi.org/articles/breaking-bad-habits/) - Why is this coming back up? These words—ironically—repeated in my head as I disciplined my son for something he knew better than to do. And he knew he should’ve known better, too…evidenced by a quivering lip and a heavy sigh when I reminded him that his behavior was inappropriate for big boys. When toddler-like habits
- [Surviving The Season](https://stfi.org/articles/surviving-the-season/) - Just because something is temporary doesn’t always make it easier to endure. I recently spoke with two good friends who were going through major struggles—one with her health and the other with her child. For one, a medical procedure guaranteed relief from persistent pain…but she had no date for said procedure while she lived with
- [Learning With The Lord](https://stfi.org/articles/learning-with-the-lord/) - Many of us thrive on routine. We like order. We like things to be predictable. Our relationship with God can fall within these same parameters—we become comfortable with recognizing the voice of God in a specific context. That may be during meditation on Scripture or active Bible study, praying, fasting, worshipping, walking on a familiar
- [You Are Fearfully and Wonderfully Made!](https://stfi.org/articles/you-are-fearfully-and-wonderfully-made/) - Do you really believe you are fearfully and wonderfully made? Most likely we all have things about ourselves we wish we could—or strive to—change. Whether physical, mental, emotional, or even spiritual changes, we recognize that we are imperfect beings who can improve in lots of areas. And that's a good thing! It's important to recognize
- [Where Do You Look For Power?](https://stfi.org/articles/where-do-you-look-for-power/) - What power source do you invoke in your time of need? This question came to the forefront of my mind during a conversation with a friend who is a believer and self-proclaimed "casual" about her faith. When I mentioned my family's good health recently (for which, thank God, we've been quite blessed through the winter
- [How To Deal with Distractions](https://stfi.org/articles/how-to-deal-with-distractions/) - While struggling and slogging through the immense hills and valleys of 2024, I found that my prayers—especially when I covered my writing career—tended to be more psalmist in nature. I vowed that I would do whatever God asked of me, tell whatever stories He wanted me to tell, as long as I knew I was
- [Are You Ready for God's Answer?](https://stfi.org/articles/are-you-ready-for-gods-answer/) - When we make a request of God...are we willing to accept the answer? When my son started talking, my husband and I implemented a phrase to help curb a million requests for the same thing: "Asked and answered." Whether it was a new toy, a fun adventure, or a special snack, we would let him
- [How to Cultivate A Mindset of Thankfulness](https://stfi.org/articles/how-to-cultivate-a-mindset-of-thankfulness/) - Thanksgiving week is almost here! While this holiday is occurring for the United States next week, its impending presence tends to generate reminders of giving thanks that stretch worldwide. True, it can be a little tedious to see lots of commercialized reminders of turkey, stuffing, and holiday gatherings...but what if we take those reminders as
- [Take Time to Shine](https://stfi.org/articles/take-time-to-shine/) - The holiday season is "officially" upon us! This time of year can look a lot of different ways for a lot of different people. Even within Christian circles, there's often debate about whether Christians "should" celebrate a holiday like Christmas. But whether you are one who chooses to celebrate Christmas or not, there's no denying
- [The Importance of God's Gifts](https://stfi.org/articles/the-importance-of-gods-gifts/) - How long does it take you to grow bored of a gift? Recently, a friend and I discussed the inundation of toys that usually swamp a child's life on Christmas Day. She shared an anecdote about a kiddo in her life who received such an overwhelming number of extravagant gifts that the child looked at
- [What Is Your Sufficiency?](https://stfi.org/articles/what-is-your-sufficiency/) - With a rush of despair, I found myself once again scrolling my weather app on a mid-winter morning, ticking through day after day after day of forecasted gloom and cold. Not so much as a single thunderstorm or good, cozy rain shower to make all of that gray overcast worthwhile. Just dreary, dreary, a chance
- [How To Be Trustworthy](https://stfi.org/articles/how-to-be-trustworthy/) - Do you consider yourself trustworthy? Trust was something I took for granted for a long time. I figured people either trusted me or didn't, and that their trust hinged largely on where they stood rather than my behavior. I did my best to keep confidences, be kind, and let things go. And then I became
- [Facing Grief With God](https://stfi.org/articles/facing-grief-with-god/) - How do you grieve? Each of us will face grief at some point in our lives. We may grieve the death of a loved one, the loss of a relationship, a big life change, or a health crisis. Living in a fallen world can break our hearts in many ways. 2024 brought a lot of
- [What To Do When God Says No](https://stfi.org/articles/what-to-do-when-god-says-no/) - Sometimes, God's "no" is a show of love. One of the most testing seasons for me as a parent was when my son started to wonder, with varying degrees of emphasis, why he couldn't just do whatever he wanted. He even asked, earnestly and point-blank, "Why can't I do whatever I want?!" This question reared
- [What Does Freedom in Christ Really Mean?](https://stfi.org/articles/what-does-freedom-in-christ-really-mean/) - What does freedom mean for the Christian? Freedom is a prominent topic in the United States around this time of year. June 19th celebrated the end of slavery in the United States, while the 4th of July—our Independence Day—is happening today! In addition to these celebrations of freedom, Christians are aware of another kind of
- [How To Deal With Waiting](https://stfi.org/articles/how-to-deal-with-waiting/) - Do you ever think it might not be your time yet? In 2024, my novel writing career had many disheartening false starts. I'd write draft after draft, reaching word-count milestones, only for them to end up as wadded-up paper balls in the cumulative pile of trash. Something wasn't right—I knew I wasn't telling the story
- [Where Do You Find Peace?](https://stfi.org/articles/where-do-you-find-peace/) - Whose peace do you have? My whole life, I've been a bit health-sensitive. Rather than focusing on smart eating or exercising habits (at least until my 20s), I overthought every little health hiccup, especially from my teens onward. I spent my fair share of time consulting "Doctor Google"—with its often horrifying suggestions of diagnoses derived
- [How To Get Untangled](https://stfi.org/articles/how-to-get-untangled/) - Are you feeling tangled up? We may find ourselves enmeshed in difficult relationships, interpersonal dynamics at work and church, unhealthy commitments, and so much more. When this happens, things can become "knotted" in our lives. We can feel tangled up inside as well. Complex emotions, historical or generational trauma, and the stress of life can
- [How Does Prayer Change People's Lives?](https://stfi.org/articles/how-does-prayer-change-peoples-lives/) - On a surface level, the question of how prayer changes lives can feel like a simple one to answer: it changes lives because it invokes the power of God to come to pass in a situation. How could that not change things—lives, circumstances, the whole world, etc.? Seriously, it’s the power of God! But going
- [Prayer - The What and Why](https://stfi.org/articles/prayer-the-what-and-why/) - The Word of God is clear: “Pray continually;” “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” “Be...faithful in prayer.” It is a sad fact that many Christians do not heed God’s cry to His children! Consequently, they do not pray. Psalms 145:17-19 (REV) Yahweh is righteous in all his ways, and loyal in all his
- [Am I Doing This Praying Thing Right?](https://stfi.org/articles/am-i-doing-this-praying-thing-right/) - “Hold up, let me overthink that conversation for the next few hours.” Ah, the familiar lament of the socially anxious. Much as we might try to make it otherwise, it’s not an uncommon trait of humanity that we walk away from a conversation—or even go into one! —thinking of all the ways we could have,
- [What Are Your Priorities?](https://stfi.org/articles/what-are-your-priorities/) - Are you more like Cain or Abel? Now, to clarify, I'm not referring to how we relate to our earthly or spiritual siblings. Though the conclusion of the Cain-and-Abel account is certainly the most infamous part of their story, we shouldn't forget that Cain's struggles and shortcomings began long before he lured his brother into
- [It's Okay to be Excited About God!](https://stfi.org/articles/its-okay-to-be-excited-about-god/) - Are you scared to be enthusiastic about God? As a teenager, I remember seeing several kids at youth camps who were embarrassed to be caught praising God publicly. They would raise their hands, palms upturned a tiny bit out from their sides, while constantly checking from the corners of their eyes to see if anyone
- [Will You Flee or Follow?](https://stfi.org/articles/will-you-flee-or-follow/) - Are you more like Jonah or like Jesus? Lately, my son has been enjoying the story of Jonah. I attribute this to the giant fish and the catchy rhyming meters of a children's book from the 1950's that tells the story. But there's more benefits to reading this story over and over with him than
- [It's Not All About You](https://stfi.org/articles/its-not-all-about-you/) - "Not everything is about you." This can be a really tough thing to hear, read, or face—especially when we live in a day and age that focuses on the self with practices like self-care, self-reflection, and being true to one's self. In some cases, self has even become an idol of sorts and a type
- [A Lesson in Waiting](https://stfi.org/articles/a-lesson-in-waiting/) - Waiting is no easy game. In the fall of 2024, I had to wait for my son's bloodwork results. An illness made his numbers a little wonky, but since no immediate concerning symptoms were present, his pediatrician suggested we wait and retest the following week. Boy, nothing sits heavy in a mama's heart like being
- [What's Going On in Your Environment?](https://stfi.org/articles/whats-going-on-in-your-environment/) - You may have heard the analogy that a ship doesn't sink because of the water around it but because of the water inside it. This is frequently offered as encouragement—that we shouldn't let things infiltrate our boat, steal our peace, weigh us down, or sink our ship. But God also warns us that what goes
- [What To Do When Things Don't Go How You Planned](https://stfi.org/articles/what-to-do-when-things-dont-go-how-you-planned/) - Things aren't going to go how you planned them. This won't be the case all the time, of course. But frequently we find things "upsetting our applecart"—a wrench thrown in the works of our best-laid plans. So many factors can upset our vision: sickness, bad weather, and demands that come from other aspects of life.
- [Are You Available When God Calls?](https://stfi.org/articles/are-you-available-when-god-calls/) - How available are you for the work of the Lord? Many believers long for God to make us part of His plans and purposes. That He would make us His hands and feet to accomplish His will in difficult times in a broken world. Like Isaiah, we truly mean it when we say, "I'm here,
- [Managing Your Memories](https://stfi.org/articles/5632465-2/) - How sharp is your memory? Memories, good and bad, make up a huge part of our lives. They are formed from our past and affect our perception of the future. Some memories are clear in our minds. Other memories are subconscious and stored in parts of our bodies that viscerally "remember" certain experiences, hurts, and
- [A Godly Approach to Handling Mistakes](https://stfi.org/articles/a-godly-approach-to-handling-mistakes/) - When was the last time you messed up? Oof. An uncomfortable question, right? If we're honest, it won't be very long before most of us sin, slip up, make a mistake, or act in an ungodly way. God is so good at explaining why we, even believers, struggle with these behaviors. We are engaged in
- [Are You Spending Your Time Wisely?](https://stfi.org/articles/are-you-spending-your-time-wisely/) - Is there ever enough time? As life goes on, time itself seems to change. The days feel shorter regardless of the season, and our never-ending task list stacks up against a growing number of recreational activities. The next thing we know, we can't do it all between waking and sleeping each day. But there are
- [How Active Does My Faith Need to Be?](https://stfi.org/articles/how-active-does-my-faith-need-to-be/) - Christianity is not a spectator sport. When you read that line, what do you think? It may seem like a given, right? But if you look at the modern church, there's often an inherent sidelining that many of us don't notice because it happens so subtly. For many folks, their spiritual life is reduced to
- [Don't Be Distracted In Your Relationships!](https://stfi.org/articles/dont-be-distracted-in-your-relationships/) - How are your relationships going? We live in a day and age that's rife with distractions, which doesn't leave a lot of time for introspection. Oftentimes, if we have even a moment to reflect, we find ourselves habitually reaching for our phones, checking socials, reading articles, or turning on a show. And while these habits
- [Does God Really Care About ME?](https://stfi.org/articles/does-god-really-care-about-me/) - Why would God care about little old me? This kind of question resurfaces for both new and seasoned believers. Whether you've just given your life to Jesus or spent most of it serving him, many factors can contribute to feeling insignificant or like you just don't matter to God. Honestly, though, this feeling has little
- [The Intelligence of Intelligent Design](https://stfi.org/articles/the-intelligence-of-intelligent-design/) - Does God's design for this world make sense to you? I'm encouraged when I hear the way science is learning how and why God set things in place the way He did. Scientific discoveries constantly shine light on biblical truths and structures that God put in place thousands of years ago, before such discoveries could
- [The Risk and Reward of Obeying God](https://stfi.org/articles/the-risk-and-reward-of-obeying-god/) - What do I have to lose? For many of us, this is the first thought that comes to mind when doing something for God that feels scary. When faced with the opportunity, it can really rattle us to evangelize to the lost, openly profess our faith in public, honor God in the presence of unbelievers,
- [Why Perfectionism Doesn't Work](https://stfi.org/articles/why-perfectionism-doesnt-work/) - Did you know you're not going to get it perfect? What jumped to your mind when you read the word "it"? I'm sure we all thought of something old or new that we just desperately want to get right, but fear that we won't. A project. A relationship. A long-term or short-term goal. So many
- [Stay Focused on God!](https://stfi.org/articles/stay-focused-on-god/) - A full week plus a few days into the New Year already! Are you hitting your stride and meeting/maintaining goals? Or are you starting to lag behind a bit on where you wanted to be? Did you know that, widely speaking, a Scripture-based routine is one of the things folks find hardest to maintain? No
- [1 Corinthians 7 (Abstinence, Celibacy, Cohabitation, and Marriage)](https://stfi.org/articles/1-corinthians-7-abstinence-celibacy-cohabitation-and-marriage/) - 1 Corinthians 7 contains some of the clearest teaching in the Bible concerning abstinence before marriage, celibacy, sexual intercourse inside and outside of...
- [How to Face Inconveniences Like Jesus Did](https://stfi.org/articles/5625694-2/) - Snow, snow, snow! If you live anywhere in the United States, you've probably heard that word at least a LITTLE bit in recent years. Maybe you live in a snow-prone area or maybe it's just been on the news and social media - but for those in the path of winter weather, snow can be
- [What Are You Willing to Give Up for God?](https://stfi.org/articles/what-are-you-willing-to-give-up-for-god/) - In times of hardship or distress, it's not unusual to hear sayings like, "God won't give you more than you can handle." But what do we do when following God's will is difficult? Or when God leads us to give up something we really want so that we can walk in His will and heed
- [Do I Really Need To Know Jesus?](https://stfi.org/articles/do-i-really-need-to-know-jesus/) - Does knowing Jesus really matter? This question may seem straightforward to some, but uncertain to others. There have certainly been periods in the past where Christians voraciously sought to know and understand Jesus fully. In modern times, some Christians have settled for a less involved approach: so long as you proclaim Jesus as Lord and
- [How to Live By the Fruit of the Spirit](https://stfi.org/articles/how-to-live-by-the-fruit-of-the-spirit/) - What fruit do you see in your life? Jesus told his followers that they would know people "by their fruit" (Matthew 7:20). But this doesn't just apply to other people - we can learn a lot about our own mental, emotional, and spiritual state by reflecting on the fruit of our own lives. This isn't
- [How Does God Love Us?](https://stfi.org/articles/how-does-god-love-us/) - Recently, I've been mindful of all the ways God loves us. His love is redeeming, providential, endless, healing, and oh-so-patient. And what brought this so clearly to mind for me? By trying to be the most godly parent I can be. Patient love is something I experienced in a whole new way when I began
- [What Does 'El Shaddai' Mean?](https://stfi.org/articles/what-does-el-shaddai-mean/) - Biblical evidence points to the meaning of “El Shaddai” as “God, the One of the Mountain.” That meaning may seem confusing to us today, but as we will see below, it fits with the Bible and also fits with what the ancient people of the time of Abraham believed. In the phrase “El Shaddai,” “El”
- [Am I Unteachable?](https://stfi.org/articles/am-i-unteachable/) - How does God reach you to teach you? I remember as a little girl, I often felt trapped inside my own head. I thought I was less-spiritual and more like a failure when I couldn't focus on hour-long audio teachings sitting on the couch with my parents. It seemed like other people could be deeply
- [Why Christian Community Matters](https://stfi.org/articles/why-christian-community-matters/) - Is the Christian walk a "me" or a "we" thing? We live in a culture that emphasizes independence and self-reliance—possibly to a greater degree than at any other time in history. Though community is still encouraged, dependence on others to accomplish tasks is on its way out. Individuals are expected to do it all...even when
- [Why Acts of Kindness Matter](https://stfi.org/articles/why-acts-of-kindness-matter/) - Most of us love random acts of kindness, whether watching them on a video or seeing them live in public. And it's always a blessing to be a recipient and a doer of these kinds of deeds! Whether it's someone paying for your coffee, bringing a neighbor a meal, offering to babysit, visiting someone in
- [The Key to Focusing On Others](https://stfi.org/articles/the-key-to-focusing-on-others/) - Would you consider yourself self-focused or other-focused? As Christians, we are called to live with an outward-focused perspective. This was perfectly modeled in the example of our Lord Jesus, who washed the feet of his disciples, who came not to be served, but to serve, and who spoke truth in love. This type of conduct
- [International Outreach - September 2024](https://stfi.org/articles/international-outreach-september-2024/) - In Acts Chapter 2, we read of the day of Pentecost. This was the birth of Christianity and the beginning of a time of enormous growth of the church. These events seem so wonderful, yet so distant. What would it have been like to witness that kind of explosive growth in person? It must have
- [Are We Filling Our Minds With the Right Stuff?](https://stfi.org/articles/are-we-filling-our-minds-with-the-right-stuff/) - Much to my family and friends’ amusement—and slight annoyance—I am able to quote almost verbatim any Friends episode that we watch together. I’ve developed this, shall we say “skill”, due to the number of times I have consumed this series over my lifetime. Friends quickly became one of those shows that I could watch no
- [The Most Important Thing Christians Need to Remember This Election Season...](https://stfi.org/articles/the-most-important-thing-christians-need-to-remember-this-election-season/) - The 2024 election season in the United States is winding to a close. For many of us, that's a breath of relief; no matter the outcome, we're ready to be rid of advertisements, endorsements, debates, campaigns, and the nail-biting unease of simply not knowing what the end of election season will bring. We're ready to
- [The Parable of the Talents is Not About Money](https://stfi.org/articles/the-parable-of-the-talents-is-not-about-money/) - One principle for interpreting parables is recognizing that the people and activities in the parable represent something else in reality, they are not the reality itself. For instance, in the parable of the wedding feast, the feast does not represent a literal wedding feast. In reality, it represents the feast in the Kingdom that will
- [International Outreach - August 2024](https://stfi.org/articles/international-outreach-august-2024/) - As we continue to support the ever growing spread of New Life In Christ classes, we enjoy hearing stories of deliverance. How are people actually being helped by God and how are the students responding? These stories from Uganda provide a sample of what is happening. [All spelling and grammar is contained in the original
- [Does Obeying God Really Matter?](https://stfi.org/articles/does-obeying-god-really-matter/) - Obeying isn't always easy! Not only do I see this familiar struggle play out every day as my toddler learns what it means to obey - especially when he doesn't WANT to, in his own words! - but lately I've become keenly aware of how I struggle to obey God without second-guessing. I'll experience a
- [Are You Looking for A Sign?](https://stfi.org/articles/are-you-looking-for-a-sign/) - In early April 2024, many folks across a huge swath of the United States had their eyes on the sky for a long-anticipated solar eclipse. In Indiana, which was considered at the heart of the eclipse's totality, businesses from grocery stores to posh boutiques were selling "2024 Solar Eclipse" merch for months. Small towns were
- [International Outreach - July 2024](https://stfi.org/articles/international-outreach-july-2024/) - In the June 2024 update, we reviewed some personal stories of New Life in Christ students internationally. This month, the focus turns to how we think about the “charity” environment in Africa. Many people in Africa struggle with basic necessities for food, shelter, education, and medical care that we take for granted in developed countries.
- [Why It's Important to Pursue Faith Over Fear](https://stfi.org/articles/why-its-important-to-pursue-faith-over-fear/) - It’s human nature to feel worried and scared. We live in a fallen world that is ruled by the god of this age (the Devil; 2 Cor. 4:4), and that's something everyone contends with - believers and unbelievers. Couple that with the reality of the spiritual battle that rages around us and which believers are
- [An Important Key to Conquering Indecision](https://stfi.org/articles/how-to-conquer-indecision/) - Indecision can be a heavy weight to carry. Do you ever feel like you're waffling on things more than you should? Sometimes we can make up our minds about a big life decision, a path to take, a change to make, only for doubt to chip away at our conviction. We may find our hearts
- [How to Start Creating a Pattern of Godliness In Your Life](https://stfi.org/articles/how-to-start-creating-a-pattern-of-godliness-in-your-life/) - Do you ever feel stuck in a pattern? As a mom to a toddler, I have often felt like my conversations consist of repeating the same lessons, instructions, and commands more than anything else. For years, I have been constantly reminding my son to use his manners, to clean up after himself, to not pick
- [Why Is It Important to Consecrate Your Life to God?](https://stfi.org/articles/why-is-it-important-to-consecrate-your-life-to-god/) - Is there an area of your life you haven't consecrated to God? There are many places in our lives where we may not see the overlap between the secular and spiritual. It can be easy (and a personal comfort in some ways!) to compartmentalize the various aspects of our day-to-day. This creates the idea that
- [3 Keys to Practicing Patience](https://stfi.org/articles/3-keys-to-practicing-patience/) - Do you struggle with patience? Though it can be hard to admit it, many of us struggle with patience on an ongoing basis. And that can be frustrating. You want to be patient and long-suffering, but it is hard to put into practice! One way we can practice patience is by waiting. Maybe you're waiting
- [International Outreach - Pastor Kuika's Testimony](https://stfi.org/articles/international-outreach-a-testimony/) - Spirit & Truth is excited to have an International Outreach Team that is impacting the world. Since its formation in early 2023, the goal of the International Outreach Team (IOT) has been the global spread of the gospel. We are so blessed by the connections God has facilitated for outreach, particularly with devoted pastors and
- [International Outreach Update & Testimonies - June 2024](https://stfi.org/articles/international-outreach-update-testimonies-june-2024/) - Last month we reviewed the progress of New Life in Christ (NLIC) classes in terms of numbers. Over 8,200 people are involved as graduates or current students. That is a big number, but each number is an individual with a story—what are those stories? As people turn to God and internalize the teaching are they
- [International Outreach - May 2024 Update](https://stfi.org/articles/international-outreach-may-2024-update/) - Relationships Building relationships has a lot to do with regular and effective dialogue combined with prayer. That activity consumes the majority of the time spent by IOT volunteers. It has been rewarding to watch relationships mature, opening space for new ones that the Lord brings. The mature are very active in the work of their
- [How to Live in Hope When Facing Loss](https://stfi.org/articles/how-to-live-in-hope-when-facing-loss/) - Loss is probably one of the worst parts of our human experience in this fallen world. Loss of a loved one. Loss of a relationship. Loss of a pregnancy. Loss of a job. Loss of belonging. Loss of time. Loss of...fill in the blank. Perhaps one of the most tragic of all is the loss
- [Trusting God During Change: A Journey of Hope and Peace](https://stfi.org/articles/trusting-god-during-change-a-journey-of-hope-and-peace/) - I started writing this article at the end of 2023 and am finishing it at the beginning of 2024. I suppose there’s some irony in the fact that this article is about struggling with change whilst getting to wish you, reader, a Happy New Year! Some people find the unknown exciting. I don’t. To give
- [International Outreach - January 2024 Update](https://stfi.org/articles/international-outreach-january-2024-update/) - Spirit & Truth is excited to have an International Outreach Team that is impacting the world. Since its formation in early 2023, the goal of the International Outreach Team (IOT) has been the global spread of the gospel. We are so blessed by the connections God has facilitated for outreach, particularly with devoted pastors and
- [Curious Christianity: Why It's Okay to Ask the Hard Questions!](https://stfi.org/articles/curious-christianity-why-its-okay-to-ask-the-hard-questions/) - Have you ever felt guilty for questioning your faith? Have you equated questioning with doubt and scepticism? Have you stifled your curiosity with a thought like “Who am I to even dare question the Almighty?”, wondering about things in secret— even though nothing is secret from God? Have you been encouraged to just accept something
- [International Outreach - March 2024 Update](https://stfi.org/articles/international-outreach-march-2024-update/) - Spirit & Truth is excited to have an International Outreach Team that is impacting the world. Since its formation in early 2023, the goal of the International Outreach Team (IOT) has been the global spread of the gospel. We are so blessed by the connections God has facilitated for outreach, particularly with devoted pastors and
- [International Outreach - April 2024 Update](https://stfi.org/articles/international-outreach-april-2024/) - Difficult circumstances test the quality of relationships. Those that are strong, built with God as the foundation and developed with His love, can not only withstand the trouble but also help provide deliverance from it and recovery after it. Those types of relationships are characterized by true fellowship (fellowship defined as “intimate joint participation”) between
- [Do It Heartily!](https://stfi.org/articles/do-it-heartily/) - Does life ever feel like a long list of to-do items? As a mom, a lot of my daily activities are fashioned as a routine: Get up, make coffee, work, parent, exercise, cook, decompress, and sleep. I guide, teach, play, adventure, discipline, correct, and hang out with my boy. It’s all too easy to slip
- [Give Praise to God - Of Decaf & Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/give-praise-to-god-of-decaf-delight/) - What a perfect way to end the psalms—with praise. We live in a day and age where a hopeful and happy ending is often sneered at, and what’s lauded and applauded instead is what can be called a “realistic” ending…that is, an ending that is often bittersweet or pyrrhic, meaning victory may be achieved but
- [Execute Godly Judgement - Of Decaf & Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/execute-godly-judgement-of-decaf-delight/) - So very, very often these days, all people—especially God’s children—are warned not to judge. We should not judge the actions of others. We should not judge the choices of others. And God forbid anyone execute judgement, which crosses over the line from mentally judging to carrying out the consequences of said judgement. Yet what so
- [Worship God Well - Of Decaf & Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/worship-god-well-of-decaf-delight/) - How much do you think the creation worships its creator? This memory is very vague for me—and more reinforced by my family’s recollection than anything—but when I was a little kid, I was obsessed with Disney’s Pinocchio…so much so that I was trying to handle that mouthful of a title long before I was eloquent
- [Make Music to God - Of Decaf & Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/make-music-to-god-of-decaf-delight/) - I once read a quote that really stuck with me; to paraphrase, it made note of how much of a disservice mankind has done in turning things done for the sheer enjoyment of them into something that should only be done by those who are “good at it”. Singing. Dancing. Writing. Creating any form of
- [Place Your Trust Wisely - Of Decaf & Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/place-your-trust-wisely-of-decaf-delight/) - One of the greatest struggles many people, both believing and non-believing alike, seem to face when it comes to matters of the Living God is His tangibility. Or the seeming lack thereof. This is something I myself have struggled with off and on throughout my life. Much as my mom faithfully reminds me to take
- [The Resurrection Appearances of Jesus Christ](https://stfi.org/articles/the-resurrection-appearances-of-jesus-christ/) - After Jesus died, Joseph of Arimathaea went to Pilate and got permission to take the body of Jesus. He wrapped the body in a clean linen cloth, which was not...
- [Choose Your Commitments - Of Decaf & Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/choose-your-commitments-of-decaf-delight/) - When I was a teenager, there was a plaque that hung in the kitchen of one of my friend’s houses. The exact phrasing has faded from my memory, but overall principle it laid out was simple but profound: it told of the number of times one must repeat an exercise for it to become a
- [Pick Your Battles - Of Decaf & Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/pick-your-battles-of-decaf-delight/) - “Pick your battles.” That’s an adage most of us have heard a time or two! Heavily implied within this short, sweet saying is the unincluded stipulation: wisely. Pick your battles wisely. Nowadays it seems like there’s no shortage of causes or conflicts we could step into, each with its own host of decent reasons why
- [The Lessons of Old - Of Decaf & Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/the-lessons-of-old-of-decaf-delight/) - I love how well God knows His creation—especially those He created in His image! When I think about how every word of Scripture serves a purpose of some sort, my mind is drawn again and again to the parts that are there for our learning. Too often as a kid, I remember speaking with Christians
- [The Outcry of Distress - Of Decaf & Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/the-outcry-of-distress-of-decaf-delight/) - Do you tend to let things out, or keep them bottled in? For as much as I’m known for being a chatterbox, it would probably shock most of my family and friends how much I keep to myself…a bit of an iceberg, that’s me! From the time my son was about 4 months old, I
- [The Anointing of Reproof - Of Decaf & Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/the-anointing-of-reproof-of-decaf-delight/) - There’s a season in life many of us go through twice—once when we experience it ourselves, and again if we become parents. The teenage years. Several of my friends entered into parenting teenagers around the same time, which gave me a fascinating perspective my husband and I discussed often in those days (we were raising
- [The Pain of War - Of Decaf & Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/the-pain-of-war-of-decaf-delight/) - War is abundant in this world. Whether you feel that wars are a necessary evil or an unnecessary one, there’s really no denying that it’s something we’ve seen a lot of in our day and age. It seems most nations can’t go more than a handful of years without some sort of conflict springing up.
- [Searching and Knowing - Of Decaf & Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/searching-and-knowing-of-decaf-delight/) - Few things in this world affect us so powerfully as being truly known. A lot of times, folks will go to extremes to feel seen and known. We say things and do things, act out or even lash out in a desperate cry to be heard and understood. This happens from the time we’re young—when
- [Delivering from Distress - Of Decaf & Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/delivering-from-distress-of-decaf-delight/) - One of the biggest distresses of my life was when my son underwent surgery at ten months old. It was a very helpless time for me; after a 2:30 AM wakeup and a 7 AM surgery time, my husband and I were left to wait and pray, exhausted and unsure of how the day would
- [Speaking of the Covenant - Of Decaf & Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/speaking-of-the-covenant-of-decaf-delight/) - If there was just one thing about you that everyone could know, what would you want it to be? Most of us don’t have the opportunity to dictate how we’re thought of, what we’re known for, or how we’re remembered. Some people have to slog through embarrassment in school because their entire reputation is built
- [Wielding Your Talent - Of Decaf & Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/wielding-your-talent-of-decaf-delight/) - This one goes out to the creatives. Have you ever felt that, in the face of all the pain in the world, in times of personal or corporate hardship, you struggle to use your talent? Or to use it how you’re meant to? Sometimes it feels like the moment a plight comes to light, singers,
- [Feasting On Your Fruits - Of Decaf & Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/feasting-on-your-fruits-of-decaf-delight/) - It’s always fun to start things off with some encouragement! Psalm 128 is a fun psalm that way; in fact, this entire psalm is super uplifting! It lays out the fate of the one who follows Yahweh closely…and it’s a good life! A healthy, happy wife, an abundance of well-off children. Happiness in the house,
- [Go Away, Adversary!](https://stfi.org/articles/go-away-adversary/) - Today I want to consider the phrase, “It is written.” One of the reasons we need to know what is written is so we can overcome temptation. A person does not simply bump into sin. It is a process, as described in the Book of James: James 1:14, 15 But each person is tempted by
- [First Grace, Then Peace](https://stfi.org/articles/first-grace-then-peace/) - We’ve read over it perhaps thousands of times. ‘Grace and peace…’ Paul uses this expression repeatedly. As he begins each letter, he reminds the readers, the brethren, of this important reality in which they are included. It seems that it is never ‘peace and grace’. Paul always puts them the other way – grace first,
- [The True Significance of Communion](https://stfi.org/articles/the-true-significance-of-communion/) - I gazed in the mirror to approve my wardrobe. This event required new, navy blue dress pants, a white shirt, and a navy blue clip-on tie. Mom made me polish my shoes that morning – she wanted me to look my best for the ceremony. I was nervous, even though my classmates and I had
- [Telling God's Stories - Of Decaf & Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/telling-gods-stories-of-decaf-delight/) - Is there a story in your family that everyone just kind of knows? In my family, my great grandfather was known as a gregarious individual. I feel like everyone knows the story of the time Papa was at a restaurant with a long wait time, so he pulled up a chair at a stranger’s table,
- [The Surrender - Of Decaf & Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/the-surrender-of-decaf-delight/) - Have you ever been in a worship session with fellow believers and felt a stab of discomfort at people around you raising their hands? It can feel a little weird, right? I’ve even heard fellow Christians call it “culty”. I know that as a teenager, this act of worship was a particular struggle for me
- [The Unified - Of Decaf & Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/the-unified-of-decaf-delight/) - Scripture makes it clear over and over again—God places an unfathomably high value on unity amongst brothers, amongst families—His family in particular!—and amongst people of faith. But do we reflect our Maker’s heart on this subject, or do we all too easily prioritize our own feelings on the subject? There was a period in my
- [The Priority - Of Decaf & Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/the-priority-of-decaf-delight/) - Where does God land on your list of priorities? I remember hearing a teaching once about King Solomon that pointed out something I’d never picked up on before; the teacher explained that while Solomon did indeed fulfill the calling on his life to build the Temple for God—and what a splendid Temple it was!—Solomon actually
- [The Connection - Of Decaf & Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/the-connection-of-decaf-delight/) - As a mother, there is no feeling at all that can compare to nursing your baby into comfort and rest. In fact, as I wrote this blog, I was doing just that. Gazing down into my 11-month-old son’s face as he drifted off into that incomparable milk coma, my mind flashed back over all the
- [How to Transform Your Soul](https://stfi.org/articles/how-to-transform-your-soul/) - Before Christ (BC), the Bible says we were dead, without God and without hope. Can a dead man have hope? Nope. Jesus said, “It is the spirit that gives life, the flesh profits nothing” (John 6:63). All human beings are born body and soul. But when we believe on him who was raised from the
- [Selling Out With Courage](https://stfi.org/articles/5018907-2/) - We are obviously surrounded by the evils of the world. (Ya think!?) Looking backward twenty years or so in my life, evil seemed much more subtle. Many times it came to your table like a Boston Cream Pie with razor blades in it. You really had to scrutinize things a bit more closely before partaking!
- [The Forgiver - Of Decaf & Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/the-forgiver-of-decaf-delight/) - What do you consider unforgivable? Even if they won’t admit it, or can’t define it, most people have something they might consider an unforgivable act. For example, a person might say they could forgive their spouse for a lot, but not for cheating on them or indulging in pornography. A parent might say they could
- [Delivering from Hostility - Of Decaf & Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/delivering-from-hostility-of-decaf-delight/) - They say one of the worst deaths is “death by a thousand cuts”. I think a lot of us know this “slow death”, not in terms of actual demise, but by being worn down by the elements of this fallen world. Some people experience the pain of an unhealthy relationship that’s slowly sapping their joy;
- [Parenting with Perspective - Of Decaf & Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/parenting-with-perspective-of-decaf-delight/) - The longer I am a mom, the less I can stand the “entitled parent movement”. You know the one…where parents “jokingly” talk smack about their kids, make digs at them, call them names, and feel entitled to do so because of the pains that come from childbearing. It’s a prolific thing especially on social media,
- [Dreaming Awake - Of Decaf & Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/dreaming-awake-of-decaf-delight/) - What a testimony our lives should be of the wonderful, powerful love of God! There are numerous—often probably far too many—ways in which we hide what should shine out of us like a light upon a hill. One of those ways, I think, is that we don’t always give God enough credit or praise for
- [Sitting with Sinners - Of Decaf & Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/sitting-with-sinners-of-decaf-delight/) - Sometimes the bad has to be separated from the good. I think this is something Christianity struggles with a lot; it comes down often to the “Jesus sat with sinners!” argument, which rightly points out that Jesus spent his ministry with the sick, not the healthy. But this perspective many times takes into account only
- [When Enemies Arise - Of Decaf & Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/when-enemies-arise-of-decaf-delight/) - It is so, so easy to think we can do it all on our own. Countless times over the years, I’ve seen truly well-meaning people—including Christians!—press and encourage people to be their own saviors. Telling them gently but firmly that only they could get themselves out of a tough situation, a mental slump, a difficult
- [When Favor Isn't Found - Of Decaf & Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/when-favor-isnt-found-of-decaf-delight/) - Ah, contempt! Is it something you’ve ever experienced? If you haven’t—lucky you! But if you have, well…you know how soul-crushing it is. The contempt of others toward us, toward God’s people in particular, is nothing new…we can see that in places like Psalm 123. We can certainly wax long in agreement for the psalmist’s heart
- [When Making Time is Hard - Of Decaf & Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/when-making-time-is-hard-of-decaf-delight/) - Sometimes, it’s hard to make time even for the things of God. I know for certain I’m not the only one who struggles with this. Often, I’m so consumed with a to-do list from the moment I open my eyes in the morning, I can sort of…forget to read my Bible or pray. Worse still,
- [When Help is Hard to Find - Of Decaf & Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/when-help-is-hard-to-find-of-decaf-delight/) - Nothing stretches you quite to the limits of your independence the way parenting does! I learned early and often with my son that there’s real merit to the phrase “it takes a village to raise a child”. Luckily, I had my village from Day 1—a wonderful and supporting husband/daddy, a very active and present Grandma,
- [When Peace is Hated - Of Decaf & Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/when-peace-is-hated-of-decaf-delight/) - It’s not an easy thing to live in discord with those around you. I think a lot about Lot; if ever there was a man who didn’t agree with his neighbors’ conduct, it was him. Living in one of the wickedest cities known to man while being a follower of Yahweh? No wonder we’re told
- [What About The Heart? - Of Decaf & Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/what-about-the-heart-of-decaf-delight/) - There are few things I find quite so annoying as a novel writer as when my characters don’t talk like they’re supposed to. If you’re not a novelist, that may sound a little weird; but especially when you write fantasy—as I do—your characters often adopt a certain manner of speech in a certain book. You’ll
- [What About Righteousness? - Of Decaf & Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/what-about-righteousness-of-decaf-delight/) - How much of a role do you think righteousness truly has in our relationship with God? This is probably one of the biggest sticking points in modern Christianity—at least insofar as I’ve witnessed. The Body of Christ seems to take vastly different sides of this issue among its members, occasionally delineated down the seams of
- [What About Truth? - Of Decaf & Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/what-about-truth-of-decaf-delight/) - Sometimes it feels like truth is going out of style. That probably sounds really sacrilegious when you just read it, but when it comes to action, most likely this is something you’ve witnessed. Moral relativism continues its slow yet inexorable march across mankind, ushering in an unprecedented time for humanity. Things we’ve always taken for
- [What About Death? - Of Decaf & Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/what-about-death-of-decaf-delight/) - No one likes to talk about death. For many reasons, the subject brings up a lot of discomfort. Sometimes it’s due to our own grief; sometimes it’s due to another’s. Sometimes we simply don’t know what to say about the brutal gut-punch that comes with the end of life. In 2021, I began following the
- [Healed Wounds - Of Decaf & Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/healed-wounds-of-decaf-delight/) - Have you ever struggled to apply biblical concepts to modern-day life? I sure have! I’m not ashamed to raise my hand. I’m privileged to be taught by Yahweh and those He’s gifted in areas of study and teaching to constantly learn more and more about life at the time the Bible was written. This ongoing
- [Mighty Language - Of Decaf & Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/mighty-language-of-decaf-delight/) - Holy Toledo, I love language! As a writer, I suppose my affinity for words surprises absolutely no one—except perhaps those who have only experienced my innumerable hastily-written typos when firing off a text between tasks. But personal struggles with thick thumbs and tiny cell-phone keypads aside, I do my best to treat words with the
- [What About Idolatry? - Of Decaf & Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/what-about-idolatry-of-decaf-delight/) - Idolatry has become a fascinating study for me lately. Growing up, I had a fairly restrictive view of what idols were; essentially, icons or totems or other objects people worshiped instead of God. Think golden calves and wooden poles. I guess you could say I took segments like Psalm 115 literally; if it was rendered
- [Joyous Lands - Of Decaf & Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/joyous-lands-of-decaf-delight/) - I miss being out in nature! I wrote those words on a cold, dreary winter day, reflecting on the words of Psalm 114 while staring out the window, my son asleep on my lap. We’d just completed a busy morning full of doctor’s tests and errands, and I moved that poor, sleep-deprived child in and
- [Future Blessings - Of Decaf & Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/future-blessings-of-decaf-delight/) - Psalm 112 is such a beautiful, hopeful passage! I love these words; I love the descriptions of prosperity and peace that come from trusting in Yahweh, being gracious, being light—essentially, walking in God’s ways in all we are brings about a blessed life! In contrast, the wicked are furious and gnashing their teeth in contempt,
- [Wholehearted Praise - Of Decaf &Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/wholehearted-praise-of-decaf-delight/) - Can you tell the difference between something that’s done wholeheartedly vs. halfheartedly? I can’t always, but I’d say when it comes to writing, I have a keener sense of this thing. As a freelance editor, it’s part of my job to pick up on the places where the tone of a client’s work shifts from
- [Next Generation Reunion](https://stfi.org/articles/next-generation-reunion-2/) - [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.22″][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.9.4″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.9.4″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_video src=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzo9N9JLx-Q” _builder_version=”4.9.4″ _module_preset=”default”][/et_pb_video][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.9.4″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” hover_transition_delay=”50ms”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_button button_url=”#null” button_text=”Register” button_alignment=”left” module_id=”eventbrite-widget-modal-trigger-395109411887″ _builder_version=”4.9.4″ _module_preset=”default” box_shadow_color__hover_enabled=”on|hover” box_shadow_color__hover=”RGBA(0,0,0,0)”][/et_pb_button][et_pb_text content_last_edited=”off|desktop” _builder_version=”4.9.4″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” width=”%22370%22″ height=”%22246%22″ custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”||||false|false” hover_transition_delay=”50ms” hover_enabled=”0″ hover_transition_delay_last_edited=”off|desktop” sticky_enabled=”0″]When: March 31, 6:00PM – April 2, 1:00PM Where: Pokagon State Park in Angola, IN
- [The Glory of God - Of Decaf & Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/the-glory-of-god-of-decaf-delight/) - Have you ever been given less than your due? A long, long time ago, I was at a summer Scout camp where one of our counselors promised $10 to any girl who could finish a braided plastic rope for our team competition. I wasn’t and have never been overly crafty, and this particular challenge required
- [The Line in the Sand - Of Decaf & Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/the-line-in-the-sand-of-decaf-delight/) - How do you relate to evil? Kind of a funny question, right? On the surface, it seems like a no-brainer. Who’s going to claim they get the warm-fuzzies about evil? Or who’s going to say, “I definitely advocate for evil on my days off, sure!” But the spread of evil in the world—and notably, even
- [A Great Deliverance - Of Decaf & Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/a-great-deliverance-of-decaf-delight/) - At its very core, mankind knows it needs to be saved. Even the most ardent of atheists likely won’t deny there are some thorny situations from which man requires rescue. So many causes arise for the sake of the oppressed, it’s almost impossible to keep track of them all; and deep down, we know we
- [A Powerful Prayer - Of Decaf & Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/a-powerful-prayer-of-decaf-delight/) - One of Christianity’s most common questions is “What’s the point of praying?” The prevalence of this question is likely a surprise to some and not to others. While many seem to have their prayers answered on at least a semi-regular basis, others struggle with feeling that God outright ignores them. Some carry this forward to
- [A Cry From the Darkness - Of Decaf & Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/a-cry-from-the-darkness-of-decaf-delight/) - Have you ever done something you felt you couldn’t be forgiven for or delivered from? While this isn’t something I have personally experienced, it’s emblematic in a host of stories I’ve encountered over the years…both fictional and true. It’s even made its way into books I’ve written! I would venture to say it’s something that
- [A Pivoting Heart - Of Decaf & Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/a-pivoting-heart-of-decaf-delight/) - I once heard someone say that “What doesn’t come out in therapy comes out in relationships,” and boy did I feel that! When I was first dating my now-husband, our budding romance—my first serious one ever, at 20 years old!—revealed a rather alarming habit in me. I have an innate tendency to waffle very quickly
- [Why Is It Important to Know God?](https://stfi.org/articles/why-is-it-important-to-know-god/) - There is something quite remarkable about the relationship Jesus has with the Father. But while we might ponder the beauty and intimacy they share, there is something far more remarkable that involves each of us! Matthew 11:27 No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and
- [How to Live with Joy in the New Year](https://stfi.org/articles/how-to-live-with-joy-not-regrets/) - A new year for many means a new resolution, a pledge to change, improve upon, or start anew in a positive direction in their life. It sounds like a good thing for someone to do, but is it? It depends on the motivation for the resolution being made. I considered the resolutions I made in
- [The Mighty Works - Of Decaf & Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/the-mighty-works-of-decaf-delight/) - Authenticity is such a wonderful thing! The ability to know and be known by someone truly sets the human heart on fire. And although modern culture attempts to hijack this interpersonal intimacy—begging for authenticity from everyone at all times, even to the point of sharing bits of ourselves with those who haven’t earned it—the fact
- [The Heavens Declare - Of Decaf & Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/the-heavens-declare-of-decaf-delight/) - Psalm 104 is such an absolutely beautiful psalm. In great description and detail, the psalmist reflects on creation itself; evocative prose and majestic imagery paint the fingerprints of God across all the world He’s fashioned. The choice of words in this psalm is so intentional, so inviting to the reader—it makes my writer heart sing!
- [The Great Provider - Of Decaf & Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/the-great-provider-of-decaf-delight/) - Few things sting quite like feeling forgotten. There’s an episode in one of mine and my husband’s favorite TV shows that involves the main trio of characters grappling with the slight of being the only ones not acknowledged for the success of a project they did all the work on—being a comedy, of course, the
- [The Enduring One - Of Decaf & Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/the-enduring-one-of-decaf-delight/) - Sometimes it feels beyond easy to get caught up in the fear that the time of God’s things and godliness in general is passing away. I think this concern is natural; it’s certainly felt warranted for me in every instance where I’ve felt it. Watching the things of God be systematically removed from public forum
- [The Active Voice - Of Decaf & Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/the-active-voice-of-decaf-delight/) - As a freelance editor, one of the things I look out for the most on behalf of my clients is something called “passive voice”. The passive voice can be tough to identify, but often as readers we’ll know it simply because a line lacks impact. For example, “The window was opened by a strong force”
- [How to be Ambassadors of Kindness](https://stfi.org/articles/4772170-2/) - The world is not a nice place. It doesn’t take long to learn that if you’re going to survive, you’ve got to be tough. The School of Hard Knocks is a harsh teacher, and most people graduate with a degree in hard-heartedness. And a hard heart does not have much room for kindness. I was
- [Retelling the Christmas Story](https://stfi.org/articles/retelling-the-christmas-story/) - The story of the birth of Christ reveals what we today consider to be the true spirit of Christmas. Not people closing their hearts and homes to a couple in need, but rather people opening both their hearts and their homes, and joyfully giving to others in need and helping where they can.
- [Understanding Discipline - Of Decaf & Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/understanding-discipline-of-decaf-delight/) - Discipline doesn’t always feel good! As a new parent, I asked myself many times, “What do I want my parenting style to look like? How do I want to discipline my child?” There’s no shortage of folks who will tell you how they think it should be done—which is usually how they did it. Parenting
- [The Sheep and the Shepherd - Of Decaf & Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/the-sheep-and-the-shepherd-of-decaf-delight/) - What do you trust to keep you safe? People turn to any number of things for a sense of security. This can be outward, relying on things like government, law enforcement, and other institutions for protection and sustenance; others turn inward, training their bodies in a myriad of self-defense measures so they are always ready
- [The Righteous Balance - Of Decaf & Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/the-righteous-balance-of-decaf-delight/) - Is God sunshine and rainbows? Is He cruelty and spite? The debate rages around the world and throughout the centuries, in both the sacred and secular…what is the nature of God? Many a sincere Christian has been flummoxed and disturbed by how God can claim to be love and yet give instructions or commit acts
- [The Eyes That See - Of Decaf & Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/the-eyes-that-see-of-decaf-delight/) - There are few feelings as good as knowing something is certain and trusting it wholeheartedly! I love when I can lean completely on a friend, knowing they’re there for me; or when I can make a decision in parenting my son because I am absolutely sure it’s the right one, no ifs, ands, or buts.
- [Understanding Stewardship - Of Decaf & Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/understanding-stewardship-of-decaf-delight/) - As a kid, I remember being both fascinated and nervous to visit my grandparents. They lived in one of those homes that had a museum-like quality to it; everything was VERY nice, matching, with an air of wealth beyond what I or any of my friends had. There were also the standard grandparent curio-cabinets, full
- [The Eternity of God - Of Decaf & Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/the-eternity-of-god-of-decaf-delight/) - Do you have a family heirloom or inheritance? Admittedly, this seems to be much more a custom of the past. In antiquity, our ancestors placed much more value on things that passed down from generation to generation, “keeping it in the family.” Nowadays, we seem to lose sentimentality around the third or fourth generation; the
- [Understanding Reliability - Of Decaf & Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/understanding-reliability-of-decaf-delight/) - What brings you back to the familiar so many times? There’s a trend in modern creativity that doesn’t allow for a lot of newfangled ideas; lots of movies nowadays are reboots or sequels within a franchise with a grounded fanbase, or following up on age-old nostalgia. Publishers are far less likely to take a chance
- [Understanding Foolishness - Of Decaf & Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/understanding-foolishness-of-decaf-delight/) - Sometimes it seems like people just don’t get it! Have you ever encountered someone who just couldn’t be talked out of something you knew wasn’t good? It was like they had blinders on; they mocked and ridiculed the things of God, if not God Himself, setting their path on irreverence and folly, even outright wickedness.
- [The Vow of God - Of Decaf & Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/the-vow-of-god-of-decaf-delight/) - What is the measure by which you decide to place your trust in someone? I’ve certainly experienced my share of misplaced trust in friendships and relationships throughout my life. There have been one or two occasions where I found myself blindsided when a friend broke my trust—a pivot in character that seemed to come out
- [The Attention of God - Of Decaf & Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/the-attention-of-god-of-decaf-delight/) - What’s the hardest you’ve ever prayed for something? I’m not talking about the roller skates or BB gun you prayed would be under the tree on Christmas morning (you’ll put your eye out with that thing!), but something you begged God for that you knew only He could make right? Something that was hopeless without
- [Understanding Protection - Of Decaf & Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/understanding-protection-of-decaf-delight/) - It seems there’s often no end to things we can fear. I felt this a lot as a kid; I could’ve probably listed more things I was afraid of than things that made me happy, but top of the list was always tornadoes and demons. In general, things I couldn’t control scared me the most.
- [The Dwelling of God - Of Decaf & Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/the-dwelling-of-god-of-decaf-delight/) - Yahweh loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob. Glorious things are spoken in you, O city of God. Do you like to keep a tidy house? My husband sure does! Me, not so much—at least in the sense that I have a thousand other things that take precedence in my
- [A Covenant Relationship - Of Decaf and Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/a-covenant-relationship-of-decaf-and-delight/) - One of the key lessons I learned in 2021 was the value of relationships. Becoming a new parent will do that to you! I set more boundaries and opened my heart to more people than I ever dreamed of as we welcomed our son into the world. Two things that really stood out to me
- [Our Soul’s Redeemer - Of Decaf and Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/our-souls-redeemer-of-decaf-and-delight/) - A new year with new possibilities looms vast on the horizon. Always, we want to think the best of what the year ahead can bring. But it seems like the roller coaster of 2020 brought some trepidation to our outlook on the breaking of a new year—this was certainly the case in 2021, and some
- [Our Guide to the End - Of Decaf and Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/our-guide-to-the-end-of-decaf-and-delight/) - How much easier is life when we go through things with a guide? Probably one of the scariest things I ever did was embark on the indie-author publishing path, forsaking the traditional publishing world so I could tell the stories God wants me to tell, exactly how He wants me to tell them. Striking off
- [Our Songs of Praise - Of Decaf and Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/our-songs-of-praise-of-decaf-and-delight/) - What’s a good remedy for a foul mood? I think we all have our solutions—sometimes even vices—for when we find ourselves with a less-than-sunny disposition. Many times these things are such a go-to that they become the first direction we turn in when we sense unhappiness, grouchiness, or overall moodiness encroaching. But what about those
- [Our Near and Present Help - Of Decaf and Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/our-near-and-present-help-of-decaf-and-delight/) - Think of the most tumultuous time in your life. A time when it felt like literally everything was against you. When you couldn’t catch a break on any front and it was all you could do to just barely hold on; you were making it from one day to the next, and that was it.
- [The Gift from Above - Of Decaf and Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/the-gift-from-above-of-decaf-and-delight/) - In early 2021, there was a subject placed heavy on my heart for personal reasons—the topic of gifts/giftings. I found myself frequently deep in thought and fervent in prayer about giftings in the Body of Christ, and particularly thinking about my own. I immersed myself in video courses and books on the subject, taught by
- [The Cry in Affliction - Of Decaf and Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/the-cry-in-affliction-of-decaf-and-delight/) - How much better would our balance in life be if we knew—and acted on the knowledge—that we can cry out to Yahweh from the deepest depths of our hearts? I’ll start by saying this is no perfect habit of mine. I’m very liable to rant to people before I vent to God. Yet so often
- [The Leading in the Light - Of Decaf and Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/the-leading-in-the-light-of-decaf-and-delight/) - I LOVE Christmas lights! For as long as I can remember, my mood peaks after the Halloween slump (sorry, trick-or-treaters!) and I ride a gilded good mood through Thanksgiving straight to Christmas. I love everything about the brightness of this time of year—how everything from malls to mini-popup-shops are arrayed in twinkling icicle lights, the
- [The Praise in the Pain  - Of Decaf and Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/the-praise-in-the-pain-of-decaf-and-delight/) - Praise and pain sometimes feel so incongruous. I think a lot of times, in our minds, thankfulness and struggle are like oil and water. We find ourselves waiting for a day on the “other side of things” where it will feel right to praise and be joyful again. I had a really unique experience with
- [A Sense of Goodness - Of Decaf and Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/a-sense-of-goodness-of-decaf-and-delight/) - When was the last time you experienced something that set your senses aflame? Most of us know our five basic senses and how they help us interact with the world. Sight, smell, taste, touch, and hearing are fundamental filters through which we process what comes at us. They’re also intrinsically tied to our memory databanks,
- [The Delight of Yahweh - Of Decaf and Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/the-delight-of-yahweh-of-decaf-and-delight/) - My whole life, I’ve never found anything that feels quite as good as bringing joy to others. It’s why Christmas and birthdays are such exciting times! Yet as great as it is to experience the connectivity that comes from blessing someone—and being blessed by their blessing!—there is something uniquely wonderful in being appreciated and loved
- [Living the Sacrifice - Of Decaf and Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/living-the-sacrifice-of-decaf-and-delight/) - Sometimes it can feel like a struggle to fathom the intricacies of God—to understand how He thinks and why He says or does certain things. Obviously, nothing in Scripture is there for “no good reason”—it’s all for our learning, even the seemingly endless genealogies and so on (Rom. 15:4); but verses like this one in
- [Breathing in the Moment - Of Decaf and Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/breathing-in-the-moment-of-decaf-and-delight/) - At the time of writing this blog, the vulnerability of life was on my mind. Four of my friends were in car accidents within a week of each other, ranging from fender-benders to serious collisions. One was nearly dragged into oncoming traffic by a much larger vehicle. As we talked and processed through the trauma
- [Repenting in Earnest - Of Decaf and Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/repenting-in-earnest-of-decaf-and-delight/) - How do you truly feel about sin? This is a really, really hard subject for all of us, I think. All my life I heard stories of people who excused deeds that clearly went against God’s prescribed boundaries of right and wrong, justifying them through the lens of spirituality or gray area when in fact,
- [A Cry for Justice - Of Decaf and Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/a-cry-for-justice-of-decaf-and-delight/) - Do you ever feel like you’re more invested in the lives of others than they are in you? This is not an uncommon cry of the human heart. Speaking for myself, it’s actually something I’ve struggled with on and off through various friendships for much of my life. There are even those we may invest
- [Seeing the Light - Of Decaf and Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/seeing-the-light-of-decaf-and-delight/) - One of my favorite scenes in movie history (i.e. ones that make me bawl like a baby the absolute MOST) is from 2010’s TANGLED, where heroes Rapunzel and Eugene cast off celebratory paper lanterns while singing a duet about seeing the light…finally coming to the realization that their separate, often selfish desires are nothing compared
- [Focusing on Right-Living - Of Decaf and Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/focusing-on-right-living-of-decaf-and-delight/) - Recent years seem to have seen an uptick in—or at least a greater focus on—those who get ahead in life by less-than-savory means. Movies portray these social climbers as either protagonists or antagonists depending on what benefits the context; meanwhile those playing them often have a habit of finding success by similar questionable means. Especially
- [A Counsel Eternal – Of Decaf and Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/a-counsel-eternal-of-decaf-and-delight/) - During the 2020 election season, and leading into 2021’s Inauguration, a dear friend told me about a struggle they were having knowing what to pray for. They felt truly conflicted, unsure what, in the chaos of developments and goings on, was God’s doing vs. man’s, and they struggled with anxiety over possibly praying against what
- [A Sin Confessed - Of Decaf and Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/a-sin-confessed-of-decaf-and-delight/) - Trying to hide our sin from God is not a new-age trait. In fact, the very first thing mankind ever tried to do the very first time we ever sinned was hide it (Gen. 3). You could say we have a mighty strong track record for trying to keep our unsavory dealings in the dark.
- [Giving it to God – Of Decaf and Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/giving-it-to-god-of-decaf-and-delight/) - Few things wound a righteous heart worse than seeing injustice go unrepaid. Our spirit cries out deeply to see the right thing done. Yet as familiar as we are with this unique breed of distress, Psalmists like David were even more so. Through out the Psalms accredited to David’s hand, we see not only pleas
- [A Spirit Committed – Of Decaf and Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/a-spirit-committed-of-decaf-and-delight/) - It takes a lot to entrust someone with everything you are. One of the most powerful moments in my relationship with my now-husband was the first time he cried in front of me. I fell deeply in love with him that night as I held him, not really knowing why he was breaking down but
- [From Mourning to Dancing - Of Decaf and Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/from-mourning-to-dancing-of-decaf-and-delight/) - QUICK! Think of the last time something wonderful turned your bad day around! I bet you didn’t have to think too hard to recall something like that! For me, my mind goes back to times when book reviews from strangers, Door-dashed sundaes from friends, and coffee runs from my love landed right in the middle
- [Remembering to Worship – Of Decaf and Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/remembering-to-worship-of-decaf-and-delight/) - Have you ever gotten recognition for something you knew you rightly deserved? There’s something uniquely wonderful in receiving praise for a job well done. In fact, it can be downright intoxicating—something people can come to idolize and obsess over, chasing the next “attaboy” or “attagirl” and focusing their lives, purpose, and worth around actions that
- [Seeking from the Heart – Of Decaf and Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/seeking-from-the-heart-of-decaf-and-delight/) - Have you ever felt something so emphatically, your whole heart got involved? The day my husband proposed to me is one I’ll never forget. What started out as another casual, goofy date (complete with using bubblegum worms to fish – hint, not proper bait) ended with him down on one knee—something I didn’t expect after
- [Breaking from the Gray – Of Decaf and Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/breaking-from-the-gray-of-decaf-and-delight/) - Sometimes it’s easy to lose sight of just how drastic a division there is between light and darkness in this world. We live in a time that pushes the attraction of the morally gray; in fiction, this is a character who’s labeled one way but acts in another. Usually it’s morally gray villains who are
- [Learning from The Master – Of Decaf and Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/learning-from-the-master-of-decaf-and-delight/) - Are you ever going along your in day, having a great ol’ time, when all of a sudden you remember something foolish or ridiculous or bad you did in your younger, dumber years? It could be a little social faux pas or a really big mistake or even a terrible decision—point is, all of a
- [Fighting on Team Yahweh - Of Decaf and Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/fighting-on-team-yahweh-of-decaf-and-delight/) - When I was a teen, my friends and I would play this game: who’s on your team during a zombie apocalypse? Answers varied depending on who you were playing with and how you played. Sometimes names just got thrown out at random; other times you got your zombie-killing squad assigned to you based on the
- [From Pain to Praise – Of Decaf and Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/from-pain-to-praise-of-decaf-and-delight/) - Callbacks and foreshadowing are two of my favorite devices as a novelist. I love when a seemingly-insignificant speck of info ties a plot together, or when a throwaway line is brought up again in a new context, adding more complexity to the mix. It’s really no surprise that God, the Master Storyteller in whose image all storytellers
- [Secure in Yahweh – Of Decaf and Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/secure-in-yahweh-of-decaf-and-delight/) - Before you read any further, I want you to take a second to think of something in your life that makes you feel strong and brave. It could be a spouse, a friendship, where you live, what you do for a living, etc. For me, oddly enough, it’s not a thing but a concept: routine.
- [Good Comes from God – Of Decaf and Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/good-comes-from-god-of-decaf-and-delight/) - It’s a classic plot device in many movies, shows, and books: a character wins the day with the help of his plucky companions, only to disregard them and hog the spotlight when it’s on him. We see this and usually roll our eyes, overcome with indignation. What kind of jerk honestly would do that to
- [Finding Wisdom – Of Decaf and Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/finding-wisdom-of-decaf-and-delight/) - Where do you go to find wisdom? I once read a study that assessed the difference in mental maturity between children in regular vs. homeschooled settings. On average, though homeschoolers were further behind on social norms, their maturity and intelligence often ranked higher than those in the public school system due to one simple correlating
- [Rescued by the God of Armies – Of Decaf and Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/rescued-by-the-god-of-armies-of-decaf-and-delight/) - Psalm 18 is one of my absolute favorite psalms of all time (actually it’s #2 on the list, but we might get to the other one later!). I discovered this psalm at a difficult time in my life when it felt like God was far away and disinterested with the personal afflictions I was facing.
- [Preparing for the Test – Of Decaf and Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/preparing-for-the-test-of-decaf-and-delight/) - Do you remember what test-taking was like in school? I sure do—don’t think I could forget even if I wanted to. It was one thing during my homeschool years when I could work one-on-one with my mom, making me feel as prepared for every test as possible well in advance. The year I went to
- [Leaning on our Maker – Of Decaf and Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/leaning-on-our-maker-of-decaf-and-delight/) - How often do we go through life secretly wishing for a jackpot lottery, a genie in a bottle, a magic pill that will take our problems away? This was something that became obvious to me as 2020 ground to a close. So many people I talked to framed their 2021 plans around the idea of
- [Dwelling with God – Of Decaf and Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/dwelling-with-god-of-decaf-and-delight/) - For the longest time, the concept of righteousness and holiness both fascinated and flummoxed me. Since I knew from a young age about sin nature, it seemed like righteous, holy living might just be a pipe dream. How did we know when “good” was “good enough”—if it ever was? If we’d never be perfect, what
- [Remembering Your Refuge – Of Decaf and Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/remembering-your-refuge-of-decaf-and-delight/) - There is no shortage of frustration to be found in this life! One of the most frustrating things of all is when you do everything in your power to ensure a good or righteous outcome from your endeavors, only to have someone with less-than-favorable intentions swoop in and interfere, changing the well-plotted course of your
- [Crying Out to Yahweh – Of Decaf and Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/crying-out-to-yahweh-of-decaf-and-delight/) - Do you ever just get into a streak of bad days? Nothing terrible necessarily happening, you just feel really down in the dumps, like the weight of the world rests on your soul? Maybe you just become acutely conscious of less-than-wonderful world events or brush up against something that awakens your innermost doubts and insecurities. I know
- [Trusting His Words – Of Decaf and Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/trusting-his-words-of-decaf-and-delight/) - How amazing would it be if we could just trust what people say? As children, most of us go through a stage of gullibility where we do precisely that, never questioning how Santa makes it to every house in the world in one night or how the Tooth Fairy keeps tracks of our wiggly pearly whites. But
- [Seeing the Father – Of Decaf and Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/seeing-the-father-of-decaf-and-delight/) - Most people are familiar with Jesus’s teaching about how a good tree can’t bear bad fruit, and vice versa. His teachings gave birth to the widespread understanding “You will know them by their fruit”—i.e., if you want to know the nature of a person, look at their behavior, actions, etc. I love how this familiar
- [Heartbroken For the Lost – Of Decaf and Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/heartbroken-for-the-lost-of-decaf-and-delight/) - I still remember the shock, confusion, and deep sadness I felt in my soul the first time I heard a friend—someone I’d known for years, gone to churches and ministry camps with, and had intimate heart-to-heart fellowship with—use the phrase, “I’m God-free now.” Yet that was truly how they felt; once they no longer devoted
- [Loved by the Creator - Of Decaf and Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/loved-by-the-creator/) - On one of my first dates with my now-husband, we went stargazing. Laid out under the summer sky on the outdoor stage of our ministry’s campground in the middle of the southern Indiana hills, we talked about the deep stuff of life while the summer night grew darker and darker. Somewhere in the midst of
- [Praising in Life - Of Decaf and Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/praising-in-life-of-decaf-and-delight/) - As a teen, I read a Christian fiction book that struck me to my core. In it, the main character and a group of her classmates, devastated in the wake of a friend’s suicide, decide to take drastic measures to combat the grief, confusion, and shame of his death: they form a suicide pact of
- [Walking the Straight Road - Of Decaf and Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/walking-the-straight-road/) - Do y’all know about Indiana potholes? Okay, I know it seems like EVERY Midwest and North/Northeast state has this claim to fame: big stinking potholes, especially in late winter once there’s been plenty of time for water to seep into cracks and ice to expand, turning little dents into baby sinkholes. But from personal experience,
- [Righteous in Anger - Of Decaf and Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/righteous-in-anger/) - Why do you suppose God makes a such a big deal about anger? Why are we told more than once we can be angry, but not to let it lead to sin? I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the kind of sin that comes out of anger. Specifically, this comes to mind when I
- [Lifted Up by Love - Of Decaf and Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/lifted-up-by-love/) - Have you ever been so bent, so broken, that you couldn’t even lift your head? The cool, overcast, miserable day in October 2020 when my husband and I had to put our beloved dog to sleep, I felt like the weight of the world was crushing me. I stumbled into my office, laid down on
- [Rooted in Truth - Of Decaf and Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/rooted-in-truth/) - Scripture passages like Psalm 2's reflection on kings and rulers always fascinate me…and sometimes they’re not the simplest to reconcile or face when overlaid with the life before us. From a thousand-foot view, it can be so easy to scoff at these kings and rulers who were foolish enough to think they could stand in
- [Planted by Living Waters - Of Decaf and Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/planted-by-living-waters/) - We all want to live a prosperous, beneficial life full of meaning. Self-help books, wealth schemes, and countless other sources promise to offer the key to...
- [Shielded by God - Of Decaf and Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/shielded-by-god-of-decaf-and-delight/) - Shields are fascinating things. Often they’re portrayed and perceived as purely defensive objects, though throughout history they were used offensively to batter the enemy—and occasionally even honed with edges so sharp they could inflict lacerating wounds, to the point of decapitating an opponent! Another thing about shields is that they’re heavy. Usually quite heavy.
- [Keys to Reading and Thinking About the Bible](https://stfi.org/articles/keys-to-reading-and-thinking-about-the-bible/) - “God gave you that head to use for something more than just a hat rack!” I can still hear my father saying those words to me on several occasions, imploring me to think before doing anything. The fact that he repeated this often was an indication that I must have been a slow learner. As
- [The Nature of God - Of Decaf & Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/the-nature-of-god-of-decaf-delight/) - But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and abundant in covenant faithfulness and truth. Have you ever worked for a boss you couldn’t stand? I’ve been lucky to have wonderful team leaders all my working life, but a dear friend of mine was not so fortunate. For six years,
- [Going Home - Of Decaf & Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/going-home-of-decaf-delight/) - How lovely is your dwelling place, O Yahweh of Armies! My soul has longed and has even fainted for the courts of Yahweh. My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. Do you ever feel like you just aren’t where you’re meant to be? As a kid, I was a big fan
- [Roaring Enemies - Of Decaf & Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/roaring-enemies-of-decaf-delight/) - O God, do not rest. Do not keep silent, and do not be still, O God. For behold, your enemies roar. Yes, those who hate you have lifted up their head. Which is louder to you—the voice of praise or the voice of criticism? Early on when I became a published author, I learned that I have
- [Divine Council - Of Decaf & Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/4623613-2/) - God takes his stand in his own assembly. He judges in the midst of the gods. Do you ever get confused when the Bible mentions other gods? Some translations might call them lords, or rulers, but more and more often you see them translated literally from the root: gods. Like there’s a council of gods
- [Introduction to The Second Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians](https://stfi.org/articles/introduction-to-the-second-epistle-of-paul-to-the-corinthians/) - [This article first appeared on the REV here] Author God (2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Pet. 1:21), who inspired the Apostle Paul (2 Cor. 1:1; 10:1) to write the letter. Date Probably written in AD 56 from Macedonia, most likely in Philippi (2 Cor. 2:13; 7:5; Acts 20:1). Paul had left Ephesus and met up with
- [Abundant Living - Of Decaf & Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/abundant-living-of-decaf-delight/) - But my people did not listen to my voice, and Israel did not want me. So I gave them over to the stubbornness of their hearts, they walked according to their own plans. Do you remember what it was like to be a rebellious teenager? Those days are closer for me than for some. Still, when
- [Turning Toward Yahweh - Of Decaf & Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/turning-toward-yahweh-of-decaf-delight/) - Then we will not turn away from you. Revive us, and we will call upon your name. Restore us, Oh Yahweh God of Armies. Anyone in need of a good revival? Goodness, have I felt that! In the wake of my son’s birth, I felt strangely both nearer and farther from God than ever. Think
- [Guarding Our Borders - Of Decaf & Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/guarding-our-borders-of-decaf-delight/) - O God, the nations have invaded your inheritance. They have defiled your holy temple. They have laid Jerusalem in ruins. In summer 2021, my husband finally purchased something I’d wanted for years: an umbrella for over our picnic table! I was ecstatic to sit in the shade with our son, enjoying the nice summer breezes.
- [Guiding the Future - Of Decaf & Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/guiding-the-future-of-decaf-delight/) - I will open my mouth in a proverb. I will pour forth riddles of old that we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children, recounting them to the generation to come the songs of praise about Yahweh, even his strength and his wondrous works that he has done.
- [Some Basics About Prophecy](https://stfi.org/articles/some-basics-about-prophecy/) - Hearing from God. What could be more important or wonderful than that? Through the ages, prophecy was a primary way that people heard from God. It has been...
- [Introduction to The First Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians](https://stfi.org/articles/introduction-to-the-first-epistle-of-paul-to-the-corinthians/) - [This article first appeared on the REV here] Author God (2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Pet. 1:21), who inspired the Apostle Paul (1 Cor. 1:1; 16:21), who then dictated the letter to an unnamed secretary, who transcribed it for him (cf. 1 Cor. 16:21). Date Written most likely in the spring of AD 54 or 55
- [The Figure of Speech - Metonymy as used in the Bible](https://stfi.org/articles/the-figure-of-speech-metonymy-as-used-in-the-bible/) - There is no question that the Bible is replete with examples of God acting in ways that seem to contradict His loving nature, not to mention offend our sense...
- [The Figure of Speech - Idiom](https://stfi.org/articles/the-figure-of-speech-idiom/) - Figures of speech are an indispensable component of all languages, and there are some 200 varieties of figures of speech in the Bible. The figure we are...
- [The Administration of the Sacred Secret](https://stfi.org/articles/the-administration-of-the-sacred-secret/) - Throughout history, God has changed the “rules” by which He wants men to live. Every student of the Bible realizes this to one degree or another. For...
- [The Figure of Speech - Ellipsis as used in the Bible](https://stfi.org/articles/the-figure-of-speech-ellipsis-as-used-in-the-bible/) - The ability to communicate by words is one thing that sets mankind apart from all other creatures. God is the Author of language, and no one has ever used language as precisely as God does in the Bible, including His use of figures of speech. When most people say, “a figure of speech,” they are
- [Keep Driving, Repair, and Repeat](https://stfi.org/articles/keep-driving-repair-and-repeat/) - It has occurred to me that the Lord’s relationship with me is like my relationship with my car. Ironically, this occurred to me while actually driving my car. My car and me are similar in several ways. We are both on a journey, and we are both getting older and have started to have “health”
- [Seeking with Fervor - Of Decaf & Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/seeking-with-fervor-of-decaf-delight/) - In the day of my distress I sought the Lord. My hand was stretched out in the night and did not grow weary. My soul refused to be comforted. One of the great complaints you hear from a lot of parents is that their kid asks for the same thing over and over again. Honestly,
- [Living In Awe - Of Decaf & Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/living-in-awe-of-decaf-delight/) - Make vows to Yahweh your God, and fulfill them! Let all who are around him bring tribute to him who is to be feared. He will humble the spirit of princes. He is feared by the kings of the earth. There are certain attributes of nature that inspire unparalleled awe. I remember how truly breathtaking I
- [The Judge of All - Of Decaf & Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/4516212-2/) - For neither from the east nor from the west, nor yet from wilderness, comes exaltation. But God is the judge. He puts down one and lifts up another. What value does earthly merit hold for you? I wish I could claim I was utterly immune from hanging my worth on what the world thinks of
- [The Removal of Righteousness - Of Decaf & Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/the-removal-of-righteousness-of-decaf-delight/) - They said in their heart, “Let us oppress them altogether!” They have burned up all the meeting places of God in the land. We do not see any signs for us. There is no longer any prophet, nor is there among us any who knows for how long. One day on a walk together, my
- [The End of Wickedness - Of Decaf & Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/the-end-of-wickedness-of-decaf-delight/) - When I tried to understand this, it was troubling to me; until I entered God’s sanctuary; then I perceived their end. Psalm 73 is, to me, perhaps one of the most relatable psalms of all time. The psalmist begins by waxing long about something most, if not all of us, are all too familiar with: the frustration
- [A Zeal for God - Of Decaf & Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/a-zeal-for-god-of-decaf-delight/) - For the zeal for your house has consumed me. The reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me. Let’s face it—no one likes to be disliked. Sure, there are those who seem to wear the scorn and disdain of others like a badge of honor, but this is often a defense mechanism to
- [The Value of Blood - Of Decaf & Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/the-value-of-blood-of-decaf-delight/) - He will redeem their soul from oppression and violence. Their blood will be precious in his sight. Think about the last thing you really put your effort into. Would you say it was filled with your blood, sweat, and tears? The shedding of blood for a cause has a lot of cross-cultural significance. We put
- [The Beauty of Age - Of Decaf & Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/the-beauty-of-age-of-decaf-delight/) - O God, you have taught me from my youth. And I still declare your wondrous works. Yes, even when I am old and advanced in age, O God, do not forsake me, until I have declared your strength to the next generation, your might to everyone who is to come. Ah, the joys of growing old! Every
- [A Cry from the Needy - Of Decaf & Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/a-cry-from-the-needy-of-decaf-delight/) - But I am afflicted and needy. Come to me quickly, O God. You are my help and my deliverer. O Yahweh, do not delay! I don’t know about you, but I HATE asking for help. This unfortunate flaw is built into my personality—I am by nature a server/caregiver, meaning I want to solve the world’s
- [Waiting on the Wind](https://stfi.org/articles/waiting-on-the-wind/) - For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven - Ecclesiastes 3:1 Retirement for most individuals is the culmination of a life-long goal. It supposedly opens new adventures that were not available while one was occupied with a full-time job. Travel, new activities, and long-awaited projects that are not restricted
- [The Meaning of "Fill All Things" - Ephesians 4:10](https://stfi.org/articles/what-does-all-things-mean-an-exploration-of-ephesians-410/) - (Now when it says, “he ascended,” what does it mean except that he also descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, in order to fill all things). -Ephesians 4:9-10 The parenthetical statement of Ephesians 4:9-10 ends with the words “all
- [Waves of Life](https://stfi.org/articles/waves-of-life/) - I have learned to kiss the waves that throw me against the Rock of Ages. - Charles Spurgeon This right here is one of my all-time favourite quotes. Why? Because for a long time, I was convinced that nothing good came out of certain difficult situations I’d experienced—specifically, struggling with periods of anxiety when I
- [Introduction to The Epistle of Paul to the Galatians](https://stfi.org/articles/introduction-to-the-epistle-of-paul-to-the-galatians/) - [This article first appeared on the REV] Author God (2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Pet. 1:21), who inspired the Apostle Paul (Gal. 1:1), who then dictated the letter to an unnamed secretary, who transcribed it for him (cf. Gal. 6:11). Date Most likely written as early as ad 48 prior to the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15:6-29),
- [Introduction to The Epistle of Paul to the Romans](https://stfi.org/articles/introduction-to-the-epistle-of-paul-to-the-romans/) - [This article first appeared on the REV] Author God (2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Pet. 1:21), who inspired the Apostle Paul (Rom. 1:1), who then dictated the letter to Tertius, who transcribed it for him (Rom. 16:22). Date Most likely written around ad 57 from the city of Corinth in Greece. Paul discloses that he has
- [Immediately!](https://stfi.org/articles/immediately/) - It recently struck me that I had overlooked or perhaps never grasped the significance of the scenes described below. Matthew 4:18 Now walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And he says to them, “Come
- [Be Ye Thankful](https://stfi.org/articles/be-ye-thankful/) - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Rejoice always; never stop praying; in everything give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. Oh boy! That can sure be a tough one sometimes! When the dog gets loose and runs away; when you lost your job of 25 years; when your boss picks on
- [A Home for the Lost - Of Decaf & Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/a-home-for-the-lost-of-decaf-delight/) - A father of orphans and a judge of widows is God in his holy habitation. God causes the lonely to live in a household. He brings out the prisoners into the prosperous land… Throughout history, there has never been a lack of the unfortunate with need for an advocate. We see this as far back
- [Strengthened by Support - Of Decaf & Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/strengthened-by-support-of-decaf-delight/) - They devise injustices, saying, “We have completed a well-planned plot.” Yes, man’s inward parts and heart are deep. But God will shoot an arrow at them. Suddenly they will be wounded. Have you ever felt alone in standing for what’s right? When I went to public school for one year—in sixth grade—I was sexually harassed. What
- [Enriched by God - Of Decaf & Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/enrich-by-god-of-decaf-delight/) - In awesome deeds of righteousness you answer us, O God of our salvation; you are the confidence of all the ends of the earth of those who are far away on the farthest sea The weight of the world is a heavy burden to carry. A friend said to me once during a USA presidential election that
- [A Shout of Praise - Of Decaf & Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/a-shout-of-praise-of-decaf-delight/) - Raise a joyful shout to God, all the earth! Make music about the glory of his name! Offer glorious praise to him! Say to God, “How awesome are your works!” I don’t know about you, but I love birthdays! And anniversaries! And achievements my friends and family make! Not my own so much—I struggle with
- [A Road to Salvation - Of Decaf & Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/a-road-to-salvation-of-decaf-delight/) - Let your road be known on the earth; your salvation among all nations. Ever notice how when you have a problem, suddenly everyone offers a solution? This was never more apparent to me than in the first few months of motherhood. If my baby or I had the slightest twinge of an ailment, every pediatrician,
- [Tempted by Fortune - Of Decaf & Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/tempted-by-fortune-of-decaf-delight/) - Do not trust in oppression. And do not put confidence in robbery. If wealth bears fruit, do not set your heart on it. Have you ever felt tempted to take an easier or even a dishonest path for quick gain? At one point in my writing career, I forsook a vow I’d made before God because
- [Vindicated by God - Of Decaf & Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/vindicated-by-god-of-decaf-delight/) - But the king will rejoice in God. Everyone who swears by him will boast of him, for the mouth of those who speak lies will be stopped. One of the worst feelings in the world is when someone lies about you—and someone else believes it. Nowadays it’s not uncommon for someone to be labeled this way
- [Our Mighty Fortress](https://stfi.org/articles/our-mighty-fortress/) - Whenever I’m mulling over what to write, I always ask Yahweh one question: “What is it You want people to hear?”, and every time, He answers. This time, I had an undoubtable pressing on my heart for people, His people, to be reminded of the refuge and safety we have in Him, and our Lord
- [Guarded by God - Of Decaf and Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/guarded-by-god-of-decaf-and-delight/) - From the end of the earth I will call to you, when my heart is weak. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For you have been a refuge for me, a tower of strength against the enemy. It’s rare to find a follower of Jesus who has not felt in some way attacked,
- [How Will You Handle the Anger? - Of Decaf and Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/how-will-you-handle-the-anger-of-decaf-and-delight/) - O God, you have rejected us. You have broken us. You have been angry. Return to us. You have made the land quake. You have split it open. Heal its fractures, for it shakes. One of the most uncomfortable subjects for a good many people—Christians and non-Christians alike—is the topic of a wrathful or angry
- [What is Your Standing? - Of Decaf and Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/what-is-your-standing-of-decaf-and-delight/) - For, behold, they lie in wait for my soul. The mighty attack me, not for my transgression, nor for my sin, O Yahweh. I am without iniquity; they run and have determined themselves. We all know the sting of a well-deserved reprimand. We know what it’s like to fall or fail because of a mistake
- [What Is Your Judgement? - Of Decaf and Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/what-is-your-judgement-of-decaf-and-delight/) - Do you truly speak righteousness, O gods? Do you judge uprightly, O children of men? No, in your heart you commit injustices. You deal out the violence of your hands into the land. Marriage is one of the arenas of life where things are often primed for misunderstanding. There have been many times over the
- [Where is Your Focus? - Of Decaf and Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/where-is-your-focus-of-decaf-and-delight/) - My soul is among lions. I lie among those who are set on fire, even the sons of men whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be above all the earth! I have, thankfully, never had the discomfort of sitting
- [Where is Your Trust? - Of Decaf and Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/where-is-your-trust-of-decaf-and-delight/) - In God I praise his word. In God I put my trust. I will not be afraid. What can flesh do to me? Where do you place your trust? I think about this often when I scroll through comments sections on social media, getting a glimpse into the multifarious perspectives on what’s going to save
- [Losing Friends - Of Decaf and Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/losing-friends-of-decaf-and-delight/) - For it was not an enemy who insulted me; then I could have endured it. Neither was it he who hated me who raised himself up against me; then I would have hidden myself from him. But it was you, a man like me, my companion and my familiar friend. This is never, ever an
- [What's In A Word? - SPIRIT](https://stfi.org/articles/whats-in-a-word-spirit/) - So what is this spirit, exactly? It’s a portion of God’s essence inside us! God is holy and He is a spirit-being, so His power is holy spirit.
- [What's In A Word? - FRUIT](https://stfi.org/articles/whats-in-a-word-fruit/) - We’re always bearing fruit. The question is, what kind?
- [What's In A Word? - LOVE](https://stfi.org/articles/whats-in-a-word-love/) - Love can look like compassion or correction. Like giving or lending a helping hand. Each one rings like a different syllable, like a another dulcet pronunciation.
- [What's In A Word? - JOY](https://stfi.org/articles/whats-in-a-word-joy/) - The key to joyfulness is to be firmly grounded in the promises and hope from our God,
- [What's In A Word? - PEACE](https://stfi.org/articles/whats-in-a-word-peace/) - So when you’re feeling troubled, particularly if you are living in a state of contention with a fellow believer, ask yourself whose peace you’re relying on: your own, or the peace of Christ?
- [What's In A Word? - PATIENCE](https://stfi.org/articles/whats-in-a-word-patience/) - Often we have to actively choose to be patient until it becomes a habitual mindset.
- [What's In A Word? - KINDNESS](https://stfi.org/articles/whats-in-a-word-kindness/) - Because the nature of God is kindness, when we become nearer to Him, we will reflect kindness even more toward others.
- [What's In A Word? - GOODNESS](https://stfi.org/articles/whats-in-a-word-goodness/) - Doing good deeds and living in the goodness of the spirit is not a level of spirituality we achieve; it’s a lifelong process.
- [What's In A Word? - FAITHFULNESS](https://stfi.org/articles/whats-in-a-word-faithfulness/) - The closer we become to God and the more we prioritize and focus on the things that are important to Him, the more it will engender that steadfastness of our affection for Him
- [WHAT'S IN A WORD SERIES - Now on TruthOrTradition.com!](https://stfi.org/articles/whats-in-a-word-series-now-on-truthortradition-com/) - Beginning in JANUARY 2020, you can find the continuation of the WHAT'S IN A WORD blog series at it's new home - on TruthOrTradition.com!
- [What's In A Word? - MEEKNESS](https://stfi.org/articles/whats-in-a-word-meekness/) - The beauty of meekness is that it’s birthed in the security of knowing who we are and where we stand with God, and through His eyes, seeing the nature of things around us
- [What's In A Word? - SELF CONTROL](https://stfi.org/articles/whats-in-a-word-self-control/) - The more we choose to say “yes” to the things of God and “no” to shoveling stuff into the bottomless hole of our sin nature, the easier it becomes to keep saying “yes.”
- [Introduction – Of Decaf and Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/introduction-of-decaf-and-delight/) - Ever since I hit my late teens, one of my favorite morning routines has been grabbing a cup of coffee and either writing for a few hours or gazing out the window while I reflect on the stuff of life. While I’ve traded my familiar Espresso roast for decaf and become more attuned to which
- [Teaching Transgressors – Of Decaf and Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/teaching-transgressors-of-decaf-and-delight/) - Do not cast me away from your presence and do not take your holy spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation. And support me with a willing spirit. I will teach transgressors your roads. Then sinners will turn to you. Oh, this psalm! So profound and so heartbreaking. Psalm 51 was
- [Flourishing Foundations - Of Decaf and Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/flourishing-foundations-of-decaf-and-delight/) - “Behold the person who did not set God as his mountain stronghold! Instead he trusted in the abundance of his riches; and he strengthened himself in his evil desire.” But as for me, I am like a flourishing olive tree in the house of God. I trust in God’s covenant faithfulness forever and ever. You know what’s so frustrating about horticulture? You
- [Conquering Giants - Of Decaf and Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/conquering-giants-of-decaf-and-delight/) - The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt and have done abominable iniquity. There is no one who does good. There are few psalms I see quoted as often these days in terms of our life’s present context as Psalm 53—and not without reason. Indeed, it’s not difficult to
- [Sustaining Souls - Of Decaf and Delight](https://stfi.org/articles/sustaining-souls-of-decaf-and-delight/) - Behold, God is my helper. The Lord is the one who sustains my soul. He will repay the evil to my enemies. Destroy them in your truth. What are the things in life that make your soul feel full? For me, it’s family time, coffee shop visits, and of course, writing! Anytime I can engage
- [His Angels as Winds – Hebrews 1:7 & Psalm 104:4](https://stfi.org/articles/his-angels-as-winds-insight-into-hebrews-17-psalm-1044/) - “And of the angels he says, He makes his angels as winds, and his ministers as a flaming fire…” The point of Hebrews 1:7 is to elevate the Son. The angels of God are swift as the wind, strong as a fire, but they pay homage to the son (verse 6). The “feel” of the
- [22 Principles of Biblical Interpretation: How to Eliminate Apparent Bible Contradictions](https://stfi.org/articles/22-principles-of-biblical-interpretation/) - Many Christians agree that the Word of God is “the Truth.” Yet from one Bible come thousands of differing interpretations about exactly what “the Truth” is.
- [The Figure of Speech - Polar-merismos as used in the Bible](https://stfi.org/articles/the-figure-of-speech-polar-merismos-as-used-in-the-bible/) - God is the Author of language, and the ability to communicate by words is one thing that sets apart man from all other creatures. God invented words so that...
- [The Figure of Speech - Polyptoton as used in the Bible](https://stfi.org/articles/the-figure-of-speech-polyptoton-as-used-in-the-bible/) - God is the Author of language, and the ability to communicate by words is one thing that sets apart man from all other creatures. God invented words so He...
- [The Figure of Speech - Antonomasia as used in the Bible](https://stfi.org/articles/the-figure-of-speech-antonomasia-as-used-in-the-bible/) - God is the Author of language, and the ability to communicate by words is one thing that sets apart man from all other creatures. Figures of speech add...
- [Examples of Figure of Speech Used in the Bible What are they, their purpose, recognizing them...](https://stfi.org/articles/examples-of-figure-of-speech-used-in-the-bible/) - What is a Figure of Speech? A departure from the normal rules of grammar or word usage. Examples: “breadth and length and depth and height” “The mountains will sing.”
- [The Figure of Speech - Heterosis as used in the Bible](https://stfi.org/articles/the-figure-of-speech-heterosis-as-used-in-the-bible/) - God is the Author of language, and the ability to communicate by words is one thing that sets apart man from all other creatures. God invented words so he...
- [The Figure of Speech - Hyperbole as used in the Bible](https://stfi.org/articles/the-figure-of-speech-hyperbole-as-used-in-the-bible/) - God is the Author of language, and the ability to communicate with words is one thing that sets apart man from all other creatures. Figures of speech add...
- [The Figure of Speech - Tapeinosis as used in the Bible](https://stfi.org/articles/the-figure-of-speech-tapeinosis-as-used-in-the-bible/) - God is the Author of language, and the ability to communicate by words is one thing that sets apart man from all other creatures. Figures of speech add...
- [Figures of Speech - Antanaclasis (Word Clashing)](https://stfi.org/articles/figures-of-speech-antanaclasis-word-clashing/) - The figure of speech we are going to study in this article is Antanaclasis, or “Word Clashing.” It occurs when the same word occurs in the same sentence, but...
- [The Figure of Speech Hypocatastasis as used in the Bible](https://stfi.org/articles/the-figure-of-speech-hypocatastasis-as-used-in-the-bible/) - In this article we will examine the figure of speech, hypocatastasis (pronounced; hi-poe-ca-tas-ta-sis), which is an important figure when studying the...
- [The Figure of Speech - Anadiplosis as used in the Bible](https://stfi.org/articles/the-figure-of-speech-anadiplosis-as-used-in-the-bible/) - God is the Author of language, and the ability to communicate with words is one thing that sets apart man from all other creatures. Figures of speech add...
- [The Figure of Speech - Amphibologia as used in the Bible](https://stfi.org/articles/the-figure-of-speech-amphibologia-as-used-in-the-bible/) - The ability to communicate by words is one thing that sets apart man from all other creatures. God is the Author of language, and no one has ever used...
- [The Figure of Speech - Synecdoche as used in the Bible](https://stfi.org/articles/the-figure-of-speech-synecdoche-as-used-in-the-bible/) - The ability to communicate by words is one thing that sets apart mankind from all other creatures. God is the Author of language, and no one has ever used...
- [The Figure of Speech - Anacoluthon as used in the Bible](https://stfi.org/articles/the-figure-of-speech-anacoluthon-as-used-in-the-bible/) - The ability to communicate by words is one thing that sets apart mankind from all other creatures. God is the Author of language, and no one has ever used...
- [The Figure of Speech - Hyperbaton as used in the Bible](https://stfi.org/articles/the-figure-of-speech-hyperbaton-as-used-in-the-bible/) - The ability to communicate by words is one thing that sets apart mankind from all other creatures. God is the Author of language, and no one has ever used...
- [The Figures of Speech - Asyndeton and Polysyndeton as used in the Bible](https://stfi.org/articles/the-figures-of-speech-asyndeton-and-polysyndeton-as-used-in-the-bible/) - The ability to communicate by words is one thing that sets apart mankind from all other creatures. God is the Author of language, and no one has ever used...
- [Figures of Speech - Idiom](https://stfi.org/articles/figures-of-speech-keys-to-effective-communication-idiom/) - The figure of speech we are going to study in this issue of The Sower is “idiom.” An idiom is the use of a word or words in a way that is peculiar to...
- [Figures of Speech - Acrostic](https://stfi.org/articles/figures-of-speech-acrostic/) - The figure of speech we are going to study in this issue of The Sower is Acrostichion, or, in English, Acrostic. The Greek word Acrostichion comes from akros...
- [Figures of Speech - Meiosis (Belittling)](https://stfi.org/articles/figures-of-speech-meiosis-belittling/) - The figure of speech we are going to study in this article is Meiosis. In English, “meiosis” is a homonym, which means that another word is spelled the same...
- [Figures of Speech - Asterismos (Indicating)](https://stfi.org/articles/figures-of-speech-asterismos-indicating/) - Asterismos (Aster- is-mos), or “indicating.” The Greek word astēr means “star,” and in English today we put an “asterisk,” or “little star” beside something we want to mark in a way that catches the reader’s attention.
- [The Figure of Speech - Zeugma as used in the Bible](https://stfi.org/articles/the-figure-of-speech-zeugma-as-used-in-the-bible/) - Zeugma means “yoke,” and refers to the fact that two things are yoked together. The English dictionary correctly defines Zeugma as occurring when two words, or two subjects, are controlled (yoked together) by one verb, when lexically and logically the verb fits with only one of the subjects.
- [Figures of Speech - Eironeia (Irony and Sarcasm)](https://stfi.org/articles/figures-of-speech-eironeia-irony-and-sarcasm/) - It may seem strange that the Word of God contains sarcasm. That is because when most people use sarcasm it is just to hurt others, with no motive beyond that.
- [Figures of Speech - Euphemismos (Substitution)](https://stfi.org/articles/figures-of-speech-euphemismos-substitution/) - The root of the Greek word is eu meaning “good,” and phemi, meaning “speech.” The verb euphemeō and the noun euphemismos referred to “good speech,” and the range of meanings those words had in ancient Greece was very broad.
- [The Figure of Speech - Epistrophe as used in the Bible](https://stfi.org/articles/the-figure-of-speech-epistrophe-as-used-in-the-bible-2/) - The figure we are going to cover in this article is Epistrophe (in English, pronounced i-piss'-tro-fee, and sometimes referred to as Antistrophe)...
- [Figures of Speech - Hendiadys (Two for One)](https://stfi.org/articles/figures-of-speech-hendiadys-two-for-one/) - The figure of speech we are going to study in this article is Hendiadys (pronounced hen-’dī-ə-dəs), or “two for one.” Webster’s defines this figure well: “the expression of an idea by the use of two usually independent words connected by ‘and’ (“nice and warm”) instead of the usual combination of an independent word and its modifier (“nicely warm”).
- [Personification: Examples in literature and the Bible](https://stfi.org/articles/personification-examples-in-literature-and-the-bible/) - The figure of speech we are going to cover in this article is Personification, which occurs when a thing is spoken of as if it were a person, or takes on...
- [Figures of Speech - Homeopropheron (Alliteration)](https://stfi.org/articles/figures-of-speech-homeopropheron-alliteration/) - The figure of speech Homeopropheron, which in English is called Alliteration, is important because it immediately grabs the attention of the reader...
- [Figures of Speech - Aposiopesis (Sudden Silence)](https://stfi.org/articles/figures-of-speech-aposiopesis-sudden-silence/) - The figure of speech we are going to study in this article is Aposiopesis or “Sudden Silence.” Aposiopesis is a “figure of omission,” and occurs when...
- [Nicknames in the Bible](https://stfi.org/articles/nicknames-in-the-bible/) - Do you have a nickname? At some point in their lives most people get some kind of a nickname. Sometimes this comes from schoolmates, friends, coworkers, or from family. Nicknames are common in my family. My little brother John became Jack, an Irish tradition for the name John that goes back centuries. My brother Kevin
- [Keeping the Sacred, Sacred](https://stfi.org/articles/keeping-the-sacred-sacred/) - While editing a book for a client recently, I was struck by a certain tenor within its pages. Set in the late 1800s, it addressed inherent misogyny in the structure of society at that time; but within the female main character herself, there was also a supposition about women at the time…that having the physical
- [Is it true that an earthquake is an “act of God”?](https://stfi.org/articles/is-it-true-that-an-earthquake-is-an-act-of-god/) - God is all good. He is light (1 John 1:5), He is love (1 John 4:8), and He wants only blessings for all people. Not only is He not the cause of...
- [Psalm 138:2 for you have exalted your Word above all your name](https://stfi.org/articles/psalm-138-2-for-you-have-exalted-your-word-above-all-your-name/) - FAQ: I was once taught that when it says in Psalm 138:2 that God “magnified his Word above all his name,” it means He underscored it to emphasize that He...
- ['Twas the Day Before Christ’s Birth](https://stfi.org/articles/twas-the-day-before-christs-birth/) - In light of the current holiday season and what we now know biblically about Christ’s birth, John Sandt put together a short rendition of the first “Christmas.” It’s presented with music and sound effects and done with the cadence of 'Twas the Night Before Christmas. Using a few minor assumptions in the story, we think
- [Atheist Pilot Rejects God...Until He Runs Out of Fuel!](https://stfi.org/articles/atheist-pilot-rejects-god-until-he-runs-out-of-fuel/) - Below is a link to a very powerful testimony of an Alaskan bush pilot who runs out of fuel and yet miraculously hears a voice and is able to fly to safety. The story is very inspiring and worth reading, but never forget that we all have a story of our own to tell too.
- [Obedient and Free](https://stfi.org/articles/obedient-and-free/) - I was thinking to myself one evening recently, I really want a tattoo of God’s name “Yahweh” on me. It instantly reminded me of how in Isaiah, God says, “Behold! I have engraved you on the palms of my hands”. Which in turn got me thinking, “Ouch!” Imagine a tattoo on the palm of your
- [Praying With Our Entire Self](https://stfi.org/articles/praying-with-our-entire-self/) - Prayer isn’t merely a mental or verbal activity that takes place before we have a meal, or when church starts, or a Christian event commences, or in times when we are suffering or experiencing adversity. Prayer is something that involves a whole person, not just our mind, but our body and soul as well. Every
- [Reading the Bible Critically - Part 2](https://stfi.org/articles/reading-the-bible-critically-part-2/) - In “Reading the Bible Critically—Part 1,” I stressed the importance of paying careful attention when we read Scripture. We sometimes inadvertently lack the focus required to grasp its meaning. The antidote to that syndrome: Be a serious reader of the Bible! But what does that mean? Someone might say, “I want to understand the Bible,
- [Who is the Bride of Christ?](https://stfi.org/articles/who-is-the-bride-of-christ/) - God has always been devoted to His people, and He wants His people to be devoted to Him. One of the ways God expresses the obligation His people have to Him...
- [The Joy Of The Lord Is My Strength](https://stfi.org/articles/the-joy-of-the-lord-is-my-strength/) - “Do not be grieved, for the joy of Yahweh is your strength.” Although these words were originally spoken and directed to God’s chosen people, the Israelites...
- [Why it is Impossible to Please God Without Faith](https://stfi.org/articles/why-it-is-impossible-to-please-god-without-faith/) - "Without faith, it is impossible to please God." No one has given more, loved more, or done more for people than God. He is constantly loving and helping people, and even sent His only begotten Son to be...
- [Distractable or Intentional?](https://stfi.org/articles/distractable-or-intentional/) - Allow me to set the scene. It’s a quiet Friday night. After a long, stressful workweek, you’re settling in with a movie you’ve been dying to see for ages. Finally, you have the time for it! You grab your cup of cocoa, press play— Then hop on your phone and get absorbed in checking social
- [When You Come To A Cross Road, Take It](https://stfi.org/articles/when-you-come-to-a-cross-road-take-it/) - When I laid this out originally, the first title that I thought of was “Suffering, Faith, Character, and Glory.” We will see that this will be all about the...
- [Nature’s Classroom](https://stfi.org/articles/natures-classroom/) - God writes the Gospel not in the Bible alone, but also on trees, and in the flowers and clouds and stars. - Martin Luther There is an understanding among all who have immersed themselves in the outdoor experience: they are passionate about nature and wildlife. Nature provides a personal encounter with the Creator through His
- [Seek First the Kingdom](https://stfi.org/articles/seek-first-the-kingdom/) - “Seek first the Kingdom.” We know this directive of Jesus is to focus on the important matters; he said the other things like food and clothing will be...
- [Time for a Checkup](https://stfi.org/articles/time-for-a-checkup/) - For I am not ashamed of the good news, for it is the power of God to salvation to everyone who believes... - Romans 1:16a The Word of God is powerful when a person believes and acts upon it. Let’s talk a bit about what we believe. Since 1996, the percentage of Americans that support
- [What Are You Focusing On in 2022?](https://stfi.org/articles/what-are-you-focusing-on-in-2022/) - Another year lies behind us in the books—one of a couple lately that have felt a bit strange, a bit off, a bit surreal. It’s difficult not to look into 2022 with some trepidation, wondering what it has in store; already memes and banter are pouring across the internet begging 2022 to be kinder to
- [Walking in the Spirit Equals Walking in Love](https://stfi.org/articles/walking-in-the-spirit-equals-walking-in-love/) - Walking in the spirit often means doing things that don’t come naturally to us. I mean, why would they, when the outpouring and power of the holy spirit within us is from God and not our frail human selves? Thankfully, the spirit from Yahweh births in us the desire to want to do and to
- [Kindness in Courage](https://stfi.org/articles/kindness-in-courage/) - What modern Christians can learn from the Book of Daniel about living in a strange land. What starts with the kidnapping of a Jewish boy from his homeland by...
- [You Are Not Your Own](https://stfi.org/articles/you-are-not-your-own/) - “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the holy spirit within you, which you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. Therefore, glorify God in your body.”
- [Strategies to Beat Sexual Sin](https://stfi.org/articles/strategies-to-beat-sexual-sin/) - Every advertiser knows that sex sells…because sexy images are a surefire way to grab people’s attention.
- [Make Known His Deeds](https://stfi.org/articles/make-known-his-deeds/) - One of the great miracles that God performed in my life occurred when I was a new Christian… In September of 1975, I attended a three-week class on the Bible, which introduced me to God and His Word. For the first time in my life, I had answers to questions that I thought would never
- [Changing With The Seasons](https://stfi.org/articles/changing-with-the-seasons/) - As I changed my calendar over to the month of September, I asked myself, “Where did these last few months go?” Another year is almost gone. I began to think about the many changes we have experienced so far this year. 2021 has wrought uncertainty, fear, and sadness as well as opportunity, courage, and happiness.
- [Planting on Hard Ground](https://stfi.org/articles/planting-on-hard-ground/) - Plants don’t grow well in hard ground! Oh, we may get some stunted growth or weeds … And He told them many things in parables, saying, “Behold, the sower went out to sow; and as he sowed, some seeds fell beside the road, and the birds came and ate them up. Others fell on the
- [What Does It Mean to be a Child of God?](https://stfi.org/articles/what-does-it-mean-to-be-a-child-of-god/) - Preparing myself for motherhood led me down an absolute warren of learning! I tore through so many resources on the parenting style I wanted to pursue, learning everything from the impact of birthing to the first few months of life and beyond. One thing that stuck out to me was the intricate design of the
- [Can You Lose the Power of Holy Spirit?](https://stfi.org/articles/can-you-lose-the-power-of-holy-spirit/) - To say I was obsessed with stuffed animals as a kid would be a gracious understatement. For a considerable portion of my childhood, I slept on a sliver of my bed barely as wide as I was, the rest overtaken by animals I refused to put in my toy chest because, and I quote, “I
- [The Key to God’s Power – Taking Jesus With Me Each Day](https://stfi.org/articles/the-key-to-gods-power-taking-jesus-with-me-each-day/) - Did you ever wonder if you’re walking in God’s power? I do! All the time. Oh, there are some days when I feel like I’m on top of the world; other days, well, you know! Now, usually when the latter happens, I like to do a “check up from the neck up.” I know God
- [Women: Man’s View or God’s View?](https://stfi.org/articles/women-mans-view-or-gods-view/) - In this teaching, I want to go back to some of the difficult scriptures. Two more sections in the Bible need to be clarified. The first is 1 Corinthians 11...
- [Honor One Another](https://stfi.org/articles/honor-one-another/) - What would you do for someone or something that you consider precious? Protect? Nurture? Keep well maintained? We all invest a lot of time, thought, prayers...
- [How Do I Know I’m Walking by the Spirit?](https://stfi.org/articles/how-do-i-know-im-walking-by-the-spirit/) - Wouldn’t it be awesome if walking by the power of God’s holy spirit came with a super-obvious indicator? Okay, bear with me on a short detour into mom-land: when my son was a newborn and we were still figuring out his cues, one of the honest-to-goodness LIFESAVERS were wetness-indication diapers. Because, look…when your 2 week
- [Out of the Blue](https://stfi.org/articles/out-of-the-blue/) - Hearing the Spirit speak to you is usually a memorable experience. Years ago, I heard an unexpected word: “He’s in there loving her.” I admit to editing the verb. Love is a nicer four-letter word than the original version. If I recall it correctly, this message occurred in my head completely out of the blue.
- [Our Shadrach Decision – Don’t Pretend It’s Not Coming](https://stfi.org/articles/our-shadrach-decision-dont-pretend-its-not-coming/) - Psalm 14 The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they have committed detestable acts; There is no one who does good. The LORD has looked down from heaven upon the sons of mankind To see if there are any who understand, Who seek God. They have all turned
- [God Brings the Harvest](https://stfi.org/articles/god-brings-the-harvest/) - I am often a very results-oriented person, which can be a blessing and a curse as a novelist. Sometimes I’ll completely miss the brilliance and joy of meeting new characters, exploring fantastic worlds in my head, and simply being in the creating process because I’m too focused on the things that come after it. Notions
- [What does the Bible say about Adultery?](https://stfi.org/articles/what-does-the-bible-say-about-adultery/) - The Greek word used in the New Testament for an adulterer is moichos (adultery is mocheia) and it refers to someone who is married but having sexual...
- [Good Fruit or Good Behavior?](https://stfi.org/articles/good-fruit-or-good-behavior/) - It’s something most of us encounter at least once in our Christian walk, though we wish we didn’t: someone who professes holiness and righteousness and talks a great talk for Jesus, running themselves and others ragged about how they “show up” and whether they give off that “good Christian vibe”—but they themselves are cruel in
- [YHWH: The Name of God](https://stfi.org/articles/yhwh-the-name-of-god/) - Suppressing The Incommunicable Name The Sacred Name of God is a prominent feature in the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) and appears nearly 7,000 times throughout its pages (6,828 times in Codex Leningradensis). In the actual Hebrew text, the Divine Name of God is written as four letters, YHWH (known as the Tetragrammaton). These four consonants
- [The Beauty in the Harvest Stages](https://stfi.org/articles/the-beauty-in-the-harvest-stages/) - Confession Time: my name is Renee, and in early 2021 I went on a kick with the concept of the harvest, both spiritually and physically. Maybe it had something to do with my husband and me finally happening to get the gardening bug the same year (before, we seemed to gain ambition on opposite cycles,
- [Exposing the Darkness](https://stfi.org/articles/exposing-the-darkness/) - So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves” (Matt. 27:24). Pilate thought he would be exonerated of the blame he tried to excuse himself from by
- [What Can We Expect When We Pray?](https://stfi.org/articles/what-can-we-expect-when-we-pray/) - God longs to be known intimately and has invited us into relationship with Him. All healthy relationships are built on things like trust, love, loyalty, dedication, passion, all of which are developed through communication and experience. Yahweh has communicated His trustworthiness over the course of human history especially through the records of His dealings with
- [Idolizing the Church](https://stfi.org/articles/idolizing-the-church/) - When I say “idol”, you say—what? It’s amazing how casually this term has infiltrated our culture—and even our hearts. Entertainment stars are now literally dubbed “idols”; celebrities of all types are revered as being a breed above the common man with opinions of greater gravitas than yours or mine…some through the years have even outright
- [What About Anxiety?](https://stfi.org/articles/what-about-anxiety/) - FAQ: Why do some Christians struggle with anxiety? Are they just not trusting God enough? How do we relate to them? There are a staggering number of people from as young as early childhood to deep in their senior years who struggle with anxiety in some form or another. This can range from passing twinges
- [The Challenge](https://stfi.org/articles/the-challenge/) - Christianity is under attack. In this confused and manipulated world, the values and principles that were once clearly and dearly important and have remained unchallenged in society for decades are now fiercely threatened and facing extinction. Around the world, Christians have experienced persecution since the church began. Western nations have had a long time in
- [4 Things to Pray For Every Day](https://stfi.org/articles/4-things-to-pray-for-every-day/) - Ever felt just a little stumped when the Bible tells us to pray constantly (1 Thess. 5:17)? Like, okay, I definitely get praying—but constantly? Sometimes it’s hard to know how to pray or what to pray for. You could have a laundry list of items that need lifting in prayer, to the point where you
- [The Bible: You Can Believe It!](https://stfi.org/articles/the-bible-you-can-believe-it/) - This book is a defense of the accuracy and integrity of the Bible. It examines and refutes many of the most common criticisms that have been raised against...
- [No Free Pass to Sin](https://stfi.org/articles/no-free-pass-to-sin/) - The amount of times I’ve been given permission to sin as a parent is overwhelming. It’s also worth noting that at the time of my writing this, I was not actually parent to an earthside baby yet. Yep, you read that right! Before my son was even born—when the interactions I had with him amounted
- [The Road of Life](https://stfi.org/articles/the-road-of-life/) - “Life’s like a road that you travel on when there’s one day here and the next day gone…” –Tom Cochrane, Life is a Highway (Mad Mad World, 1991) It finally dawned on me that I had made a wrong turn several miles back. I heard the voice in my ear softly telling me that I was heading in
- [Where to Start Reading the Bible](https://stfi.org/articles/where-to-start-reading-the-bible/) - So you’ve picked up a Bible or downloaded an app, and you’re ready to start reading. Awesomeness, that’s what we like to hear! The problem is, now you’ve got this dense book that’s over 1000 onionskin pages or an app with 60+ subsection books. Looking at that, you might start to feel like a deer
- [Reading the Bible Critically — Part 1](https://stfi.org/articles/reading-the-bible-critically-part-1/) - WHO WANTS TO BE CRITICAL? The word “critical” often has a negative connotation in people’s minds. To be “critical” can mean “to criticize severely and unfavorably, to be excessively judgmental, to be inclined to find fault.” But the word “critical” also carries a positive connotation, meaning “to exercise careful evaluation and skillful judgment of a
- [God’s Word has What You Need](https://stfi.org/articles/gods-word-has-what-you-need/) - Do you only go to the Word in times of need and desperation? Or do you go to it daily? I’m going to put myself on blast right now and tell you that I have definitely been guilty of this in the past for longer than I like to admit. I’ve gone through phases of
- [How Reading the Bible Changed My Life](https://stfi.org/articles/how-reading-the-bible-changed-my-life/) - Like many kids growing up in Christian homes around the world, there never seemed to be a time I didn’t know what the Bible was, or when I wasn’t reading it—either by myself, or aloud with my family or fellowship. I still remember the joy I used to feel flipping through the Thomas Kincade King
- [Stand for Nothing, Fall for Anything](https://stfi.org/articles/stand-for-nothing-fall-for-anything/) - Throughout 2020 and into 2021, I had a few conversations with fellow authors that really struck me. We were discussing life as writers and one subject in particular kept coming up: the fear of saying something either on our business platforms or in our books that would get us “canceled”. This was not a concern
- [When Reading the Bible Feels Like a Chore](https://stfi.org/articles/when-reading-the-bible-feels-like-a-chore/) - Do you consider yourself a “mood reader”? I didn’t even know this was a thing until I became a more prolific part of the bookish community on Instagram. All of a sudden, I found other readers like me—people who couldn’t finish a certain book because it was too light and they were in the mood
- [Why Should I Read the Bible Daily?](https://stfi.org/articles/why-should-i-read-the-bible-daily/) - What a broad and unending subject! Did you ever notice how the world around you impacts your life in a positive way? How it builds you up, and edifies your life? I didn’t think so! Me neither! We are constantly bombarded with thoughts of insignificance, incompetence, and worthlessness. We are told that our thoughts and
- [Why is Understanding the Bible Important?](https://stfi.org/articles/why-is-understanding-the-bible-important/) - As a novelist, one of the most crushing things I have to face is a review from a reader who misses the heart of the message my book conveys. The readers aren’t in the wrong, per se—they’re obviously entitled to their opinion! But my heart always sinks when I read a review that makes me
- [A More Excellent Way](https://stfi.org/articles/a-more-excellent-way/) - Is there an independent spirit within you that prevents you from engaging with believers and obstructs the calling God has on your life? God did not create us to stand alone. During the fall of the year, the distinctive call of Canadian Geese can be heard as they migrate to their winter habitat. Studying God’s
- [How to Relate to God](https://stfi.org/articles/how-to-relate-to-god/) - One of the best, most enlightening things that ever happened to my husband and me was discovering the Enneagram Test! While neither of us runs our lives or excuses behavior based on the outcomes, knowing each other’s “numbers” (a rough parameter for personality type and ways of seeing and reacting to the world) helped us
- [Save the Date](https://stfi.org/articles/save-the-date/) - Not only do we live in a very fast paced world, we also live in a very busy one. I remember a few years ago we had on our schedule my brother’s retirement from the United States Air Force, followed by his daughter’s high school graduation the very next day. On top of that, we’d received two wedding
- [Emerging Victorious in Him](https://stfi.org/articles/emerging-victorious-in-him/) - Bible teacher F. B. Meyer once observed, “The night is the time to see the stars.” It is in our darkest moments that we realize we need Him the most. I was alone with my wife in a foreign country. On the advice from a renowned oncologist, we travelled to an American cancer clinic in
- [Who God Says I Am](https://stfi.org/articles/who-god-says-i-am/) - Identity is a powerful motivator. Particularly in this day and age, and increasingly among younger generations, the drive to find the proper words and terms to define oneself has become a matter of paramount importance. Sometimes it’s difficult to keep up with all the different terms by which people identify who they are—from their race
- [Nesting](https://stfi.org/articles/nesting/) - When I was pregnant with my first child, almost simultaneously with the sound of the first heartbeat, there was a need to learn everything possible about being pregnant: the requirements for a good diet, sleep, and preparedness to fulfill the needs of the growing life inside me as my body created a space for it.
- [How to Start a Relationship With God](https://stfi.org/articles/how-to-start-a-relationship-with-god/) - So you’ve decided you want to start a relationship with God. Absolutely fantastic! There’s no other step in life quite like the shift from simply knowing “about” God, being aware of and maybe interested in His existence, to wanting to experience Him—to know Him deeply. The question is, where do you even a start? Developing a relationship
- [How God Speaks to Us](https://stfi.org/articles/how-god-speaks-to-us/) - Once upon a time, I came to the harrowing conclusion God doesn’t really speak to me at all. I was in my late teens at the time, if memory serves correctly. At the time I was surrounded by what I’d consider “spiritual greats”—people who walked so in lockstep with God it felt like seeing Moses
- [Can a Broken Relationship with God Be Rebuilt?](https://stfi.org/articles/can-a-broken-relationship-with-god-be-rebuilt/) - This burning question sits heavy on the hearts of many, and unfortunately it seems to go unanswered far too many times. The answer is actually quite simple...
- [Woe is NOT me!](https://stfi.org/articles/woe-is-not-me/) - In both my distant and recent past, when I read the word “woe” in the Bible I was accustomed to saying “I’m not sure what ‘woe’ is, but I don’t want any of it...
- [What's in a Word? - Hope](https://stfi.org/articles/wiaw-hope/) - What better place to end than with hope? The anachronistic medieval comedy-drama A Knight’s Tale features a scene where the protagonists gather around to...
- [The Heart of Jacob’s Prophecy](https://stfi.org/articles/the-heart-of-jacobs-prophecy/) - When Jacob reached the end of his life, he brought forth one of the most remarkable prophetic messages in the Old Testament. He gathered his twelve sons...
- [4 Ways to Love in the Close of 2020](https://stfi.org/articles/4-ways-to-love-in-the-close-of-2020/) - Phew, what a year! You don’t need me to tell you that, of course—one way or another I’m sure you’ve experienced the surreal craziness of 2020. It can be tough...
- [Miserable Comforters or Godly Comforters?](https://stfi.org/articles/miserable-comforters-or-godly-comforters/) - Whenever I heard the story of Job as a kid, I’d get a giggle out of the term “miserable comforter” often ascribed to our titular forefather’s friends—Eliphaz...
- [The Power in Praise](https://stfi.org/articles/the-power-in-praise/) - There is real power in both praise and thanksgiving. While they are different forms of worship, they complement each other. Both are key components to...
- [What's in a Word? - Giving](https://stfi.org/articles/wiaw-giving/) - Universally, there has never been any shortage of causes to give to. In fact, one can begin to feel oversaturated with the sheer number of things that need...
- [Taking Forgiveness for Granted](https://stfi.org/articles/taking-forgiveness-for-granted/) - It goes without saying that we should never try to reduce God to our level. Our goal should be to elevate ourselves to His level in regard to thinking...
- [What's in a Word? - Modesty](https://stfi.org/articles/whats-in-a-word-modesty/) - During my teen years, I really swung the full pendulum on modesty. I went from wearing crew-neck t-shirts and baggy pants, and judging my friends for their...
- [Thankfulness: A Way of Living, Not a Feeling](https://stfi.org/articles/thankfulness-a-way-of-living-not-a-feeling/) - Boy, am I thankful for coffee. Can I just get that out of the way? As I sipped my decaf latte and stared out the window between jotting paragraphs of this...
- [What's in a Word? - Parenthood](https://stfi.org/articles/wiaw-parenthood/) - There are lots of varieties to parenthood, each with its own unique set of challenges. There’s biological parenthood—mother, father, and the children that...
- [Leaning on the Everlasting Arms](https://stfi.org/articles/leaning-on-the-everlasting-arms/) - One of my favorite hymns is “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms”. We do not have to panic in life’s toughest trials when we’re leaning on the all-powerful...
- [Food for Thought](https://stfi.org/articles/food-for-thought/) - Have you ever encountered a meal that was so satisfying you’d want to eat it every day? I imagine you are now thinking of some of your favorites...
- [What's in a Word? - Truth](https://stfi.org/articles/whats-in-a-word-truth/) - It’s no secret—mankind has a complicated relationship with truth. We want people to give it to us straight, except when truth hurts. And it often does...
- [5 Ways to Revolutionize our Relationship with Each Other in the Body of Christ: A Study of 1 Thessalonians 5:14-15](https://stfi.org/articles/5-ways-to-revolutionize-our-relationship-with-each-other-in-the-body-of-christ-a-study-of-1-thessalonians-514-15/) - It could be said we live in the retaliation generation. Social media is used to play a game of “gotcha” as everyone tries to outdo one another with clever posts aimed at degrading anyone who disagrees with our self-proclaimed truth. We must spout off our unique perspective on every issue of life and never let
- [What's in a Word? - Leadership](https://stfi.org/articles/wiaw-leadership/) - The notion of leadership fascinates the human psyche. We eagerly tune in to the royal wedding of a foreign country, dive deep into histories of Kings...
- [Moving into the House of God](https://stfi.org/articles/moving-into-the-house-of-god/) - “Oh my goodness, you guys have to see this house!” When my friend sent this message, she wasn’t kidding. The home in question was every decked-out, gorgeous, spacious house-lover’s dream. Imagine our collective, slightly-vicarious joy when she and her husband got the house—and the communal stress when we found out they had less than two
- [What's in a Word? - Service](https://stfi.org/articles/wiaw-service/) - Back when I was in my early 20s, the Meyers-Briggs test was all the rage as young adults in particular began a thorough search into better ways to describe...
- [He Who Sits on The White Horse](https://stfi.org/articles/he-who-sits-on-the-white-horse/) - As a young girl, I, like many other young girls, was infatuated with horses. Every birthday, and every Christmas, I asked for the Breyer collectable horses. That was, until my 11th birthday when I asked for my first real horse. I received that horse, which significantly directed me, in my late teens, to seek a
- [What's in a Word? - Cursing](https://stfi.org/articles/wiaw-cursing/) - I still remember the first time I ever (intentionally) cussed. It probably seems a little strange that the moment stood out to me...
- [Practical Ways to Fight Darkness](https://stfi.org/articles/practical-ways-to-fight-darkness/) - Every year as October rolls around, I start to get…antsy. An old memory likes to roll to the surface right around the time Party City TV ads crank out...
- [What's in a Word? - Stillness](https://stfi.org/articles/whats-in-a-word-stillness/) - Busy, busy, busy! That’s the way of life these days, a benchmark of success—the busier you are, clearly, the more successful, well-off, and productive you...
- [What's in a Word? - Sobriety](https://stfi.org/articles/wiaw-sobriety/) - When I was in my late teens, I stumbled onto a character description in a book that really stuck with me. Most people born after the 80’s probably had to read this book in school, so no surprise if you recognize the line: “But Soda never touches a drop—he doesn't need to. He gets drunk
- [Our Glory and Joy](https://stfi.org/articles/our-glory-and-joy/) - The first letter the Thessalonian Church received from Paul is filled with thankfulness and approval. What was that church doing right, and what can that...
- [We Were Made for Responsibility](https://stfi.org/articles/we-were-made-for-responsibility/) - Late summer 2020 brought difficult decision-making opportunities for my husband and me, in the form of our beloved dog’s sudden shift in health...
- [What's in a Word? - Holiness](https://stfi.org/articles/whats-in-a-word-holiness/) - “If practice makes perfect, and nobody’s perfect, why practice?” I used to cackle at this quote. Pretty witty, right? And not a bad argument for skipping...
- [The Offer of Rest](https://stfi.org/articles/the-offer-of-rest/) - My life’s greatest regret happened when I was about 12. My mother offered to arrange for a tutor to teach me piano. We had a good piano, though it hadn’t seen much use except for my older sister who didn’t seem to have the gift for playing, judging by the strange, repetitive sounds it often
- [What's in a Word? - Life](https://stfi.org/articles/whats-in-a-word-life/) - I’ve always been smitten with the ending of the cult classic movie Hook, where Robin William’s Peter Pan declares at the culmination of his journey...
- [Pray for the City](https://stfi.org/articles/pray-for-the-city/) - Oh, I like (insert political title here), so and so. I agree with his/her policies and viewpoints. I have to pray for them. But those (insert political party or group here), I don’t stand with them, I can’t pray for them, they are all evil. I stand in opposition to this group, I even pray against them
- [What's in a Word? - Death](https://stfi.org/articles/wiaw-death/) - When I was fourteen years old, I went with some family friends to slaughter chickens. It was my first time partaking of any farm practices, and as a girl who grew up watching Emergency Vets while eating scrambled eggs, the gore factor didn’t bother me much. But there was a different kind of solemnity to
- [For Everything, A Season](https://stfi.org/articles/for-everything-a-season/) - A wise mentor during my late teens and early twenties was very passionate about two things: the natural world and the lessons of God that could be derived...
- [What's in a Word? - Unity](https://stfi.org/articles/wiaw-unity/) - As a kid, I was obsessed with Aesop’s Fables. I probably read our book cover to cover a hundred times! Among my favorites was The Bundle of Sticks, in which a father, fed up with his sons all quarreling, decides to teach them a lesson. He has them try to break a bundle of sticks,
- [What Does it Really Mean to be in the Will of God?](https://stfi.org/articles/what-does-it-really-mean-to-be-in-the-will-of-god/) - “Not my will, but yours be done.” This is such a Christian thing to say. Whatever God wants, we are eager to do it, making ourselves available to His will...
- [What's in a Word? - Sexuality](https://stfi.org/articles/wiaw-sexuality/) - Sexuality is one of the most polarizing and hotly-debated topics, not just in Christianity, but throughout the world. Many people choose whether or not to follow Jesus based on how Christianity addresses any number of sexual topics. Why is this so important to mankind? Probably because God created us as sexual beings, with very innate
- [5 Keys to a Steady Voyage](https://stfi.org/articles/5-keys-to-a-steady-voyage/) - I recently had a little social media run-in with a person who believes very differently than I do. Certainly, such an issue is not rare at all these days...
- [Gracious Words](https://stfi.org/articles/gracious-words/) - What are gracious words? The Hebrew defines them as “merciful, compassionate or soft-hearted.” Simply put, they are grace-filled, gentle words...
- [Separation Anxiety](https://stfi.org/articles/separation-anxiety/) - As we contend with this time of unrest, uncertainty and insecurity, there is a cunning foe afoot: separation anxiety. Allow me to prove my statement. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused one common complaint in the voice of many phrases - "We want to go out, we need to get out, we want our freedom to
- [Divine Appointment](https://stfi.org/articles/divine-appointment/) - Oftentimes when I am about to head into a public venue, I’ll take a moment and tell the Lord I am available if He has anyone searching for Him or in need of...
- [Leadership Lessons from the Messiah](https://stfi.org/articles/leadership-lessons-from-the-messiah/) - It is a natural tendency of humans to search for good leaders to follow. This can be seen in the way we elevate (and sometimes even idolize) the lives and actions...
- [Reflections in a Mirror](https://stfi.org/articles/reflections-in-a-mirror/) - The little boy arrived home from school to find an empty house. “Good,” he thought, “Mom and Dad aren’t home yet.” He rushed upstairs to his parents’ bedroom...
- [Dead to Sin](https://stfi.org/articles/dead-to-sin/) - Sin had hold over us, we all lived in a state of deception. Even if we knew that, we could not do anything to be free from the consequences or the penalty...
- [What's in a Word? - Mercy](https://stfi.org/articles/wiaw-mercy/) - What Does the Bible Say About Mercy? Grace and mercy are equal aspects of our relationship with God, however. He has mercy on us despite our sins, and...
- [Our Righteous Guide - Hearing His Voice](https://stfi.org/articles/our-righteous-guide-hearing-his-voice/) - When I was almost 15, I had a full-time job in the summer months. I was a tour guide on horseback at a dude ranch. Looking back, the amount of responsibility I had was amazing for such a young person, navigating some extreme terrain via horseback, guiding people who had paid money to work their
- [What's in a Word? - Compassion](https://stfi.org/articles/wiaw-compassion/) - At the time of my writing this, the United States—and indeed, much of the world—is experiencing an unprecedented global pandemic. All arguments as to the severity of one novel coronavirus...
- [All Consuming](https://stfi.org/articles/all-consuming/) - It’s ‘All Consuming’ Surveys conducted following the 2020 Covid-19 lockdown indicated that Americans gained an average of five pounds during that two-month...
- [What's in a Word? - Destiny](https://stfi.org/articles/wiaw-destiny/) - Having a destiny is a heavy burden. I know that sounds a little presumptive and morbid, but hear me out; when I think about destiny, it evokes a mental image of a straight path, one often dismal and dangerous, toward an ending that likely threatens death or pain. Now, maybe I’ve watched The Empire Strikes
- [A Heart of Unity](https://stfi.org/articles/a-heart-of-unity/) - I have always felt compelled to seek community and build authentic friendships with fellow Christians, first because this is exhortation toward unity is so clear...
- [What's in a Word? - Salvation](https://stfi.org/articles/wiaw-salvation/) - Salvation. From Latin root “salvare”, to save. For something to be saved, there must be something from which it is saved. Do you ever think sometimes we get...
- [In GOD We Trust](https://stfi.org/articles/in-god-we-trust/) - Many people, including too many Christians, think that believing is a Law that works for everyone in the world. Thousands of books have been written promoting the “Power of Positive Thinking” with claims that if you can believe it, you can receive it. Others believe that faith means a belief in something for which there
- [What's in a Word? - Grace](https://stfi.org/articles/wiaw-grace/) - “Why should God care about me when I’m just…me?” Have you ever found yourself wondering this, or heard it from the lips of someone you know...
- [OUR BLOG IS MOVING!](https://stfi.org/articles/our-blog-is-moving/) - Dearest brothers and sisters, Thank you so much for reading, commenting on, and supporting the STFOnline Blog! We deeply value your engagement and are so grateful you take the time to read these weekly vignettes. We hope they’ve been a super blessing to you! Back in December, we made a post informing our readers that
- [Fearless Vulnerability in Ministry – The Example of Jesus](https://stfi.org/articles/fearless-vulnerability-in-ministry-the-example-of-jesus/) - “I didn’t realize he struggled with that.” “Wow, even our own youth pastor?” “They just seemed so put together, you’d never guess they went through something so awful …” These are not uncommon sentiments to hear in the Christian community. We’re often less aware of what our Christian brothers and sisters suffer from, struggle with,
- [What's in a Word? - Calling](https://stfi.org/articles/wiaw-calling/) - So, now you know your function. But what’s your calling? On the surface, function and calling can look awfully similar. I tend to fall back on my own experience to elucidate the difference: my function in the Body of Christ, shocking to very few who know me longer than five minutes, is writing. I’ve spent more
- [GREATEST HITS: God is STILL Good](https://stfi.org/articles/greatest-hits-god-is-still-good/) - It’s not uncommon to hear the phrase “God is good!” in times of plenty. When circumstances fall together in ways that please and benefit us, we’re often quick to declare the goodness of God because it’s right there in front of our faces. However, the same Christian who praises God’s goodness when they drive off
- [Fearless Vulnerability in Worship – The Example of King David](https://stfi.org/articles/fearless-vulnerability-in-worship-the-example-of-king-david/) - Many of us stray too heavily toward one aspect or the other with our God; either we become overly focused on our vulnerabilities or we are overly fearless in...
- [I Enjoyed a Sunrise, a Sunset Too](https://stfi.org/articles/i-enjoyed-a-sunrise/) - As with many mornings, I really enjoyed the sunrise today. Its cheery yellow rays refreshed me. They produced peaceful feelings. They spoke about God’s...
- [GREATEST HITS: Are You An Agent for Peace?](https://stfi.org/articles/greatest-hits-are-you-an-agent-for-peace/) - I think the hardest thing God has ever asked of me is to live peaceably with all men. I’m working on improving my reaction to inconveniences with the help of my Creator, but there are times when it’s so hard not to completely lose my cool and get snippy when things go wrong. Sometimes He
- [Fearless Vulnerability in Relationship – The Example of Paul](https://stfi.org/articles/fearless-vulnerability-in-relationship-the-example-of-paul/) - “Why did I say that? God, why did I say that? What are they thinking about me now? Do they still like me? Do I even like me? I liked me a lot more before I opened my stupid mouth! UGHHHH!” This mantra was almost a weekly occurrence for me at social gatherings in my teen years. With few
- [What's in a Word? - Function](https://stfi.org/articles/wiaw-function/) - “I don’t care what your role in the ministry is. What is your function?” The first time my friend ever asked me this, I blanked out. The mashup of “receptionist, shipping department head, and editor...
- [GREATEST HITS: How Should I Handle Change?](https://stfi.org/articles/greatest-hits-how-should-i-handle-change/) - I am what many people affectionately refer to as an “administrative nerd.” Organization is my passion…few things bring me as much satisfaction as seeing all things flowing well within any set of parameters, be it in my small business, my day-to-day job, family, friend circles, etc. As a result, I kind of tend to lose
- [An Introduction to Fearless Vulnerability](https://stfi.org/articles/an-introduction-to-fearless-vulnerability/) - It’s easy to say that a season that births something is the season in which it was planted; I could very much claim that the time of Coronavirus quarantine...
- [Heart Conditions](https://stfi.org/articles/heart-conditions/) - Giving these two cuties a treat is always an interesting endeavor. When I do, I’ve often noticed a big difference in the direction of their heads and also in their hearts. In the picture, it’s pretty easy to see Bailey (on the right with the red bandana) is looking at me. You see, I had
- [GREATEST HITS: 5 Ways to Face Fear!](https://stfi.org/articles/greatest-hits-5-ways-to-face-fear/) - It’s a part of the human condition that ultimately, we all fear something. From quiet, uneasy rumblings to devastating, life-altering phobias, we’ve all faced something at one point or another that has terrified us. One of the greatest problems with fear is that it greatly hinders our effectiveness on God’s behalf in this world. As
- [When We Take Offence (Is it worth it?)](https://stfi.org/articles/when-we-take-offence/) - Why do we get offended? Why do the smallest things often cause deep offence in our lives? When someone says or does something that is contrary to our feelings or beliefs, we can ‘get bent out of shape’ for the day, maybe the week… or possibly the rest of our lives! If anger rules the day, we
- [What's in a Word? - Worthiness](https://stfi.org/articles/wiaw-worthiness/) - “I can’t believe you would do that for me!” If you numbered the times this phrase or something like it has come out of my mouth, it would be an inordinate amount. For as long as I can remember, I’ve struggled with feelings of inadequacy and low self-worth and self-esteem. I know I’m not alone
- [GREATEST HITS: Why Should We Seek God First?](https://stfi.org/articles/greatest-hits-why-should-we-seek-god-first/) - When trouble comes or you find yourself in need, how quickly does your heart turn to God? How close is He to the forefront of your thoughts? Is your instinct to turn to people for help, or to Him. I think there are lots of reasons why we may not think to turn to God
- [The Significance of the Pillar](https://stfi.org/articles/the-significance-of-the-pillar/) - Why did God use a pillar to describe His presence going before them in fire and by cloud? I was once taught that ”God has a reason for everything He says...
- [What's in a Word? - Worship](https://stfi.org/articles/wiaw-worship/) - Christian youth camp was an unparalleled experience in my teen years. Blistering hot days, late nights, the inimitable taste of camp food...
- [GREATEST HITS: What Burdens Do You Carry?](https://stfi.org/articles/greatest-hits-what-burdens-do-you-carry/) - A friend once told me a story of two Buddhist monks walking down the road. They reached a river and found a wealthy woman searching for a way to cross without sullying her fine clothes. Being celibate to the point of abstaining from contact with women, the monks were tempted to pass her by; nevertheless,
- [Seven Letters of Encouragement During Very Troubled Times](https://stfi.org/articles/seven-letters-of-encouragement-during-very-troubled-times/) - In the heat of contest, in the midst of a sporting battle, any good coach will take every opportunity to encourage his athletes to press on, to leave it all on the field and keep fighting. As Vince Lombardi (head coach of the Green Bay Packers 1959 - 1967) once said, “I firmly believe that any
- [GREATEST HITS: How Important is Independence?](https://stfi.org/articles/greatest-hits-how-important-is-independence/) - Different generations seem to have different qualities they laud and applaud. In times past it was honesty, integrity, grit, strength; nowadays, it seems the best thing you could ever be is independent. The ability to care for oneself irrespective of the input of others is considered tantamount to achieving nirvana. According to our modern culture,
- [What's in a Word? - Praise](https://stfi.org/articles/wiaw-praise/) - “God is so good!” A phrase plastered on bathroom plaques and above-the-kitchen-table metal signs; but how often do we really take the time to say this to God?
- [Enjoy the Journey](https://stfi.org/articles/enjoy-the-journey/) - I was listening to one of the news channels on TV the other day. Their outlook for our economy and our country overall was bleak, to say the least.
- [GREATEST HITS: What's Your Foundation?](https://stfi.org/articles/greatest-hits-whats-your-foundation/) - Jesus told a great parable about the wise man who built his house on the rock versus the foolish man who built his house on the sand. Both men wanted a wonderful place to dwell, and both probably figured they were going about it the right way. One could even speculate that the houses themselves
- [What's in a Word? - Prayer](https://stfi.org/articles/whats-in-a-word-prayer/) - Is prayer really all that important? There’s no shortage of resources debating the effectiveness and purpose of prayer, whether it has current application...
- [What Trail shall I blaze?](https://stfi.org/articles/what-trail-shall-i-blaze/) - What Trail shall I blaze? How about the one that starts right here under my feet? What is our purpose? Our journey? Our destiny in God’s Kingdom?
- [GREATEST HITS: Does God Understand Me?](https://stfi.org/articles/greatest-hits-does-god-understand-me/) - One of the most visceral cries of the human spirit is to be heard and understood. Unfortunately, there are so many things that act as barriers between us and other people: miscommunication, misrepresentation, past hurts, the fear of rejection, the fear of being misunderstood, and on and on. We may not bring our honest selves
- [What's in a Word? - Wealth](https://stfi.org/articles/wiaw-wealth/) - It can be hard to know how to relate to wealth, money, and possessions in a healthy way—especially for Christians! To some denominations, it’s sinful to...
- [The D Word](https://stfi.org/articles/the-d-word/) - Discipline. It is not a word we hear much anymore. Are we permitted to mention it? It seems that to many people it’s a concept that’s not...
- [GREATEST HITS: Is Serving God Easy?](https://stfi.org/articles/greatest-hits-is-serving-god-easy/) - I once had a conversation with a fellow believer on the subject of “unsavory thoughts” and how insidious they are—how difficult it is to get ahead of them. After a lot of banter, I reminded my friend that no matter how overwhelming those thoughts seem, we can still lead them captive in obedience to Christ.
- [What's in a Word? - Prosperity](https://stfi.org/articles/wiaw-prosperity/) - When I was a kid, my idea of mainstream prosperity could be best summed up in the lyrics of Nickleback’s hit song “ROCKSTAR” – not that I wanted those things...
- [What It Means “To Live Is Christ”](https://stfi.org/articles/what-it-means-to-live-is-christ/) - Philippians is Paul’s happiest letter. As we read his letter, we begin to feel the joy ourselves as Paul’s words dance around the pages of Scripture with exclamations of delight. He is simply unmistakably happy as he is writing to the Christian believers in the city of Philippi; although none of his circumstances contribute to
- [GREATEST HITS: Is Rest Important?](https://stfi.org/articles/greatest-hits-is-rest-important/) - At the time of this blog's publication, I am the super-blessed “mom” of three delightful cats - Po, Thai, and Toze (yes, it's supposed to sound like "potatoes" when you string 'em all together :D ). I’ve had the oldest, Thai, for more than half my life, and the youngest, Toze, for going on five
- [What's in a Word? - Discipline](https://stfi.org/articles/wiaw-discipline/) - I wish I could say I greet it with grace, but more often than not when I wake up—either to a nudge from my well-trained internal clock or my alarm...
- [Quarantined With Christ](https://stfi.org/articles/quarantined-with-christ/) - Stay at home, social distancing, and being quarantined are nothing new. This, through no fault of our own, is where many of us have been placed...
- [GREATEST HITS: Are You a Soldier or a Warrior?](https://stfi.org/articles/greatest-hits-are-you-a-soldier-or-a-warrior/) - Back in 2018, while diving into Lisa Bevere’s Girls with Swords as part of my devotional curriculum, I was first introduced to the conceptual difference between soldiers and warriors. Bevere makes many great contrasts between these two classes of fighters—too many to quote here!—but one I found particularly interesting is that while a soldier fights
- [You’re Never Alone](https://stfi.org/articles/youre-never-alone/) - We’re not supposed to live in the attitude of “Okay, my eternal future is sealed, I’m good.” We’re also called to bring Christ and his love to others...
- [Wait On The Lord](https://stfi.org/articles/wait-on-the-lord/) - Have you ever found yourself waiting for something much longer than you expected? Fingers tapping, breath constricting, heart rate steadily increasing...
- [GREATEST HITS: Who Did Jesus Die For?](https://stfi.org/articles/greatest-hits-who-did-jesus-die-for/) - Are you aware that Jesus died for YOU? For a long time, that reality didn't sink in for me, either. I remember sitting in a sharing at a teen camp once where the teacher delved into the medical side of the horrific physical agony Jesus endured before and during his time on the cross. If
- [A Change of Plan](https://stfi.org/articles/a-change-of-plan/) - Things don't always go as planned. And if our 'happiness' is dependent upon the fulfillment and realization of our plans, we will end up 'unhappy'.
- [The Power of the Unseen](https://stfi.org/articles/the-power-of-the-unseen/) - Unseen by the human eye, visible only with the aid of a high-powered electron microscope, the coronavirus has brought everyday life across much of the...
- [GREATEST HITS: How to be Content with Your Life](https://stfi.org/articles/greatest-hits-how-to-be-content-with-your-life/) - While counseling a friend (we’ll call her Kaylee) through a struggle over deep discontentment with the lack of feedback on a project she’d put years of effort into, I felt the urge to ask a very specific question. “Kaylee, what would truly make you happy in this scenario?” I asked. “What do you want out
- [God's Heart in Our Hearts](https://stfi.org/articles/gods-heart-in-our-hearts/) - God’s Word has everything we need. It is truth. It offers wisdom, hope, life-giving understanding, and timely and fresh insights.
- [GREATEST HITS: Are You Focusing On The Right Spiritual Life?](https://stfi.org/articles/greatest-hits-are-you-focusing-on-the-right-spiritual-life/) - I am an extrovert, and proud of it! One of my favorite things to do is sit down with a person and get down to the details of life. I want to know their hopes, dreams, fears, and fancies, their favorite movies and songs, the smell of the candle they always burn on their kitchen
- [What's in a Word? - Anger](https://stfi.org/articles/whats-in-a-word-anger/) - For many people, anger comes naturally at the first stroke of imbalance in life. There are many things that can develop this anger-default in our thinking...
- [The Way Things Work](https://stfi.org/articles/the-way-things-work/) - Does it feel like you’re going nowhere in your spiritual life? Are you frustrated and discouraged? Don’t lose hope!
- [GREATEST HITS: The Importance of Obeying God’s Rules](https://stfi.org/articles/greatest-hits-the-importance-of-obeying-gods-rules/) - Growing up in Indiana all my life, there have been countless times where some outing or activity has required me to travel on “The Loop” – the local name for I-465, a massive 3-to-6-lane highway that encompasses the downtown Indianapolis area. By some madness (or because of on-ramps I suppose), the speed limit on this
- [What's in a Word? - Worry](https://stfi.org/articles/whats-in-a-word-worry/) - Sometimes it’s difficult to see why feeling anxious or being worried is so crippling for certain people; for Christians especially it’s often all too easy to...
- [GREATEST HITS: How Many Good Works Did Jesus Do?](https://stfi.org/articles/greatest-hits-how-many-good-works-did-jesus-do/) - One of the landmark attractions in the United States is the Library of Congress. Located in our nation’s capital, it sports the title of “the library with the most books in the world”—more than 36 million by some estimates. Imagine the undertaking it would be to read them all! If you could devote eight hours
- [What’s in a Word? – Faith/Trust](https://stfi.org/articles/whats-in-a-word-faith-trust/) - Trust. Faith. Such vital aspects of our spiritual walk, and yet for many Christians they’re overlooked. It’s entirely possible to serve God out of fealty...
- [Jump out of that boat](https://stfi.org/articles/jump-out-of-that-boat/) - One scripture in the Bible that has always been a personal favourite of mine is from the book of Romans. Chapter 8, verses 38 to 39 say, “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else
- [GREATEST HITS: How to Overcome Spiritual Fog](https://stfi.org/articles/greatest-hits-how-to-overcome-spiritual-fog/) - Even when the spiritual fog is thick in our lives, the rising of the sun—the words of life—and of The Son—the bringer of all light—can strip away the pall and restore depth and clarity to our senses.
- [The Learning Experience](https://stfi.org/articles/the-learning-experience/) - In my opinion, learning how to walk with God is the most exciting experience life has to offer. Like most things, it takes time and practice to learn to walk by the spirit. One particular area that many Christians struggle to understand is how to hear from God. The moment we become a child of God
- [Investing Your Time Wisely](https://stfi.org/articles/investing-your-time-wisely/) - “It is absolutely breathtaking!” I cried out over the roar of the small, dual-engine airplane. My wife and I were going from island to island, taking in the beauty of everything Hawaii had to offer. The azure water below us stretched beyond the islands as far as the eye could see. I drank from my
- [GREATEST HITS: You Don't Have to be Perfect to Work for God](https://stfi.org/articles/greatest-hits-you-dont-have-to-be-perfect-to-work-for-god/) - It can be so hard to grapple with the fact that in our fallen, flawed state, we are still the representatives of the only man who ever walked out this messy, complicated life perfectly.
- [What's in a Word? - Wisdom](https://stfi.org/articles/whats-in-a-word-wisdom/) - The start of 2020 brought a lot of reflection to people’s lives. It was the end of one decade and the start of a whole new one. All across social media, posts cropped up comparing 2010 to 2020 – showing the “glow up” as people aged mainly from their awkward teen years to into adulthood.
- [The Lesson of Prince Jonathan](https://stfi.org/articles/the-lesson-of-prince-jonathan/) - It’s safe to say most people have a favorite figure from the Bible. Jesus is understandably at the top of most lists, but beyond him there are no shortage of ancestors in the faith we love, learn from, and relate to. Some people enjoy reading about Paul; others can’t get enough of David’s psalms, Joseph’s
- [GREATEST HITS: Are You Really Ready to Serve God?](https://stfi.org/articles/greatest-hits-are-you-really-ready-to-serve-god/) - If God called us into a situation as uncomfortable as laying our heads on the hard ground every night to serve Him, could we really do it?
- [What’s In A Word? – Courage](https://stfi.org/articles/wiaw-courage/) - Courage has been a theme in my life since a family trip to Colorado in 2017 when it became clear to me all at once how fear above all else...
- [A Matter of Opinion](https://stfi.org/articles/a-matter-of-opinion/) - Opinions! Like noses, everybody has one. Some opinions are good and some not so good. What is an opinion? Simply put...
- [GREATEST HITS: How to Stop Caring What Other People Think](https://stfi.org/articles/greatest-hits-how-to-stop-caring-what-other-people-think/) - If God calls us loved, chosen, cherished, His own, does it really matter what people call us? What they think of us? No, really - does it?
- [What's In A Word? - Work](https://stfi.org/articles/whats-in-a-word-work/) - It’s hard to turn one way or another without catching an earful of someone telling you how to relate to the concept of work. Everything from...
- [Jesus, From Boyhood To Manhood](https://stfi.org/articles/jesus-from-boyhood-to-manhood/) - The Bible tells us very little about Jesus’ upbringing—his growing-up years. Church traditions have given us paintings...
- [GREATEST HITS: Was Jesus A Radical?](https://stfi.org/articles/greatest-hits-was-jesus-a-radical/) - Jesus overhauled the way his entire culture related to everything—from hygiene to gender roles to interpersonal interactions to how they fellowshipped with God Himself.
- [What’s In A Word? – Relationship: With The Body of Christ](https://stfi.org/articles/whats-in-a-word-relationship-with-the-body-of-christ/) - In an earlier entry, we talked about the importance of family. This extends further than just our blood relations or our close friends. Human beings are built for relationship.
- [Who Do You Say That I Am?](https://stfi.org/articles/who-do-you-say-that-i-am/) - In almost every superhero movie, there is a common scene: The hero finishes saving the day, besting the evil villain, and as the tension from the climactic...
- [GREATEST HITS: Why Fulfilling Your Purpose Matters](https://stfi.org/articles/greatest-hits-why-fulfilling-your-purpose-matters/) - Let’s displace the boundaries of this world as we move through it. Let’s show others that their lives have meaning.
- [What’s In A Word? – Relationship: With Jesus](https://stfi.org/articles/whats-in-a-word-relationship-with-jesus/) - In his wonderful book Considering Jesus, author Dan Gallagher refers to a survey he took of random people he crossed paths with.
- [The Principle of The Urge](https://stfi.org/articles/the-principle-of-the-urge/) - The most profound lesson anyone ever taught me about addiction was this: “An addict will never truly recover until the urge to change and heal...
- [GREATEST HITS: Why Unity Matters](https://stfi.org/articles/greatest-hits-why-unity-matters/) - Part of learning to live the love of Christ in this world must start with loving our brothers and sisters in Christ despite our differences.
- [What’s In A Word? - Relationship: With God](https://stfi.org/articles/whats-in-a-word-relationship-with-god/) - One of the things I find saddest when I pause to dwell on it is just how few people understand they can have a real relationship with God.
- [Addressing the Self-Esteem Issue](https://stfi.org/articles/addressing-the-self-esteem-issue/) - Many years ago—so many that the memory is framed through the eyes of a small girl who felt daunted and dwarfed by many things, especially the prospect of growing up and serving God well—my mom bought me a pair of jeans from SEARS. Stuck to the pocket was a sparkly butterfly sticker about the size
- [GREATEST HITS: 5 Ways to Tackle Fear](https://stfi.org/articles/greatest-hits-5-ways-to-tackle-fear/) - One of the greatest problems with fear is that it greatly hinders our effectiveness on God’s behalf in this world.
- [What’s In A Word? – Family](https://stfi.org/articles/whats-in-a-word-family/) - The desire for family is a need rooted deep in every human heart. It’s something we gravitate toward almost unconsciously and from...
- [The importance of Transformative Relationship](https://stfi.org/articles/the-importance-of-transformative-relationship/) - The concept of transformation taking place through an intimate, deeper knowledge of God, Jesus, and myself did not become a reality for me until I was almost...
- [GREATEST HITS: What Does God Say We're Made Of?](https://stfi.org/articles/greatest-hits-what-does-god-say-were-made-of/) - God knows what we’re made of better than we know ourselves. He crafted us, after all.
- [What does the Bible say about Suicide?](https://stfi.org/articles/what-does-the-bible-say-about-suicide/) - The Bible says, “Thou shalt not kill,” (Ex 20:13 KJV), and that includes killing one’s self. A better translation for the word “kill” is “murder” and some version of the Bible like the ESV translate it as such. This makes sense because the Bible condones killing in special circumstances like war, self-defense, and for capital crimes. Not
- [GREATEST HITS: Why Choice is Important!](https://stfi.org/articles/greatest-hits-why-choice-is-important/) - Rather than being puppets pulled on strings held by a bored Creator, we are individuals free to think and act however we see fit—sometimes for good, sometimes for bad.
- [Zoning in on God](https://stfi.org/articles/zoning-in-on-god/) - Living in the beautiful state of Maine, I am fortunate enough to see lots of wildlife in my everyday experiences. It is such a treasure to encounter animals in their natural habitats, and I have always enjoyed animal-watching. The most iconic Maine animal is the moose. These big, beautiful animals have a reputation in our
- [Heart Matters](https://stfi.org/articles/heart-matters/) - Apologetics is the religious discipline of defending or proving the truth about one’s religion...
- [The Spiritual Battle Is Fought With sWORDS](https://stfi.org/articles/the-spiritual-battle-is-fought-with-swords/) - Throughout most of history, words were basically spoken face to face or written down on papyrus, parchment, and paper. Now however...
- [That’s Ironic](https://stfi.org/articles/thats-ironic-2/) - Humor has always played a very big role in my family. I like to think that our love for the blarney and the humorous eyes with which we see life are a result of my parents’ Gaelic genes and ancestral roots in the Emerald Isle. Growing up, mealtimes were a celebration of family and life
- [Understanding “Heart”](https://stfi.org/articles/understanding-heart/) - It’s been said that England and America are two nations separated by a common language. That sounds funny, but it is true...
- [Spiritual Warfare - The Battle Within](https://stfi.org/articles/spiritual-warfare-the-battle-within/) - The phrase “spiritual battle” has become almost a catchphrase in Christian circles nowadays. But what exactly is a spiritual battle?
- [Can Christians Live Together Before Marriage?](https://stfi.org/articles/can-christians-live-together-before-marriage/) - In the culture of the time in which the Bible was written, specifically in the Eastern lifestyle, most women did not live their lives alone; they either...
- [Do People Become Angels When They Die?](https://stfi.org/articles/do-people-become-angels-when-they-die/) - Can people become angels when they die? What does the Bible say about people becoming angels?
- [What Does the Bible Say About Playing Video Games?](https://stfi.org/articles/what-does-the-bible-say-about-playing-video-games/) - The Bible does not address the subject of video games. Understandable, since video games themselves were not actually created until 1958...
- [Does Everything Happen For a Reason?](https://stfi.org/articles/does-everything-happen-for-a-reason/) - Ever had a terrible day, or a time when something really bad happened to you, and the best consolation anyone could offer you was that “everything happens for a reason”?
- [What does the Bible say about Premarital sex?](https://stfi.org/articles/what-does-the-bible-say-about-premarital-sex/) - Sex outside of marriage was common in the biblical culture and was even encouraged by women due to the physical pressures of childbirth.
- [Does God Just Want You to be Happy?](https://stfi.org/articles/does-god-just-want-you-to-be-happy/) - Does God just want us to be happy? The truth is, God sees so much more than we ever will. He’s knit this world together with threads so fine, our mortal eyes...
- [Your Purpose In The Purpose](https://stfi.org/articles/your-purpose-in-the-purpose/) - We are here, we are home in Christ, we are one Body with no walls between us. Planned before the foundations of the world, called and redeemed, fearfully and wonderfully made. It’s time to cast off the shackles of death and walk alive, brother and sisters.
- [Menuchah Place](https://stfi.org/articles/menuchah-place-2/) - “He leads me beside the waters of menuchah (quietness)”. For me, He is my “Menuchah Place” where I find can stillness, repose, consolation, rest, and peace.
- [Menuchah Place](https://stfi.org/articles/menuchah-place/) - I cannot discount my memories for they are a gift. My real comfort is not in the lovely memories surrounding me, but in His rest. That my direction and is a treasure from Him.
- [The Gift of Grief](https://stfi.org/articles/the-gift-of-grief-2/) - My husband pushes me out the door to walk with him, but I cannot see though my tears without Stella, my other dog, who has been left behind. And I need her. My walk and my thoughts are dismal, and I cannot explain my grief. It’s just a dog. A dog, Stella, left behind in the house, and
- [The Gift of Grief](https://stfi.org/articles/the-gift-of-grief/) - My experiences this past year are teaching me about the privilege of loving and the sadness of saying goodbye. I believe it is how He first loved us that allows us to love so deeply.
- [A Christian Response to Depression](https://stfi.org/articles/a-christian-response-to-depression/) - Over the course of my life, I’ve gotten to know many people—some of whom are Christians of deep belief and passion for Jesus—who struggle with varying types...
- [Don't Tell Me You'll Pray For Me](https://stfi.org/articles/dont-tell-me-youll-pray-for-me/) - Do not let prayer simply become a fill-in-the-blank for when we’re out of our depth, but to be forever mindful of what an important promise we are making. And then stick to it.
- [Is God In Control?](https://stfi.org/articles/is-god-in-control-2/) - The subject of God’s control—the extent of it, the existence of it, the arguments for and against it—has been hotly debated for centuries. Is God in Control?
- [Be Still](https://stfi.org/articles/be-still/) - It’s in those moments of stillness that we connect on a deeper level with our Creator. Where it becomes easier to hear His voice. When it stops being about us and everything we need to do and becomes clearer than ever what He wants for us and from us.
- [SEALs – Spiritually Energized Athletes for the Lord](https://stfi.org/articles/seals-spiritually-energized-athletes-for-the-lord/) - As a diabetic, my doctor tells me to exercise once or better yet twice a day, to fight to keep my blood sugar low (the diabetic’s enemy = high blood sugar). So I try to swim or walk daily. Today, as I was working to extend my walk farther than the day before, I determined that I wanted to extend
- [How Do YOU Identify?](https://stfi.org/articles/how-do-you-identify/) - Next thing you know, the things you identify as are dictating your way of life. And you lose all sense of self, of the identity you were striving for, because the movement doesn’t care about the individual. It exists to perpetuate itself.
- [The Dog Who Ate My Gum](https://stfi.org/articles/the-dog-who-ate-my-gum/) - Slowly I gain greater and greater understanding as I interact with an old dog who just can’t learn the new trick of leaving food or the garbage can untouched.
- [What does the Bible say about Death?](https://stfi.org/articles/what-does-the-bible-say-about-death/) - The Bible says that when you die, you are dead in every sense of the word. It says: You have no consciousness of being alive (Eccl 9:10). Man can’t save himself from death (Ps. 89:48). Our only deliverance from death is resurrection (John 5:28, 29). Although the majority of Christians have been taught that death
- [4 Keys to Reaching People with the Gospel!](https://stfi.org/articles/5039-2/) - Discipling means taking the first step, which is inviting people into a relationship with Jesus. But that takes preparation and intentionality on our part.
- [The Pit](https://stfi.org/articles/the-pit/) - My wife took one look at my face and asked, “What’s wrong?” "I am in there again," I said. “The pit.” The pit is a negative, destructive, hurting, discouraging, hopeless place where no one can cheer you up and you wonder if there ever was or is a God. Have you ever had such times? Discouragement can
- [What's In A Name?](https://stfi.org/articles/whats-in-a-name/) - With all this emphasis around names in the Scriptures and in our lives, we cannot overlook one name mentioned often and with purpose—over six thousand times.
- [What does the Bible say about Remarriage After Divorce?](https://stfi.org/articles/what-does-the-bible-say-about-remarriage-after-divorce/) - The Bible says that it’s not a sin for a Christian to remarry after divorce. 1 Corinthians 7:27-28says, “Are you married? Do not seek a divorce. Are you unmarried? Do not look for a wife. But if you do marry, you have not sinned.”God understands that relationships can become hostile and potentially harmful to either person or
- [Let Them Wander](https://stfi.org/articles/let-them-wander/) - Our talents are for so much more than just sowing back into our home or local church. They’re for growing the Body.
- [Appearances—The kind of “Look” that God Really Cares About!](https://stfi.org/articles/appearances-the-kind-of-look-that-god-really-cares-about/) - Have you ever considered how much time and money people spend on appearance? Concern over one’s looks is a universal and timeless condition as people the world over, throughout the ages, have spent countless sums of money on their looks. The list of expenditures includes clothes, hair maintenance, and grooming supplies, as well as manicures,
- [The Importance of Faith Lived Out](https://stfi.org/articles/the-importance-of-faith-lived-out/) - When we live out our faith, not just preach it, it offers another avenue for Jesus to reach people and for people to find Truth.
- [Treating the Symptoms Rather Than Curing the Problem](https://stfi.org/articles/treating-the-symptoms-rather-than-curing-the-problem/) - I had a friend who was recently in kidney failure. He was in need of a new kidney at the age of 29, and while he waited for this new kidney, he had to undergo dialysis to keep his blood filtered. He went to dialysis 3-4 times a week and although he could function this
- [The World is Our Mission Field](https://stfi.org/articles/the-world-is-our-mission-field/) - Where can you sow in? Where can you fulfill the mission? Locally? Nationally? In your own backyard? To what mission field is God calling YOU?
- [The Battlefield of Fear](https://stfi.org/articles/the-battlefield-of-fear/) - Fears. We all have them. From simple uneasy rumblings to devastating phobias, we’ve all faced something in our lives that’s threatened to put us on the run. For my part, I’ve had two major fears my whole life: death and tornados. But as I’ve gotten older, rather than growing bolder, I’ve found that I’ve actually
- [The Value of Grit & Pressure](https://stfi.org/articles/the-value-of-grit-pressure/) - God’s brand of discipline is the right kind of pressure that ensures we neither crack under the strain nor remain too soft to endure.
- [What does the Bible say about Hell?](https://stfi.org/articles/what-does-the-bible-say-about-hell/) - Hell, as it is described by most of Christianity today, does not exist nor is it stated to exist in the Bible. When we compare what is commonly taught about hell to what the Bible says, we learn that: Common teaching about Hell What Scripture says about hell It’s ruled by Satan Satan is called the “god of this age” (2 Cor. 4:4), and
- [Your Past is God’s Glory](https://stfi.org/articles/your-past-is-gods-glory/) - Tell your story with fearless authenticity, surrendering all you were and all you are to your Heavenly Father. Let your scars draw maplines for the lost, straight to God.
- [What Have We Got?](https://stfi.org/articles/what-have-we-got/) - In the preface to God in the Dock by C. S. Lewis, Walter Hooper, in writing about a certain time when he and Lewis were reflecting on the issues facing Christianity in the modern culture (specifically reception with younger people), says, “One day we were speculating as to what would happen if a group of friendly and inquisitive Martians suddenly appeared in the middle of Oxford
- [Learning How God Speaks to YOU!](https://stfi.org/articles/learning-how-god-speaks-to-you/) - My experience growing up in the faith was both an incredible privilege and a source of unique challenges. I certainly had plenty of great, godly people to look up to in my formative years! But from a very young age I remember feeling confused, uncertain, and a little let down that I couldn’t seem to
- [What does the Bible say about Sex?](https://stfi.org/articles/what-does-the-bible-say-about-sex/) - The Bible says that sex is for a man and a woman who are married (1 Cor. 7:2 NIV). God created men and women with the basic desire for sex. Our anatomy naturally supports the intelligent design that God used when he created the first man and woman. The Bible says the He created them “male and female” (Gen 1:27). God made Eve as
- [Why Is Surrender So Challenging?](https://stfi.org/articles/why-is-surrender-so-challenging/) - Surrendering to God will deepen our relationship with Him beyond words, but it requires action from us. It isn’t waiting for God to search us; it’s bringing what we are to Him,
- [Seven Spiritual Battlefields](https://stfi.org/articles/seven-spiritual-battlefields/) - Most Christians are familiar with the phrase “the spiritual battle,” a term used to describe the war raging between the forces of good and evil. It is the ageless war between light and darkness, between God and His archenemy, the Devil. Unfortunately, all humankind—every man, woman, and child who has ever lived—is in the middle of the war, caught between the two great opposing armies. The war that started in the heavens
- [Why Is Obedience Important?](https://stfi.org/articles/why-is-obedience-important/) - Why does obedience cause discomfort, then, if He knows what’s best for us? If God’s commands are for our wellbeing, it shouldn’t hurt to follow them, right?
- [What does the Bible say about Marriage?](https://stfi.org/articles/what-does-the-bible-say-about-marriage/) - Marriage was God’s plan to bring a man and a woman together for mutual love, benefit, and childbearing.
- [What's In Your Backpack?](https://stfi.org/articles/whats-in-your-backpack/) - We have great capacity to serve God even when struggling under heavy burdens. But how much more can we do for Him when we’re thriving at capacity,
- [Understanding, Changing, and Protecting Our Hearts](https://stfi.org/articles/understanding-changing-and-protecting-our-hearts/) - According to Wikipedia, the definition of a “heart” is “a muscular organ in humans and other animals, which pumps blood through the blood vessels of the circulatory system” (accessed 3/1/2017). Along with our brains (minds), our physical hearts are the most important organs in our bodies. We can lose a leg, lung, or earlobe and survive, but without a functional brain and heart, we’re
- [How To Change the World in Five Steps!](https://stfi.org/articles/how-to-change-the-world-in-five-steps/) - Do you want to change the world? Love as Jesus loved. Tear down walls. Unite, don’t divide. Invest in God and people with your whole heart.
- [What does the Bible say about Marijuana?](https://stfi.org/articles/what-does-the-bible-say-about-marijuana/) - The Bible condemns anything that would cause us to be less than “alert and self-controlled” (1 Thess. 5:6), and that would include marijuana. The use of marijuana is fast becoming a cultural norm. Some states in the United States have legalized its use for medicinal and recreational purposes, and many other states are pushing hard to make it legal because of the
- [The Personal Redeemer](https://stfi.org/articles/the-personal-redeemer/) - Do not let fear keep you from coming to the healer of nations. Bring your brokenness and your sorrow and the things you’ve given up to him.
- [See me, see Jesus](https://stfi.org/articles/see-me-see-jesus/) - One of the reasons people are not more effective at presenting Jesus to the world is because often they are presenting Christianity. But Jesus isn’t Christianity.
- [What Song Has God Placed In Your Heart?](https://stfi.org/articles/what-song-has-god-placed-in-your-heart/) - Christ’s Body thrives on diversity. Your unique gift—the song YOU sing in the great harmony of God’s story—is indispensable!
- [What does the Bible say about Lying?](https://stfi.org/articles/what-does-the-bible-say-about-lying/) - Being honest is essential in any relationship, and the Bible says we are to “speak the truth in love” (Eph. 4:15).
- [What is True Humility?](https://stfi.org/articles/what-is-true-humility/) - Once we cease to rely on our singular strength, we open our hearts to the humbleness that allows us to be true vessels of God and Christ.
- [Spiritual Battles: The Struggle Against Strongholds](https://stfi.org/articles/spiritual-battles-the-struggle-against-strongholds/) - The phrase “spiritual battle” has become almost a catchphrase in Christian circles nowadays. But what exactly is a spiritual battle? Do you feel like you are in a “spiritual battle”? For many Christians, the term “spiritual battle” is an expression encompassing the generality of the conflict between good and evil, so it often carries with it this vague idea of a
- [In All Things, Seek Him First](https://stfi.org/articles/in-all-things-seek-him-first/) - When trouble comes or you find yourself in need, how quickly does your heart turn to God? How close is He to the forefront of your thoughts?
- [What does the Bible say about “Soul?”](https://stfi.org/articles/what-does-the-bible-say-about-soul/) - The word “soul” has a broad meaning and usage in the Bible. Some of its many uses are:
- [How To Be An Imitator Of God](https://stfi.org/articles/how-to-be-an-imitator-of-god/) - We learn to imitate God by being in relationship with Him; we learn to imitate Christ by studying how he loved, and walking in his footsteps.
- [Jesus Christ & The Plan of Redemption](https://stfi.org/articles/jesus-christ-the-plan-of-redemption/) - To dance in step with God, Jesus had to trust that in everything he knew and everything he didn’t know, God was faithful.
- [What does the Bible say about Judgment?](https://stfi.org/articles/what-does-the-bible-say-about-judgment/) - The Bible says that God has set a future day “when he will judge the world with justice by the man (Jesus Christ) he has appointed.
- [Armed with the Spirit's Sword](https://stfi.org/articles/armed-with-the-spirits-sword/) - The Sword of the Spirit is a weapon alive and powerful, capable of defense and attack; it is always sharp, always balanced, always battle-ready.
- [Being Heart Healthy](https://stfi.org/articles/being-heart-healthy/) - This article is not about the muscular organ that pumps and circulates blood throughout our bodies.
- [Helmed with Salvation](https://stfi.org/articles/helmed-with-salvation/) - We are never more protected than when we understand the truth of our salvation.
- [What does the Bible say about “The body of Christ?”](https://stfi.org/articles/what-does-the-bible-say-about-the-body-of-christ/) - The Bible often uses figurative language to describe who and what Christians are. In the case of the Body of Christ,
- [Shielded With Trust](https://stfi.org/articles/shielded-with-trust/) - The shield of trust is the first piece of the armor of God that we don’t wear. We carry it. So we must make the choice to keep lifting it even when it grows heavy.
- [Does Divorce Disqualify Someone From Ministry?](https://stfi.org/articles/does-divorce-disqualify-someone-from-ministry-2/) - There is an ongoing debate among Christians as to whether or not a Christian minister should be allowed to divorce—or if a divorced person can still be...
- [Shod with Readiness & Peace](https://stfi.org/articles/shod-with-readiness-peace/) - It’s a sound we all know well: the crash, the musical tinkling of shattering glass, and the very, very delicate cleanup of the mess in the wake of a broken dish or wineglass. Most of us won’t make it through our entire lives without breaking something, and when we do, for the most part we’ll
- [We Band of Brothers](https://stfi.org/articles/we-band-of-brothers/) - We are at war. Not a war of borders, of culture, of race or religion. We are standing in the midst of a spiritual battle that has been raging for untold...
- [Plated with Righteousness](https://stfi.org/articles/plated-with-righteousness/) - When we are aware of the righteousness that protects our softest parts, and when we allow Christ’s sacrifice to spur us on to a more righteous way of life, we are better protected
- [What does the Bible say about Money?](https://stfi.org/articles/what-does-the-bible-say-about-money/) - The Bible has a lot to say about how to acquire and manage our money and wealth. The Book of Proverbs give us some good examples:
- [Belted with Truth](https://stfi.org/articles/belted-with-truth/) - It is not until we are properly armored that we can stand. And the truths we read from Scripture are what will keep our entire spiritual ensemble from falling apart.
- [Prayer—Highly Esteemed by God](https://stfi.org/articles/prayer-highly-esteemed-by-god/) - When we tell others that we will pray for them, we are saying that we are going to ask God for help on their behalf with whatever is troubling them.
- [Put on the Armor](https://stfi.org/articles/put-on-the-armor/) - In past entries of this blog, we’ve looked at the emphasis placed on the "put off/put on" command—to rid ourselves daily of the “old man” sin nature that was once our garment and put on the heavenly attire of the “new man” nature in Christ. But there’s actually a second “put on” command, just as
- [What does the Bible say about Heaven?](https://stfi.org/articles/what-does-the-bible-say-about-heaven/) - The Bible uses the word “Heaven” in different ways. In most cases, it refers to:
- [Once Darkness, Now Light](https://stfi.org/articles/once-darkness-now-light/) - When we first believed, we were changed from creatures of darkness, dead things puppeted by Death, to creatures of light, led by the Good Shepherd.
- [Presenting Jesus—Rightly](https://stfi.org/articles/presenting-jesus-rightly/) - Born-again believers represent God and Jesus. Even if we don’t particularly want the job, we have it. We are part of God’s family, citizens of heaven,
- [To the Praise of His Glory](https://stfi.org/articles/to-the-praise-of-his-glory/) - We can praise with our lips all day long, and that does honor God; but are we praising Him with how we live our lives as well?
- [What does the Bible say about Love?](https://stfi.org/articles/what-does-the-bible-say-about-love/) - In the Bible, love is not an option, but a commandment. Jesus taught that the first and greatest commandment is to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.”(Matt. 22:37 NIV) The second command is very much like the first: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matt. 22:39 NIV)The
- [What the Body Does, It Does to Itself](https://stfi.org/articles/what-the-body-does-it-does-to-itself/) - We are joined, linked together by sinew and muscle and bone and tissue. The pain of our brothers and sisters, our fellow members, is our pain.
- [Overcoming the Past](https://stfi.org/articles/overcoming-the-past/) - As a fairly new Christian, I sometimes feel as if my past as a non-Christian continues to follow me. When I became a believer and was born again I quickly latched onto learning everything I could about God, Jesus, the holy spirit, or anything that had to do with being a follower of Jesus. I
- [To Walk Worthy](https://stfi.org/articles/to-walk-worthy/) - Our demeanor with one another and with those around us is part of our living testimony.
- [How Do I Bring Christ to People?](https://stfi.org/articles/how-do-i-bring-christ-to-people-2/) - The question of "How do I bring Christ to people" is often asked by Christians. It's our calling as Christians, but it may seem like a daunting task if you don't know what it looks like practically.
- [Off With the Old, On With The New](https://stfi.org/articles/off-with-the-old-on-with-the-new/) - No matter how comfortable or easy it may feel when we slip into the old man nature, that is not our raiment anymore.
- [What does the Bible say about Speaking in Tongues?](https://stfi.org/articles/what-does-the-bible-say-about-speaking-in-tongues/) - speaking in tongues is misunderstood by too many Christians. This was also true during the ministry of the Apostle Paul. In Paul’s first letter to the...
- [No Longer Strangers](https://stfi.org/articles/no-longer-strangers/) - Our days of wandering in the wilderness are over. We have found our home country. We belong.
- [Why focus is Important](https://stfi.org/articles/why-focus-is-important/) - It’s easy to get focused on the wrong thing in life. In this article, we'll look at why focus is important and what it is that we need to focus on.
- [Why Truth Must be Spoken in Love](https://stfi.org/articles/why-truth-must-be-spoken-in-love/) - It is by the love of Christ that we model the truth of Christ and the way to Christ. No human form of love will do.
- [New Year, New Me!](https://stfi.org/articles/new-year-new-me/) - As we move ahead in 2019, we must ask ourselves this: are our resolutions too narrow? Are we dreaming too small?
- [Eyes on the Horizon](https://stfi.org/articles/eyes-on-the-horizon/) - Throughout our busy days, if we don’t have an underlying focus or consistent guiding point of reference, we will fail to orient ourselves in the midst of our...
- [Rooted & Grounded in Love](https://stfi.org/articles/rooted-grounded-in-love/) - We must remember that we grow when we’re well-grounded. It’s the only way to thrive.
- [Where is Your Focus?](https://stfi.org/articles/where-is-your-focus/) - When I was a child, my Dad had a very nice camera and his own darkroom, so I cannot remember a time when a camera was not a part of my life. There were some very important lessons that I learned from the single lens reflex film cameras my Dad owned, including: choose your subject
- [YOU Can Boldly Approach GOD!](https://stfi.org/articles/you-can-boldly-approach-god/) - We can confidently approach God because our trust in Jesus forged a bridge between broken man and the perfect Creator.
- [What does the Bible say about Divorce?](https://stfi.org/articles/what-does-the-bible-say-about-divorce-2/) - To understand what the Bible says about marriage and divorce, we must first understand what the Bible says about God’s loving heart regarding His intention for marriage, and the hardened heart of mankind due to his fallen nature and tendency to commit sin. God’s original intention for marriage was for a man and a woman
- [A Prayer For the One Who Reads These Words](https://stfi.org/articles/a-prayer-for-the-one-who-reads-these-words/) - Prayer is so important. The prayers we say, and the prayers that are prayed over us—by our fellow believers now, and by the ones who walked this world before us. T
- [Living in True Unity](https://stfi.org/articles/living-in-true-unity/) - My dad was a great storyteller, and some of his best stories were about growing up in Wisconsin and Minnesota. Dad always seemed to have a sparkle in his eye that shined brighter whenever he told stories of his youth. We especially loved the ones that involved the great outdoors—hunting squirrels in the woods, shooting
- [Our Source of Peace](https://stfi.org/articles/our-source-of-peace/) - We are incapable of experiencing true peace personally or interpersonally if it does not come through the scope of Christ—his teachings, his dealings, and how he works with us all.
- [What does the Bible say about Christmas?](https://stfi.org/articles/what-does-the-bible-say-about-christmas/) - Traditionally, Christmas has been a celebration of the birth of Christ by Christendom, but in recent years the significance of Christ’s birth has been...
- [Walking Alive](https://stfi.org/articles/walking-alive/) - You have been given a new life through your belief in the resurrected Christ. And it’s time to start walking alive!
- [Prayer Changes Things](https://stfi.org/articles/prayer-changes-things/) - Petition and praise Prayer to God is an ancient practice, which makes sense when we realize what prayer is—a petition for help, and praising God for who He is and what He has done. The root of prayer is an acknowledgement that God is our creator and helper.[1]As our God and our ultimate source of
- [Tearing Down the Dividing Wall](https://stfi.org/articles/tearing-down-the-dividing-wall/) - Even if our doctrine is different, we are still One Body. So to the best of our ability, let’s make sure we’re living that way
- [The Pursuer of Your Heart](https://stfi.org/articles/the-pursuer-of-your-heart/) - God is the one who first loved—He is the first lover. He loved you before you were born…before any of us were ever born. The letter of 1 John explains that...
- [Seeing God's Glory Through Masters and Servants](https://stfi.org/articles/seeing-gods-glory-through-masters-and-servants/) - What these few verses ultimately show is that whether we are in positions of service or leadership, we have a responsibility to conduct ourselves in a way that honors God and Christ. We’re to show restraint, respect, humility, sincerity and fairness, and love.
- [What does the Bible say about “Faith?”](https://stfi.org/articles/what-does-the-bible-say-about-faith/) - Ever wonder what the Bible says about Faith? Well, it's important that we as Christians understand exactly what faith means.
- [Seeing God's Glory Through Parents and Children](https://stfi.org/articles/seeing-gods-glory-through-parents-and-children/) - There are many spiritual lessons we can glean about our relationship with God from the verses in Ephesians 5:21-6:9. In this segment, I want to look at some of the lessons Ephesians 6:1-4 teaches about the parent/child relationship and how this passage serves as a model for a particular aspect of our relationship with God.
- [Worshipping God is like being in a playground!](https://stfi.org/articles/worshipping-god-is-like-being-in-a-playground/) - Worshipping God in a church setting is very much the same thing. There are those singing with their hands high in the air, reaching for God. It’s kind of...
- [Seeing God’s Glory through Husbands and Wives](https://stfi.org/articles/seeing-gods-glory-through-husbands-and-wives/) - There are many spiritual realities we can glean about our relationship with God from the verses in Ephesians 5:21-6:9. In this segment, I want to look at some of the lessons Ephesians 5:21-33 teaches about the husband/wife relationship and how this passage serves as a model for a particular aspect of our relationship with God.
- [What does the Bible say about Demons?](https://stfi.org/articles/what-does-the-bible-say-about-demons/) - The Bible says the demons are real and they are opposing God’s will. Ephesians 6:12 tells us that in life, there are struggles against “spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”Demons were once angels of God who sided with Satan in a rebellion that took place in heaven (Isaiah 14, Ezekiel 28). Their existence
- [Serving the One Who Is Above All Others](https://stfi.org/articles/serving-the-one/) - Nothing we fear, nothing we desire, and nothing we could ever hope to attain could be more important than the great commission from our Lord.
- [O Lord How Long Must I Wait?](https://stfi.org/articles/o-lord-how-long-must-i-wait/) - Psalm 5:1-3 NLT O LORD, hear me as I pray; pay attention to my groaning. 2Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for I pray to no one but you. 3Listen to my voice in the morning, LORD. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly. Prayer isn’t
- [Who & What Defines You?](https://stfi.org/articles/who-what-defines-you/) - Those without Jesus often flounder through attempt after attempt to discover their identity and purpose, throwing themselves into causes in hopes of finding something to live for.
- [What does the Bible say about Cremation?](https://stfi.org/articles/what-does-the-bible-say-about-cremation/) - The Bible doesn’t prohibit the practice of cremation. History has demonstrated that the handling of the deceased body has varied from culture to culture over time. The methods also vary—from embalming by the early Egyptians, to immediate burial which was the custom of the Jewish people. No matter what method is employed, the results will
- [Paid By the Blood](https://stfi.org/articles/paid-by-the-blood/) - The beautiful thing is that the blood of Christ covered all our trespasses, the places where we’ve unknowingly crossed the boundary and entered into sin.
- [Keys to Focused Prayer](https://stfi.org/articles/keys-to-focused-prayer/) - When I was eight years old, I was convinced God had an email address. Growing up right on the curve of the internet boom, I thought that AOL was the coolest, most innovative thing to ever happen to mankind; naturally, I saw absolutely no reason why God Himself wouldn’t be on the cutting edge of
- [Why God Adopted Us - And Why It MATTERS](https://stfi.org/articles/why-god-adopted-us-and-why-it-matters/) - God knew exactly what He was getting into with each of us—He knew our traits, our blemishes, our strengths and weaknesses—and still He gladly adopted us into His family.
- [What does the Bible say about consuming alcohol?](https://stfi.org/articles/what-does-the-bible-say-about-consuming-alcohol/) - The consumption of fermented drink was common in the culture of the Bible. It’s first mentioned in Genesis 9,
- [God Has a Team! Are You On It?](https://stfi.org/articles/god-has-a-team-are-you-on-it/) - The stakes could be no higher and the reward no greater. This is not some gilded trophy we’re striving for, but the prize of eternal life. And the souls of those not yet on this team are at stake.
- [Fight For Your Life](https://stfi.org/articles/fight-for-your-life/) - There is a war going on within each of us, and many people are unaware of how intense the battle really is. Some are even completely unaware of the battle...
- [Every Spiritual Blessing](https://stfi.org/articles/every-spiritual-blessing/) - What better way to prove that we are cherished, important, and beloved of God than that He has given us so many gifts at the moment we believed,
- [What does the Bible say about Communion?](https://stfi.org/articles/what-does-the-bible-say-about-communion/) - he Bible shows that communion was instituted as a way to remember the sacrifice that Christ made by giving his life for mankind. Communion has been...
- [What is Your Treasure?](https://stfi.org/articles/what-is-your-treasure/) - Jesus gave stern warnings after his teaching about treasures: if your eye is unhealthy, your whole body is unhealthy. You cannot serve two masters, like God and money.
- [Fixing My Eyes On You](https://stfi.org/articles/fixing-my-eyes-on-you/) - Chances are, if you’ve turned on the radio to your local contemporary Christian station for more than fifteen minutes at any point in the last year, you’ve heard at least a verse or two of FOR KING AND COUNTRY’S “Fix My Eyes” riffing through your speakers.
- [Breaking Down Walls](https://stfi.org/articles/breaking-down-walls/) - There is certainly the one truth universal to all people: they desperately need Jesus.
- [What does the Bible say about Baptism?](https://stfi.org/articles/what-does-the-bible-say-about-baptism/) - Is baptism a requirement? Do you have to be baptized to be saved? Let's look at what the Bible has to say about baptism.
- [What Do You Care What They Call You, If You’re Called His?](https://stfi.org/articles/youre-called-his/) - If God calls us loved, chosen, cherished, His own, does it really matter what people call us? No, really—does it?
- [Stumbling Upon Heaven](https://stfi.org/articles/stumbling-upon-heaven/) - God Is Relentless in His Pursuit God’s love is unquestionable, for He has put up with an unimaginable degree of disobedience and rebellion in our hearts. God’s love is also so unreasonable because of His never-ending patience and mercy with our stubbornness and refusal to surrender to His will at times. What love is this
- [A Lesson in Resting](https://stfi.org/articles/a-lesson-in-resting/) - In case you need to hear it, you need a season of rest, too. You need the pause. Listen to your body’s signals, to what that quiet inner voice is telling you.
- [What does the Bible say about Anal Sex?](https://stfi.org/articles/what-does-the-bible-say-about-anal-sex/) - What does the Bible have to say about anal sex? Well, there are a lot of things that are not mentioned in the Bible that can still be navigated with....
- [Finding the Goodness of God in Difficult Times](https://stfi.org/articles/goodness-of-god/) - The next time you’re facing difficult circumstances, I encourage you to look closely for the ways that God is still carrying you through.
- [A Life Surrendered](https://stfi.org/articles/a-life-surrendered/) - Psalm 37:7 GWT Surrender yourself to the Lord, and wait patiently for him. Our world is inundated with the cultural mindset that if you just work hard enough and make the necessary sacrifices, you can achieve whatever you set your mind to. This “super-human,” “I am unstoppable,” “I’m the only one who can make it
- [Living in the Mindset of God’s Holy Warrior](https://stfi.org/articles/gods-holy-warrior/) - It may be strict, but His way is always pure, always perfect, always victorious. Will you choose to live by that code—the way of the Holy Warrior?
- [What does the Bible say about Tithing?](https://stfi.org/articles/what-does-the-bible-say-about-tithing/) - The Bible says that tithing is not required by Christians today. The word “tithe” means “tenth” in Scripture. Tithing was made a requirement under the Mosaic Law. Prior to that, there are examples of people giving a “tenth,” but there was no commandment to do so until God gave the commandments to Moses. Under the
- [God of Wonders](https://stfi.org/articles/god-of-wonders/) - The miraculous, awe-inspiring, powerful and mighty hand of God is at work at all times.
- [Do you See Unity?](https://stfi.org/articles/do-you-see-unity/) - I heard a story one time about a man who was stranded by himself on a small island in the middle of the ocean. When he was finally located and the rescue team arrived, they noticed three huts on the island. While he was being tended to by the medical team, one of the doctors
- [Making Use of Your Talent](https://stfi.org/articles/making-use-of-your-talent/) - There’s no one among us, whether with many talents or just one, who doesn’t want to hear at the end: “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
- [What does the Bible say about reincarnation?](https://stfi.org/articles/what-does-the-bible-say-about-reincarnation/) - The Bible never mentions the concept or even uses the word “reincarnation”. The Bible says we have only one life “it is appointed for a person to die one time,
- [4 Godly Ways to Handle Conflict](https://stfi.org/articles/4-godly-ways-to-handle-conflict/) - Conflict is going to happen. It’s been happening even in Christian circles for a long, long time…think before Christ’s ascension! God tells us that “Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples." Kind of makes you wonder what our contention among ourselves proves to the world.
- [A Christian’s Response to Immodesty](https://stfi.org/articles/a-christians-response-to-immodesty/) - Modesty is one of the most widely-discussed topics in Christianity…probably because no one can come down hard and fast on a sure biblical line where dress code is concerned.
- [The Radical Messiah](https://stfi.org/articles/the-radical-messiah/) - Every culture of all time is hurting in its own way. Every generation needs a Jesus-revolution—an outpouring of radical love, radical wisdom, and radical change based on the truths he imparted from his Father.
- [What does the Bible say about Gambling?](https://stfi.org/articles/what-does-the-bible-say-about-gambling-2/) - The Bible doesn’t specifically say anything about gambling, but it does have a lot to say about using godly wisdom when it comes to managing our money and possessions. By gambling, we are referring to games of chance at places like casinos and sporting events. This is not to be confused with the risks that
- [Diving into the "Depend"](https://stfi.org/articles/diving-into-the-depend/) - If we learn to dive fully in dependence on God, the burden of meeting our every need—as if we ever could!—lifts from our shoulders and into His hands. This is where our needs and wants are safest. All it takes is fostering trust in Him…and having the courage to dive into the “depend” with God.
- [God’s Divine council](https://stfi.org/articles/gods-divine-council/) - There is good biblical evidence that God has a ruling council of spirit beings with whom He consults. Of course, God would not need to have a divine council, He is certainly capable of doing things on His own;
- [Me & God in a Cardboard Box](https://stfi.org/articles/me-god-in-a-cardboard-box/) - If God called us into a situation as uncomfortable as laying our heads on the hard ground every night to serve Him, could we really do it—and do it without grumbling, discontentment, even resentment toward Him?
- [What does the Bible say about Cohabitation?](https://stfi.org/articles/what-does-the-bible-say-about-cohabitation/) - The Bible says that cohabitation is wrong. By the word “cohabitation,” we are referring to the practice of a man and a woman living together, and sharing the intimacy of sex, without being married. The only sexual relations that are approved by God are inside the covenant of marriage. Cohabitation is not a modern trend;
- [Don’t Wait for Perfection to Start the Work of the Lord](https://stfi.org/articles/dont-wait-for-perfection-to-start-the-work-of-the-lord/) - In the words of renowned photographer Ansel Adams, “To require perfection is to invite paralysis.” And similarly, by Neil Gaiman: “Perfection is like chasing the horizon. Keep moving.”
- [Having a Real Relationship with our Heavenly Father](https://stfi.org/articles/having-a-real-relationship-with-our-heavenly-father/) - One of the most important things for us to learn as Christians is that God wants to have a real and personal relationship with us. God lives and works in real time and the things in our life matter to Him. Whether it is as “small” as helping you find something that you lost or
- [Peace to the Inconveniences](https://stfi.org/articles/peace-to-the-inconveniences/) - Jesus had so many chances to lose his cool and make a scene. But he made peace instead. Because, after all, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”
- [What does the Bible say about Easter?](https://stfi.org/articles/what-does-the-bible-say-about-easter/) - Easter is only mentioned in the King James Version of the Bible (Acts 12:4 KJV). The modern versions like the NIV, ESV, NASB, and even the New Kings James Version all correctly use the word “Passover.”
- [Through the Valley of the Shadow](https://stfi.org/articles/through-the-valley-of-the-shadow/) - One of the most comforting verses in the Bible to many Christians is found in Psalm 23: “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.”
- [When It Might Not Look Like God Is At Work](https://stfi.org/articles/when-it-might-not-look-like-god-is-at-work/) - It is undeniable that God has acted in His creation throughout history in many ways. The Bible contains countless stories of God intervening in the lives of humans and working to bring about His will and purposes.
- [Thankfulness: The Key to Contentment](https://stfi.org/articles/thankfulness-the-key-to-contentment/) - If you can’t be content with what you have now, you will not truly be content with anything. It will never be enough.
- [What Foundation Are You Building On?](https://stfi.org/articles/what-foundation-are-you-building-on/) - As Christians, a good foundation is essential—not just in doctrine, but in conduct, in practice, in how we receive the words of our Lord.
- [Fake Life](https://stfi.org/articles/fake-life/) - The discussion was passionate, overheated, aggressive, and tense. Abortion? Gay marriage? Obamacare? No, the topic was “Deflate-gate,” which clearly has many passionate folks on...
- [One Body of Christ](https://stfi.org/articles/one-body-of-christ/) - We are all saved. All sanctified. All following the same Lord, even if we understand him differently based on our theological scope. And yet our focus tends to be on our differences, not our similarities.
- [What does the Bible say about the Death Penalty?](https://stfi.org/articles/what-does-the-bible-say-about-the-death-penalty/) - After the flood of Noah’s day, God commanded that “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed” (Gen 9:6).
- [Blessings or Curses (It’s a matter of choice!)](https://stfi.org/articles/blessings-or-curses/) - There will be a blessing or there will be a curse. We are the deciding factor. Either we obey God or we do not obey God, and as a result we determine which we receive: a blessing or a curse.
- [What does the Bible say about the Trinity?](https://stfi.org/articles/what-does-the-bible-say-about-the-trinity/) - The doctrine of the Trinity does not appear in the Bible. The orthodox definition—that the Father is God, the Son is God, the Holy Spirit is God, they are coequal and coeternal and together the three of them make one God—has been a traditional but not a biblical position.
- [A Quarter-Century in Hindsight](https://stfi.org/articles/a-quarter-century-in-hindsight/) - A lot of people see time slipping away as they age. I’m starting to see time expanding. I know exactly how many years I wasted chasing earthly love, earthly desires, earthly lessons, earthly outcomes. With the lessons God has taught me, I’m determined to spend the next twenty-five chasing Him with all my might.
- [What does the Bible say about Involvement in Politics?](https://stfi.org/articles/what-does-the-bible-say-about-involvement-in-politics/) - Is it okay for Christians to get involved in politics? What does the Bible have to say about it?
- [The Brewer, The Server, and the Served](https://stfi.org/articles/the-brewer/) - Why would we ever water down what is pure and true, even if it hurts, just to give people something painless…something that will not fulfill their hearts or set them free?
- [What does the Bible say about God being in control of everything?](https://stfi.org/articles/what-does-the-bible-say-about-god-being-in-control-of-everything/) - Is God in control of everything that happens? Does the Bible say everything happens for a reason?
- [Jesus Died For YOU!](https://stfi.org/articles/jesus-died-for-you/) - We have been given the ultimate gift, through the ultimate sacrifice. No one will ever do more for us than our brother Jesus did—he gave his life for us.
- [What does the Bible say about Salvation?](https://stfi.org/articles/what-does-the-bible-say-about-salvation/) - How do you become saved? And how can you be sure you have salvation? Let's look at what the Bible has to say about this important topic.
- [How's YOUR Walk?](https://stfi.org/articles/hows-your-walk/) - In the end, we can only control our own behavior and conduct, and no one else’s. We can give counsel and advice, we can reprimand and take people to Scripture…but the choice is theirs whether to receive or reject reproof or criticism.
- [Enjoying the Bible](https://stfi.org/articles/enjoying-the-bible/) - The Bible is like a tapestry woven of many threads that collectively come together to make a beautiful work.
- [A Prayer for the Heart of God](https://stfi.org/articles/a-prayer-for-the-heart-of-god/) - There are times in our lives where the words of man bombard us constantly, obscuring the will of God. We can find ourselves torn between human ideals, uncertain of who is walking upright, who is deceived, if anyone is truly right or wrong.
- [A Quick Reference to the Books of the Bible](https://stfi.org/articles/a-quick-reference-to-the-books-of-the-bible/) - The following is a very brief synopsis of each of the books of the Bible, and it’s intended to give the novice reader a sense of each Book and how it fits with in the overall picture of the Bible
- [God Understands YOU!](https://stfi.org/articles/god-understands-you/) - You cannot surprise God. He already gets you—your best and worst qualities. At your proudest and your most humble. Your angriest and calmest. Your most sinful and most righteous moments are both before His eyes. You cannot surprise Him with any of your brokenness or uprightness.
- [Covenants and Dispensations](https://stfi.org/articles/covenants-and-dispensations/) - By understanding the Covenants and various administrational changes in the Bible, we can gain a much greater understanding of how to put the pieces of the puzzle together.
- [The Journey of Holiness](https://stfi.org/articles/journey-of-holiness/) - The journey of holiness requires faithfulness to the Lord, death to self to become living sacrifices before God, and the willpower and endurance to continue living in the cycle of submission, transformation, and conformation to God’s will, over and over. It isn’t an easy journey by any means.
- [Why is the Bible Considered a Holy Book?](https://stfi.org/articles/why-is-the-bible-considered-a-holy-book/) - right on the cover it says “Holy Bible,” a phrase that was used for the first time on that version. Although many other versions nowadays merely say “The Bible,” the belief that it’s the “Holy Book” remains for Christians today.
- [Leave the 99](https://stfi.org/articles/leave-the-99/) - Even the most dedicated Jesus-follower is capable, and often guilty, of straying into sin. We may become lazy with our calling and set aside the things of God for the temptations of the world. Yet, even when we are lost, Jesus relentlessly pursues us as individuals.
- [The Unlimited Ways of Worship Ultimately Require Obedience](https://stfi.org/articles/the-unlimited-ways-of-worship-ultimately-require-obedience/) - The word “worship” has quite a few definitions, aspects, understandings, and connotations. However, our main goal here will be to understand God’s definition of “worship” and pursue that.
- [On Purpose, For a Purpose](https://stfi.org/articles/on-purpose-for-a-purpose/) - Our lives have intentionality, and we were not created as short shouts into the abyss. We were not made to be forgotten – our lives are remembered forever by the loving Father who fashioned us. We are warriors, we are the called, we are beloved, we are the Body of Christ…we are Jesus-followers.
- [Developing a Proper Understanding of the Bible](https://stfi.org/articles/developing-a-proper-understanding/) - Handling God’s word properly and seeking out His intended meaning as the Author goes a long way in helping us learn to enjoy the Bible
- [Understanding the Background of the Bible](https://stfi.org/articles/understanding-the-background-of-the-bible/) - Taking the time to learn the Bible’s background and nature will go a long way toward enhancing the experience of reading it, and will greatly aid us in avoiding confusion and frustration.
- [What Will Worship Look Like in the Eternal Future?](https://stfi.org/articles/what-will-worship-look-like-in-the-eternal-future/) - When I was a kid, I had a seriously hard time when people told me that Heaven would be “one big praise and worship session.” Don’t get me wrong, I love music; and at the camps and conferences I went to as a teenager, the worship sessions were some of my absolute favorite times. Surrounded
- [Piecing the Puzzle Together](https://stfi.org/articles/piecing-the-puzzle-together/) - There are two primary ways we can begin to assemble the “pieces” of the Bible. The first is to take a topical approach, and the second is to view it from a historical perspective.
- [The Slippery Slope of Sin](https://stfi.org/articles/the-slippery-slope-of-sin/) - It’s wintertime, and where I live that means things freeze—a lot! Although the below-freezing temperatures that we commonly experience cause my southern friends to shiver and shake, often shutting down most of their activities, for us it is just another day. Those who live in warmer climates find it hard to wrap their minds around
- [The Pieces of the Puzzle](https://stfi.org/articles/the-pieces-of-the-puzzle/) - There are a number of different "pieces of the puzzle" that come together to tell the story of the Bible. In this article, we look at some of those pieces.
- [How Do We Know that Jesus was the Promised Redeemer?](https://stfi.org/articles/how-do-we-know-that-jesus-was-the-promised-redeemer/) - How do we know that Jesus was the messiah spoken of in the Old Testament?
- [The Bible as a Work of Literature](https://stfi.org/articles/the-bible-as-a-work-of-literature/) - The Bible is a work of literature. Let's take a look at the various kinds of literature found in the Bible.
- [Worship - Fun and Not Fun](https://stfi.org/articles/worship-fun-and-not-fun/) - Worship can be fun at times but other times it's not. Read about how we can be more intentional with our worship.
- [A Whole New Normal](https://stfi.org/articles/a-whole-new-normal/) - I have a public confession to make…I am a creature of habit. My day is filled with lots of routines, and I like them. My eyes pop open and I climb out of bed at close to the same time every day—no matter what. Of course, this is probably the result of me going to
- [Why read the Bible?](https://stfi.org/articles/why-read-the-bible/) - Over the years, I’ve watched with amazement as my wife has patiently transformed jumbled piles of jigsaw puzzle pieces into beautiful pictures. She inherited her love of puzzles from her mom; I, on the other hand…well, I’ve always struggled with them, partly because of my red-green colorblindness (or at least that’s the excuse I like
- [How deep is the Father’s love for us?](https://stfi.org/articles/how-deep-is-the-fathers-love-for-us/) - I find myself asking this question a lot. Not because God hasn’t shown His love in uncountable ways, but more because the great variety of the examples truly expresses, at least to me, just how intimately God knows and cares for our hearts. While reflecting on the story of Moses’ life recently, it struck me
- [Worship – It’s More Than A Song!](https://stfi.org/articles/worship-its-more-than-a-song/) - If you’ve spent any length of time in a Christian community, you’ve probably heard the terms “praise” and “worship” linked hand-in-hand. In fact, in some circles, they’re considered synonymous. However, while it’s part of our faith-walk to both praise our Creator and to worship Him, these aspects of Christian life are not exactly the same—and
- [Four Ways to Deal Graciously With Negative People](https://stfi.org/articles/four-ways-to-deal-graciously-with-negative-people/) - Everyone has bad days. In fact, as I write this, I am among them. These kinds of emotional lows are just a part of life. But I think it’s safe to say we have all dealt with at least one person in our lives who is just excessively negative. That individual who almost always leads
- [Four Reasons Why We Need Grace](https://stfi.org/articles/four-reasons-why-we-need-grace/) - It happened again today. I was sitting at my desk, working on my usual business, when it hit me—I’d made a clerical error in our shipping department. Nothing huge or world-ending, mind you. No one was bleeding or dying. No one was even going to be drastically and everlastingly inconvenienced. It was a quick fix
- [The Imitation of Intimacy](https://stfi.org/articles/the-imitation-of-intimacy/) - When I was in sixth grade, I made my first “neighborhood friend.” Katie and I spent the summer biking the six or so blocks to each other’s houses, peeling ourselves out of bed at the crack of down to fish for crawdads in the storm culvert, and getting slushies, hot dogs, and candy from our
- [Feel the Burn](https://stfi.org/articles/feel-the-burn/) - I’ve found myself reflecting a lot, lately, on a conversation I once had with a sibling in Christ. We were on the subject of “unsavory thoughts” and how insidious they are—how difficult it is to get ahead of them. After a lot of banter about the subject, I reminded my friend that no matter how
- [Know Them By Their Fruit](https://stfi.org/articles/know-them-by-their-fruit/) - When people look at you, what part, if any, of Jesus do you think they see? When I was younger, I always wanted people to see the “right” side of Jesus in me. The part that was above error, that always had the proper reply for everything because he walked so in-tune with his Father.
- [A Change of Plan](https://stfi.org/articles/a-change-of-plans/) - I am what my family affectionately calls an “administrative nerd.” Organization is my passion…few things bring me as much satisfaction as seeing all things flowing in the same direction, buttery-smooth as sun-kissed streamwater. But…sometimes, there’s a dam. Dams in the waterways of life are inevitable…but that doesn’t mean I have to like them. Never have
- [Let Daddy Fix It](https://stfi.org/articles/let-daddy-fix-it/) - God knew what He was doing when He named Himself the Father to all those who believe and are saved. A healthy, godly relationship between father and child is one of the most precious bonds I’ve ever personally witnessed; and I can’t believe the lessons I’ve learned about God, and our relationship with Him as
- [Four Steps to Focused Prayer](https://stfi.org/articles/four-steps-to-focused-prayer/) - My guess is that I’m not the only person who’s ever struggled with being distracted while praying! Ever since I was a little kid, I’ve had trouble with this. I’d start to pray, then I’d start to think about whatever I was praying about…next thing I knew, I was just thinking about my concerns, not
- [How Do I Bring Christ to People?](https://stfi.org/articles/how-do-i-bring-christ-to-people/) - Even after we’ve decided to make the effort to “bring people to Christ,” the question that stalls most Christians I’ve met is, “How do I actually do this?” There are plenty of Christian resources that will tell you how to witness—from door-to-door evangelism to the people we sit next to on a plane—not all of
- [Rules of the Road](https://stfi.org/articles/rules-of-the-road/) - The following blog was written by Renee Dugan, a full-time staff member with Spirit & Truth Fellowship Int'l. Growing up in Indiana all of my life, there’s rarely been a time when some activity or another didn’t require me to travel on “The Loop” – the local name for I-465, a massive 3-to-6-lane highway that
- [Dear Abby](https://stfi.org/articles/dear-abby/) - I love my job! It’s not that everything I do is fun, because that certainly isn’t the case, but I love the variety of tasks I am faced with every day. With coffee in hand, I fire up my computer and see what awaits me. I spend almost my whole day in front of the
- [The Man Who Wouldn't Be King](https://stfi.org/articles/the-man-who-wouldnt-be-king/) - The following blog was written by Renee Dugan, a full-time staff member with Spirit & Truth Fellowship Int'l. Ever notice how most people have a favorite figure from the Bible? Besides Jesus, that is. Some people love reading about Paul; some can’t get enough of David’s psalms; or Joseph’s rags-to-riches journey; or Daniel’s powerful witness;
- [True Grit](https://stfi.org/articles/getting-true-grit/) - John Wayne, affectionately called “the Duke,” is a legend for the many famous western-style movies he acted in. If you are a Wild West aficionado like me, then you will readily recognize movie titles he starred in: The Shootist, El Dorado, Big Jake, and many more. Of all the famous movies the Duke played in,
- [Getting Untangled](https://stfi.org/articles/getting-untangled/) - The following blog was written by Renee Dugan, a full-time staff member with Spirit & Truth Fellowship Int'l. Before wireless headphones really became a staple on the audio market, people had no choice but to listen to music with corded headphones tethering them to their musical devices. Many a cellphone and MP3 player saw its
- [To Walk Beside a Friend](https://stfi.org/articles/to-walk-beside-a-friend/) - The following blog was written by Renee Dugan, a full-time staff member with Spirit & Truth Fellowship Int'l. Most mornings before work, I take a 20 minute walk through the neighborhood behind my house. Since I live about two blocks from the office, this gives me time to burn off the energy of my morning
- [How to Pass Life's Final Inspection](https://stfi.org/articles/how-to-pass-lifes-final-inspection/) - The need to pass inspections is an integral part of every building contractor’s life. Today I met with my county inspector as he carefully looked over the plywood panels for the exterior walls of a family room I am adding to my house. Where I live, there are inspections at almost every stage of the
- [Deep Roots to Drink Living Water](https://stfi.org/articles/deep-roots-to-drink-living-water/) - Mowing a lawn is a chore for most people, including me; but generally I really like doing it. It’s not that I enjoy the tedious pushing of the mower up and down the lawn…that’s just hard work. Instead, what I really like is the smell of fresh cut grass and how clean and manicured the
- [5 Ways to Enrich Quiet Time](https://stfi.org/articles/5-ways-to-enrich-quiet-time/) - It’s a well-known fact that strong relationships can’t be forged without quality time spent together. To that end, “quiet time”—a space carved out for prayer, reading, reflection, and bonding with God—is often considered to be one of the best methods of spiritual grounding. This time allows Christians to get away from the chaos of day-to-day
- [The Key to Happiness](https://stfi.org/articles/the-key-to-happiness/) - Modern life is filled with an explosion in gadgets and tools that are designed to “improve” our lives by making things easier…and supposedly making things easier will make us all happier. We now have phones that are much more than mere devices useful for talking to others. They can send electronic messages, play music, take
- [The Master Key](https://stfi.org/articles/the-master-key/) - The other day the interior latch on my truck broke. I immediately knew there was something seriously wrong when I pushed it and heard a very distinctive…”click.” I pushed and pulled, back and forth as if it had had a sudden heart attack I was going to revive it with CPR. But alas, the latch
- [Four Ways to Revive Your Fellowship](https://stfi.org/articles/four-ways-to-revive-your-fellowship/) - For as far back as I can remember through my childhood, we always ran a Tuesday night Bible study out of our home. Bearing in mind that I can remember back pretty far, I know that I was younger than five when we started this tradition; and the weekly meeting, what we called our “fellowship,”
- [IMPORTANT: "We Need Your Help"](https://stfi.org/articles/important-we-need-your-help/) - To our wonderful and God-loved readers, We hope that you have been blessed by the weekly blogs that STF publishes here! Our goal has always been to help people connect to Christ so that they can genuinely know him and manifest him and his love to others, and we have found that one of the
- [Coloring Between the Lines](https://stfi.org/articles/coloring-between-the-lines/) - Every parent of small children knows that eating in a restaurant with little people can be as stressful as dashing 100 yards across a minefield. You and your spouse enter the restaurant with your kids desiring a nice, quiet family meal, but your heart knows things can change from serene to scream as fast as
- [Dense Fog Advisory](https://stfi.org/articles/dense-fog-advisory/) - While on a trip to visit a friend recently, I had my first encounter with driving through fog. It’s amazing how different the world feels when it’s wrapped in that damp gray shawl; it can create the illusion of solitude on an actually-bustling stretch of road. It turns the trees to giants emerging from the
- [Four Lessons About Facing the Giants](https://stfi.org/articles/four-lessons-about-facing-the-giants/) - I live in the Pacific Northwest, where stories are often told of a giant primate-like creature that lurks in the remote woods and is occasionally sighted randomly by the hiker or lone hunter. This giant creature is known by the nickname Bigfoot, a reference to the huge footprints he supposedly leaves in soft soil. Although
- [Jars of Clay](https://stfi.org/articles/jars-of-clay/) - The following article was written by Renee Dugan, full-time staff member at Spirit & Truth Fellowship, International Anyone who’s seen the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise or any movie like it is familiar with the imagery of a giant treasure chest full of gold. While the historical accuracy of that design may be a bit
- [Growing Good Fruit](https://stfi.org/articles/growing-good-fruit/) - A number of years ago I was in the Philippines visiting some friends when someone handed me a fresh mango. As I bit into the orange flesh, the juice immediately ran down my chin and started dripping onto the ground like a leaky garden hose. That was all it took for me to get hooked
- [Five Ways to Face Fear](https://stfi.org/articles/five-ways-to-face-fear/) - The following was written by Rene Dugan, a full time Staff member at Spirit & Truth Fellowship International Fears. We all have them. From simple uneasy rumblings to devastating phobias, we’ve all faced something in our lives that’s threatened to put us on the run. The problem with fear is that it greatly hinders our
- [How To Really Help Those Who Are Walking Through Hell](https://stfi.org/articles/how-to-really-help-those-who-are-walking-through-hell/) - Over the course of the past few months my family was faced with a very terrible ordeal. It involved one of our kids and there was no simple or quick fix. It was a time of great grief and loss. My family is not unique and the reality is that most people face some tough
- [We Mold to Our Environment](https://stfi.org/articles/we-mold-to-our-environment/) - The following was written by Rene Dugan, a full time Staff member at Spirit & Truth Fellowship International Some women look amazing with bangs. My mom is one of them. For as long as I can remember, she’s made it a point to get them trimmed every six weeks or so—even if it means taking
- [Two Requirements for Having Healthy Relationships](https://stfi.org/articles/two-requirements-for-having-healthy-relationships/) - I come from a very close-knit clan, and one of my greatest joys in life has been my deep connections with all my brothers and sisters. Despite our varied personalities and likes, we all attribute our mutual love and support of one another to our parents and our strong Irish heritage—family first is definitely an
- [Looking through the Keyhole](https://stfi.org/articles/looking-through-the-keyhole/) - The following was written by Renee Dugan, a full time staff member of Spirit & Truth Fellowship International One of the landmark attractions in the United States is the Library of Congress. Located in our nation’s capital, it sports the title of “the library with the most books in the world”. More than 36 million,
- [Replay](https://stfi.org/articles/replay/) - The following blog was written by Renee Dugan, a full time employee at STF. Did you know you’ve played host to a brain parasite? It’s true! Everyone has. This nefarious little creature is called an earworm, and it always manifests the same way: it’s a song that gets stuck in your head. And repeats. And
- [Unplugged](https://stfi.org/articles/unplugged/) - Guest post by Renee Dugan Opinions are like butts—everyone’s got one. Since the dawn of creation, mankind has always had an opinion about something. As much as God might’ve wished He hadn’t included that aspect of our makeup after listening to the Israelites complaining about their opinions of life in the wilderness for forty years,
- [Battered Ships Sail On](https://stfi.org/articles/battered-ships-sail-on/) - The following article was written by Renee Dugan, a full time staff member of Spirit & Truth Fellowship Int'l. too long ago, I hit a stagnant place in my spiritual walk. It happens, like with just about anything else—even the things in life we’re the fondest of. We plateau; we lose focus, get distracted by
- [The Importance of Choice](https://stfi.org/articles/the-importance-of-choice/) - The following article was written by Renee Dugan, a full time staff member of Spirit & Truth Fellowship Int'l. power to choose is considered by most to be an inherent human right—albeit addressed from differing positions depending on religious, political, and social customs, etc. But lately, I’ve had the feeling that with all the freedom
- [Mentors and Succeeding in Life](https://stfi.org/articles/mentors-and-succeeding-in-life/) - Our kids have always been good students, but this year (sixth grade) for Mackenzie has been a struggle, especially concerning math. This is the year when all the underlying lessons of years past come together as the children begin to apply addition, subtraction, division, etc. to ratios and other new abstract concepts. We could see
- [Hearts of Flesh](https://stfi.org/articles/hearts-of-flesh/) - I’ve been blessed to parent boys and girls and, in my experience, there is a definite difference between raising the two. Of course the core issues are the same: teaching them the consequences of the choices we make, striving for character with personal integrity, honesty and such, and learning self-control and personal discipline—the kind of
- [Here Comes The Sun](https://stfi.org/articles/here-comes-the-sun/) - The following article was written by Renee Dugan, a full time staff member of Spirit & Truth Fellowship Int'l. In the early winter of 2017, my home state of Indiana experienced one of the longest stretches of overcast weather in recent memory. For weeks on end, nothing but dreary skies crowded our heads. Any hint
- [In Peak Condition](https://stfi.org/articles/in-peak-condition/) - The following Blog was written by Dave Lindsey, a member of STF-USA and a Pastor of a church in Greenwood, Indiana. February is Super Bowl month, and even if you’re not a fan, you have to have some appreciation for what professional athletes do to compete at that level. Athletes actually spend much more time
- [Standing Out Like a Sore Thumb](https://stfi.org/articles/standing-out-like-a-sore-thumb/) - Although most don’t think of carpentry as a dangerous occupation, woodworking often exposes the craftsman to hazardous situations and potential injury. As a young boy, most of the craftsmen I encountered were missing parts of one or two fingers, and frequently one of the lost digits was a thumb. A few months ago I was
- [Safe in the Master’s Arms](https://stfi.org/articles/safe-in-the-masters-arms/) - The following article was written by Renee Dugan, a full time staff member of Spirit & Truth Fellowship Int'l. My brother recently underwent a brief stint of dog-sitting for his roommate, Jerry, who was out of town. I should preface this tale by saying that my brother is, above all things, not a dog person.
- [I Love-Hate Facebook](https://stfi.org/articles/i-love-hate-facebook/) - Why do I love Facebook, Twitter, and many other forms of social media? I like how it serves as an outlet for self-expression, but the major reason is that using social media helps me feel connected to others—and I love that! I’ve always been a curious person by nature. I get that side of me
- [Who Sits on the Throne?](https://stfi.org/articles/who-sits-on-the-throne/) - The following blog was written by Renee Dugan, full time employee of Spirit & Truth Fellowship International. Thrones are powerful symbols. They have long stood to represent the seat of power for kings, even substituted as a direct reference for that power or the one who holds it. The Bible is no different; thrones are
- [Passing Through the Fire](https://stfi.org/articles/passing-through-the-fire/) - The following article was written by Renee Dugan, a full time staff member of Spirit & Truth Fellowship Int'l. In the late fall of 2016, arsonists set ablaze a wildfire in the Smokey Mountains near Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg that burned hundreds of acres, took several lives, destroyed many homes and businesses and threatened countless
- [Using your Map App](https://stfi.org/articles/using-your-map-app/) - Although it may be true that there are negative aspects of living in a world inundated by technology, I must admit that there are certain aspects of my smart phone that I love. One feature I love and tend to use often is the GPS and map feature. Last summer I moved to a new
- [GOOD NEWS - NOT FAKE NEWS](https://stfi.org/articles/good-news-not-fake-news/) - The following was submitted by John Sandt, a longtime supporter and volunteer of STF. “Fake news”, it’s become the new media buzz word but in reality it’s as old as dirt. Years ago they called it deception and lying. Now-a-days they spin it, repackage it, make it politically correct, rename it and do a number
- [Sometimes Narrow-minded is Right-minded](https://stfi.org/articles/sometimes-narrow-minded-is-right-minded/) - The following was written by Dave Lindsey, a member of STF-USA from Indianapolis, Indiana. One of the many things attributed to Christ is that he said that he was the only way to God. In fact, the Bible states “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to
- [Do a Good Turn](https://stfi.org/articles/do-a-good-turn/) - During a recent Boy Scout awards ceremony I attended, a number of the scouts were given Good Turn coins, a special award given to the boys who have demonstrated the heart of scouting—specifically a heart to help others. The Good Turn coin has the Scout motto and values engraved on it, and in the middle
- [Celebrating Christmas](https://stfi.org/articles/celebrating-christmas/) - It’s Christmas again, and usually at this time of the year some Christians become conflicted about the celebration of this holiday because of its ancient pagan ties. Here is a little history lesson submitted by Dave Lindsey of Indianapolis, IN, that I thought you might enjoy as it gives some historical perspective to Christmas. Our
- [Free From ME!](https://stfi.org/articles/free-from-me/) - If you have children, grandchildren—or even if you were once a child yourself! —the odds are you’ve heard of Dr. Seuss. He wrote over 60 children’s books that included very colorful and outrageously weird characters. Some of the most famous books are The Cat and the Hat, Horton Hears a Who, and How the Grinch
- [No Strings Attached](https://stfi.org/articles/no-strings-attached/) - Generally, I like to get up early when it is still dark, before the sun starts to peek its face over the horizon. This is most likely a holdover habit of mine from years of rising early so I could get to my office and be prepared with assignments and work details before my construction
- [Christmas, Marketing, and Jesus](https://stfi.org/articles/christmas-marketing-and-jesus/) - Thanksgiving is a USA national holiday that is celebrated on the last Thursday of November. And the Friday after has become the largest shopping day as people get up in the wee hours of the night to stand in line in the dark, waiting for stores to open so they can buy merchandise at super
- [The Boxes We Build](https://stfi.org/articles/the-boxes-we-build/) - When it comes to woodworking, one of the most basic lessons every aspiring craftsman must learn is how to build a box. Admittedly, making a box sounds pretty simple, but boxes are a very fundamental element incorporated into many objects we make with wood. Consider the desk you may be sitting at right now with
- [Motes and Beams](https://stfi.org/articles/motes-and-beams/) - I love to work with wood, whether it involves building a shed, a home, a cabinet, or piece of furniture. My father owned a lumber yard, so some of my fondest childhood memories take me back to when I would walk among the stacks of lumber, smelling the various species of wood and noticing their
- [Citizens of Heaven](https://stfi.org/articles/citizens-of-heaven/) - After months and months of anticipation, endless political speeches, lots of mudslinging and insults, and the hopes of many, we finally had our 2016 Presidential Election here in the United States. The candidates couldn’t have been more polar opposite, and the whole process very emotionally charged. Most voters had the sense that no matter which
- [Be Prepared](https://stfi.org/articles/be-prepared/) - Like every Boy Scout, at a very young age I learned the scout motto, “Be Prepared!” It is a lesson that has served me well, and the older I get, the more I see the deep wisdom contained in those two simple words. Today as I was driving to work I was reflecting on all
- [Seeing Clearly](https://stfi.org/articles/seeing-clearly/) - When I was in the fourth grade, my parents discovered that one of the reasons I was struggling in school was because I couldn’t clearly see the chalkboard and I needed eyeglasses. Putting those eyeglasses on for the first time changed my whole perception of the world around me. For a long time, I had
- [Life's Final Exam](https://stfi.org/articles/lifes-final-exam/) - It’s still hard for me to believe that a few weeks ago I made a move from the great State of Oregon to the panhandle area of northern Idaho. The move has been great for the whole family, and everyone is settling nicely into the new home, schools, neighborhood, and in my case, a new
- [Forged in Fire](https://stfi.org/articles/forged-in-fire/) - I have always loved working with my hands. I don’t really care what kind of material I’m working with, whether it’s wood, clay, stone, or steel; crafting something from raw materials has always fascinated me. I am told that somewhere in my ancestral line I have a relative who was a blacksmith, which may be
- [The Stumbling Stone-A Rock of Offense](https://stfi.org/articles/the-stumbling-stone-a-rock-of-offense/) - I have always had a visceral reaction against bullies, people who use their power or strength to pick on someone who is weaker or vulnerable. Maybe it is related to my disdain for conflict. Like most people, I hate being involved in arguments and relationship breakdowns. A desire to avoid conflict is not necessarily an
- [Information Overload!](https://stfi.org/articles/information-overload/) - Although to many—especially those who are in their early thirties or younger—it may seem unbelievable, I remember a time when there were no computers, cell phones, Instagram, Facebook, or other such things. When personal computers first arrived on the scene, many were saying that the future would be electronic communications and also touting that it
- [Lightening the Load](https://stfi.org/articles/lightening-the-load/) - Many people won’t remember this, but there actually was a time when special storage facilities didn’t exist. Sometime in the 1980’s a number of companies recognized that people needed more room for their stuff, so, like neat rows of corn, acre upon acre of storage buildings began to sprout up across our land. Soon people
- [Being Sorry, and Forgiveness](https://stfi.org/articles/being-sorry-and-forgiveness/) - By Ray Littlefield It was a few minutes after sunrise as I approached the very familiar 4-way stop sign intersection close to where I was living. I stopped, and when it was my turn, started to proceed. A vehicle was approaching from my left (the West) and it continued straight through the intersection without even
- [Living Behind Enemy Lines](https://stfi.org/articles/living-behind-enemy-lines/) - In 2005, I toured a museum in Warsaw, Poland, that was dedicated to keeping alive the story of the horrific treatment the Poles suffered at the hands of their Nazi occupiers. Those who lived during those destructive events knew that, with time, the city would most likely be rebuilt. New buildings would rise, trees would
- [It is Not Good To Be Alone!](https://stfi.org/articles/it-is-not-good-to-be-alone/) - When I was a kid, we loved to watch a show called Candid Camera, a comedic television program featuring video recordings from a hidden camera of people in all kinds of contrived situations. Since those early days, “reality” television shows have become enormously popular. Like Candid Camera, these shows depict people in real-life situations, some
- [Escaping the Matrix-Let My People Go!](https://stfi.org/articles/escaping-the-matrix-let-my-people-go/) - Many people are familiar with the movie, “The Matrix,” a tale of humans enslaved in a world controlled by intelligent machines. In the beginning of the movie, the main character, Neo, is given a choice to continue as a slave in the false world of the Matrix, or to escape and find freedom. Neo chooses
- [" I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For!"](https://stfi.org/articles/i-still-havent-found-what-im-looking-for/) - A few years ago, I was sitting in the airport terminal waiting to board my flight. The purpose of my trip was not a happy one; I was flying from Indianapolis to California for the funeral of my daughter Sheila. My mind was flooded with thoughts and vivid memories of my precious girl, who had
- [Four Ways to Handle Loss](https://stfi.org/articles/four-ways-to-handle-loss/) - One of the high points of my week is Wednesday evening, when I get to be with my friends as we gather for our home church. This is a time when we come together to share personal stories of our spiritual journeys with Jesus. We are always encouraged to hear of how God is working
- [Story Time](https://stfi.org/articles/story-time/) - Most children will sit quietly when their attention is being held by a well-told story. Storytime in the early grades at school is one of the kids’ most favorite times. Storytime before bed is also a tradition in many homes because it quiets the kids down as their imaginations run wild with the descriptions of
- [Entangled in the Thorns of Sin](https://stfi.org/articles/entangled-in-the-thorns-of-sin/) - A number of years ago my wife Lori and I were traveling in a motorhome from the Oregon coast to the inner part of the state. We slowly meandered our way along a beautiful two-lane highway through the forest and mountains along the edge of a gorgeous stream. One of the things I love about
- [“Consequenced” by the Sun](https://stfi.org/articles/consequenced-by-the-sun/) - I couldn’t help but chuckle to myself as I began to apply aloe lotion to my son’s bright red back. Seth’s lobster skin was the result of a play day with a friend that had involved swimming and lots of running around in the sun. One look at Seth’s freckled face and you can see
- [Avoiding Four Emotional Sinkholes](https://stfi.org/articles/avoiding-four-emotional-sinkholes/) - A picture of a home, teetering precariously on the edge of a large hole in the earth, flashed across my computer screen. The enormous hole looked like a giant straw ready to suck in anything within reach. What I was looking at was a sinkhole, a massive void in the soil that opens up as
- [Taking Care of Paradise](https://stfi.org/articles/taking-care-of-paradise/) - In the 90’s, during a time when my wife Lori and I were prospering in business, we were able to purchase two weeks of a timeshare on the Island of Maui in Hawaii. This means that for the past twenty-plus years we have been able to vacation in Polynesian paradise very inexpensively. Both of us
- [Joy Blockers](https://stfi.org/articles/joy-blockers/) - For a number of years my blood tests have indicated that I have high cholesterol. Cholesterol is a very important for the body because it is used in most body tissues but too much of it flowing around in your blood is thought to cause a number of health issues. I like to think that
- [Air and Water-- the Essentials of Life](https://stfi.org/articles/air-and-water-the-essentials-of-life/) - What is really important in life? Throughout history philosophers and religious people alike have attempted to answer the question, resulting in a wide range of opinions. But if we approach the question strictly from a biological perspective, then the list becomes quite short. In the past few years the rise in “survival” reality shows on
- [Boundaries Are Key!](https://stfi.org/articles/boundaries-are-key/) - One of things I struggled with for years was the internal conflict between two strong desires. On the one hand I wanted to be a generous person who was ready and willing to give—but at the same time, I also had a strong urge to be selfish, thinking of my needs, wants, and desires first.
- [The Mountain of God](https://stfi.org/articles/the-mountain-of-god/) - I live in the Pacific Northwest, a place where mountain peaks and evergreen trees outnumber people. From my home, I have the pleasure of looking out across a gorgeous valley that ends at the bottom of some majestic mountains, many of which have snow-covered peaks throughout the year. Throughout history people around the world have
- [Genetically Modified Organisms](https://stfi.org/articles/genetically-modified-organisms/) - Yesterday and today the main stories on the front page of my local newspaper were on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO’s). There is a lot of controversy concerning this whole topic. Some people want my county to place a ban on all GMO’s, others are fighting against local farmers planting GMO corn, and the story today
- [The Family Table](https://stfi.org/articles/the-family-table/) - My wife and I are enjoying the privilege of second-generation parenting. This is a term that describes grandparents who are raising their grandchildren. After having already raised four wonderful daughters, Lori and I found ourselves faced with the need to take in three of our grandkids. Without any hesitation we jumped back into the role
- [Enjoying God](https://stfi.org/articles/enjoying-god/) - One of the things I love most about my closest friends is the sense that I can be completely relaxed in their presence. It’s the feeling of being secure because we know that they love us and they completely accept us just as we are—flaws, blemishes, and all. The relationship is invigorating, encouraging, and life-giving,
- [A House of Peace](https://stfi.org/articles/a-house-of-peace/) - Dedicated to my sister, Bridgit Gallagher-Strachan A number of years ago, I was at my older sister’s home when a few of her grandkids began to argue with each other. It caught me off guard that, as the exchange slowly escalated, my sister broke in and simply said three words: “House of peace!” To my
- [Develop Your Own Life Rules--My Top Fifty](https://stfi.org/articles/develop-your-own-life-rules-my-top-fifty/) - I don’t watch a lot of television, mostly because I like to read—a lot—but there are some shows that I really do enjoy, and one show that I have followed for years is NCIS. Not the spinoffs in Los Angeles or New Orleans, but the original series in which the Unit leader is a man
- [Pride-Three Ways to Lessen its Grip](https://stfi.org/articles/pride-three-ways-to-lessen-its-grip/) - Have you ever been frustrated by a friend who is really prideful? At times it can feel like being next to black hole—a point in outer space that, because of its extremely intense gravity, has collapsed on itself and sucks in everything within it’s range. Prideful people have their focus on themselves, what they like
- [Follow the Leader](https://stfi.org/articles/follow-the-leader/) - When you were a kid did you ever make pretend that you were jumping across a river of lava or across a stream filled with piranhas? If you’ve played “Follow the Leader,” chances are that you did. Follow the Leader is a children’s game where the “leader” sets out on a course with the others
- [What Time is It?](https://stfi.org/articles/what-time-is-it/) - Have you ever considered how big a part time and our measurement of it plays in our lives? Most of us go to bed and wake up according to our clocks, eat, make appointments, and in general do most everything according to our measurement of time. How long has the pizza been in the oven?
- [A True Friend](https://stfi.org/articles/a-true-friend/) - Having a genuine friend is one of the best things in life! Although the term “friend” is casually tossed about nowadays, I am referring to a friend like the type described by Aristotle described: “A friend is one person living in two bodies.” It’s rare to have a friend that fits Aristotle’s description, but when
- [Appearances—What God Really Cares About!](https://stfi.org/articles/appearances-what-god-really-cares-about/) - Have you ever considered how much time and money people spend on their appearance? Concern over one’s looks is a universal and timeless condition as people the world over, throughout the ages, have spent countless sums of money on their appearance. The list of expenditures includes clothes, hair maintenance, and grooming supplies, as well as
- [Lessons from a Full Moon](https://stfi.org/articles/lessons-from-a-full-moon/) - Last night I couldn’t help but notice a gorgeously brilliant full moon hanging in the sky. It stood out to me in the clear and crisp fall night air because it seemed larger and brighter than usual. Later I learned that it actually appeared so big because this month the full moon is in perigee,
- [Keeping Your Boat Afloat](https://stfi.org/articles/keeping-your-boat-afloat/) - Yesterday I noticed a neighbor’s boat parked by the side of his house, which is not unusual since there are a lot of boat owners where I live. Most of them are sport anglers who love the allure of trying to land highly-prized fish such as salmon and steelhead. There are many different kinds of
- [Colorblind](https://stfi.org/articles/colorblind/) - Most kids remember their high school biology class. For some it is a fascinating time, and for others it is an utterly gross one, as you learn the inner biological systems of animals, dissecting frogs and eyes and other organs. For me it was especially memorable because when we got the topic of eyes, we
- [Terminally Ill](https://stfi.org/articles/terminally-ill/) - Now that I have reached my sixties, I have become painfully aware of many of the effects of age. When I was younger it was hard for me to relate to my parents’ need for reading glasses, slow loss of hearing, stiff joints and back aches in the morning, and their longer recovery and healing
- [Blindsided](https://stfi.org/articles/blindsided/) - Recently I saw an unsettling video that is being circulated on social media in which a young man unexpectedly hits a woman in the face as she is walking down the street, knocking her out cold. It seems that in the Thug World the “Knock Out Game” has become popular. This is where the perpetrator
- [The End of Daylight Savings Time](https://stfi.org/articles/the-end-of-daylight-savings-time/) - For many people in the United States, Daylight Savings Time (DST) is a dreaded event that happens twice a year when clocks are adjusted one hour ahead or back. In the spring the clocks are moved forward, resulting in an hour’s loss of sleep, and then in the fall they go back to the “normal”
- [Life on Autopilot](https://stfi.org/articles/life-on-autopilot/) - Yesterday as I walked into a fast food restaurant, I realized I had passed a number of people without giving much thought to them. I was a man on a mission, but I was also in mental fog flying on autopilot, taking the people around me for granted. Like most people, I tend to take
- [The Day of True Independence](https://stfi.org/articles/the-day-of-true-independence/) - In the United States of America the Fourth of July is a national day of celebration commemorating the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the day when independence was declared from Great Britain. Throughout the United States it is celebrated as a holiday with parades, and the gathering of family and friends for barbecues and
- [2015 STF National Event--"MATURE IN CHRIST"](https://stfi.org/articles/2015-stf-national-event-mature-in-christ/) - After close to a year of planning and preparation, the 2015 STF National Conference proved to be a great success for the more than 160 people who attended. This year’s event was held at the Wyndham Indianapolis West Hotel from September 18-20, and included attendees from over 30 states and even a few from Canada.
- [God’s Lemonade Stand](https://stfi.org/articles/gods-lemonade-stand/) - Written by Renee Dugan, a STF-International staff member Once upon a time, God ran a lemonade stand unlike any other: you bring the lemons, and He makes the lemonade. Contrary to what is widely expressed in Christian literature, popular hymns, and from most pulpits on a Sunday morning, God is not in control of everything.
- [Happy Birthday Jesus!](https://stfi.org/articles/happy-birthday-jesus/) - The following was provided by Dean Barnes, a member of STF-USA from Toledo, Ohio. There is significant biblical research, along with historical evidence that indicates that the birth of Jesus happened on a very special day on the Hebrew calendar...TISHRI 1, in 3 B.C., 'The Day of Trumpets!' Hebrew days began and ended at sunset, and this
- [Can God Change His Mind?](https://stfi.org/articles/can-god-change-his-mind/) - The following was written by Dave Lindsey, a member of STF-USA. Dave and his wife Sue host a Simple Church in Whiteland, Indiana, (south of Indianapolis) A common Christian doctrine is that God has determined when and how everything is going to happen and that He does not change, so that all of life is
- [You are now "Paired"](https://stfi.org/articles/you-are-now-paired/) - Modern technology has its advantages and disadvantages. One advantage is that nowadays many people have “smart phones,” which do a whole lot more than merely allowing people to talk to one another. They are literally small personal computers that connect to the Internet, play music, keep your contacts, store your calendar, and more. One of
- [The Cost of Righteousness](https://stfi.org/articles/the-cost-of-righteousness/) - By Ray Littlefield, a member of the STF-USA Church Association I recently needed a new staple gun so a trip to a local home improvement store was in order. This time I chose the one where they wear orange aprons. I also patronize the blue apron store but their slogan; “let’s build things together” bothers
- [Properly Sowing Seeds](https://stfi.org/articles/properly-sowing-seeds/) - Have you ever attempted to grow a garden? After a number of somewhat successful, and many not-so-successful, attempts, I have learned that it is not as easy as just putting some seeds in the soil and then watering them. Having a bountiful harvest requires that a number of things be done correctly and in the
- [Opposite Day](https://stfi.org/articles/opposite-day/) - It seems that every generation of children has a way of repeating many of the same games and activities as the previous ones. Granted, some of their activities are intended to tease and frustrate others—which was exactly the case the other day at my home. One of the games my children play is to mimic
- [Must Believing in God Oppose Science?](https://stfi.org/articles/must-believing-in-god-oppose-science/) - Must science and religion be opposed to one another? Often times I have encountered people who justify their lack of a belief in God because they "believe science." Although it is true that many of the biggest names in science nowadays are atheists, this definitely hasn’t always been the case. Many people have no idea
- [Scientific Proof for Speaking in Tongues?](https://stfi.org/articles/scientific-proof-for-speaking-in-tongues/) - Taken from an article by Dr. Carolyn Leaf's blog, author of Switch on Your Brain [Speaking in tongues] Glossolalia been practiced throughout history. Glossolalia experienced a popular resurgence at the beginning of the 20th century through the Azusa Street Revival which started the Pentecostal Movement. As a result of the Azusa Street Revival and subsequent
- [Your Work Can Be a Spiritual Act](https://stfi.org/articles/your-work-can-be-a-spiritual-act/) - Adapted from the book, Catalyst Leader by Brad Lomenick Whether they work in business or the arts, education or the social sector, media or the church world, many people are tying their love for Jesus to the work they do. They want their faith to be central to their lives, not an afterthought. They want
- [Don’t Let your Voice get Hijacked!](https://stfi.org/articles/dont-let-your-voice-get-hijacked/) - I love Jesus, and I want to tell everyone how wonderful and good he is. I want people to have a personal relationship with him, and I really believe that if most people would take the time to get to know him, they couldn’t help but love him. But despite how strongly I feel about
- [Using The Power of Habits](https://stfi.org/articles/using-the-power-of-habits/) - My life is filled with habits, those little behavior patterns that I tend to repeat over and over. Some habits I embrace like a dear friend who helps me get through life by lessening my burdens. However, I also have some habits that seem to be like that pesky kid who used to pick on
- [Maybe It’s Not About the Glass Being Half Full or Empty](https://stfi.org/articles/maybe-its-not-about-the-glass-being-half-full-or-empty/) - Most people are familiar with the western proverb that asks the question, “Is the glass half-full or half-empty?” The point is that the substance is at the halfway mark and how we see it is determined by how we see life. The pessimist—someone with a negative outlook—sees the glass as half-empty; whereas the optimist—someone with
- [Having Conversations, Not Presentations](https://stfi.org/articles/having-conversations-not-presentations/) - There is a huge difference between giving a presentation and having a conversation. They have two completely different styles, formats, and goals. And most importantly, they produce very different results. Sadly, many who are passionate about reaching others for Christ fail to be as effective as possible because their “witnessing” oftentimes becomes giving a presentation
- [Be Prepared to Give Everyone an Answer](https://stfi.org/articles/be-prepared-to-give-everyone-an-answer/) - Many Christians struggle with the practice of “sharing” their faith with others. In spite of the fact that reaching others is a central theme and responsibility Jesus gave to every one of his followers, many Christians have a fear of evangelism. There may be a number of reasons for this, such as how some people
- [“His good pleasure” – Insight into Philippians 2:12](https://stfi.org/articles/his-good-pleasure-insight-into-philippians-212/) - What does Philippians 2:12 mean? Understand this popular verse.
- [Learning to Let Go!](https://stfi.org/articles/learning-to-let-go/) - I’ve heard it said, there‘s a very unique way to catch a monkey. The story is that you place a banana or other food item in the basket and anchor it to a tree. The basket or jar has an opening that is only big enough for the monkey to put his hand into, and
- [Finding Your Peace](https://stfi.org/articles/finding-your-peace/) - (Written By Renee Speaks-Dugan, a STF staff member) Do you ever struggle with finding peace? Let me preface this blog this by saying that I am bad at peace. Seriously. I’m downright horrible at it. I suffer from depression, panic attacks, and all the lovely physical, emotional and spiritual side effects they entail. But this
- [Hades, Sheol, and the State of the Dead](https://stfi.org/articles/hades-sheol-and-the-state-of-the-dead/) - Insight into Acts 2:27 “…because you will not abandon my soul to the grave…” The Greek word translated “grave” is hadēs. Hades was the Greek word used to represent the Hebrew word sheol, which was the state of being dead. When the Hebrew Old Testament was translated into Greek around 250 BC, the Hebrew word
- [Social Connection may Save your Life](https://stfi.org/articles/social-connection-may-save-your-life/) - In 1976 Atamatis Moraits, only in his mid-60’s, got the terrible news that he had nine months to live. The diagnosis, confirmed by nine doctors, was that he had terminal lung cancer. Originally from a small Greek island in the Aegean Sea, he decided to return to his ancestral home with his wife so he
- [What Team is God Backing](https://stfi.org/articles/what-team-is-god-backing/) - I was listening to a Christian radio program last week in which the discussion centered around a comment that Aaron Rogers, quarterback for the Green Bay Packers, had made during a sports talk show on which Rogers was a guest. A fan had asked Rogers if Green Bay’s loss to Seattle had shaken his faith
- [Our Spiritual Warning System](https://stfi.org/articles/our-spiritual-warning-system/) - Nowadays many of our vehicles, machinery, and personal devices have the ability to interact with us, actually giving us realtime feedback, telling us if things are working properly and warning us of potential malfunctions. The days of the “idiot light” on the dashboard of a car, a light that would only tell you if the
- [Are you done with Church?](https://stfi.org/articles/are-you-done-with-church/) - Driving to work the other day on my usual route, I was confronted with the road blocked and a large sign declaring, “Closed for Repairs.” As frustrating as this can be, we all understand that there are times when things need to shut down so that repairs can be made. Roadways need upgrades, businesses need
- [Practicing the Presence of God](https://stfi.org/articles/practicing-the-presence-of-god/) - When I was in my early twenties I was taught that one of the ways to develop spiritual sensitivity was to “practice the presence of God.” Although this statement may bring up images of someone sitting in the dark with a lone candle and incense burning, this is far from what it means. Over time
- [What is the kind of “fast” that God desires?](https://stfi.org/articles/what-is-the-kind-of-fast-that-god-desires/) - In the first week after the Christmas Holidays, many I spoke to talked about dieting, exercise and their need to lose some excess poundage. For many people, myself included, Christmastime is a time of year when the food is abundant, candies and sweets are sitting on every countertop, and there are plenty of occasions to
- [A Skunk or a Rose?](https://stfi.org/articles/a-skunk-or-a-rose/) - I like to sleep with a window open, no matter what time of the year, every season and in all kinds of weather. For the most part this means that I expect it to be little chilly when I get out of bed, which is okay because it helps me snap out of the fog
- [Take Time To Get Dressed](https://stfi.org/articles/take-time-to-get-dressed/) - I’ve been tempted to do lots of things—but one thing I have never been tempted to do is leave the house naked. I am sure that this comes as a great relief to many people, especially those I work with, but if we were to conduct a poll I have a strong suspicion that I
- [10 Life Lessons I Learned from my Dog](https://stfi.org/articles/10-life-lessons-i-learned-from-my-dog/) - On my way to work today I drove past a number of people who were out walking their dogs. For some reason all the various dogs and their ownerss caught my attention. I thought about my own dog, what a great friend and companion he has been for the past 11 years, and how he
- [What is a True Friend?](https://stfi.org/articles/what-is-a-true-friend/) - When I was a kid I remember a time when my cousin asked me, “How many enemies do you have?” I know it’s a strange question but you have to know Tommy to understand it. He was a pretty high voltage kid and people tended to either really like him, or not. Tommy understood that
- [Plug into the Ultimate Source of Power](https://stfi.org/articles/plug-into-the-ultimate-source-of-power/) - For the majority of history, travel has never been considered comfortable. In fact, the very word itself is a derivative of the word “travail,” which is defined as a “painful or laborious effort.” This makes sense when you consider that in the ancient world travel included long walks in the hot sun, rain, or cold,
- [Forbearance vs. Tolerance](https://stfi.org/articles/forbearance-vs-tolerance/) - Sadly, most of the time when we use the word “tolerate,” we use it as something we do even though we are “really bothered” by the situation...
- [Take My Yoke Upon You](https://stfi.org/articles/take-my-yoke-upon-you/) - “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, […] For my yoke is kind, and my burden is light.” In this phrase, the word “yoke” is referring to what Jesus is asking people to do: the sum total of his teachings, and he said it was kind (not “easy”) and light. The word “yoke”
- [Moving Forward, but Looking Back](https://stfi.org/articles/moving-forward-but-looking-back/) - My dad owned a lumberyard, so I first learned to drive by practicing on a forklift and then progressing from that to large trucks. In the evenings, after the store was closed, I would drive a 2-ton flatbed truck around and around the yard as I practiced using a clutch and shifting the gears. Although
- [That's Ironic](https://stfi.org/articles/thats-ironic/) - A number of years ago my wife and I had the opportunity to buy a camp in the Midwest. At the time, we lived in California, and as we discussed the potential purchase she said, “Let’s go ahead and buy it, but just don’t think I’m moving there.” The irony in that situation was that
- [3 Ways to Build Self-control](https://stfi.org/articles/three-ways-to-build-self-control/) - A “rev limiter” is a device that is typically installed on engines to prevent them from rotating above a preset amount. By limiting the amount an engine can rotate you limit the power output it generates and thus limit the speed the vehicle can travel. For safety reasons, many cargo-shipping companies use a rev limiter in
- [4 Ways to Deal With Disappointment](https://stfi.org/articles/4-ways-to-deal-with-disappointment/) - The hard lesson of dealing with disappointment is something that hit home for my family, and most especially for my daughter, yesterday as we attended her back-to-school night. After a number of months of her enjoying her summer filled with lots of play, swimming, staying up later and sleeping in longer, she eventually yearned to
- [3 Ways to Eliminate Unclear Communication](https://stfi.org/articles/3-ways-to-eliminate-unclear-communication/) - The word “GIGO,” an acronym for “Garbage In, Garbage Out,” was often used by software programmers in the 1970’s when computers were first being developed. It means that since computers only operate on the basis of logical processes, if you load the computer with bad information then you will get bad results. In the arena
- [Ambassadors For Christ](https://stfi.org/articles/ambassadors-for-christ/) - For years I thought of being an Ambassador for Christ in terms of how much I knew and what I spoke. Certainly, it is true that an ambassador must have proficient knowledge, but we must also have a personal relationship and experience of the one we represent. From the time I was ten until my
- [When Less is Really More](https://stfi.org/articles/when-less-is-really-more/) - Over the years I have come to believe that objects and personal belongings self-propagate. I am not sure how they do this but the evidence seems clear. For instance, whenever I clear out my garage or shop, usually with in days, and many times even with in hours, objects begin to once again appear. I
- [Luke 23:43--"I Say To You Today"](https://stfi.org/articles/luke-2343-i-say-to-you-today/) - “I say to you today, you will be with me...” What Jesus said to the criminal on the cross has been quoted to prove that when a person dies, he goes immediately to Heaven or Hell, but it does not have to read that way. Admittedly, the way that this verse is punctuated in almost
- [Acts 2:42--Fellowship](https://stfi.org/articles/acts-242-fellowship/) - Intimate Joint Participation – Acts 2:42 “And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship…” The Greek word for fellowship in Acts 2:42 is koinōnia. Like many words, it has a range of meanings and uses, so it is important to pay attention to the context to determine which meaning it has in
- [1 Peter 3:19-20](https://stfi.org/articles/1-peter-319-20/) - Heralding His Victory – Insight on 1 Peter 3:19-20 “…in which also he went and heralded his victory to the spirits in prison, who at one time were disobedient, when the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah…” Jesus was raised from the dead as a “life giving spirit” (1 Cor. 15:45), or
- [Denomination or Family?](https://stfi.org/articles/denomination-or-family/) - Adapted from a recent letter by Charlie Lindquist It's funny how we put people in labeled boxes. If someone tells me they are a Baptist, they go into the Baptist box; a Methodist goes into the Methodist box, etc. I think many of us are guilty of tagging others, thus denying the scriptural truth of the one
- [Humility & Grace](https://stfi.org/articles/humility-grace/) - Adapted from the REV Commentary by Renee Dugan, STF full-time staff member Any parent with lots of children knows that each child is loved. However, if one child is rebellious and another one is helpful and obedient, the parents will often do things and extend themselves a little more for the obedient child than they
- [John 15:14,15](https://stfi.org/articles/john-151415/) - Friend of Jesus: John 15:14 & 15 and the Last Supper mark an important shift in the relation between Jesus and those who closely follow him and obey him. Jesus now says he will not call his close disciples “servants,” but friends, denoting an intimate and affectionate relationship. In John 15, Jesus tells the apostles
- [Matthew 10:29](https://stfi.org/articles/matthew-1029/) - Matthew 10:29: “Are not two little sparrows sold for an assarion? And not one of them will fall on the ground apart from your Father …” Many commentators who are zealous to bolster the position that God is in control of everything that happens have interpreted this verse to mean God has a specific will
- [Words Have The Power of LIFE or DEATH](https://stfi.org/articles/words-have-the-power-of-life-or-death/) - Everyday we all speak words, hundreds, thousands, and for some, even many, many more than that. Yet with all those words being spoken, how little attention we actually pay to them before we speak. I don't believe our words have some supernatural or metaphysical effect, but I do know that when we speak we are
- [Worldly Love or the Love of God?](https://stfi.org/articles/worldly-love-or-the-love-of-god/) - Inspired by the book Equipped to Love: Building Idolatry-Free Relationships by Norm Wakefield (2007-02-01). How do you love? Most people don’t realize that there are really only two ways to love, with either a worldly love or with the love of God. The easy way to distinguish between the two is that “worldy love” is
- [My Peace I Give You!](https://stfi.org/articles/my-peace-i-give-you/) - Written by Renee Dugan, STF full time staff member Sensationalized media. Sickness and trauma. Terror threats. Global news stories of war, persecution, the tyranny against freedom in everyday life—let’s face it. On a day-to-day basis, our peace is under attack. We live in a day and age when most people can’t make it through a
- [Out With The Old and In With the New](https://stfi.org/articles/out-with-the-old-and-in-with-the-new/) - Sadly many Christians are misled in their thinking that if they do good, then all will be well. Much of this comes from Old Covenant thinking based on Leviticus 26. In essence, God told Israel that if they worshipped him alone and obeyed all that He commanded, that then all would be well for them.
- [Divide and Conquer](https://stfi.org/articles/divide-and-conquer/) - Historically the tactic of divide and conquer is one of the most effective military strategies a commander can have in his arsenal of moves. Typically this is used when an inferior fighting force confronts a superior foe. The idea is really quite simple. It works by breaking up the power of the superior force into
- [God's Aggressive Love](https://stfi.org/articles/gods-aggressive-love/) - Oftentimes when we think of love we relate to it as something that is soft and kind, kind of like a gentle down pillow, soft to the touch and calling out to you, “Come and hug me!” Although God’s love may at times be like that, it also has a very aggressive and powerful side
- [A Family or a Meeting?](https://stfi.org/articles/a-family-or-a-meeting/) - By Travis Williams Travis is a full-time STF Staff member with a great heart for the Family of God Why is it good to be in fellowship with other believers? A primary reason may be because we were originally designed to live in a perfect creation and to experience family-style relationship with each other, and
- [Love -- God's "Mother Sauce"](https://stfi.org/articles/love-gods-mother-sauce/) - I’ve never spent a lot of time in the kitchen, but a number of years ago I met a man who was trained as a classic French chef. We had many great talks about life in general, but the one conversation I especially remember was the one in which he explained the concept of a
- [Timing is Everything!](https://stfi.org/articles/timing-is-everything/) - Adapted from an article written by Dave Lindsey (Dave and Sue Lindsey oversee a church in Indianapolis, Indiana, which participates in the STF-USA Church association) “Timing is everything.” I’ve heard that statement many times in my life and certainly have witness of how true it is. It is also very important to keep this principle
- ["Taking Inventory"](https://stfi.org/articles/taking-inventory/) - When I was a kid growing up my dad used to shut the Hardware Store and Lumber Yard once a year so we could take a complete inventory of all the merchandise. Nowadays all the goods in a store are bar-coded and maintaining an accurate inventory is a relatively simple matter. Every sale and every
- [Helping Others](https://stfi.org/articles/helping-others/) - Help Us Help Others Please consider sowing financially to help our brothers and sisters in other countries who are in need of help. STF has set up a “Relief Fund” and 100% of all monies received for aid are used exclusively for that purpose. All donations can be sent to STF and no donation is
- [Learn to Make Someone Unhappy](https://stfi.org/articles/learn-to-make-someone-unhappy/) - From the time we are small children we internalize that it is our job to make those around us happy, but this is really not true or healthy. Sadly, oftentimes this results in many adults who really struggle when their actions cause others to be unhappy. Some people have such a difficult time with this
- [Find Your Personal Sanctuary](https://stfi.org/articles/find-your-personal-sanctuary/) - One the backside of my home we have a porch where we have hanging a number of inspirational signs and placards of wit and humor. It is a very peaceful place where we can hear the sound of water from the stream as we sit on porch swings or in a rocking chair. Although this
- [Hope Fuels Passion for Life](https://stfi.org/articles/hope-fuels-passion-for-life/) - Recently my local newspaper reported an amazing story of survival about a Colorado woman who drove off a steep mountain road. After losing control on a curve, her car flew off a 120 foot cliff, crashed through the tree tops, and finally came to rest down the hillside upside down in an area where no
- [Daily Rituals with Dad](https://stfi.org/articles/daily-rituals-with-dad/) - For the past two years I have worked from my home. I tell people that the commute is great, usually consisting of no more time than a twenty-foot walk from my kitchen to the office. Overall it has been a great blessing, although there are times when noise from the kids being kids or my
- [Hope is vital for life](https://stfi.org/articles/hope-is-vital-for-life/) - A number of years ago I heard a story about the terrible mental and physical effects of life in a Soviet gulag, a prison camp in the remote Siberian tundra. The story is that prisoners were sent to the prisons and many lost all hope of every getting out alive. The climate and distance of
- [Depend On God](https://stfi.org/articles/depend-on-god/) - Today, in our postmodern culture, "dependence" is hardly a byword. In fact, "independence" is the order of the day for those truly tuned in to “reality.”
- [The Need For Hospitality](https://stfi.org/articles/the-need-for-hospitality/) - Romans 12:13 (ESV) says Christians should “seek to show hospitality.” The biblical customs concerning hospitality differ greatly because the Bible takes place over thousands of years and involves many cultures. In this article we will focus on the necessity of Christian hospitality in the Roman world.
- [Something to think about - A few things Jesus did not say!](https://stfi.org/articles/something-to-think-about-a-few-things-jesus-did-not-say/) - When we stop and look around at Christianity we have to admit it does not look like people are doing what Jesus really intended. Here are a few things to think about. "Things Jesus Didn’t Say," By Jim Palmer “For God was so disgusted with the world and you that he gave his one and only Son.”
- [Deadlines](https://stfi.org/articles/deadlines/) - It seems that life is filled with deadlines. Nowadays people typically we use the term “deadline” to refer to a specific day or time when a task must be completed. In construction we lived daily by deadlines, our bids and all phases of the work needing to be completed within a definite time frame. Applications
- [Draw Near To God](https://stfi.org/articles/draw-near-to-god/) - For years, even decades, I have participated in the Simple Church Movement. This is a Christian movement that has redefined the nature and practice of church. In the Western world when most people say, “I’m going to church,” they are talking about a traditional stone and mortar building. It is where people meet for an
- [Unity: A Worthy Goal](https://stfi.org/articles/unity-a-worthy-goal/) - The fact that we will be unified in the future should give us the energy to realize that a good measure of unity is attainable right now.
- [Who Do You Say I Am?](https://stfi.org/articles/who-do-you-say-i-am/) - The question, “Who is he?” remains for all to answer. The question that Jesus posed to his close followers, "Who do you say I am?" is the most important question that every man and woman will ever answer.
- [The Power of Groups](https://stfi.org/articles/the-power-of-groups/) - The command is simple: “meet with others and encourage one another!” What is important is to regularly be with other followers of Jesus in a way that provides genuine intimacy and spiritual growth.
- [A Grace So Amazing!](https://stfi.org/articles/a-grace-so-amazing/) - The follower quotes are taken from the book The Grace and Truth Paradox by Randy Alcorn “The cost of redemption cannot be overstated. The wonders of grace cannot be overemphasized. Christ took the hell he didn’t deserve so we could have the heaven we don’t deserve. If you’re not stunned by the thought of grace,
- [Did Jesus Really Die On "Good Friday?"](https://stfi.org/articles/did-jesus-really-die-on-good-friday/) - "Good Friday is the Friday immediately before Easter. It is celebrated by many Christians as the day Jesus was crucified and died. But did Jesus really die on this day of the week? WE believe this is another instance where Christian tradition makes a wrong turn from the truth. The chart below is a great
- [The “Wall Peg” of Love](https://stfi.org/articles/the-wall-peg-of-love/) - After speaking about love, Jesus said, “On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets” (Matt. 22:40 KJV). That statement is not well understood by
- [Priced to Sell!](https://stfi.org/articles/priced-to-sell/) - What is Something Worth? How do we know what something is worth? In real estate there has been a saying that a home or property is only worth what someone is willing to pay. When you think about it, that really makes a lot of sense. You can put a million dollar price tag on
- [Life in Noah’s Ark](https://stfi.org/articles/life-in-noahs-ark/) - It is intriguing to me that when God planned the guest list for the ark, He selected eight adults and every living creature on the face of the earth, but no...
- [Using the Right Building Materials](https://stfi.org/articles/using-the-right-building-materials/) - Thanks to Mike Colombaro for the inspiration for this blog post After being involved in the building trades for decades I have had the pleasure, and the pain, of working with all kinds of building materials. One thing is certain, it is awful hard, if not even down right impossible, to make a quality product
- [Loving the Hell Out of People!](https://stfi.org/articles/loving-the-hell-out-of-people/) - For many people the gates of hell is between their ears, in the thoughts they think and the pain that has chained then to their past. Have you ever considered that you can be the one to "love the hell out of them?" Often times it is love, and only love, that will tear down
- [Church Typos--because everyone needs a good laugh](https://stfi.org/articles/church-typos-because-everyone-needs-a-good-laugh/) - Everyone has mistyped or misspoken, but when it happens in a Church bulletin or from the pulpit it can be pretty humorous. Here are some very real tongue in cheek mistakes that happened in church bulletins or at church services (Three cheers for the editing committee): The Fasting & Prayer Conference includes meals. -------------------------- Scouts are
- [Whiter than snow](https://stfi.org/articles/whiter-than-snow/) - A few of my friends who live in the mid west have told me about an amazing amount of snow they've received this year. Snow is a pretty remarkable substance. Is there anything you can think of that is whiter than snow? How about rice, or sugar? Well, although they may be as white as
- [For The Joy Set Before Him](https://stfi.org/articles/for-the-joy-set-before-him/) - Jesus faced the most difficult challenge and trial that any man has ever had to endure. The torture and crucifixion that was ahead of him was so great that he prayed
- [Suffering Well](https://stfi.org/articles/suffering-well/) - The lesson is not that our faith will prevent suffering, but rather that our faith allows us to suffer well, and have joy and hope even though we are in pain.
- [Coffee House Fellowship](https://stfi.org/articles/coffee-house-fellowship/) - Have you ever considered honoring Mr. Starbucks, or some other coffee house near you, by having a “Coffee House Fellowship?”
- [Threshing, Winnowing, Sieving: Separating the Good from the Bad](https://stfi.org/articles/threshing-winnowing-sieving-separating-the-good-from-the-bad/) - Threshing, winnowing, and sieving grain was a part of daily life from Genesis until the early 1900’s. God expects us to learn spiritual lessons from our daily lives!
- [Return to Me – God!](https://stfi.org/articles/return-to-me-god/) - It is easy to see that most people go about their daily lives with little thought or concern for God or His ways. Sadly, few understand that God has told mankind that there are very clear and definite consequences for how people respond to God’s call.
- [Contending for the Faith](https://stfi.org/articles/contending-for-the-faith/) - Christians must contend for the faith. We must contend for it in our homes, in our places of work, in our Churches, and in our government.
- [Living With Hope](https://stfi.org/articles/living-with-hope/) - One of the most defeating emotions people experience is hopelessness, that feeling of having no remedy to a problem. It is described as a sense of helplessness and despair. For some it can feel like you are drowning or sinking in mud, not knowing which way to turn. God, the Creator of all life, knows
- [The Pearl of Great Price](https://stfi.org/articles/the-pearl-of-great-price/) - See why Jesus compared gaining the Kingdom of Heaven to finding and buying a pearl of great value.
- [Follow Jesus](https://stfi.org/articles/follow-jesus/) - Anyone who wants to enjoy the benefits of Jesus’ work can do so by merely following his footsteps. We must never forget that Jesus himself is the Good News.
- [The Pursuit of Happiness](https://stfi.org/articles/the-pursuit-of-happiness/) - When we act out of love, others will be benefitted, and so will we. As the Bible says, “…for whatever one sows, that will he also reap” (Galatians 6:7b, ESV).
- [We Cannot Follow Two Masters](https://stfi.org/articles/we-cannot-follow-two-masters/) - God says greed is idolatry, which alerts us to another important aspect of greed: it is a heart issue, not a “things” issue. Having great wealth is not necessarily greed.
- [Fully Devoted - A Power that can’t be Stopped](https://stfi.org/articles/fully-devoted-a-power-that-cant-be-stopped/) - Jesus left his followers a clear message about what it meant to be his disciples. The instruction was to love just like Jesus had loved.
- [Faithful as a Shadow](https://stfi.org/articles/faithful-as-a-shadow/) - God describes Himself as the Father “who does not change like shifting shadows” (James 1:17). Shadows are God’s way of providing entertainment with no batteries required.
- [What Can We Learn from the Bible About the Devil?](https://stfi.org/articles/what-can-we-learn-from-the-bible-about-the-devil/) - Every Christian is in the center of the battlefield between God and the Devil. Like Jesus, we too will be able to successfully stand against God’s enemy when we follow his lead in our dealings with the Devil.
- [What Did Jesus Physically Have to Experience While Crucified?](https://stfi.org/articles/what-did-jesus-physically-have-to-experience-while-crucified/) - A Physician Analyzes the Crucifixion. From New Wine Magazine, April 1982. Originally published in Arizona Medicine,March 1965, Arizona Medical Association. The Anatomical And Physiological Details Of Death By Crucifixion: By Dr. C. Truman Davis Crucifixion was invented by the Persians in 300 BC, and perfected by the Romans in 100 BC. 1,It is the most painful
- [Let Freedom Ring](https://stfi.org/articles/let-freedom-ring/) - The following poem was submitted by Mike Colombaro (author unknown). True freedom can only be found in Jesus Christ. There are those still enslaved in the grip of bondage from the evil one and they wait on us to bring them the message of Freedom. Deep within the heart has always known that there was freedom
- [Learning to use my "GPS"](https://stfi.org/articles/learning-to-use-my-gps/) - (Adapted for the Blog from an article by Kelli Young) During a recent conversation I had with a friend about trusting God, they said, "I'm not driving the bus," referring to the assumption that God is in control and directing their life. Many people act as if God exerts so much control in their lives
- [Jesus or Yeshua, which one is the proper name to use?](https://stfi.org/articles/jesus-or-yeshua-which-one-is-the-proper-name-to-use/) - The question. "Jesus or Yeshua, which one is the proper name to use?" is quite common among some Christian circles. It is correct that the Hebrew name for “Jesus” is actually Yeshua and the English spelling for Yeshua is “Joshua.” However, when Yeshua was translated into Greek, the language that the New Testament was written
- [God is Love](https://stfi.org/articles/god-is-love/) - (Thanks to Renee Speakes for bringing this to our attention) People often like to read 1 Corinthians 13 to remind themselves of the various ways love is expressed. Have you ever considered that since God is love (1 John 4:8) that all those qualities can be said about Him too? In the passage below we
- [Forgiveness](https://stfi.org/articles/forgiveness/) - Never forgive because you think it will change the other, but because it changes you! Check out our 4 videos below about forgiveness to learn more about what it is, and what it isn't. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_DFsTNk7b0&index=2&list=PLA574A9B6F34F6150
- [A FLORIDA COURT SETS ATHEIST HOLY DAY](https://stfi.org/articles/a-florida-court-sets-atheist-holy-day-2/) - A proper decision by the courts... for a change. (We have not verified the accuracy of this story-but it is worth the read anyway) In Florida , an atheist created a case against Easter and Passover Holy days. He hired an attorney to bring a discrimination case against Christians and Jews and observances of their holy
- [A New Kind of Preacher-It's in our Spiritual DNA!](https://stfi.org/articles/a-new-kind-of-preacher-its-in-our-spiritual-dna/) - The following quote was shared by a Facebook friend of mine, (David Craley). It inspired me, and also reminded me that we can be tis kind of person. "If Christianity is to receive rejuvenation it must be by other means than any now being used…There must appear a new type of preacher. The proper, ruler-of-the-synagogue
- [The Anvil of God's Word](https://stfi.org/articles/the-anvil-of-gods-word/) - Thanks to Frank Licary for reminding us of this wonderful poem. The Anvil of God's Word Last eve I paused beside the blacksmith’s door, And heard the anvil ring the vesper chime; Then looking in, I saw upon the floor, Old hammers, worn with beating years of time. "How many anvils have you had," said
- [Acceptance: Something we all crave!](https://stfi.org/articles/acceptance-something-we-all-crave/) - Acceptance: By Frank Rutkowski Being accepted is something that every body wants. Acceptance is the desire to feel that you are pleasing, are accepted for who you are— even, just plain old “okay.” We all seek to assuage the strong inner feeling of needing to be accepted and one of the problems is that this
- [Hey, Don't Judge Me!](https://stfi.org/articles/hey-dont-judge-me/) - By Trent Willenburg We are living in a time and culture where, as Christians, many of us have become intimidated and do not speak up with regards to good and evil. Some are discouraged and do not speak up because there are other Christians who are hateful in their presentation and opposition of evil or
- [Every Path has its Puddles.](https://stfi.org/articles/every-path-has-its-puddles/) - There is much truth in the old country adage that "every path has its puddles." Life has its good times and bad, its ups and downs. There are times when the path will be hard and messy, but that only means that better times are coming, times when it will be an easier walk.
- [Find Your Mission Field](https://stfi.org/articles/find-your-mission-field/) - Some of the most inspirational stories in Christianity tell of men and women who have braved many dangers to bring the Gospel to those in foreign lands. The very first seeds of Christianity we spread by the missionary work of the Christ’s followers, first to Samaria and then to much of the world. Christianity has
- [Boots on the Ground](https://stfi.org/articles/boots-on-the-ground/) - By Ray Littlefield I love the phrase, “Boots on the ground." We sometimes hear it uttered by our military to assure us that we have troops in place at some hot-spot in the world. It is also used in disaster relief to indicate that a responding agency has arrived on scene. It brings up a
- [Doesn’t the Bible contain some false and even harmful teachings?](https://stfi.org/articles/doesnt-the-bible-contain-some-false-and-even-harmful-teachings/) - The Bible was given by God to be a blessing to mankind. It does not contain false or harmful teachings. That does not mean that everything it says will be a blessing to every person.
- [Homosexuality: A perspective full of Truth and Grace](https://stfi.org/articles/homosexuality-a-perspective-full-of-truth-and-grace/) - Homosexuality is a very hot topic, one that stirs a lot of emotion and controversy among many people. The following is a series of teachings that we believe is the proper biblical perspective, one that is full of both grace and truth.
- [What is True Baptism?](https://stfi.org/articles/what-is-true-baptism-book/) - The question we must ask is why the word "baptize," which actually means "to dip" or "to immerse," has become almost solely associated with water, when, biblically speaking, there are other "liquid" alternatives to be considered?
- [Perspective—a bias we all have.](https://stfi.org/articles/perspective-a-bias-we-all-have/) - The other day I stood in front of the open refrigerator searching high and low for the mustard. After about twenty-seconds of unsuccessful rummaging I thought to myself, “Where the heck did someone put it?” (even though the truth is I’m am probably the last one to use it). I thought, “It shouldn't be this hard
- [Don’t judge a fish by how well it can  climb a tree!](https://stfi.org/articles/dont-judge-a-fish-by-how-well-it-can-climb-a-tree/) - A friend recently sent me a very profound comment that stopped me in my tracks. She said, “ If you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life thinking it is stupid.” (Thanks Rae) This is profound in a few ways. First, if you are the fish
- [A Sense of Entitlement](https://stfi.org/articles/a-sense-of-entitlement/) - This morning I read the parable of the “Workers in the Vineyard” (Matt 20). What struck me today was the sense of entitlement the workers had. It’s a parable about a man who hires workers throughout the day and then pays them all the same wage, despite the fact that some have worked longer than others.
- [Creation or Evolution?](https://stfi.org/articles/creation-or-evolution/) - Scientists recently discovered that DNA and the code it contains is even more complex than was ever imagined. In fact, it is so complex that they now realize it actually contains two codes, one written right on top of the other, which explains why they missed it for over 40 years. The complexity and intricacy
- [Becoming Whole Hearted](https://stfi.org/articles/becoming-whole-hearted/) - Years ago my daughters collected little stuffed bears called “care bears.” Of all the various ones they had, the two that I’ve always remembered are “Tenderheart Bear” and “True Heart Bear.” Adjectives connected to the heart are powerful metaphors that can accurately describe a person’s deep inner condition. Consider the following descriptions of the heart
- [What you did for them…you did for me.](https://stfi.org/articles/what-you-did-for-themyou-did-for-me/) - A few years ago I was confronted head on with a pretty humorous situation about my own heart and good deeds. Early one morning I was having some quiet time praying, asking the Lord to help me to be a bigger giver and of more service to others. Within seconds of praying that prayer my
- [How good am I doing?](https://stfi.org/articles/how-good-am-i-doing/) - We will never know the true answer to the question, “How good am I doing at following Jesus?” if we are not using the correct standards to measure our effectiveness. Jesus summarized the measuring concept in a masterful way when he said, “a tree is recognized by its fruit” (Matt. 12:33). But we must remember
- [Check out The Sower, our quarterly magazine](https://stfi.org/articles/check-out-the-sower-our-quarterly-magazine/) - We have now uploaded over six years of back issues of our quarterly magazine, The Sower. These issues are filled with timeless articles on faith and a transformational walk of grace and truth with the Lord Jesus. Check them out yourself or send them to a friend by following the link below: http://www.stfonline.org/sower/
- [STF-USA & Our Biblical Unitarian Heritage-](https://stfi.org/articles/stf-usa-our-biblical-unitarian-heritage/) - Understanding the history of our distinct perspective on the Scriptures The members of STF – USA define themselves according to their doctrinal positions and practices as Biblical Unitarians. In essence, STF- USA is an association of independent Biblical Unitarian churches uniting on the basis of sharing a distinct perspective of the Scriptures, and holding a
- [Gold or God? Which one gets you off the couch?](https://stfi.org/articles/gold-or-god-which-one-gets-you-off-the-couch/) - What are you attracted to? What is it that moves you in this life? There is something that gets you up off the couch. What is it? Gold or God? It's your choice. Which one has the greater appeal to your soul? Which one gets you going in the morning? Which one is driving you? Which one
- [A Berean or Thessalonian,  which one are You?](https://stfi.org/articles/a-berean-or-thessalonian-which-one-are-you/) - In the Book of Acts God makes a clear distinction between the Berean Jews and those in Thessalonica. In Thessalonica there were a few who believed Paul’s testimony but many others formed a riotous mob, attacked Paul’s hosts, and even turned the whole city into an uproar. However, when Paul came to Berea the Jews
- [A Believer is a “Doer”](https://stfi.org/articles/a-believer-is-a-doer/) - One of the most prevalent themes in God’s Word is obedience. Adam and Eve failed the obedience test, whereas Noah obeyed God and saved his family and all mankind and the animals from extermination. Abraham obeyed God, left his father’s family and homeland and was willing to sacrifice his own son; the result was he
- [Check out this cool love letter from God](https://stfi.org/articles/check-out-this-cool-love-letter-from-god/) - Have you ever kept a journal, or maybe even read someone else’s. You can find out a lot about a person from reading their journal. Things like who they hang out with, what they love, etc. Did you know that God has a journal?—well, it’s actually more of a love letter. It's called the Bible--check
- [Sinner or Son? How do you see yourself?](https://stfi.org/articles/sinner-or-son-how-do-you-see-yourself/) - What is your perspective? Are your thoughts mostly on your shortcomings, your faults and inadequacies—your sins? Once you have accepted Jesus as your Lord you have the RIGHT to think of yourself the way God does, which is now as a Son of God. Accept Jesus and your sins are gone! It’s an amazing reality.
- [Heavenly Signs of the Times?](https://stfi.org/articles/heavenly-signs-of-the-times/) - Throughout history people in every generation have thought they were in the end times. One of the reasons people do this is because Jesus told his disciples that in the end times there would be an increase in wars, rumors of wars, famines, pestilences, and earthquakes. For anyone who is in the middle of one
- [Our Newest Resource Newsletter-Nov. 2013](https://stfi.org/articles/our-newest-resource-newsletter-nov-2013/) - Check out our newest Newsletter. Once a month we will be posting a resource newsletter that will describe some of our newest products and projects that we are working on. Here is a link to the November 2013 Newsletter. http://us6.campaign-archive2.com/?u=399a6a6012041b24219b8d23a&id=900c0be3b0
- [Help For The Philippines](https://stfi.org/articles/help-for-the-philippines/) - We have received word from all those we love and support in the Philippines that they are ok, but there is tremendous suffering and great need for aid. People are in drastic need of food, water, and shelter. If you would like to help, you may do so by sending your donations to STF with
- [Finding Others](https://stfi.org/articles/finding-others/) - Would you like to find others in your area who share a Biblical Unitarian perspective on the scriptures? The link below takes you to the page on our website where we list churches and individuals who are making themselves available. And, if you want to be listed yourself, then merely fill out the church or
- [Why was Jesus Christ's birthday celebrated on December 25th?](https://stfi.org/articles/why-was-jesus-christs-birthday-celebrated-on-december-25th/) - Much of the beauty of the events leading up to and including the birth of Jesus as told in the Word of God has been obscured by the religious traditions of men.
- [The Cross](https://stfi.org/articles/the-cross/) - Click here to view a powerful message from Billy Graham
- [Treasures and Things](https://stfi.org/articles/treasures-and-things/) - During the 1970’s and 80’s I became aware of a new real estate phenomena that was transforming many areas across the United States. I was living in California where most prime real estate near cities was already occupied by shopping malls or some other type of commercial edifices. What I noticed was that the obscure
- [The Exchanged Life](https://stfi.org/articles/the-exchanged-life/) - The power of the Exchanged Life is that no matter where we are, no matter what situation we are in, it can be just as if Jesus is there. Wherever we go, he...
- [The Day Christ Comes Back To Get Us](https://stfi.org/articles/the-day-christ-comes-back-to-get-us/) - When do we go to be with the Lord? When he comes back. Notice that he did not say “when you die, we will meet in Heaven.” No, the Lord Jesus Christ has...
- [Why Does the Truth Offend?](https://stfi.org/articles/why-does-the-truth-offend/) - There is a false belief held by some Christians, sort of a Christian myth, that if you are a good Christian you will not offend anyone. In fact, a Christian...
- [Walking in the Truth](https://stfi.org/articles/walking-in-the-truth/) - I have become very aware that our closeness with others is strongly affected by our beliefs. It is normal to feel a closer bond and connection to others who...
- [Search & Rescue](https://stfi.org/articles/search-rescue/) - Yesterday the front page of my local newspaper described the wonderful rescue of nine people lost on the slopes of Mt. McLoughlin. It is a steep mountain, the remains of an ancient lava cone that is one of the mountains in the Cascade Range of southern Oregon. Every year people attempt to ascend it’s vertical
- [Bible Translation Project](https://stfi.org/articles/bible-translation-project/) - Our on-going Bible translation project is called the Revised English Version® (REV®). We call it the REV because we are presenting a revised version of...
- [The Importance of Character](https://stfi.org/articles/the-importance-of-character/) - Numerous men and women throughout history have spoken at length about the importance of having an upright character, especially for those who serve in...
- [A Man Reaps What He Sows](https://stfi.org/articles/a-man-reaps-what-he-sows/) - God wants us to be blessed in every way. That means we will have to obey His rules about wisdom and discipline as much as His rules about faith...
- [Confess your sins one to another](https://stfi.org/articles/confess-your-sins-one-to-another/) - When we sin we often tend to withdraw from others. Just like Adam and Eve we become ashamed and want to hide. God tells us that part of the answer to our problem is to seek out others, people who we can trust because they are safe. These are godly people who we can bear
- [Are You Making Time to Meet With God?](https://stfi.org/articles/are-you-making-time-to-meet-with-god/) - This is a powerful "must see" video teaching by Bill Hybels, Senior Pastor of Willow Creek. It is so worth the nine minutes--it just may change your life. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDrXWrYJlw8
- [The Best Investment I’ve Ever Made](https://stfi.org/articles/the-best-investment-ive-ever-made/) - The other day I was reflecting back on my sixty plus years and the many different investments I’ve made. One day When I was in my teens my dad told me that I should always invest in myself. At first I didn't know what he meant, but then he explained that whenever I did something
- [The Daily Grind: The Harvest](https://stfi.org/articles/the-daily-grind-the-harvest/) - There have been many teachings on the fruit of the spirit; this is not one of them. However, my hope is that after deeply and honestly considering fruit...
- [The Heavens Declare…](https://stfi.org/articles/the-heavens-declare/) - Since ancient times man has been awestruck as his eyes turned heavenward and gazed at the night sky. Most anyone who looks up on a crystal clear night is in awe at the innumerable stars and the many shapes they form. What is even more amazing is that we now know that what seems to
- [God’s Holy and Royal Priests](https://stfi.org/articles/gods-holy-and-royal-priests/) - The origins of how people began to properly worship God after Adam and Eve were driven out of the Garden of Eden are not specifically known. Nevertheless...
- [Justice for All](https://stfi.org/articles/justice-for-all/) - Righteousness is the standard that permeates God’s entire creation, it is expressed as His holiness. When righteousness is violated then justice is the mechanism that God employs to bring things back into balance. This is why there are consequences for actions, good or bad. Justice requires it. We are all made with an inherent sense
- [Feeling down?—then do something for someone else!](https://stfi.org/articles/feeling-down-then-do-something-for-someone-else/)
- [The Farmer and the Seed](https://stfi.org/articles/the-farmer-and-the-seed/) - Every farmer knows that the harvest they will one day reap is determined by what they sow. The field does not care what is planted, it will accept and nourish any kind of seed. If the farmer plants bad seed, such as weeds, then they do not expect to reap a harvest of wheat. They
- [The God of All Comfort](https://stfi.org/articles/the-god-of-all-comfort/) - One of the many things I’ve learned through the years is that sorrow is a very real part of this life. Bad things happen to everyone. For some it is sickness, and for others it may be an injury, suffering due to the violent acts of others, or even the loss of a loved one.
- [The Truth Seekers](https://stfi.org/articles/the-truth-seekers/) - Many people like to quote “The truth will set you free” (John 8:32), but they leave out the all-important preceding words spoken by Jesus. He said...
- [The Miracles](https://stfi.org/articles/the-miracles/) - God desired our lives even when we were still in the womb. He didn't need an ultrasound to rejoice at seeing the first beatings of our hearts. If He could...
- [God’s Variety Show](https://stfi.org/articles/gods-variety-show/) - God’s desire is for us to stand in awe of His mighty works and praise Him! He has given us incredible comfort and peace knowing that a God who can...
- [Discovering Your Individual Gifts of God’s Grace](https://stfi.org/articles/discovering-your-individual-gifts-of-gods-grace/) - Regarding a person’s gifts, I have been asked the question, “How do I find out what my ministry is?” In some ways that is like putting...
- [Body Builders](https://stfi.org/articles/body-builders/) - When God deliberated about the perfect metaphor for Jesus’ relationship with his followers, He had unlimited options at His disposal. He wisely...
- [Book Review: Discover Your God-Given Gifts](https://stfi.org/articles/book-review-discover-your-god-given-gifts/) - God wants us to be blessed in life and He also wants the best for the Body of Christ, and both purposes are best served if each Christian knows how...
- [It’s Time to Renovate!](https://stfi.org/articles/its-time-to-renovate/) - When you look up the word “renewing” in Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, you will find “renovation, a complete change for the better"...
- [The Synagogue](https://stfi.org/articles/the-synagogue/) - The origins of synagogue buildings and the worship associated with them are obscure. It seems clear that synagogue buildings and meeting places started...
- [Walking in Wisdom](https://stfi.org/articles/walking-in-wisdom-2/) - When faced with the decisions of life, God has already provided us an answer that requires us to grow and stretch our abilities. He tells us that the answer...
- [Rise and Shine](https://stfi.org/articles/rise-and-shine/) - Not only is daybreak the most peaceful and beautiful time to view God's creation, it is also a great time to meditate on His Word and talk to Him...
- [You’re No Lady, Bug](https://stfi.org/articles/youre-no-lady-bug/) - Anyone who has ever planned a huge party understands the importance of keeping the guest list to a minimum. Yet when God was planning his...
- [Static Cling](https://stfi.org/articles/static-cling/) - Since I was raised to avoid the word "hate," I began raising our own children in the same way. When reading books to them, I would replace the word...
- [Dinner with Zacchaeus](https://stfi.org/articles/dinner-with-zacchaeus/) - As Christians, we should be raising the bar when it comes to diligence. We represent our Lord, and the rest of the world is forming their opinion of...
- [The Lookout](https://stfi.org/articles/the-lookout/) - We do not need to hide our sins from God; He sees everything anyway. I can only imagine what He was thinking when Adam and Eve tried to fool Him...
- [Building on the Firm Foundation](https://stfi.org/articles/building-on-the-firm-foundation/) - The necessity of having a firm foundation is a lesson we all need to learn, especially when it comes to our spiritual lives. A building’s...
- [Who is Our Firm Foundation? Names and Descriptions of the Messiah](https://stfi.org/articles/who-is-our-firm-foundation-names-and-descriptions-of-the-messiah/) - Just over 2000 years ago the great Apostle Paul wrote by revelation that Jesus Christ was the foundation for every Christian life, and no one could lay any other foundation than him (1 Cor. 3:11).
- [Follow Your Heart?](https://stfi.org/articles/follow-your-heart/) - I'm sure you've heard the saying, "Follow your heart." That is actually not a biblical statement. God tells us the heart is more deceitful than anything else. Don't let your heart go wherever it wants, because it will. Follow God and let Him lead your heart.
- [Jesus Christ the Cornerstone](https://stfi.org/articles/jesus-christ-the-cornerstone/) - In both the Old and New Testaments, God figuratively refers to Jesus Christ as a “stone.” However, before we delve into some of what God has pictured for us, it helps if we think of stones the way the ancients did.
- [This Time It’s Personal](https://stfi.org/articles/this-time-its-personal/) - When God decided to make us his children, He crossed the line. The good line, that is–the one that transformed Him from a distant Creator to an involved Father.
- [Movie Night With Jesus](https://stfi.org/articles/movie-night-with-jesus/) - Why did Jesus say, "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven" (Matt. 18:3)? I don't think this means that there is going to be a sign at the kingdom entrance stating the height requirements to "get on this ride."
- [The Pillar & Bulwark of Truth](https://stfi.org/articles/the-pillar-bulwark-of-truth/) - God has always related to people through the prism of family. He goes to great lengths developing the narratives of family dynamics to convey truth. Examples in the Old Testament are many and varied. A few poignant examples are: Ruth, Naomi and Boaz; Esther and Mordecai; and David’s family.

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- [Home](https://stfi.org/) - [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_fullwidth_slider admin_label=”Home Slider” module_class=”home-slider” _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” header_level=”h1″ header_font=”Tenor Sans||||||||” header_text_align=”center” header_text_color=”#FFFFFF” header_font_size=”48px” custom_button=”on” button_use_icon=”off” header_font_size_tablet=”” header_font_size_phone=”19px” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_text_shadow_style=”preset1″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_slide heading=”Becoming like Christ together” button_text=”REV Bible” button_link=”/revised-english-version/” _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” background_enable_color=”off” use_background_color_gradient=”on” background_color_gradient_stops=”rgba(43,135,218,0) 60%|#000000 100%” background_color_gradient_overlays_image=”on” background_color_gradient_start=”rgba(43,135,218,0)” background_color_gradient_start_position=”60%” background_color_gradient_end=”#000000″ background_image=”https://stfi.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/homepage-slider-1-1.jpg” background_enable_image=”on” background_position=”top_center” button_text_2=”Resources” button_link_2=”/resources/” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_transition=”on”][/et_pb_slide][/et_pb_fullwidth_slider][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ disabled_on=”off|off|off” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px||||false|false”
- [Words of Wisdom Podcast](https://stfi.org/words-of-wisdom-podcast/) - [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px||||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”” custom_padding_phone=”||0px||false|false” background_last_edited=”off|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3,2_3″ make_equal=”on” module_class=”stacked-flex” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” width_tablet=”” width_phone=”” width_last_edited=”on|phone” max_width_tablet=”” max_width_phone=”100%” max_width_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”0px||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ module_class=”stacked-order-1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https://stfi.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Hires-Words-of-Wisdom-Logo.png” title_text=”Hires-Words-of-Wisdom-Logo” align_tablet=”left” align_phone=”left” align_last_edited=”off|tablet” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding_tablet=”||20px||false|false” custom_padding_phone=”” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ module_class=”stacked-order-2 vertically-aligned” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”About the Show” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” text_line_height=”2.1em” header_2_font=”|700||on|||||” header_2_font_size=”30px” header_2_letter_spacing=”2px” header_2_font_size_tablet=””
- [Kids Books](https://stfi.org/kids/kids-books/) - [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Shop” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”13af6882-93d9-4ad8-88f3-d7d79d943ed0″ custom_padding=”||2px|||” hover_enabled=”0″ locked=”off” collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_heading title=”Faith-Building Book Collection” _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” title_text_align=”center” title_font_size=”36px” custom_margin=”||14px|||” title_font_size_tablet=”32px” title_font_size_phone=”25px” title_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_heading][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” text_orientation=”center” module_alignment=”center” custom_padding=”|20%||20%|false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”|10%||10%|false|false” custom_padding_phone=”|0%||0%|false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|tablet” global_colors_info=”{}”] Explore our faith-based books for kids of all ages, full of biblical lessons, exciting adventures, and
- [Words of Wisdom Podcast - Table View](https://stfi.org/words-of-wisdom-podcast-table-view/) - [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”5759f77d-b365-4d18-833a-6c1ac28891ab” background_enable_image=”off” custom_padding=”0px||||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”” custom_padding_phone=”||0px||false|false” background_last_edited=”off|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3,2_3″ make_equal=”on” module_class=”stacked-flex” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” width_tablet=”” width_phone=”65%” width_last_edited=”on|phone” max_width_tablet=”” max_width_phone=”100%” max_width_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”0px||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ module_class=”stacked-order-1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https://stfi.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Hires-Words-of-Wisdom-Logo.png” title_text=”Hires-Words-of-Wisdom-Logo” align_tablet=”left” align_phone=”left” align_last_edited=”off|tablet” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding_tablet=”||20px||false|false” custom_padding_phone=”” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ module_class=”stacked-order-2 vertically-aligned” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”About the Show” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” text_line_height=”2.1em” header_2_font=”|700||on|||||” header_2_font_size=”30px” header_2_letter_spacing=”2px”
- [Videos](https://stfi.org/videos/) - [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ module_id=”videos-pg-cls” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”20px||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row make_equal=”on” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” width_tablet=”” width_phone=”” width_last_edited=”on|phone” max_width_tablet=”” max_width_phone=”100%” max_width_last_edited=”on|phone” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″ module_class=”video_list_sec”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][dpdfg_filtergrid include_categories=”20″ post_number=”6″ title_link=”on” show_date=”on” show_content=”on” truncate_excerpt=”on” show_custom_fields=”on” custom_fields=”%91{%22name%22:%22teacher_name%22,%22label%22:%22%22}%93″ show_custom_content=”on” show_filters=”off” previous_text=”Prev” next_text=”Next” pagination_pages=”4″ items_width=”25%” column_gutter=”6em” row_gutter=”8em” hover_icon=”I||divi||400″ overlay_icon_color=”#FFFFFF” hover_overlay_color=”RGBA(0,0,0,0)” show_search=”on” search_placeholder=”Search Videos” bg_search=”#000000″ bg_search_icon=”#FFFFFF” bg_items=”RGBA(0,0,0,0)” bg_pagination=”#000000″ bg_pagination_active=”#000000″ items_width_tablet=”40%” items_width_phone=”100%” items_width_last_edited=”on|phone” column_gutter_tablet=”3em”
- [Seminars](https://stfi.org/seminars/) - [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Section” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” width=”40%” width_tablet=”” width_phone=”65%” width_last_edited=”on|phone” module_alignment=”center” collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https://stfi.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/The-Road-of-Wisdom-seminar-graphic.webp” alt=”The Road of Wisdom seminar graphic” title_text=”The Road of Wisdom seminar graphic” url=”/seminars/the-road-of-wisdom/” force_fullwidth=”on” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”center” align_last_edited=”on|phone” disabled_on=”off|off|off” admin_label=”Errors On the Trinity Image – to edit, go to Divi, then Divi Library – CAUTION
- [The Road of Wisdom: Learning to Navigate Life God's Way](https://stfi.org/seminars/the-road-of-wisdom/) - [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”2″ specialty=”on” admin_label=”Section” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#000000″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ specialty_columns=”2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_row_inner _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column_inner saved_specialty_column_type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https://stfi.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/The-Road-of-Wisdom-seminar-graphic.webp” alt=”The Road of Wisdom seminar graphic” title_text=”The Road of Wisdom seminar graphic” admin_label=”Seminar Image – The Road of Wisdom” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||35px||false|false” saved_tabs=”all” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”The Road of Wisdom” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default”
- [Online Fellowship Videos](https://stfi.org/online-fellowship-videos/) - [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”20px||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row make_equal=”on” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” width_tablet=”” width_phone=”” width_last_edited=”on|phone” max_width_tablet=”” max_width_phone=”100%” max_width_last_edited=”on|phone” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][dpdfg_filtergrid include_categories=”20″ post_number=”6″ title_link=”on” show_date=”on” show_content=”on” truncate_excerpt=”on” show_custom_fields=”on” custom_fields=”%91{%22name%22:%22teacher_name%22,%22label%22:%22%22}%93″ show_custom_content=”on” show_filters=”off” previous_text=”Prev” next_text=”Next” pagination_pages=”4″ items_width=”25%” column_gutter=”6em” row_gutter=”8em” hover_icon=”I||divi||400″ overlay_icon_color=”#FFFFFF” hover_overlay_color=”RGBA(0,0,0,0)” show_search=”on” search_placeholder=”Search Videos” bg_search=”#000000″ bg_search_icon=”#FFFFFF” bg_items=”RGBA(0,0,0,0)” bg_pagination=”#000000″ bg_pagination_active=”#000000″ items_width_tablet=”40%” items_width_phone=”100%” items_width_last_edited=”on|phone” column_gutter_tablet=”3em” column_gutter_phone=”0em” column_gutter_last_edited=”on|tablet”
- [Virtual Groups](https://stfi.org/virtual-groups/) - [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ custom_padding_last_edited=”on|tablet” module_class=”virtual-groups-section” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”RGBA(0,0,0,0)” z_index=”3″ custom_padding=”120px||60px||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”||30px||false|false” custom_padding_phone=”20px||30px||false|false” background_last_edited=”off|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row make_equal=”on” module_class=”stacked-flex” _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” width_tablet=”65%” width_phone=”65%” width_last_edited=”on|phone” max_width_tablet=”” max_width_phone=”100%” max_width_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”0px||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_heading title=”Join Our Virtual Groups Today” admin_label=”Join our virtual groups today” _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” title_text_align=”center” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_heading][et_pb_button button_url=”https://stfi.org/virtual-groups/#sign-up” button_text=”Register Now” button_alignment=”center” disabled_on=”on|off|off” admin_label=”Register Now Button – Desktop” _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default”
- [New Life in Christ](https://stfi.org/seminars/new-life-in-christ-foundations-for-powerful-christian-living/) - [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”2″ specialty=”on” admin_label=”Section” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#000000″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ specialty_columns=”2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_row_inner _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column_inner saved_specialty_column_type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https://stfi.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/New-Life-in-Christ-FRONT-COVER-updated.webp” title_text=”New-Life-in-Christ-FRONT-COVER-updated” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”center” align_last_edited=”on|phone” admin_label=”New Life in Christ Image – to edit, go to Divi, then Divi Library – CAUTION this updates sitewide” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||35px||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ global_module=”4055791″ saved_tabs=”all”
- [STF Podcast](https://stfi.org/spirit-truth-podcast/) - [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px||||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”” custom_padding_phone=”||0px||false|false” background_last_edited=”off|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3,2_3″ make_equal=”on” module_class=”stacked-flex” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” width_tablet=”” width_phone=”” width_last_edited=”on|phone” max_width_tablet=”” max_width_phone=”100%” max_width_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”0px||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ module_class=”stacked-order-1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https://stfi.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/transparent-s-t-podcast.png” title_text=”transparent-s-t-podcast” align_tablet=”left” align_phone=”left” align_last_edited=”off|tablet” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding_tablet=”||20px||false|false” custom_padding_phone=”” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ module_class=”stacked-order-2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”About the Show” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” text_line_height=”2.1em” header_2_font=”|700||on|||||” header_2_font_size=”30px” header_2_letter_spacing=”2px” header_2_font_size_tablet=”” header_2_font_size_phone=”24px”
- [Next Generation Projects](https://stfi.org/next-generation-reunion/next-gen-projects/) - [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” header_2_font=”|800||on|||||” header_2_text_align=”center” header_2_font_size=”52px” header_3_font=”Dancing Script||||||||” header_3_font_size=”52px” header_3_line_height=”0em” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”||||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” hover_enabled=”0″ header_2_font_size_tablet=”” header_2_font_size_phone=”33px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″] Upcoming Projects next generation [/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” animation_style=”slide” border_width_bottom=”3px” border_color_bottom=”#FFFFFF” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https://stfi.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/image-19-1.png” title_text=”image (19) (1)”
- [Three Arguments For the Existence of God](https://stfi.org/three-arguments-for-god/) - [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px||80px||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”” custom_padding_phone=”||10px||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ background_last_edited=”off|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_5,2_5″ make_equal=”on” disabled_on=”off|off|off” module_class=”stacked-flex” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” width_tablet=”” width_phone=”65%” width_last_edited=”on|phone” max_width_tablet=”” max_width_phone=”100%” max_width_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”||||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ module_class=”stacked-order-2″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Get your free… – Text” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” text_line_height=”2.1em” header_2_font=”|700||on|||||” header_2_font_size=”30px” header_2_letter_spacing=”2px” custom_margin=”||65px||false|false” header_2_font_size_tablet=”” header_2_font_size_phone=”24px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”] Get Your Free E-Book! Are you
- [Revised English Version](https://stfi.org/revised-english-version/) - [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px||50px||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”||0px||false|false” custom_padding_phone=”||0px||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ background_last_edited=”off|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″][et_pb_row make_equal=”on” module_class=”stacked-flex” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” width_tablet=”” width_phone=”65%” width_last_edited=”on|phone” max_width_tablet=”” max_width_phone=”100%” max_width_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”||||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ module_class=”stacked-order-2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Revised English Version” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” text_line_height=”2.1em” header_2_font=”|700||on|||||” header_2_font_size=”30px” header_2_letter_spacing=”2px” custom_margin=”||40px||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ header_2_font_size_tablet=”” header_2_font_size_phone=”24px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″] Revised English Version The REV is a Bible
- [Connect](https://stfi.org/connect/) - [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ background_last_edited=”off|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″][et_pb_row make_equal=”on” module_class=”stacked-flex” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” width_tablet=”” width_phone=”65%” width_last_edited=”on|phone” max_width_tablet=”” max_width_phone=”100%” max_width_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ module_class=”stacked-order-2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Virtual Groups” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” text_line_height=”2.1em” header_2_font=”|700||on|||||” header_2_font_size=”30px” header_2_letter_spacing=”2px” header_2_font_size_tablet=”” header_2_font_size_phone=”24px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”] Virtual Groups For many years, Spirit & Truth has used online fellowships to fill the need for
- [Thanks for Subscribing!](https://stfi.org/virtual-groups-confirmation/) - [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ custom_padding_last_edited=”on|tablet” module_class=”virtual-groups-section” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”RGBA(0,0,0,0)” z_index=”3″ custom_padding=”120px||60px||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”||30px||false|false” custom_padding_phone=”20px||30px||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ background_last_edited=”off|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” width_tablet=”65%” width_phone=”” width_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”80px||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”] Our virtual groups meet online using Zoom. You can learn more about the Zoom platform and download it here. Below are the times and meeting links
- [Articles - Table View](https://stfi.org/articles-table-view/) - [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”039432c1-4911-40dd-bd92-32829dc8aeb3″ custom_padding=”40px||60px||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″][et_pb_row make_equal=”on” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” width_tablet=”” width_phone=”95%” width_last_edited=”on|phone” max_width_tablet=”” max_width_phone=”100%” max_width_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_button button_url=”/articles/” button_text=”Main View” admin_label=”Main View – Button” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”915c3619-ff54-4074-a755-59a06e8804bb” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_button][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”] Date Title Name 2026-07-24 Dealing with Difficult People God's Way Rachel Boulos 2026-07-17 The True Meaning of Biblical Hospitality
- [Meet the Leadership Team](https://stfi.org/meet-the-team/) - [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ background_last_edited=”off|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_4,3_4″ make_equal=”on” module_class=”stacked-flex” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” width_tablet=”” width_phone=”65%” width_last_edited=”on|phone” max_width_tablet=”” max_width_phone=”100%” max_width_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ module_class=”stacked-order-2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_blurb title=”John Schoenheit” image=”https://stfi.org/wp-content/uploads/John-Schoenheit.jpg” image_icon_width=”85%” admin_label=”John Portrait/Title – to edit, go to Divi, then Divi Library – CAUTION this updates sitewide” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” header_level=”h2″ header_font=”|700||on|||||” header_font_size=”18px” header_letter_spacing=”1px” text_orientation=”center” module_alignment=”center”
- [Kids](https://stfi.org/kids/) - [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ next_background_color=”#ffffff” disabled_on=”off|off|off” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#ffffff” use_background_color_gradient=”on” background_color_gradient_stops=”rgba(0,0,0,0.75) 0%|rgba(0,0,0,0.75) 99%” background_color_gradient_overlays_image=”on” background_image=”https://stfi.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/family-reading.jpg” custom_padding=”150px||100px||false|false” bottom_divider_style=”clouds” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” background_enable_image=”off” custom_css_main_element=”text-align:center;” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ admin_label=”Column” _builder_version=”4.23″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.23″ _module_preset=”default” header_font=”Sora|700|||||||” header_text_align=”center” header_text_color=”#ffffff” header_font_size=”64px” header_line_height=”73px” header_font_size_tablet=”44px” header_font_size_phone=”30px” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” header_line_height_tablet=”50px” header_line_height_phone=”35px” header_line_height_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”] Guiding children of all ages toward a Christ-centered life [/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.23″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Quicksand|600|||||||”
- [Core Beliefs & Values](https://stfi.org/core-beliefs-values/) - [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px||50px||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”||0px||false|false” custom_padding_phone=”||0px||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ background_last_edited=”off|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” min_height=”74.9px” custom_margin=”35px|auto||auto|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_button button_url=”#core-beliefs” button_text=”Core Beliefs” button_alignment=”center” admin_label=”Beliefs Btn” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_button][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_button button_url=”#core-values” button_text=”Core Values” button_alignment=”center” admin_label=”Values Btn” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_button][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_divider admin_label=”Divider” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_divider][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row
- [Prayer](https://stfi.org/prayer/) - [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ background_last_edited=”off|desktop” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″][et_pb_row make_equal=”on” module_class=”stacked-flex” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” width_tablet=”” width_phone=”65%” width_last_edited=”on|phone” max_width_tablet=”” max_width_phone=”100%” max_width_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ module_class=”stacked-order-2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”About the Prayer Team” _builder_version=”4.23.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_line_height=”2.1em” header_2_font=”|700||on|||||” header_2_font_size=”30px” header_2_letter_spacing=”2px” header_2_font_size_tablet=”” header_2_font_size_phone=”24px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”] About the Prayer Team Are you passionate about praying for others? Then we encourage
- [T-Shirts](https://stfi.org/store/t-shirts/) - [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”New Products” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0||30px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_4,3_4″ use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”2″ _builder_version=”4.24.2″ custom_padding=”50px|0px|50px|0px|false|false” custom_width_px__hover=”1080px” custom_width_px__hover_enabled=”1080px” custom_width_percent__hover=”80%” custom_width_percent__hover_enabled=”80%” global_colors_info=”{}” use_custom_width__hover=”off” use_custom_width__hover_enabled=”off” width_unit__hover=”on” width_unit__hover_enabled=”on” use_custom_gutter__hover=”off” use_custom_gutter__hover_enabled=”off” gutter_width__hover=”3″ gutter_width__hover_enabled=”3″ make_equal__hover=”off” make_equal__hover_enabled=”off” parallax_1__hover=”off” parallax_1__hover_enabled=”off” parallax_2__hover=”off” parallax_2__hover_enabled=”off” parallax_3__hover=”off” parallax_3__hover_enabled=”off” parallax_4__hover=”off” parallax_4__hover_enabled=”off” parallax_5__hover=”off” parallax_5__hover_enabled=”off” parallax_6__hover=”off” parallax_6__hover_enabled=”off” parallax_method_1__hover=”on” parallax_method_1__hover_enabled=”on” parallax_method_2__hover=”on” parallax_method_2__hover_enabled=”on” parallax_method_3__hover=”on” parallax_method_3__hover_enabled=”on” parallax_method_4__hover=”on” parallax_method_4__hover_enabled=”on” parallax_method_5__hover=”on” parallax_method_5__hover_enabled=”on” parallax_method_6__hover=”on” parallax_method_6__hover_enabled=”on” use_background_color_gradient__hover=”off” use_background_color_gradient__hover_enabled=”off” background_color_gradient_start__hover=”#2b87da” background_color_gradient_start__hover_enabled=”#2b87da”
- [Tumblers & Mugs](https://stfi.org/store/tumblers-mugs/) - [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”New Products” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0||30px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_4,3_4″ use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”2″ _builder_version=”4.24.2″ custom_padding=”50px|0px|50px|0px|false|false” custom_width_px__hover=”1080px” custom_width_px__hover_enabled=”1080px” custom_width_percent__hover=”80%” custom_width_percent__hover_enabled=”80%” global_colors_info=”{}” use_custom_width__hover=”off” use_custom_width__hover_enabled=”off” width_unit__hover=”on” width_unit__hover_enabled=”on” use_custom_gutter__hover=”off” use_custom_gutter__hover_enabled=”off” gutter_width__hover=”3″ gutter_width__hover_enabled=”3″ make_equal__hover=”off” make_equal__hover_enabled=”off” parallax_1__hover=”off” parallax_1__hover_enabled=”off” parallax_2__hover=”off” parallax_2__hover_enabled=”off” parallax_3__hover=”off” parallax_3__hover_enabled=”off” parallax_4__hover=”off” parallax_4__hover_enabled=”off” parallax_5__hover=”off” parallax_5__hover_enabled=”off” parallax_6__hover=”off” parallax_6__hover_enabled=”off” parallax_method_1__hover=”on” parallax_method_1__hover_enabled=”on” parallax_method_2__hover=”on” parallax_method_2__hover_enabled=”on” parallax_method_3__hover=”on” parallax_method_3__hover_enabled=”on” parallax_method_4__hover=”on” parallax_method_4__hover_enabled=”on” parallax_method_5__hover=”on” parallax_method_5__hover_enabled=”on” parallax_method_6__hover=”on” parallax_method_6__hover_enabled=”on” use_background_color_gradient__hover=”off” use_background_color_gradient__hover_enabled=”off” background_color_gradient_start__hover=”#2b87da” background_color_gradient_start__hover_enabled=”#2b87da”
- [Hats](https://stfi.org/store/hats/) - [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”New Products” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0||30px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_4,3_4″ use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”2″ _builder_version=”4.24.2″ custom_padding=”50px|0px|50px|0px|false|false” custom_width_px__hover=”1080px” custom_width_px__hover_enabled=”1080px” custom_width_percent__hover=”80%” custom_width_percent__hover_enabled=”80%” global_colors_info=”{}” use_custom_width__hover=”off” use_custom_width__hover_enabled=”off” width_unit__hover=”on” width_unit__hover_enabled=”on” use_custom_gutter__hover=”off” use_custom_gutter__hover_enabled=”off” gutter_width__hover=”3″ gutter_width__hover_enabled=”3″ make_equal__hover=”off” make_equal__hover_enabled=”off” parallax_1__hover=”off” parallax_1__hover_enabled=”off” parallax_2__hover=”off” parallax_2__hover_enabled=”off” parallax_3__hover=”off” parallax_3__hover_enabled=”off” parallax_4__hover=”off” parallax_4__hover_enabled=”off” parallax_5__hover=”off” parallax_5__hover_enabled=”off” parallax_6__hover=”off” parallax_6__hover_enabled=”off” parallax_method_1__hover=”on” parallax_method_1__hover_enabled=”on” parallax_method_2__hover=”on” parallax_method_2__hover_enabled=”on” parallax_method_3__hover=”on” parallax_method_3__hover_enabled=”on” parallax_method_4__hover=”on” parallax_method_4__hover_enabled=”on” parallax_method_5__hover=”on” parallax_method_5__hover_enabled=”on” parallax_method_6__hover=”on” parallax_method_6__hover_enabled=”on” use_background_color_gradient__hover=”off” use_background_color_gradient__hover_enabled=”off” background_color_gradient_start__hover=”#2b87da” background_color_gradient_start__hover_enabled=”#2b87da”
- [Coasters](https://stfi.org/store/coasters/) - [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”New Products” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0||30px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_4,3_4″ use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”2″ _builder_version=”4.24.2″ custom_padding=”50px|0px|50px|0px|false|false” custom_width_px__hover=”1080px” custom_width_px__hover_enabled=”1080px” custom_width_percent__hover=”80%” custom_width_percent__hover_enabled=”80%” global_colors_info=”{}” use_custom_width__hover=”off” use_custom_width__hover_enabled=”off” width_unit__hover=”on” width_unit__hover_enabled=”on” use_custom_gutter__hover=”off” use_custom_gutter__hover_enabled=”off” gutter_width__hover=”3″ gutter_width__hover_enabled=”3″ make_equal__hover=”off” make_equal__hover_enabled=”off” parallax_1__hover=”off” parallax_1__hover_enabled=”off” parallax_2__hover=”off” parallax_2__hover_enabled=”off” parallax_3__hover=”off” parallax_3__hover_enabled=”off” parallax_4__hover=”off” parallax_4__hover_enabled=”off” parallax_5__hover=”off” parallax_5__hover_enabled=”off” parallax_6__hover=”off” parallax_6__hover_enabled=”off” parallax_method_1__hover=”on” parallax_method_1__hover_enabled=”on” parallax_method_2__hover=”on” parallax_method_2__hover_enabled=”on” parallax_method_3__hover=”on” parallax_method_3__hover_enabled=”on” parallax_method_4__hover=”on” parallax_method_4__hover_enabled=”on” parallax_method_5__hover=”on” parallax_method_5__hover_enabled=”on” parallax_method_6__hover=”on” parallax_method_6__hover_enabled=”on” use_background_color_gradient__hover=”off” use_background_color_gradient__hover_enabled=”off” background_color_gradient_start__hover=”#2b87da” background_color_gradient_start__hover_enabled=”#2b87da”
- [Store](https://stfi.org/store/) - [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”New Products” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0||30px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” height=”150px” custom_margin=”40px||||false|false” border_width_all=”3px” border_color_all=”#54B2E9″ border_width_all_tablet=”0px” border_width_all_phone=”0px” border_width_all_last_edited=”on|tablet” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text disabled_on=”on|on|off” admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” header_font=”|700|||||||” header_font_size=”22px” global_colors_info=”{}”] SHOP BY CATEGORY [/et_pb_text][et_pb_menu menu_id=”1962″ menu_style=”centered” active_link_color=”#54B2E9″ disabled_on=”on|on|off” admin_label=”Menu” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” menu_text_color=”#A9A19B” menu_font_size=”18px” background_color=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” db_link_spacing=”44px” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_menu][et_pb_text disabled_on=”on|on|on” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” disabled=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”] All ProductsCoastersHatsTumblers & MugsT-Shirts [/et_pb_text][et_pb_text disabled_on=”off|off|on”
- [Resources](https://stfi.org/resources/) - [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px||110px||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”||40px||false|false” custom_padding_phone=”||30px||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ background_last_edited=”off|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_4,1_4″ make_equal=”on” module_class=”stacked-flex” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” width_tablet=”” width_phone=”65%” width_last_edited=”on|phone” max_width_tablet=”” max_width_phone=”100%” max_width_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”3_4″ module_class=”stacked-order-2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Revised English Version” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” text_line_height=”2.1em” header_2_font=”|700||on|||||” header_2_font_size=”30px” header_2_letter_spacing=”2px” custom_margin=”||0px||false|false” header_2_font_size_tablet=”” header_2_font_size_phone=”24px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”] Revised English Version [/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ module_class=”stacked-order-2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_4,1_4″ make_equal=”on”
- [Greedy Bear Learns About Good Choices](https://stfi.org/kids/kids-books/greedy-bear/) - In this first book, Greedy Bear Learns About Good Choices, readers meet Greedy Bear—a little bear learning big lessons about life, love, and God! Join him in the stories where he grows to be a better friend, a better follower of Jesus, and a better bear all around.
- [Books](https://stfi.org/books/) - [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”40px||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row make_equal=”on” disabled_on=”on|on|on” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” width_tablet=”” width_phone=”65%” width_last_edited=”on|phone” max_width_tablet=”” max_width_phone=”100%” max_width_last_edited=”on|phone” disabled=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][dpdfg_filtergrid custom_query=”advanced” multiple_cpt=”resources” use_taxonomy_terms=”on” multiple_taxonomies=”resource_type” include_terms=”486″ post_number=”6″ thumbnail_size=”dfg_full” use_overlay=”off” title_link=”on” show_content=”on” truncate_content=”200″ truncate_excerpt=”on” read_more=”on” show_custom_fields=”on” custom_fields=”%91{%22name%22:%22purchase_link%22,%22label%22:%22%22}%93″ show_custom_content=”on” filter_taxonomies=”post_tag” filter_terms=”487,488,489″ filter_layout=”select” filter_dropdown_placeholder=”All Book Types” multifilter=”on” previous_text=”Prev” next_text=”Next” pagination_pages=”4″ filters_width=”3″ items_width=”30%” show_search=”on” search_placeholder=”Search Books” bg_search=”#000000″ bg_search_icon=”#FFFFFF”
- [Our Heavenly Father Has No Equals](https://stfi.org/books/our-heavenly-father-has-no-equals/) - [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.23″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ make_equal=”on” _builder_version=”4.23″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https://stfi.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/OHFHNE-Front-Cover-scaled.jpg” title_text=”Untitled-137″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” max_width=”80%” module_alignment=”right” module_alignment_tablet=”center” module_alignment_phone=”center” module_alignment_last_edited=”on|tablet” border_radii=”on|10px|10px|10px|10px” border_width_all=”7px” border_color_all=”#54B2E9″ global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Book blurb” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” text_orientation=”center” width=”85%” module_alignment=”center” global_colors_info=”{}”] Book blurb… [/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3,1_3,1_3″ make_equal=”on” _builder_version=”4.23″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column
- [Thank You](https://stfi.org/thank-you/) - [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.5″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”] Thank You! We greatly appreciate your support. God bless you! *You will be redirected in 5 seconds. If not, click here. [/et_pb_text][et_pb_code _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_code][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]
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- [Death & Resurrection to Life](https://stfi.org/seminars/death-resurrection-to-life/) - [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”2″ specialty=”on” admin_label=”Section” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#000000″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ specialty_columns=”2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_row_inner _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column_inner saved_specialty_column_type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https://stfi.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/seminar-death-resurrection.jpg” title_text=”seminar-death-resurrection” admin_label=”Death & Resurrection to Life Image – to edit, go to Divi, then Divi Library – CAUTION this updates sitewide” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||35px||false|false” global_module=”4055828″ saved_tabs=”all” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Death & Resurrection
- [The Creation – Evolution Controversy](https://stfi.org/seminars/the-creation-evolution-controversy/) - [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”2″ specialty=”on” admin_label=”Section” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#000000″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ specialty_columns=”2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_row_inner _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column_inner saved_specialty_column_type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https://stfi.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/seminar-the-creation.jpg” title_text=”seminar-the-creation” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”center” align_last_edited=”off|desktop” admin_label=”Creation-Evolution Controversy Image – to edit, go to Divi, then Divi Library – CAUTION this updates sitewid” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||35px||false|false” global_module=”4055863″ saved_tabs=”all” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”The Creation –
- [On the Errors of The Trinity](https://stfi.org/seminars/on-the-errors-of-the-trinity/) - [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”2″ specialty=”on” admin_label=”Section” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#000000″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ specialty_columns=”2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_row_inner _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column_inner saved_specialty_column_type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https://stfi.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/seminar-errors-of-the-trinity.jpg” title_text=”seminar-errors-of-the-trinity” admin_label=”Errors On the Trinity Image – to edit, go to Divi, then Divi Library – CAUTION this updates sitewide” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||35px||false|false” global_module=”4055753″ saved_tabs=”all” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”On the Errors of
- [Gospel Of Mark](https://stfi.org/seminars/gospel-of-mark/) - [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”2″ specialty=”on” admin_label=”Section” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#000000″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ specialty_columns=”2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_row_inner _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column_inner saved_specialty_column_type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https://stfi.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Gospel-of-Mark-1080×1080-1.jpg” title_text=”Gospel of Mark (1080×1080)” admin_label=”Seminar Image – Gospel Of Mark” _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||35px||false|false” global_module=”5636557″ saved_tabs=”all” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Gospel Of Mark” _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” header_font=”|700||on|||||” header_letter_spacing=”1px” custom_margin=”||35px||false|false” header_font_size_tablet=”” header_font_size_phone=”24px” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”] Gospel Of
- [Privacy Policy](https://stfi.org/privacy-notice/) - [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″] 1. Spirit & Truth Privacy Policy Last updated: May 4, 2021 This Privacy Policy describes the policies and procedures of the Company on the collection, use, and disclosure of personal information in carrying out and providing the Service.
- [Topics](https://stfi.org/topics/) - [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ module_class=”topics-page” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Shortcode for topics filter” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”] ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ Topics A-Z A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z [/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Shortcode for resources types” _builder_version=”4.16″
- [Tickets Checkout](https://stfi.org/tickets-checkout/) - [tec_tickets_checkout]
- [Video - Table View](https://stfi.org/video-table-view/) - [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”b10d7042-2120-4c7e-abac-c9ef7eff4a72″ custom_padding=”20px||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row make_equal=”on” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” width_tablet=”” width_phone=”95%” width_last_edited=”on|phone” max_width_tablet=”” max_width_phone=”100%” max_width_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][dpdfg_filtergrid include_categories=”20″ post_number=”6″ title_link=”on” show_date=”on” show_content=”on” truncate_excerpt=”on” show_custom_fields=”on” custom_fields=”%91{%22name%22:%22teacher_name%22,%22label%22:%22%22}%93″ show_custom_content=”on” show_filters=”off” previous_text=”Prev” next_text=”Next” pagination_pages=”4″ items_width=”25%” column_gutter=”6em” row_gutter=”8em” hover_icon=”I||divi||400″ overlay_icon_color=”#FFFFFF” hover_overlay_color=”RGBA(0,0,0,0)” show_search=”on” search_placeholder=”Search Videos” bg_search=”#000000″ bg_search_icon=”#FFFFFF” bg_items=”RGBA(0,0,0,0)” bg_pagination=”#000000″ bg_pagination_active=”#000000″ items_width_tablet=”40%” items_width_phone=”100%” items_width_last_edited=”on|phone” column_gutter_tablet=”3em” column_gutter_phone=”0em” column_gutter_last_edited=”on|tablet” row_gutter_tablet=”3em” row_gutter_phone=”1em”
- [REV Tutorials](https://stfi.org/revised-english-version/rev-tutorials/) - [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” max_width=”800px” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https://stfi.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/How-to-Use-the-REV-Bible-edited.jpg” title_text=”How to Use the REV Bible (edited)” admin_label=”Image – How To Use The REV Bible” _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.24.2″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” max_width=”800px” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_video src=”https://youtu.be/BQgrqOzMudM?si=mVFvyaOc0_nM7qsI” admin_label=”VIDEO – Navigate & Customize The REV ” _builder_version=”4.24.2″
- [Revisionize Testing](https://stfi.org/revisionize-testing/) - [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”] Here is line #1 [/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”] Here is line #2 [/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”] Here is line #3 [/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”] NEW LINE!!!! Here is line #4 [/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]
- [Opt-in Test](https://stfi.org/opt-in-test/) - [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”25px||||false|false” border_width_top=”2px” border_color_top=”#007788″ global_module=”5498032″ saved_tabs=”all” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text content_tablet=” Subscribe to our Kids Newsletter to be notified when new resources are released. ” content_phone=” Subscribe to our Kids Newsletter ” content_last_edited=”on|phone” admin_label=”Subscribe to our Kids Newsletter to be notified when new resources are released.” module_class=”green-bold” _builder_version=”4.24.2″
- [Online Fellowship Videos - Table View](https://stfi.org/online-fellowship-videos-table-view/) - [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”b10d7042-2120-4c7e-abac-c9ef7eff4a72″ custom_padding=”20px||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row make_equal=”on” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” width_tablet=”” width_phone=”95%” width_last_edited=”on|phone” max_width_tablet=”” max_width_phone=”100%” max_width_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][dpdfg_filtergrid include_categories=”20″ post_number=”6″ title_link=”on” show_date=”on” show_content=”on” truncate_excerpt=”on” show_custom_fields=”on” custom_fields=”%91{%22name%22:%22teacher_name%22,%22label%22:%22%22}%93″ show_custom_content=”on” show_filters=”off” previous_text=”Prev” next_text=”Next” pagination_pages=”4″ items_width=”25%” column_gutter=”6em” row_gutter=”8em” hover_icon=”I||divi||400″ overlay_icon_color=”#FFFFFF” hover_overlay_color=”RGBA(0,0,0,0)” show_search=”on” search_placeholder=”Search Videos” bg_search=”#000000″ bg_search_icon=”#FFFFFF” bg_items=”RGBA(0,0,0,0)” bg_pagination=”#000000″ bg_pagination_active=”#000000″ items_width_tablet=”40%” items_width_phone=”100%” items_width_last_edited=”on|phone” column_gutter_tablet=”3em” column_gutter_phone=”0em” column_gutter_last_edited=”on|tablet” row_gutter_tablet=”3em” row_gutter_phone=”1em”
- [Order Completed](https://stfi.org/tickets-order/) - [tec_tickets_success]
- [NextGen Reunion Info Page](https://stfi.org/next-generation-reunion/auto-draft/) - [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Hero” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_color=”#1a1e36″ custom_margin=”||||false|false” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ z_index=”10″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ header_font=”Playfair Display|700|||||||” header_font_size=”80px” background_layout=”dark” header_font_size_tablet=”80px” header_font_size_phone=”40px” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”] It’s NextGen Time! [/et_pb_text][et_pb_blurb image=”https://stfi.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/event-icon-07-1.png” icon_placement=”left” image_icon_width=”48px” _builder_version=”4.16″ body_font=”Overpass|600|||||||” body_font_size=”24px” body_line_height=”2em” background_layout=”dark” image_max_width=”48px” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”] Friday, March 31stSaturday, April 1stSunday, April 2nd [/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_blurb image=”https://stfi.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/event-icon-08-1.png” icon_placement=”left” image_icon_width=”48px” _builder_version=”4.16″ body_font=”Overpass|600|||||||” body_font_size=”24px” body_line_height=”2em”
- [Next Generation Reunion](https://stfi.org/next-generation-reunion/) - [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_video src=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzo9N9JLx-Q” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_video][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” hover_transition_delay=”50ms” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_button button_url=”#null” button_text=”Register” button_alignment=”left” module_id=”eventbrite-widget-modal-trigger-395109411887″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” box_shadow_color__hover_enabled=”on|hover” box_shadow_color__hover=”RGBA(0,0,0,0)”][/et_pb_button][et_pb_text content_last_edited=”off|desktop” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” width=”%22370%22″ height=”%22246%22″ custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”||||false|false” hover_transition_delay=”50ms” hover_transition_delay_last_edited=”off|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}”]When: March 31 – April 2, 2023 Where: Pokagon
- [Donate](https://stfi.org/donate/) - [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”50px||50px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_5,3_5,1_5″ _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” width_tablet=”100%” width_phone=”90%” width_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_5″ _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ module_class=”donate-gravity-frm” _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” module_class=”donet-check-frm” _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” max_width=”550px” module_alignment=”center” custom_padding=”40px|40px|40px|40px|true|false” custom_padding_tablet=”40px|40px|40px|40px|true|false” custom_padding_phone=”20px|15px|20px|15px|true|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” border_radii=”on|30px|30px|30px|30px” border_width_all=”2px” border_color_all=”#ffffff” global_colors_info=”{}”] 1Information 2Payment Donation Frequency(Required) One-Time Donation Monthly Donation Amount(Required) $25 $50 $100 $150 $200 $250 Other Other
- [All Media](https://stfi.org/all-media/)
- [All Categories](https://stfi.org/categories/) - [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_4,1_2,1_4″ _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_sidebar orientation=”right” area=”sidebar-1″ show_border=”off” _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” body_text_align=”center” text_orientation=”center” background_layout=”dark” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”||||false|false” custom_css_widget=”text-align: center;” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_sidebar][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]
- [Events](https://stfi.org/events/) - [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]Please join us on November 11, 2023, from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM in Crouch Hall at Onanda Park (4965 West Lake Road, Canandaigua, NY 14424) for a day of teachings from
- [Resources Catalogue](https://stfi.org/resources/resource-catalogue/) - [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Resources” _builder_version=”4.9.0″ _module_preset=”default” locked=”off” custom_padding=”||8px|||”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3,1_3,1_3″ use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”2″ make_equal=”on” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” _builder_version=”4.9.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_enable_image=”off” max_width=”1200px” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”||||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”off|tablet” custom_padding=”|200px||200px|false|true” custom_padding_tablet=”|30px|30px|30px|false|true” custom_padding_phone=”|50px||50px|false|true” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.9.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”RGBA(0,0,0,0)” custom_padding=”30px|20px|30px|20px|true|true” link_option_url=”#books” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″ background__hover_enabled=”on|hover” background_color__hover=”RGBA(0,0,0,0)” background_enable_color__hover=”on”][et_pb_blurb title=”BOOKS” use_icon=”on” font_icon=”%%461%%” use_icon_font_size=”on” icon_font_size=”50px” _builder_version=”4.9.4″ _module_preset=”default” header_font=”|700|||||||” header_text_color=”#FFFFFF” header_font_size=”16px” text_orientation=”center” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″ icon_color__hover_enabled=”on|desktop” icon_color__hover=”#007788″ header_text_color__hover_enabled=”on|hover” header_text_color__hover=”#000000″ background_color=”#007788″ background__hover_enabled=”on|hover” background_color__hover=”#FFFFFF”

## Theme Builder Items

- [Episode with Specific Podcasts: Why Christianity](https://stfi.org/et_tb_item/episode-with-specific-podcasts-why-christianity-4/) - {"header":{"post_content":"[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" module_class=\"custom-header\" _builder_version=\"4.9.4\" _module_preset=\"default\" background_enable_color=\"off\" use_background_color_gradient=\"on\" background_color_gradient_start=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_color_gradient_end=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_color_gradient_overlays_image=\"on\" background_image=\"https:\/\/stfi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/bookshelf.jpg\" custom_padding=\"0px||0px||false|false\" hover_enabled=\"0\" background_last_edited=\"on|phone\" background_enable_color_tablet=\"off\" use_background_color_gradient_tablet=\"on\" background_color_gradient_start_tablet=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_color_gradient_end_tablet=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" sticky_position_phone=\"top\" sticky_position_last_edited=\"off|desktop\" sticky_enabled=\"0\"][et_pb_row column_structure=\"1_4,3_4\" make_equal=\"on\" custom_padding_last_edited=\"on|phone\" module_class=\"menu-row\" _builder_version=\"4.9.4\" _module_preset=\"default\" width=\"62%\" width_tablet=\"100%\" width_phone=\"100%\" width_last_edited=\"on|tablet\" max_width=\"100%\" custom_padding=\"20px||30px||false|false\" custom_padding_tablet=\"12px|4.5%|0px|4.5%|false|false\" custom_padding_phone=\"\" animation_style=\"fade\" hover_enabled=\"0\" background_last_edited=\"on|desktop\" background_enable_color_phone=\"off\" sticky_position_tablet=\"top\" sticky_position_phone=\"top\" sticky_position_last_edited=\"on|tablet\" sticky_enabled=\"0\" background__sticky_enabled=\"on|sticky\" background_color_gradient_end__sticky=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" use_background_color_gradient__sticky=\"on\" background_color_gradient_start__sticky=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\"][et_pb_column type=\"1_4\" module_class=\"col-1\" _builder_version=\"4.9.0\" _module_preset=\"default\"][et_pb_image src=\"https:\/\/stfi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/spirit-truth-logo-new.png\" title_text=\"spirit-truth-logo-new\" url=\"\/\" admin_label=\"Header
- [All Episode](https://stfi.org/et_tb_item/all-episode-4/) - {"header":{"post_content":"[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" module_class=\"custom-header main-global-headers\" _builder_version=\"4.24.2\" _module_preset=\"default\" use_background_color_gradient=\"on\" background_color_gradient_stops=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75) 0%|rgba(0,0,0,0.75) 100%\" background_color_gradient_overlays_image=\"on\" background_color_gradient_start=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_color_gradient_end=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_image=\"https:\/\/stfi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/bookshelf.jpg\" custom_padding=\"0px||0px||false|false\" background_last_edited=\"on|phone\" background_enable_color_tablet=\"off\" use_background_color_gradient_tablet=\"on\" background_color_gradient_stops_tablet=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75) 0%|rgba(0,0,0,0.75) 100%\" background_color_gradient_start_tablet=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_color_gradient_end_tablet=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" sticky_position_phone=\"top\" sticky_position_last_edited=\"off|desktop\" global_module=\"5631663\" global_colors_info=\"{}\"][et_pb_row column_structure=\"1_4,3_4\" make_equal=\"on\" custom_padding_last_edited=\"on|phone\" module_class=\"menu-row\" _builder_version=\"4.24.2\" _module_preset=\"default\" transform_scale_last_edited=\"off|desktop\" transform_translate_last_edited=\"off|desktop\" transform_rotate_last_edited=\"off|desktop\" transform_skew_last_edited=\"off|desktop\" transform_origin_last_edited=\"off|desktop\" transform_styles_last_edited=\"off|desktop\" width=\"62%\" max_width=\"100%\" custom_padding=\"20px||30px||false|false\" custom_padding_tablet=\"12px|4.5%|0px|4.5%|false|false\" custom_padding_phone=\"\" hover_transition_duration=\"0ms\" background_last_edited=\"on|desktop\" background_enable_color_phone=\"off\" hover_transition_duration_tablet=\"\" hover_transition_duration_phone=\"\" hover_transition_duration_last_edited=\"on|desktop\" hover_transition_speed_curve_tablet=\"\" hover_transition_speed_curve_phone=\"\" hover_transition_speed_curve_last_edited=\"on|desktop\" sticky_position_tablet=\"top\" sticky_position_phone=\"top\"
- [Words of Wisdom Podcast - Castos - Individual Posts](https://stfi.org/et_tb_item/words-of-wisdom-podcast-castos-individual-posts-4/) - {"header":{"post_content":"[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" module_class=\"custom-header\" _builder_version=\"4.9.4\" _module_preset=\"default\" background_enable_color=\"off\" use_background_color_gradient=\"on\" background_color_gradient_start=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_color_gradient_end=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_color_gradient_overlays_image=\"on\" background_image=\"https:\/\/stfi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/podcast-listener.jpg\" custom_padding=\"0px||0px||false|false\" hover_enabled=\"0\" background_last_edited=\"on|phone\" background_enable_color_tablet=\"off\" use_background_color_gradient_tablet=\"on\" background_color_gradient_start_tablet=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_color_gradient_end_tablet=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" sticky_position_phone=\"top\" sticky_position_last_edited=\"off|desktop\" sticky_enabled=\"0\"][et_pb_row column_structure=\"1_4,3_4\" make_equal=\"on\" custom_padding_last_edited=\"on|phone\" module_class=\"menu-row\" _builder_version=\"4.9.4\" _module_preset=\"default\" width=\"62%\" width_tablet=\"100%\" width_phone=\"100%\" width_last_edited=\"on|tablet\" max_width=\"100%\" custom_padding=\"20px||30px||false|false\" custom_padding_tablet=\"12px|4.5%|0px|4.5%|false|false\" custom_padding_phone=\"\" animation_style=\"fade\" hover_enabled=\"0\" background_last_edited=\"on|desktop\" background_enable_color_phone=\"off\" sticky_position_tablet=\"top\" sticky_position_phone=\"top\" sticky_position_last_edited=\"on|tablet\" sticky_enabled=\"0\" background__sticky_enabled=\"on|sticky\" background_color_gradient_end__sticky=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" use_background_color_gradient__sticky=\"on\" background_color_gradient_start__sticky=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\"][et_pb_column type=\"1_4\" module_class=\"col-1\" _builder_version=\"4.9.0\" _module_preset=\"default\"][et_pb_image src=\"https:\/\/stfi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/spirit-truth-logo-new.png\" title_text=\"spirit-truth-logo-new\" url=\"\/\" admin_label=\"Header
- [STF Podcast - Castos - Individual Posts](https://stfi.org/et_tb_item/stf-podcast-castos-individual-posts-4/) - {"header":{"post_content":"[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" module_class=\"custom-header\" _builder_version=\"4.9.4\" _module_preset=\"default\" background_enable_color=\"off\" use_background_color_gradient=\"on\" background_color_gradient_start=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_color_gradient_end=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_color_gradient_overlays_image=\"on\" background_image=\"https:\/\/stfi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/sample-podcast.jpg\" custom_padding=\"0px||0px||false|false\" hover_enabled=\"0\" background_last_edited=\"on|phone\" background_enable_color_tablet=\"off\" use_background_color_gradient_tablet=\"on\" background_color_gradient_start_tablet=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_color_gradient_end_tablet=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" sticky_position_phone=\"top\" sticky_position_last_edited=\"off|desktop\" sticky_enabled=\"0\"][et_pb_row column_structure=\"1_4,3_4\" make_equal=\"on\" custom_padding_last_edited=\"on|phone\" module_class=\"menu-row\" _builder_version=\"4.9.4\" _module_preset=\"default\" width=\"62%\" width_tablet=\"100%\" width_phone=\"100%\" width_last_edited=\"on|tablet\" max_width=\"100%\" custom_padding=\"20px||30px||false|false\" custom_padding_tablet=\"12px|4.5%|0px|4.5%|false|false\" custom_padding_phone=\"\" animation_style=\"fade\" hover_enabled=\"0\" background_last_edited=\"on|desktop\" background_enable_color_phone=\"off\" sticky_position_tablet=\"top\" sticky_position_phone=\"top\" sticky_position_last_edited=\"on|tablet\" sticky_enabled=\"0\" background__sticky_enabled=\"on|sticky\" background_color_gradient_end__sticky=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" use_background_color_gradient__sticky=\"on\" background_color_gradient_start__sticky=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\"][et_pb_column type=\"1_4\" module_class=\"col-1\" _builder_version=\"4.9.0\" _module_preset=\"default\"][et_pb_image src=\"https:\/\/stfi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/spirit-truth-logo-new.png\" title_text=\"spirit-truth-logo-new\" url=\"\/\" admin_label=\"Header
- [All STF Videos - Individual Posts](https://stfi.org/et_tb_item/all-stf-videos-individual-posts-4/) - {"header":{"post_content":"[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" module_class=\"custom-header\" _builder_version=\"4.24.2\" _module_preset=\"default\" use_background_color_gradient=\"on\" background_color_gradient_stops=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75) 0%|rgba(0,0,0,0.75) 100%\" background_color_gradient_overlays_image=\"on\" background_color_gradient_start=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_color_gradient_end=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_image=\"https:\/\/stfi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/bookshelf.jpg\" custom_padding=\"0px||0px||false|false\" hover_enabled=\"0\" background_last_edited=\"on|phone\" background_enable_color_tablet=\"off\" use_background_color_gradient_tablet=\"on\" background_color_gradient_stops_tablet=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75) 0%|rgba(0,0,0,0.75) 100%\" background_color_gradient_start_tablet=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_color_gradient_end_tablet=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" global_colors_info=\"{}\" hover_transition_duration=\"0ms\" sticky_enabled=\"0\"][et_pb_row column_structure=\"1_4,3_4\" make_equal=\"on\" custom_padding_last_edited=\"on|phone\" module_class=\"menu-row\" _builder_version=\"4.24.2\" _module_preset=\"default\" width=\"62%\" width_tablet=\"100%\" width_phone=\"100%\" width_last_edited=\"on|phone\" max_width=\"100%\" custom_padding=\"20px||30px||false|false\" custom_padding_tablet=\"12px|4.5%|0px|4.5%|false|false\" custom_padding_phone=\"\" hover_enabled=\"0\" background_last_edited=\"on|desktop\" background_enable_color_phone=\"off\" sticky_position_tablet=\"top\" sticky_position_phone=\"top\" sticky_position_last_edited=\"on|tablet\" global_colors_info=\"{}\" background__sticky_enabled=\"on|sticky\" background_color_gradient_end__sticky=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" use_background_color_gradient__sticky=\"on\" background_color_gradient_start__sticky=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_color_gradient_stops__sticky=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75) 0%|rgba(0,0,0,0.75) 100%\" sticky_enabled=\"0\"][et_pb_column
- [Resources Posts](https://stfi.org/et_tb_item/resources-posts-4/) - {"header":{"post_content":"[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" module_class=\"custom-header\" _builder_version=\"4.9.4\" _module_preset=\"default\" background_enable_color=\"off\" use_background_color_gradient=\"on\" background_color_gradient_start=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_color_gradient_end=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_color_gradient_overlays_image=\"on\" background_image=\"https:\/\/stfi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/articles-post-header.jpg\" custom_padding=\"0px||0px||false|false\" hover_enabled=\"0\" background_last_edited=\"on|tablet\" background_enable_color_tablet=\"off\" use_background_color_gradient_tablet=\"on\" background_color_gradient_start_tablet=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_color_gradient_end_tablet=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" sticky_enabled=\"0\"][et_pb_row column_structure=\"1_4,3_4\" make_equal=\"on\" custom_padding_last_edited=\"on|phone\" module_class=\"menu-row\" _builder_version=\"4.9.4\" _module_preset=\"default\" width=\"62%\" width_tablet=\"100%\" width_phone=\"100%\" width_last_edited=\"on|phone\" max_width=\"100%\" custom_padding=\"20px||30px||false|false\" custom_padding_tablet=\"12px|4.5%|0px|4.5%|false|false\" custom_padding_phone=\"\" animation_style=\"fade\" hover_enabled=\"0\" background_last_edited=\"on|desktop\" background_enable_color_phone=\"off\" sticky_position_tablet=\"top\" sticky_position_phone=\"top\" sticky_position_last_edited=\"on|tablet\" sticky_enabled=\"0\" background__sticky_enabled=\"on|sticky\" background_color_gradient_end__sticky=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" use_background_color_gradient__sticky=\"on\" background_color_gradient_start__sticky=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\"][et_pb_column type=\"1_4\" module_class=\"col-1\" _builder_version=\"4.9.0\" _module_preset=\"default\"][et_pb_image src=\"https:\/\/stfi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/spirit-truth-logo-new.png\" title_text=\"spirit-truth-logo-new\" url=\"\/\" admin_label=\"Header Logo Image
- [Resources Posts - Commentary](https://stfi.org/et_tb_item/resources-posts-commentary-4/) - {"header":{"post_content":"[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" module_class=\"custom-header\" _builder_version=\"4.9.4\" _module_preset=\"default\" background_enable_color=\"off\" use_background_color_gradient=\"on\" background_color_gradient_start=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_color_gradient_end=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_color_gradient_overlays_image=\"on\" background_image=\"https:\/\/stfi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/articles-post-header.jpg\" custom_padding=\"0px||0px||false|false\" hover_enabled=\"0\" background_last_edited=\"on|tablet\" background_enable_color_tablet=\"off\" use_background_color_gradient_tablet=\"on\" background_color_gradient_start_tablet=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_color_gradient_end_tablet=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" sticky_enabled=\"0\"][et_pb_row column_structure=\"1_4,3_4\" make_equal=\"on\" custom_padding_last_edited=\"on|phone\" module_class=\"menu-row\" _builder_version=\"4.9.4\" _module_preset=\"default\" width=\"62%\" width_tablet=\"100%\" width_phone=\"100%\" width_last_edited=\"on|phone\" max_width=\"100%\" custom_padding=\"20px||30px||false|false\" custom_padding_tablet=\"12px|4.5%|0px|4.5%|false|false\" custom_padding_phone=\"\" animation_style=\"fade\" hover_enabled=\"0\" background_last_edited=\"on|desktop\" background_enable_color_phone=\"off\" sticky_position_tablet=\"top\" sticky_position_phone=\"top\" sticky_position_last_edited=\"on|tablet\" sticky_enabled=\"0\" background__sticky_enabled=\"on|sticky\" background_color_gradient_end__sticky=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" use_background_color_gradient__sticky=\"on\" background_color_gradient_start__sticky=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\"][et_pb_column type=\"1_4\" module_class=\"col-1\" _builder_version=\"4.9.0\" _module_preset=\"default\"][et_pb_image src=\"https:\/\/stfi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/spirit-truth-logo-new.png\" title_text=\"spirit-truth-logo-new\" url=\"\/\" admin_label=\"Header Logo Image
- [All Author Pages](https://stfi.org/et_tb_item/all-author-pages-4/) - {"header":{"post_content":"[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" module_class=\"custom-header\" _builder_version=\"4.16\" _module_preset=\"default\" use_background_color_gradient=\"on\" background_color_gradient_stops=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75) 0%|rgba(0,0,0,0.75) 100%\" background_color_gradient_overlays_image=\"on\" background_color_gradient_start=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_color_gradient_end=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_image=\"https:\/\/stfi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/bookshelf.jpg\" custom_padding=\"0px||0px||false|false\" background_last_edited=\"on|phone\" background_enable_color_tablet=\"off\" use_background_color_gradient_tablet=\"on\" background_color_gradient_stops_tablet=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75) 0%|rgba(0,0,0,0.75) 100%\" background_color_gradient_start_tablet=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_color_gradient_end_tablet=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" sticky_position_phone=\"top\" sticky_position_last_edited=\"off|desktop\" global_colors_info=\"{}\" global_module=\"5631663\" theme_builder_area=\"post_content\"][et_pb_row column_structure=\"1_4,3_4\" make_equal=\"on\" custom_padding_last_edited=\"on|phone\" module_class=\"menu-row\" _builder_version=\"4.16\" _module_preset=\"default\" width=\"62%\" max_width=\"100%\" custom_padding=\"20px||30px||false|false\" custom_padding_tablet=\"12px|4.5%|0px|4.5%|false|false\" custom_padding_phone=\"\" animation_style=\"fade\" background_last_edited=\"on|desktop\" background_enable_color_phone=\"off\" sticky_position_tablet=\"top\" sticky_position_phone=\"top\" sticky_position_last_edited=\"on|tablet\" global_colors_info=\"{}\" background__hover_enabled=\"off|desktop\" background__sticky_enabled=\"on|sticky\" background_color__sticky=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_enable_color__sticky=\"on\" theme_builder_area=\"post_content\"][et_pb_column type=\"1_4\" module_class=\"col-1\" _builder_version=\"4.16\" _module_preset=\"default\" global_colors_info=\"{}\"
- [Seminars - Ecclesiastes](https://stfi.org/et_tb_item/seminars-ecclesiastes-4/) - {"header":{"post_content":"[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" module_class=\"custom-header\" _builder_version=\"4.9.4\" _module_preset=\"default\" background_enable_color=\"off\" use_background_color_gradient=\"on\" background_color_gradient_start=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_color_gradient_end=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_color_gradient_overlays_image=\"on\" background_image=\"https:\/\/stfi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/bookshelf.jpg\" custom_padding=\"0px||0px||false|false\" hover_enabled=\"0\" background_last_edited=\"on|phone\" background_enable_color_tablet=\"off\" use_background_color_gradient_tablet=\"on\" background_color_gradient_start_tablet=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_color_gradient_end_tablet=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" sticky_position_phone=\"top\" sticky_position_last_edited=\"off|desktop\" sticky_enabled=\"0\"][et_pb_row column_structure=\"1_4,3_4\" make_equal=\"on\" custom_padding_last_edited=\"on|phone\" module_class=\"menu-row\" _builder_version=\"4.9.4\" _module_preset=\"default\" width=\"62%\" width_tablet=\"100%\" width_phone=\"100%\" width_last_edited=\"on|tablet\" max_width=\"100%\" custom_padding=\"20px||30px||false|false\" custom_padding_tablet=\"12px|4.5%|0px|4.5%|false|false\" custom_padding_phone=\"\" animation_style=\"fade\" hover_enabled=\"0\" background_last_edited=\"on|desktop\" background_enable_color_phone=\"off\" sticky_position_tablet=\"top\" sticky_position_phone=\"top\" sticky_position_last_edited=\"on|tablet\" sticky_enabled=\"0\" background__sticky_enabled=\"on|sticky\" background_color_gradient_end__sticky=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" use_background_color_gradient__sticky=\"on\" background_color_gradient_start__sticky=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\"][et_pb_column type=\"1_4\" module_class=\"col-1\" _builder_version=\"4.9.0\" _module_preset=\"default\"][et_pb_image src=\"https:\/\/stfi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/spirit-truth-logo-new.png\" title_text=\"spirit-truth-logo-new\" url=\"\/\" admin_label=\"Header
- [Seminars - A Journey Through the Old Testament](https://stfi.org/et_tb_item/seminars-a-journey-through-the-old-testament-4/) - {"header":{"post_content":"[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" module_class=\"custom-header\" _builder_version=\"4.9.4\" _module_preset=\"default\" background_enable_color=\"off\" use_background_color_gradient=\"on\" background_color_gradient_start=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_color_gradient_end=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_color_gradient_overlays_image=\"on\" background_image=\"https:\/\/stfi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/bookshelf.jpg\" custom_padding=\"0px||0px||false|false\" hover_enabled=\"0\" background_last_edited=\"on|phone\" background_enable_color_tablet=\"off\" use_background_color_gradient_tablet=\"on\" background_color_gradient_start_tablet=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_color_gradient_end_tablet=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" sticky_position_phone=\"top\" sticky_position_last_edited=\"off|desktop\" sticky_enabled=\"0\"][et_pb_row column_structure=\"1_4,3_4\" make_equal=\"on\" custom_padding_last_edited=\"on|phone\" module_class=\"menu-row\" _builder_version=\"4.9.4\" _module_preset=\"default\" width=\"62%\" width_tablet=\"100%\" width_phone=\"100%\" width_last_edited=\"on|tablet\" max_width=\"100%\" custom_padding=\"20px||30px||false|false\" custom_padding_tablet=\"12px|4.5%|0px|4.5%|false|false\" custom_padding_phone=\"\" animation_style=\"fade\" hover_enabled=\"0\" background_last_edited=\"on|desktop\" background_enable_color_phone=\"off\" sticky_position_tablet=\"top\" sticky_position_phone=\"top\" sticky_position_last_edited=\"on|tablet\" sticky_enabled=\"0\" background__sticky_enabled=\"on|sticky\" background_color_gradient_end__sticky=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" use_background_color_gradient__sticky=\"on\" background_color_gradient_start__sticky=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\"][et_pb_column type=\"1_4\" module_class=\"col-1\" _builder_version=\"4.9.0\" _module_preset=\"default\"][et_pb_image src=\"https:\/\/stfi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/spirit-truth-logo-new.png\" title_text=\"spirit-truth-logo-new\" url=\"\/\" admin_label=\"Header
- [Seminars - Death & Resurrection to Life](https://stfi.org/et_tb_item/seminars-death-resurrection-to-life-4/) - {"header":{"post_content":"[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" module_class=\"custom-header\" _builder_version=\"4.9.4\" _module_preset=\"default\" background_enable_color=\"off\" use_background_color_gradient=\"on\" background_color_gradient_start=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_color_gradient_end=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_color_gradient_overlays_image=\"on\" background_image=\"https:\/\/stfi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/bookshelf.jpg\" custom_padding=\"0px||0px||false|false\" hover_enabled=\"0\" background_last_edited=\"on|phone\" background_enable_color_tablet=\"off\" use_background_color_gradient_tablet=\"on\" background_color_gradient_start_tablet=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_color_gradient_end_tablet=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" sticky_position_phone=\"top\" sticky_position_last_edited=\"off|desktop\" sticky_enabled=\"0\"][et_pb_row column_structure=\"1_4,3_4\" make_equal=\"on\" custom_padding_last_edited=\"on|phone\" module_class=\"menu-row\" _builder_version=\"4.9.4\" _module_preset=\"default\" width=\"62%\" width_tablet=\"100%\" width_phone=\"100%\" width_last_edited=\"on|tablet\" max_width=\"100%\" custom_padding=\"20px||30px||false|false\" custom_padding_tablet=\"12px|4.5%|0px|4.5%|false|false\" custom_padding_phone=\"\" animation_style=\"fade\" hover_enabled=\"0\" background_last_edited=\"on|desktop\" background_enable_color_phone=\"off\" sticky_position_tablet=\"top\" sticky_position_phone=\"top\" sticky_position_last_edited=\"on|tablet\" sticky_enabled=\"0\" background__sticky_enabled=\"on|sticky\" background_color_gradient_end__sticky=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" use_background_color_gradient__sticky=\"on\" background_color_gradient_start__sticky=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\"][et_pb_column type=\"1_4\" module_class=\"col-1\" _builder_version=\"4.9.0\" _module_preset=\"default\"][et_pb_image src=\"https:\/\/stfi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/spirit-truth-logo-new.png\" title_text=\"spirit-truth-logo-new\" url=\"\/\" admin_label=\"Header
- [Seminars - New Life in Christ: foundations for Powerful Christian Living](https://stfi.org/et_tb_item/seminars-new-life-in-christ-foundations-for-powerful-christian-living-4/) - {"header":{"post_content":"[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" module_class=\"custom-header\" _builder_version=\"4.9.4\" _module_preset=\"default\" background_enable_color=\"off\" use_background_color_gradient=\"on\" background_color_gradient_start=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_color_gradient_end=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_color_gradient_overlays_image=\"on\" background_image=\"https:\/\/stfi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/bookshelf.jpg\" custom_padding=\"0px||0px||false|false\" hover_enabled=\"0\" background_last_edited=\"on|phone\" background_enable_color_tablet=\"off\" use_background_color_gradient_tablet=\"on\" background_color_gradient_start_tablet=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_color_gradient_end_tablet=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" sticky_position_phone=\"top\" sticky_position_last_edited=\"off|desktop\" sticky_enabled=\"0\"][et_pb_row column_structure=\"1_4,3_4\" make_equal=\"on\" custom_padding_last_edited=\"on|phone\" module_class=\"menu-row\" _builder_version=\"4.9.4\" _module_preset=\"default\" width=\"62%\" width_tablet=\"100%\" width_phone=\"100%\" width_last_edited=\"on|tablet\" max_width=\"100%\" custom_padding=\"20px||30px||false|false\" custom_padding_tablet=\"12px|4.5%|0px|4.5%|false|false\" custom_padding_phone=\"\" animation_style=\"fade\" hover_enabled=\"0\" background_last_edited=\"on|desktop\" background_enable_color_phone=\"off\" sticky_position_tablet=\"top\" sticky_position_phone=\"top\" sticky_position_last_edited=\"on|tablet\" sticky_enabled=\"0\" background__sticky_enabled=\"on|sticky\" background_color_gradient_end__sticky=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" use_background_color_gradient__sticky=\"on\" background_color_gradient_start__sticky=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\"][et_pb_column type=\"1_4\" module_class=\"col-1\" _builder_version=\"4.9.0\" _module_preset=\"default\"][et_pb_image src=\"https:\/\/stfi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/spirit-truth-logo-new.png\" title_text=\"spirit-truth-logo-new\" url=\"\/\" admin_label=\"Header
- [Seminars - Truth Matters](https://stfi.org/et_tb_item/seminars-truth-matters-4/) - {"header":{"post_content":"[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" module_class=\"custom-header\" _builder_version=\"4.9.4\" _module_preset=\"default\" background_enable_color=\"off\" use_background_color_gradient=\"on\" background_color_gradient_start=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_color_gradient_end=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_color_gradient_overlays_image=\"on\" background_image=\"https:\/\/stfi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/bookshelf.jpg\" custom_padding=\"0px||0px||false|false\" hover_enabled=\"0\" background_last_edited=\"on|phone\" background_enable_color_tablet=\"off\" use_background_color_gradient_tablet=\"on\" background_color_gradient_start_tablet=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_color_gradient_end_tablet=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" sticky_position_phone=\"top\" sticky_position_last_edited=\"off|desktop\" sticky_enabled=\"0\"][et_pb_row column_structure=\"1_4,3_4\" make_equal=\"on\" custom_padding_last_edited=\"on|phone\" module_class=\"menu-row\" _builder_version=\"4.9.4\" _module_preset=\"default\" width=\"62%\" width_tablet=\"100%\" width_phone=\"100%\" width_last_edited=\"on|tablet\" max_width=\"100%\" custom_padding=\"20px||30px||false|false\" custom_padding_tablet=\"12px|4.5%|0px|4.5%|false|false\" custom_padding_phone=\"\" animation_style=\"fade\" hover_enabled=\"0\" background_last_edited=\"on|desktop\" background_enable_color_phone=\"off\" sticky_position_tablet=\"top\" sticky_position_phone=\"top\" sticky_position_last_edited=\"on|tablet\" sticky_enabled=\"0\" background__sticky_enabled=\"on|sticky\" background_color_gradient_end__sticky=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" use_background_color_gradient__sticky=\"on\" background_color_gradient_start__sticky=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\"][et_pb_column type=\"1_4\" module_class=\"col-1\" _builder_version=\"4.9.0\" _module_preset=\"default\"][et_pb_image src=\"https:\/\/stfi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/spirit-truth-logo-new.png\" title_text=\"spirit-truth-logo-new\" url=\"\/\" admin_label=\"Header
- [Seminars - The Creation - Evolution Controversy](https://stfi.org/et_tb_item/seminars-the-creation-evolution-controversy-4/) - {"header":{"post_content":"[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" module_class=\"custom-header\" _builder_version=\"4.9.4\" _module_preset=\"default\" background_enable_color=\"off\" use_background_color_gradient=\"on\" background_color_gradient_start=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_color_gradient_end=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_color_gradient_overlays_image=\"on\" background_image=\"https:\/\/stfi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/bookshelf.jpg\" custom_padding=\"0px||0px||false|false\" hover_enabled=\"0\" background_last_edited=\"on|phone\" background_enable_color_tablet=\"off\" use_background_color_gradient_tablet=\"on\" background_color_gradient_start_tablet=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_color_gradient_end_tablet=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" sticky_position_phone=\"top\" sticky_position_last_edited=\"off|desktop\" sticky_enabled=\"0\"][et_pb_row column_structure=\"1_4,3_4\" make_equal=\"on\" custom_padding_last_edited=\"on|phone\" module_class=\"menu-row\" _builder_version=\"4.9.4\" _module_preset=\"default\" width=\"62%\" width_tablet=\"100%\" width_phone=\"100%\" width_last_edited=\"on|tablet\" max_width=\"100%\" custom_padding=\"20px||30px||false|false\" custom_padding_tablet=\"12px|4.5%|0px|4.5%|false|false\" custom_padding_phone=\"\" animation_style=\"fade\" hover_enabled=\"0\" background_last_edited=\"on|desktop\" background_enable_color_phone=\"off\" sticky_position_tablet=\"top\" sticky_position_phone=\"top\" sticky_position_last_edited=\"on|tablet\" sticky_enabled=\"0\" background__sticky_enabled=\"on|sticky\" background_color_gradient_end__sticky=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" use_background_color_gradient__sticky=\"on\" background_color_gradient_start__sticky=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\"][et_pb_column type=\"1_4\" module_class=\"col-1\" _builder_version=\"4.9.0\" _module_preset=\"default\"][et_pb_image src=\"https:\/\/stfi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/spirit-truth-logo-new.png\" title_text=\"spirit-truth-logo-new\" url=\"\/\" admin_label=\"Header
- [Seminars - The Book of Revelation](https://stfi.org/et_tb_item/seminars-the-book-of-revelation-4/) - {"header":{"post_content":"[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" module_class=\"custom-header\" _builder_version=\"4.9.4\" _module_preset=\"default\" background_enable_color=\"off\" use_background_color_gradient=\"on\" background_color_gradient_start=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_color_gradient_end=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_color_gradient_overlays_image=\"on\" background_image=\"https:\/\/stfi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/bookshelf.jpg\" custom_padding=\"0px||0px||false|false\" hover_enabled=\"0\" background_last_edited=\"on|phone\" background_enable_color_tablet=\"off\" use_background_color_gradient_tablet=\"on\" background_color_gradient_start_tablet=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_color_gradient_end_tablet=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" sticky_position_phone=\"top\" sticky_position_last_edited=\"off|desktop\" sticky_enabled=\"0\"][et_pb_row column_structure=\"1_4,3_4\" make_equal=\"on\" custom_padding_last_edited=\"on|phone\" module_class=\"menu-row\" _builder_version=\"4.9.4\" _module_preset=\"default\" width=\"62%\" width_tablet=\"100%\" width_phone=\"100%\" width_last_edited=\"on|tablet\" max_width=\"100%\" custom_padding=\"20px||30px||false|false\" custom_padding_tablet=\"12px|4.5%|0px|4.5%|false|false\" custom_padding_phone=\"\" animation_style=\"fade\" hover_enabled=\"0\" background_last_edited=\"on|desktop\" background_enable_color_phone=\"off\" sticky_position_tablet=\"top\" sticky_position_phone=\"top\" sticky_position_last_edited=\"on|tablet\" sticky_enabled=\"0\" background__sticky_enabled=\"on|sticky\" background_color_gradient_end__sticky=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" use_background_color_gradient__sticky=\"on\" background_color_gradient_start__sticky=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\"][et_pb_column type=\"1_4\" module_class=\"col-1\" _builder_version=\"4.9.0\" _module_preset=\"default\"][et_pb_image src=\"https:\/\/stfi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/spirit-truth-logo-new.png\" title_text=\"spirit-truth-logo-new\" url=\"\/\" admin_label=\"Header
- [Seminars - On the Errors of the Trinity](https://stfi.org/et_tb_item/seminars-on-the-errors-of-the-trinity-4/) - {"header":{"post_content":"[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" module_class=\"custom-header\" _builder_version=\"4.9.4\" _module_preset=\"default\" background_enable_color=\"off\" use_background_color_gradient=\"on\" background_color_gradient_start=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_color_gradient_end=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_color_gradient_overlays_image=\"on\" background_image=\"https:\/\/stfi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/bookshelf.jpg\" custom_padding=\"0px||0px||false|false\" hover_enabled=\"0\" background_last_edited=\"on|phone\" background_enable_color_tablet=\"off\" use_background_color_gradient_tablet=\"on\" background_color_gradient_start_tablet=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_color_gradient_end_tablet=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" sticky_position_phone=\"top\" sticky_position_last_edited=\"off|desktop\" sticky_enabled=\"0\"][et_pb_row column_structure=\"1_4,3_4\" make_equal=\"on\" custom_padding_last_edited=\"on|phone\" module_class=\"menu-row\" _builder_version=\"4.9.4\" _module_preset=\"default\" width=\"62%\" width_tablet=\"100%\" width_phone=\"100%\" width_last_edited=\"on|tablet\" max_width=\"100%\" custom_padding=\"20px||30px||false|false\" custom_padding_tablet=\"12px|4.5%|0px|4.5%|false|false\" custom_padding_phone=\"\" animation_style=\"fade\" hover_enabled=\"0\" background_last_edited=\"on|desktop\" background_enable_color_phone=\"off\" sticky_position_tablet=\"top\" sticky_position_phone=\"top\" sticky_position_last_edited=\"on|tablet\" sticky_enabled=\"0\" background__sticky_enabled=\"on|sticky\" background_color_gradient_end__sticky=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" use_background_color_gradient__sticky=\"on\" background_color_gradient_start__sticky=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\"][et_pb_column type=\"1_4\" module_class=\"col-1\" _builder_version=\"4.9.0\" _module_preset=\"default\"][et_pb_image src=\"https:\/\/stfi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/spirit-truth-logo-new.png\" title_text=\"spirit-truth-logo-new\" url=\"\/\" admin_label=\"Header
- [Single Event Layout 1](https://stfi.org/et_tb_item/single-event-layout-1-4/) - {"header":{"post_content":"[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" module_class=\"custom-header main-global-headers\" _builder_version=\"4.24.2\" _module_preset=\"default\" use_background_color_gradient=\"on\" background_color_gradient_stops=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75) 0%|rgba(0,0,0,0.75) 100%\" background_color_gradient_overlays_image=\"on\" background_color_gradient_start=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_color_gradient_end=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_image=\"https:\/\/stfi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/bookshelf.jpg\" custom_padding=\"0px||0px||false|false\" background_last_edited=\"on|phone\" background_enable_color_tablet=\"off\" use_background_color_gradient_tablet=\"on\" background_color_gradient_stops_tablet=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75) 0%|rgba(0,0,0,0.75) 100%\" background_color_gradient_start_tablet=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_color_gradient_end_tablet=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" sticky_position_phone=\"top\" sticky_position_last_edited=\"off|desktop\" global_module=\"5631663\" global_colors_info=\"{}\"][et_pb_row column_structure=\"1_4,3_4\" make_equal=\"on\" custom_padding_last_edited=\"on|phone\" module_class=\"menu-row\" _builder_version=\"4.24.2\" _module_preset=\"default\" transform_scale_last_edited=\"off|desktop\" transform_translate_last_edited=\"off|desktop\" transform_rotate_last_edited=\"off|desktop\" transform_skew_last_edited=\"off|desktop\" transform_origin_last_edited=\"off|desktop\" transform_styles_last_edited=\"off|desktop\" width=\"62%\" max_width=\"100%\" custom_padding=\"20px||30px||false|false\" custom_padding_tablet=\"12px|4.5%|0px|4.5%|false|false\" custom_padding_phone=\"\" hover_transition_duration=\"0ms\" background_last_edited=\"on|desktop\" background_enable_color_phone=\"off\" hover_transition_duration_tablet=\"\" hover_transition_duration_phone=\"\" hover_transition_duration_last_edited=\"on|desktop\" hover_transition_speed_curve_tablet=\"\" hover_transition_speed_curve_phone=\"\" hover_transition_speed_curve_last_edited=\"on|desktop\" sticky_position_tablet=\"top\" sticky_position_phone=\"top\"
- [Single Event Layout 2](https://stfi.org/et_tb_item/single-event-layout-2-4/) - {"header":{"post_content":"[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" module_class=\"custom-header main-global-headers\" _builder_version=\"4.24.2\" _module_preset=\"default\" use_background_color_gradient=\"on\" background_color_gradient_stops=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75) 0%|rgba(0,0,0,0.75) 100%\" background_color_gradient_overlays_image=\"on\" background_color_gradient_start=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_color_gradient_end=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_image=\"https:\/\/stfi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/bookshelf.jpg\" custom_padding=\"0px||0px||false|false\" background_last_edited=\"on|phone\" background_enable_color_tablet=\"off\" use_background_color_gradient_tablet=\"on\" background_color_gradient_stops_tablet=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75) 0%|rgba(0,0,0,0.75) 100%\" background_color_gradient_start_tablet=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_color_gradient_end_tablet=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" sticky_position_phone=\"top\" sticky_position_last_edited=\"off|desktop\" global_module=\"5631663\" global_colors_info=\"{}\"][et_pb_row column_structure=\"1_4,3_4\" make_equal=\"on\" custom_padding_last_edited=\"on|phone\" module_class=\"menu-row\" _builder_version=\"4.24.2\" _module_preset=\"default\" transform_scale_last_edited=\"off|desktop\" transform_translate_last_edited=\"off|desktop\" transform_rotate_last_edited=\"off|desktop\" transform_skew_last_edited=\"off|desktop\" transform_origin_last_edited=\"off|desktop\" transform_styles_last_edited=\"off|desktop\" width=\"62%\" max_width=\"100%\" custom_padding=\"20px||30px||false|false\" custom_padding_tablet=\"12px|4.5%|0px|4.5%|false|false\" custom_padding_phone=\"\" hover_transition_duration=\"0ms\" background_last_edited=\"on|desktop\" background_enable_color_phone=\"off\" hover_transition_duration_tablet=\"\" hover_transition_duration_phone=\"\" hover_transition_duration_last_edited=\"on|desktop\" hover_transition_speed_curve_tablet=\"\" hover_transition_speed_curve_phone=\"\" hover_transition_speed_curve_last_edited=\"on|desktop\" sticky_position_tablet=\"top\" sticky_position_phone=\"top\"
- [Single Event Layout 3](https://stfi.org/et_tb_item/single-event-layout-3-4/) - {"header":{"post_content":"[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" module_class=\"custom-header main-global-headers\" _builder_version=\"4.24.2\" _module_preset=\"default\" use_background_color_gradient=\"on\" background_color_gradient_stops=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75) 0%|rgba(0,0,0,0.75) 100%\" background_color_gradient_overlays_image=\"on\" background_color_gradient_start=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_color_gradient_end=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_image=\"https:\/\/stfi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/bookshelf.jpg\" custom_padding=\"0px||0px||false|false\" background_last_edited=\"on|phone\" background_enable_color_tablet=\"off\" use_background_color_gradient_tablet=\"on\" background_color_gradient_stops_tablet=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75) 0%|rgba(0,0,0,0.75) 100%\" background_color_gradient_start_tablet=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_color_gradient_end_tablet=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" sticky_position_phone=\"top\" sticky_position_last_edited=\"off|desktop\" global_module=\"5631663\" global_colors_info=\"{}\"][et_pb_row column_structure=\"1_4,3_4\" make_equal=\"on\" custom_padding_last_edited=\"on|phone\" module_class=\"menu-row\" _builder_version=\"4.24.2\" _module_preset=\"default\" transform_scale_last_edited=\"off|desktop\" transform_translate_last_edited=\"off|desktop\" transform_rotate_last_edited=\"off|desktop\" transform_skew_last_edited=\"off|desktop\" transform_origin_last_edited=\"off|desktop\" transform_styles_last_edited=\"off|desktop\" width=\"62%\" max_width=\"100%\" custom_padding=\"20px||30px||false|false\" custom_padding_tablet=\"12px|4.5%|0px|4.5%|false|false\" custom_padding_phone=\"\" hover_transition_duration=\"0ms\" background_last_edited=\"on|desktop\" background_enable_color_phone=\"off\" hover_transition_duration_tablet=\"\" hover_transition_duration_phone=\"\" hover_transition_duration_last_edited=\"on|desktop\" hover_transition_speed_curve_tablet=\"\" hover_transition_speed_curve_phone=\"\" hover_transition_speed_curve_last_edited=\"on|desktop\" sticky_position_tablet=\"top\" sticky_position_phone=\"top\"
- [Single Event Layout 1 (orig)](https://stfi.org/et_tb_item/single-event-layout-1-orig-4/) - {"header":{"post_content":"[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" module_class=\"custom-header main-global-headers\" _builder_version=\"4.24.2\" _module_preset=\"default\" use_background_color_gradient=\"on\" background_color_gradient_stops=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75) 0%|rgba(0,0,0,0.75) 100%\" background_color_gradient_overlays_image=\"on\" background_color_gradient_start=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_color_gradient_end=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_image=\"https:\/\/stfi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/bookshelf.jpg\" custom_padding=\"0px||0px||false|false\" background_last_edited=\"on|phone\" background_enable_color_tablet=\"off\" use_background_color_gradient_tablet=\"on\" background_color_gradient_stops_tablet=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75) 0%|rgba(0,0,0,0.75) 100%\" background_color_gradient_start_tablet=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_color_gradient_end_tablet=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" sticky_position_phone=\"top\" sticky_position_last_edited=\"off|desktop\" global_module=\"5631663\" global_colors_info=\"{}\"][et_pb_row column_structure=\"1_4,3_4\" make_equal=\"on\" custom_padding_last_edited=\"on|phone\" module_class=\"menu-row\" _builder_version=\"4.24.2\" _module_preset=\"default\" transform_scale_last_edited=\"off|desktop\" transform_translate_last_edited=\"off|desktop\" transform_rotate_last_edited=\"off|desktop\" transform_skew_last_edited=\"off|desktop\" transform_origin_last_edited=\"off|desktop\" transform_styles_last_edited=\"off|desktop\" width=\"62%\" max_width=\"100%\" custom_padding=\"20px||30px||false|false\" custom_padding_tablet=\"12px|4.5%|0px|4.5%|false|false\" custom_padding_phone=\"\" hover_transition_duration=\"0ms\" background_last_edited=\"on|desktop\" background_enable_color_phone=\"off\" hover_transition_duration_tablet=\"\" hover_transition_duration_phone=\"\" hover_transition_duration_last_edited=\"on|desktop\" hover_transition_speed_curve_tablet=\"\" hover_transition_speed_curve_phone=\"\" hover_transition_speed_curve_last_edited=\"on|desktop\" sticky_position_tablet=\"top\" sticky_position_phone=\"top\"
- [All VF Videos - Individual Posts](https://stfi.org/et_tb_item/all-vf-videos-individual-posts-4/) - {"header":{"post_content":"[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" module_class=\"custom-header\" _builder_version=\"4.16\" _module_preset=\"default\" use_background_color_gradient=\"on\" background_color_gradient_stops=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75) 0%|rgba(0,0,0,0.75) 100%\" background_color_gradient_overlays_image=\"on\" background_color_gradient_start=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_color_gradient_end=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_image=\"https:\/\/stfi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/bookshelf.jpg\" custom_padding=\"0px||0px||false|false\" background_last_edited=\"on|phone\" background_enable_color_tablet=\"off\" use_background_color_gradient_tablet=\"on\" background_color_gradient_stops_tablet=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75) 0%|rgba(0,0,0,0.75) 100%\" background_color_gradient_start_tablet=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_color_gradient_end_tablet=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" global_colors_info=\"{}\"][et_pb_row column_structure=\"1_4,3_4\" make_equal=\"on\" custom_padding_last_edited=\"on|phone\" module_class=\"menu-row\" _builder_version=\"4.24.2\" _module_preset=\"default\" width=\"62%\" width_tablet=\"100%\" width_phone=\"100%\" width_last_edited=\"on|phone\" max_width=\"100%\" custom_padding=\"20px||30px||false|false\" custom_padding_tablet=\"12px|4.5%|0px|4.5%|false|false\" custom_padding_phone=\"\" hover_enabled=\"0\" background_last_edited=\"on|desktop\" background_enable_color_phone=\"off\" sticky_position_tablet=\"top\" sticky_position_phone=\"top\" sticky_position_last_edited=\"on|tablet\" global_colors_info=\"{}\" background__sticky_enabled=\"on|sticky\" background_color_gradient_end__sticky=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" use_background_color_gradient__sticky=\"on\" background_color_gradient_start__sticky=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_color_gradient_stops__sticky=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75) 0%|rgba(0,0,0,0.75) 100%\" sticky_enabled=\"0\"][et_pb_column type=\"1_4\" module_class=\"col-1\" _builder_version=\"4.16\"
- [Unassigned](https://stfi.org/et_tb_item/unassigned-7/) - {"header":{"post_content":"[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.23\" _module_preset=\"default\" background_color=\"#fcfbff\" custom_padding=\"10px|10px|10px|10px|true|true\" global_colors_info=\"%91%93\" locked=\"off\" theme_builder_area=\"post_content\"][et_pb_row column_structure=\"1_5,3_5,1_5\" _builder_version=\"4.23\" _module_preset=\"default\" width=\"100%\" max_width=\"1440px\" custom_padding=\"0px|0px|0px|0px|true|true\" custom_css_main_element=\" display: flex;|| align-items: center;|| flex-wrap:wrap;\" custom_css_free_form=\"selector, selector .et_pb_row {|| display: flex;|| align-items: center;|| flex-wrap:wrap;||}\" global_colors_info=\"{}\" custom_css_main_element_last_edited=\"on|phone\" custom_css_main_element_phone=\"align-items: center!important;||display: flex!important;\" custom_css_main_element_tablet=\" display: flex;|| align-items: center;|| flex-wrap:wrap;\" theme_builder_area=\"post_content\"][et_pb_column type=\"1_5\" _builder_version=\"4.23\" _module_preset=\"default\" custom_padding_tablet=\"\" custom_padding_phone=\"||0px||false|false\" custom_padding_last_edited=\"on|phone\" global_colors_info=\"{}\" custom_css_main_element_last_edited=\"on|tablet\" custom_css_main_element_tablet=\"width:33%;\" custom_css_main_element_phone=\"width:40%!important;||margin-bottom:0px!important;\" theme_builder_area=\"post_content\"][et_pb_image src=\"https:\/\/stfi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/kidz-logo.png\" title_text=\"kidz-logo\"
- [Unassigned](https://stfi.org/et_tb_item/unassigned-8/) - {"header":{"post_content":"[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.23\" _module_preset=\"default\" background_color=\"#fcfbff\" custom_padding=\"10px|10px|10px|10px|true|true\" global_colors_info=\"%91%93\" locked=\"off\" theme_builder_area=\"post_content\"][et_pb_row column_structure=\"1_5,3_5,1_5\" _builder_version=\"4.23\" _module_preset=\"default\" width=\"100%\" max_width=\"1440px\" custom_padding=\"0px|0px|0px|0px|true|true\" custom_css_main_element=\" display: flex;|| align-items: center;|| flex-wrap:wrap;\" custom_css_free_form=\"selector, selector .et_pb_row {|| display: flex;|| align-items: center;|| flex-wrap:wrap;||}\" global_colors_info=\"{}\" custom_css_main_element_last_edited=\"on|phone\" custom_css_main_element_phone=\"align-items: center!important;||display: flex!important;\" custom_css_main_element_tablet=\" display: flex;|| align-items: center;|| flex-wrap:wrap;\" theme_builder_area=\"post_content\"][et_pb_column type=\"1_5\" _builder_version=\"4.23\" _module_preset=\"default\" custom_padding_tablet=\"\" custom_padding_phone=\"||0px||false|false\" custom_padding_last_edited=\"on|phone\" global_colors_info=\"{}\" custom_css_main_element_last_edited=\"on|tablet\" custom_css_main_element_tablet=\"width:33%;\" custom_css_main_element_phone=\"width:40%!important;||margin-bottom:0px!important;\" theme_builder_area=\"post_content\"][et_pb_image src=\"https:\/\/stfi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/kidz-logo.png\" title_text=\"kidz-logo\"
- [Specific Pages: Kids](https://stfi.org/et_tb_item/specific-pages-kids-4/) - {"header":{"post_content":"[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.23\" _module_preset=\"default\" background_color=\"#fcfbff\" custom_padding=\"10px|10px|10px|10px|true|true\" locked=\"off\" global_colors_info=\"%91%93\" theme_builder_area=\"et_header_layout\" admin_label=\"Section\"][et_pb_row column_structure=\"1_5,3_5,1_5\" _builder_version=\"4.23\" _module_preset=\"default\" width=\"100%\" max_width=\"1440px\" custom_padding=\"0px|0px|0px|0px|true|true\" hover_enabled=\"0\" custom_css_main_element=\" display: flex;|| align-items: center;|| flex-wrap:wrap;\" custom_css_free_form=\"selector, selector .et_pb_row {|| display: flex;|| align-items: center;|| flex-wrap:wrap;||}\" global_colors_info=\"{}\" custom_css_main_element_last_edited=\"on|phone\" custom_css_main_element_phone=\"align-items: center!important;||display: flex!important;\" custom_css_main_element_tablet=\" display: flex;|| align-items: center;|| flex-wrap:wrap;\" theme_builder_area=\"et_header_layout\" sticky_enabled=\"0\"][et_pb_column type=\"1_5\" _builder_version=\"4.23\" _module_preset=\"default\" custom_padding_tablet=\"\" custom_padding_phone=\"||0px||false|false\" custom_padding_last_edited=\"on|phone\" global_colors_info=\"{}\" custom_css_main_element_last_edited=\"on|tablet\" custom_css_main_element_tablet=\"width:33%;\" custom_css_main_element_phone=\"width:40%!important;||margin-bottom:0px!important;\"
- [Children of Specific Pages: Store](https://stfi.org/et_tb_item/children-of-specific-pages-store-4/) - {"header":{"post_content":"[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" module_class=\"custom-header\" _builder_version=\"4.16\" _module_preset=\"default\" use_background_color_gradient=\"on\" background_color_gradient_stops=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75) 0%|rgba(0,0,0,0.75) 100%\" background_color_gradient_overlays_image=\"on\" background_color_gradient_start=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_color_gradient_end=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_image=\"https:\/\/stfi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/bookshelf.jpg\" custom_padding=\"0px||0px||false|false\" background_last_edited=\"on|phone\" background_enable_color_tablet=\"off\" use_background_color_gradient_tablet=\"on\" background_color_gradient_stops_tablet=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75) 0%|rgba(0,0,0,0.75) 100%\" background_color_gradient_start_tablet=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_color_gradient_end_tablet=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" sticky_position_phone=\"top\" sticky_position_last_edited=\"off|desktop\" global_colors_info=\"{}\"][et_pb_row column_structure=\"1_4,3_4\" make_equal=\"on\" custom_padding_last_edited=\"on|phone\" module_class=\"menu-row\" _builder_version=\"4.16\" _module_preset=\"default\" width=\"62%\" max_width=\"100%\" custom_padding=\"20px||30px||false|false\" custom_padding_tablet=\"12px|4.5%|0px|4.5%|false|false\" custom_padding_phone=\"\" animation_style=\"fade\" background_last_edited=\"on|desktop\" background_enable_color_phone=\"off\" sticky_position_tablet=\"top\" sticky_position_phone=\"top\" sticky_position_last_edited=\"on|tablet\" global_colors_info=\"{}\" background__hover_enabled=\"off|desktop\" background__sticky_enabled=\"on|sticky\" background_color__sticky=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_enable_color__sticky=\"on\"][et_pb_column type=\"1_4\" module_class=\"col-1\" _builder_version=\"4.16\" _module_preset=\"default\" global_colors_info=\"{}\"][et_pb_image src=\"https:\/\/stfi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/spirit-truth-logo-new.png\" title_text=\"spirit-truth-logo-new\" url=\"\/\"
- [Videos Archive Page](https://stfi.org/et_tb_item/videos-archive-page-4/) - {"header":{"post_content":"[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" module_class=\"custom-header main-global-headers\" _builder_version=\"4.24.2\" _module_preset=\"default\" use_background_color_gradient=\"on\" background_color_gradient_stops=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75) 0%|rgba(0,0,0,0.75) 100%\" background_color_gradient_overlays_image=\"on\" background_color_gradient_start=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_color_gradient_end=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_image=\"https:\/\/stfi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/bookshelf.jpg\" custom_padding=\"0px||0px||false|false\" background_last_edited=\"on|phone\" background_enable_color_tablet=\"off\" use_background_color_gradient_tablet=\"on\" background_color_gradient_stops_tablet=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75) 0%|rgba(0,0,0,0.75) 100%\" background_color_gradient_start_tablet=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_color_gradient_end_tablet=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" sticky_position_phone=\"top\" sticky_position_last_edited=\"off|desktop\" global_module=\"5631663\" global_colors_info=\"{}\"][et_pb_row column_structure=\"1_4,3_4\" make_equal=\"on\" custom_padding_last_edited=\"on|phone\" module_class=\"menu-row\" _builder_version=\"4.24.2\" _module_preset=\"default\" transform_scale_last_edited=\"off|desktop\" transform_translate_last_edited=\"off|desktop\" transform_rotate_last_edited=\"off|desktop\" transform_skew_last_edited=\"off|desktop\" transform_origin_last_edited=\"off|desktop\" transform_styles_last_edited=\"off|desktop\" width=\"62%\" max_width=\"100%\" custom_padding=\"20px||30px||false|false\" custom_padding_tablet=\"12px|4.5%|0px|4.5%|false|false\" custom_padding_phone=\"\" hover_transition_duration=\"0ms\" background_last_edited=\"on|desktop\" background_enable_color_phone=\"off\" hover_transition_duration_tablet=\"\" hover_transition_duration_phone=\"\" hover_transition_duration_last_edited=\"on|desktop\" hover_transition_speed_curve_tablet=\"\" hover_transition_speed_curve_phone=\"\" hover_transition_speed_curve_last_edited=\"on|desktop\" sticky_position_tablet=\"top\" sticky_position_phone=\"top\"
- [old_site_header_templates](https://stfi.org/et_tb_item/old_site_header_templates/)
- [Default Website Template](https://stfi.org/et_tb_item/default-website-template-4/) - {"header":{"post_content":"[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" module_class=\"custom-header main-global-headers\" _builder_version=\"4.24.2\" _module_preset=\"default\" use_background_color_gradient=\"on\" background_color_gradient_stops=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75) 0%|rgba(0,0,0,0.75) 100%\" background_color_gradient_overlays_image=\"on\" background_color_gradient_start=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_color_gradient_end=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_image=\"https:\/\/stfi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/bookshelf.jpg\" custom_padding=\"0px||0px||false|false\" background_last_edited=\"on|phone\" background_enable_color_tablet=\"off\" use_background_color_gradient_tablet=\"on\" background_color_gradient_stops_tablet=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75) 0%|rgba(0,0,0,0.75) 100%\" background_color_gradient_start_tablet=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_color_gradient_end_tablet=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" sticky_position_phone=\"top\" sticky_position_last_edited=\"off|desktop\" global_module=\"5631663\" global_colors_info=\"{}\"][et_pb_row column_structure=\"1_4,3_4\" make_equal=\"on\" custom_padding_last_edited=\"on|phone\" module_class=\"menu-row\" _builder_version=\"4.24.2\" _module_preset=\"default\" transform_scale_last_edited=\"off|desktop\" transform_translate_last_edited=\"off|desktop\" transform_rotate_last_edited=\"off|desktop\" transform_skew_last_edited=\"off|desktop\" transform_origin_last_edited=\"off|desktop\" transform_styles_last_edited=\"off|desktop\" width=\"62%\" max_width=\"100%\" custom_padding=\"20px||30px||false|false\" custom_padding_tablet=\"12px|4.5%|0px|4.5%|false|false\" custom_padding_phone=\"\" hover_transition_duration=\"0ms\" background_last_edited=\"on|desktop\" background_enable_color_phone=\"off\" hover_transition_duration_tablet=\"\" hover_transition_duration_phone=\"\" hover_transition_duration_last_edited=\"on|desktop\" hover_transition_speed_curve_tablet=\"\" hover_transition_speed_curve_phone=\"\" hover_transition_speed_curve_last_edited=\"on|desktop\" sticky_position_tablet=\"top\" sticky_position_phone=\"top\"
- [Homepage](https://stfi.org/et_tb_item/homepage-4/) - {"header":{"post_content":"[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" module_class=\"custom-header local-header\" _builder_version=\"4.24.2\" _module_preset=\"default\" background_color=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_enable_image=\"off\" custom_padding=\"0px||0px||false|false\" background_color_tablet=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_last_edited=\"on|phone\" background_enable_color_tablet=\"on\" sticky_position_tablet=\"top\" sticky_position_phone=\"top\" sticky_position_last_edited=\"on|phone\" global_colors_info=\"{}\"][et_pb_row column_structure=\"1_4,3_4\" make_equal=\"on\" custom_padding_last_edited=\"on|tablet\" module_class=\"menu-row\" _builder_version=\"4.24.2\" _module_preset=\"default\" width=\"62%\" max_width=\"100%\" custom_padding=\"20px||30px||false|false\" custom_padding_tablet=\"12px|4.5%|0px|4.5%|false|false\" custom_padding_phone=\"|4.5%||4.5%|false|false\" background_last_edited=\"off|phone\" background_enable_color_phone=\"off\" sticky_position_tablet=\"top\" sticky_position_phone=\"top\" sticky_position_last_edited=\"on|tablet\" global_colors_info=\"{}\"][et_pb_column type=\"1_4\" module_class=\"col-1\" _builder_version=\"4.16\" _module_preset=\"default\" global_colors_info=\"{}\"][et_pb_image src=\"https:\/\/stfi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/spirit-truth-logo-new.png\" title_text=\"spirit-truth-logo-new\" url=\"\/\" admin_label=\"Header Logo Image - to edit, go to Divi, then Divi Library - CAUTION
- [Connect](https://stfi.org/et_tb_item/connect-4/) - {"header":{"post_content":"[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" module_class=\"custom-header\" _builder_version=\"4.16\" _dynamic_attributes=\"background_image\" _module_preset=\"default\" background_enable_color=\"off\" use_background_color_gradient=\"on\" background_color_gradient_stops=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75) 0%|rgba(0,0,0,0.75) 100%\" background_color_gradient_overlays_image=\"on\" background_color_gradient_start=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_color_gradient_end=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_image=\"@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9mZWF0dXJlZF9pbWFnZSIsInNldHRpbmdzIjp7fX0=@\" custom_padding=\"0px||0px||false|false\" background_last_edited=\"on|tablet\" background_enable_color_tablet=\"off\" use_background_color_gradient_tablet=\"on\" background_color_gradient_stops_tablet=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75) 0%|rgba(0,0,0,0.75) 100%\" background_color_gradient_start_tablet=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_color_gradient_end_tablet=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" sticky_position_phone=\"top\" sticky_position_last_edited=\"off|desktop\" global_colors_info=\"{}\"][et_pb_row column_structure=\"1_4,3_4\" make_equal=\"on\" custom_padding_last_edited=\"on|phone\" module_class=\"menu-row\" _builder_version=\"4.24.2\" _module_preset=\"default\" background_enable_color=\"off\" width=\"62%\" width_tablet=\"\" width_phone=\"100%\" width_last_edited=\"on|phone\" max_width=\"100%\" custom_margin=\"||||false|false\" custom_margin_phone=\"|10px||10px|false|true\" custom_margin_last_edited=\"off|phone\" custom_padding=\"20px||30px||false|false\" custom_padding_tablet=\"12px|4.5%|0px|4.5%|false|false\" custom_padding_phone=\"|4.5%||4.5%|false|false\" hover_enabled=\"0\" background_last_edited=\"off|phone\" background_enable_color_phone=\"off\" sticky_position_tablet=\"top\" sticky_position_phone=\"top\" sticky_position_last_edited=\"on|tablet\" global_colors_info=\"{}\" background__sticky_enabled=\"on|sticky\" background_color__sticky=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_enable_color__sticky=\"on\"
- [About](https://stfi.org/et_tb_item/about-4/) - {"header":{"post_content":"[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" module_class=\"custom-header about mobile_bg_overlay\" _builder_version=\"4.24.2\" _module_preset=\"default\" background_enable_color=\"off\" use_background_color_gradient=\"on\" background_color_gradient_stops=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.02) 48%|#000000 100%\" background_color_gradient_overlays_image=\"on\" background_color_gradient_start=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.02)\" background_color_gradient_start_position=\"48%\" background_color_gradient_end=\"#000000\" background_image=\"https:\/\/stfi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/about-us-header.jpg\" height=\"60vh\" height_tablet=\"50vh\" height_phone=\"30vh\" height_last_edited=\"on|phone\" custom_padding=\"0px||0px||false|false\" hover_enabled=\"0\" background_last_edited=\"on|desktop\" background_enable_color_tablet=\"off\" use_background_color_gradient_tablet=\"on\" background_color_gradient_stops_tablet=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.02) 48%|#000000 100%\" background_color_gradient_start_tablet=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.02)\" background_color_gradient_end_tablet=\"#000000\" global_colors_info=\"{}\" sticky_enabled=\"0\"][et_pb_row column_structure=\"1_4,3_4\" make_equal=\"on\" custom_padding_last_edited=\"on|phone\" module_class=\"menu-row\" _builder_version=\"4.16\" _module_preset=\"default\" use_background_color_gradient=\"on\" background_color_gradient_stops=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75) 0%|rgba(0,0,0,0.75) 100%\" background_color_gradient_overlays_image=\"on\" background_color_gradient_start=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_color_gradient_end=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" width=\"100%\" max_width=\"100%\" custom_padding=\"20px|19%|30px|19%|false|true\" custom_padding_tablet=\"12px|4.5%|0px|4.5%|false|false\" custom_padding_phone=\"\" animation_style=\"fade\" background_last_edited=\"on|desktop\" background_enable_color_phone=\"off\" use_background_color_gradient_tablet=\"on\"
- [Core Beliefs](https://stfi.org/et_tb_item/core-beliefs-4/) - {"header":{"post_content":"[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" module_class=\"custom-header about\" _builder_version=\"4.9.4\" _module_preset=\"default\" background_enable_color=\"off\" use_background_color_gradient=\"on\" background_color_gradient_start=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.02)\" background_color_gradient_end=\"#000000\" background_color_gradient_start_position=\"48%\" background_color_gradient_overlays_image=\"on\" background_image=\"https:\/\/stfi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/core-beliefs-bible-on-wood.jpg\" height=\"60vh\" height_tablet=\"50vh\" height_phone=\"30vh\" height_last_edited=\"on|phone\" custom_padding=\"0px||0px||false|false\" hover_enabled=\"0\" background_last_edited=\"on|desktop\" background_enable_color_tablet=\"off\" use_background_color_gradient_tablet=\"on\" background_color_gradient_start_tablet=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.02)\" background_color_gradient_end_tablet=\"#000000\" sticky_enabled=\"0\"][et_pb_row column_structure=\"1_4,3_4\" make_equal=\"on\" custom_padding_last_edited=\"on|phone\" module_class=\"menu-row\" _builder_version=\"4.9.4\" _module_preset=\"default\" use_background_color_gradient=\"on\" background_color_gradient_start=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_color_gradient_end=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_color_gradient_overlays_image=\"on\" width=\"100%\" max_width=\"100%\" custom_padding=\"20px|19%|30px|19%|false|true\" custom_padding_tablet=\"12px|4.5%|0px|4.5%|false|false\" custom_padding_phone=\"\" animation_style=\"fade\" hover_enabled=\"0\" background_last_edited=\"on|desktop\" background_enable_color_phone=\"off\" use_background_color_gradient_tablet=\"on\" background_color_gradient_start_tablet=\"#000000\" background_color_gradient_end_tablet=\"#000000\" sticky_position_tablet=\"top\" sticky_position_phone=\"top\" sticky_position_last_edited=\"on|desktop\" sticky_enabled=\"0\" background__sticky_enabled=\"on|sticky\"][et_pb_column type=\"1_4\" module_class=\"col-1\" _builder_version=\"4.9.0\"
- [Revised English Version](https://stfi.org/et_tb_item/revised-english-version-4/) - {"header":{"post_content":"[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" module_class=\"custom-header about\" _builder_version=\"4.9.4\" _module_preset=\"default\" background_enable_color=\"off\" use_background_color_gradient=\"on\" background_color_gradient_start=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.02)\" background_color_gradient_end=\"#000000\" background_color_gradient_start_position=\"48%\" background_color_gradient_overlays_image=\"on\" background_image=\"https:\/\/stfi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/revised-english-version-header.jpg\" background_position=\"top_center\" height=\"60vh\" height_tablet=\"50vh\" height_phone=\"30vh\" height_last_edited=\"on|phone\" custom_padding=\"0px||0px||false|false\" hover_enabled=\"0\" background_last_edited=\"on|desktop\" background_enable_color_tablet=\"off\" use_background_color_gradient_tablet=\"on\" background_color_gradient_start_tablet=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.02)\" background_color_gradient_end_tablet=\"#000000\" sticky_enabled=\"0\"][et_pb_row column_structure=\"1_4,3_4\" make_equal=\"on\" custom_padding_last_edited=\"on|phone\" module_class=\"menu-row\" _builder_version=\"4.9.4\" _module_preset=\"default\" use_background_color_gradient=\"on\" background_color_gradient_start=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_color_gradient_end=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_color_gradient_overlays_image=\"on\" width=\"100%\" max_width=\"100%\" custom_padding=\"20px|19%|30px|19%|false|true\" custom_padding_tablet=\"12px|4.5%|0px|4.5%|false|false\" custom_padding_phone=\"\" animation_style=\"fade\" hover_enabled=\"0\" background_last_edited=\"on|phone\" background_enable_color_phone=\"off\" use_background_color_gradient_tablet=\"on\" background_color_gradient_start_tablet=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_color_gradient_end_tablet=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" sticky_position_tablet=\"top\" sticky_position_phone=\"top\" sticky_position_last_edited=\"on|tablet\" sticky_enabled=\"0\"][et_pb_column type=\"1_4\" module_class=\"col-1\" _builder_version=\"4.9.0\"
- [Resources](https://stfi.org/et_tb_item/resources-4/) - {"header":{"post_content":"[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" module_class=\"custom-header about mobile_bg_overlay\" _builder_version=\"4.24.2\" _module_preset=\"default\" background_enable_color=\"off\" use_background_color_gradient=\"on\" background_color_gradient_stops=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.02) 48%|#000000 100%\" background_color_gradient_overlays_image=\"on\" background_color_gradient_start=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.02)\" background_color_gradient_start_position=\"48%\" background_color_gradient_end=\"#000000\" background_image=\"https:\/\/stfi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/resources-header.jpg\" height=\"60vh\" height_tablet=\"50vh\" height_phone=\"30vh\" height_last_edited=\"on|phone\" custom_padding=\"0px||0px||false|false\" hover_enabled=\"0\" background_last_edited=\"on|desktop\" background_enable_color_tablet=\"off\" use_background_color_gradient_tablet=\"on\" background_color_gradient_stops_tablet=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.02) 48%|#000000 100%\" background_color_gradient_start_tablet=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.02)\" background_color_gradient_end_tablet=\"#000000\" global_colors_info=\"{}\" sticky_enabled=\"0\"][et_pb_row column_structure=\"1_4,3_4\" make_equal=\"on\" custom_padding_last_edited=\"on|phone\" module_class=\"menu-row\" _builder_version=\"4.16\" _module_preset=\"default\" use_background_color_gradient=\"on\" background_color_gradient_stops=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75) 0%|rgba(0,0,0,0.75) 100%\" background_color_gradient_overlays_image=\"on\" background_color_gradient_start=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_color_gradient_end=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" width=\"100%\" max_width=\"100%\" custom_padding=\"20px|19%|30px|19%|false|true\" custom_padding_tablet=\"12px|4.5%|0px|4.5%|false|false\" custom_padding_phone=\"\" animation_style=\"fade\" background_last_edited=\"on|desktop\" background_enable_color_phone=\"off\" use_background_color_gradient_tablet=\"on\"
- [Virtual Groups](https://stfi.org/et_tb_item/virtual-groups-4/) - {"header":{"post_content":"[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" module_class=\"custom-header about\" _builder_version=\"4.24.2\" _module_preset=\"default\" background_enable_color=\"off\" use_background_color_gradient=\"on\" background_color_gradient_stops=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.02) 48%|#000000 100%\" background_color_gradient_overlays_image=\"on\" background_color_gradient_start=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.02)\" background_color_gradient_start_position=\"48%\" background_color_gradient_end=\"#000000\" background_image=\"https:\/\/stfi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/virtual-groups-header.jpg\" background_position=\"top_center\" height=\"60vh\" height_tablet=\"50vh\" height_phone=\"30vh\" height_last_edited=\"on|phone\" custom_padding=\"0px||0px||false|false\" hover_enabled=\"0\" background_last_edited=\"on|phone\" background_enable_color_tablet=\"off\" use_background_color_gradient_tablet=\"on\" background_color_gradient_stops_tablet=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.02) 48%|#000000 100%\" background_color_gradient_start_tablet=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.02)\" background_color_gradient_end_tablet=\"#000000\" global_colors_info=\"{}\" theme_builder_area=\"et_header_layout\" sticky_enabled=\"0\"][et_pb_row column_structure=\"1_4,3_4\" make_equal=\"on\" custom_padding_last_edited=\"on|phone\" module_class=\"menu-row\" _builder_version=\"4.16\" _module_preset=\"default\" use_background_color_gradient=\"on\" background_color_gradient_stops=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75) 0%|rgba(0,0,0,0.75) 100%\" background_color_gradient_overlays_image=\"on\" background_color_gradient_start=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_color_gradient_end=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" width=\"100%\" max_width=\"100%\" custom_padding=\"20px|19%|30px|19%|false|true\" custom_padding_tablet=\"12px|4.5%|0px|4.5%|false|false\" custom_padding_phone=\"\" animation_style=\"fade\" background_last_edited=\"on|desktop\" background_enable_color_phone=\"off\"
- [Prayer](https://stfi.org/et_tb_item/prayer-4/) - {"header":{"post_content":"[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" module_class=\"custom-header about mobile_bg_overlay\" _builder_version=\"4.24.2\" _module_preset=\"default\" background_enable_color=\"off\" use_background_color_gradient=\"on\" background_color_gradient_stops=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.02) 48%|#000000 100%\" background_color_gradient_overlays_image=\"on\" background_color_gradient_start=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.02)\" background_color_gradient_start_position=\"48%\" background_color_gradient_end=\"#000000\" background_image=\"https:\/\/stfi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/prayer-banner-1.jpg\" module_alignment=\"center\" height=\"70vh\" height_tablet=\"50vh\" height_phone=\"50vh\" height_last_edited=\"on|phone\" custom_padding=\"0px||0px||false|false\" hover_enabled=\"0\" background_last_edited=\"on|desktop\" background_enable_color_tablet=\"off\" use_background_color_gradient_tablet=\"on\" background_color_gradient_stops_tablet=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.02) 48%|#000000 100%\" background_color_gradient_start_tablet=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.02)\" background_color_gradient_end_tablet=\"#000000\" global_colors_info=\"{}\" sticky_enabled=\"0\"][et_pb_row column_structure=\"1_4,3_4\" make_equal=\"on\" custom_padding_last_edited=\"on|desktop\" module_class=\"menu-row\" _builder_version=\"4.16\" _module_preset=\"default\" use_background_color_gradient=\"on\" background_color_gradient_stops=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75) 0%|rgba(0,0,0,0.75) 100%\" background_color_gradient_overlays_image=\"on\" background_color_gradient_start=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_color_gradient_end=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" width=\"100%\" max_width=\"100%\" custom_padding=\"20px|19%|30px|19%|false|true\" custom_padding_tablet=\"12px||0px||false|false\" custom_padding_phone=\"\" animation_style=\"fade\" background_last_edited=\"on|desktop\" use_background_color_gradient_tablet=\"on\"
- [Articles](https://stfi.org/et_tb_item/articles-4/) - {"header":{"post_content":"[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" module_class=\"custom-header\" _builder_version=\"4.9.4\" _module_preset=\"default\" use_background_color_gradient=\"on\" background_color_gradient_start=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_color_gradient_end=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_color_gradient_overlays_image=\"on\" background_image=\"https:\/\/stfi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/bookshelf.jpg\" custom_padding=\"0px||0px||false|false\" hover_enabled=\"0\" background_last_edited=\"on|phone\" background_enable_color_tablet=\"off\" use_background_color_gradient_tablet=\"on\" background_color_gradient_start_tablet=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_color_gradient_end_tablet=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" sticky_position_phone=\"top\" sticky_position_last_edited=\"off|desktop\" sticky_enabled=\"0\"][et_pb_row column_structure=\"1_4,3_4\" make_equal=\"on\" custom_padding_last_edited=\"on|phone\" module_class=\"menu-row\" _builder_version=\"4.9.4\" _module_preset=\"default\" width=\"62%\" max_width=\"100%\" custom_padding=\"20px||30px||false|false\" custom_padding_tablet=\"12px|4.5%|0px|4.5%|false|false\" custom_padding_phone=\"\" animation_style=\"fade\" hover_enabled=\"0\" background_last_edited=\"on|phone\" background_enable_color_phone=\"off\" sticky_position_tablet=\"top\" sticky_position_phone=\"top\" sticky_position_last_edited=\"on|phone\" sticky_enabled=\"0\" background_enable_color_tablet=\"off\" background__sticky_enabled=\"on|desktop\" background_color__sticky=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_enable_color__sticky=\"on\"][et_pb_column type=\"1_4\" module_class=\"col-1\" _builder_version=\"4.9.0\" _module_preset=\"default\"][et_pb_image src=\"https:\/\/stfi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/spirit-truth-logo-new.png\" title_text=\"spirit-truth-logo-new\" url=\"\/\" admin_label=\"Header Logo Image - to
- [Articles - Individual Posts](https://stfi.org/et_tb_item/articles-individual-posts-4/) - {"header":{"post_content":"[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" module_class=\"custom-header\" _builder_version=\"4.9.4\" _module_preset=\"default\" background_enable_color=\"off\" use_background_color_gradient=\"on\" background_color_gradient_start=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_color_gradient_end=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_color_gradient_overlays_image=\"on\" background_image=\"https:\/\/stfi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/articles-post-header.jpg\" custom_padding=\"0px||0px||false|false\" hover_enabled=\"0\" background_last_edited=\"on|tablet\" background_enable_color_tablet=\"off\" use_background_color_gradient_tablet=\"on\" background_color_gradient_start_tablet=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_color_gradient_end_tablet=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" sticky_enabled=\"0\"][et_pb_row column_structure=\"1_4,3_4\" make_equal=\"on\" custom_padding_last_edited=\"on|tablet\" module_class=\"menu-row\" _builder_version=\"4.9.4\" _module_preset=\"default\" width=\"62%\" max_width=\"100%\" custom_padding=\"20px||30px||false|false\" custom_padding_tablet=\"12px|4.5%|0px|4.5%|false|true\" custom_padding_phone=\"|4.5%||4.5%|false|true\" animation_style=\"fade\" hover_enabled=\"0\" background_color_phone=\"#000000\" background_last_edited=\"on|desktop\" background_enable_color_phone=\"on\" sticky_position_tablet=\"top\" sticky_position_phone=\"top\" sticky_position_last_edited=\"on|tablet\" sticky_enabled=\"0\" background__sticky_enabled=\"on|desktop\" background_color_gradient_end__sticky=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" use_background_color_gradient__sticky=\"on\" background_color_gradient_start__sticky=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\"][et_pb_column type=\"1_4\" module_class=\"col-1\" _builder_version=\"4.9.0\" _module_preset=\"default\"][et_pb_image src=\"https:\/\/stfi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/spirit-truth-logo-new.png\" title_text=\"spirit-truth-logo-new\" url=\"\/\" admin_label=\"Header Logo Image - to
- [All Topics Pages](https://stfi.org/et_tb_item/all-topics-pages-4/) - {"header":{"post_content":"[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" module_class=\"custom-header\" _builder_version=\"4.9.4\" _module_preset=\"default\" use_background_color_gradient=\"on\" background_color_gradient_start=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_color_gradient_end=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_color_gradient_overlays_image=\"on\" background_image=\"https:\/\/stfi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/bookshelf.jpg\" custom_padding=\"0px||0px||false|false\" hover_enabled=\"0\" background_last_edited=\"on|tablet\" background_enable_color_tablet=\"off\" use_background_color_gradient_tablet=\"on\" background_color_gradient_start_tablet=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_color_gradient_end_tablet=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" sticky_enabled=\"0\"][et_pb_row column_structure=\"1_4,3_4\" make_equal=\"on\" custom_padding_last_edited=\"on|phone\" module_class=\"menu-row\" _builder_version=\"4.9.4\" _module_preset=\"default\" width=\"62%\" width_tablet=\"100%\" width_phone=\"100%\" width_last_edited=\"on|tablet\" max_width=\"100%\" custom_padding=\"20px||30px||false|false\" custom_padding_tablet=\"12px|4.5%|0px|4.5%|false|false\" custom_padding_phone=\"\" animation_style=\"fade\" hover_enabled=\"0\" background_last_edited=\"on|phone\" background_enable_color_phone=\"off\" sticky_position_tablet=\"top\" sticky_position_phone=\"top\" sticky_position_last_edited=\"on|tablet\" sticky_enabled=\"0\"][et_pb_column type=\"1_4\" module_class=\"col-1\" _builder_version=\"4.9.0\" _module_preset=\"default\"][et_pb_image src=\"https:\/\/stfi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/spirit-truth-logo-new.png\" title_text=\"spirit-truth-logo-new\" url=\"\/\" admin_label=\"Header Logo Image - to edit, go to
- [Search Results](https://stfi.org/et_tb_item/search-results-4/) - {"header":{"post_content":"[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" module_class=\"custom-header main-global-headers\" _builder_version=\"4.24.2\" _module_preset=\"default\" use_background_color_gradient=\"on\" background_color_gradient_stops=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75) 0%|rgba(0,0,0,0.75) 100%\" background_color_gradient_overlays_image=\"on\" background_color_gradient_start=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_color_gradient_end=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_image=\"https:\/\/stfi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/bookshelf.jpg\" custom_padding=\"0px||0px||false|false\" background_last_edited=\"on|phone\" background_enable_color_tablet=\"off\" use_background_color_gradient_tablet=\"on\" background_color_gradient_stops_tablet=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75) 0%|rgba(0,0,0,0.75) 100%\" background_color_gradient_start_tablet=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_color_gradient_end_tablet=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" sticky_position_phone=\"top\" sticky_position_last_edited=\"off|desktop\" global_module=\"5631663\" global_colors_info=\"{}\"][et_pb_row column_structure=\"1_4,3_4\" make_equal=\"on\" custom_padding_last_edited=\"on|phone\" module_class=\"menu-row\" _builder_version=\"4.24.2\" _module_preset=\"default\" transform_scale_last_edited=\"off|desktop\" transform_translate_last_edited=\"off|desktop\" transform_rotate_last_edited=\"off|desktop\" transform_skew_last_edited=\"off|desktop\" transform_origin_last_edited=\"off|desktop\" transform_styles_last_edited=\"off|desktop\" width=\"62%\" max_width=\"100%\" custom_padding=\"20px||30px||false|false\" custom_padding_tablet=\"12px|4.5%|0px|4.5%|false|false\" custom_padding_phone=\"\" hover_transition_duration=\"0ms\" background_last_edited=\"on|desktop\" background_enable_color_phone=\"off\" hover_transition_duration_tablet=\"\" hover_transition_duration_phone=\"\" hover_transition_duration_last_edited=\"on|desktop\" hover_transition_speed_curve_tablet=\"\" hover_transition_speed_curve_phone=\"\" hover_transition_speed_curve_last_edited=\"on|desktop\" sticky_position_tablet=\"top\" sticky_position_phone=\"top\"
- [STF Podcast Page](https://stfi.org/et_tb_item/stf-podcast-page-4/) - {"header":{"post_content":"[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" module_class=\"custom-header about mobile_bg_overlay\" _builder_version=\"4.24.2\" _module_preset=\"default\" background_enable_color=\"off\" use_background_color_gradient=\"on\" background_color_gradient_stops=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.02) 48%|#000000 100%\" background_color_gradient_overlays_image=\"on\" background_color_gradient_start=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.02)\" background_color_gradient_start_position=\"48%\" background_color_gradient_end=\"#000000\" background_image=\"https:\/\/stfi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/spirit-and-truth-podcast-banner.jpg\" module_alignment=\"center\" height=\"70vh\" height_tablet=\"50vh\" height_phone=\"50vh\" height_last_edited=\"on|phone\" custom_padding=\"0px||0px||false|false\" hover_enabled=\"0\" background_last_edited=\"on|phone\" background_enable_color_tablet=\"off\" use_background_color_gradient_tablet=\"on\" background_color_gradient_stops_tablet=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.02) 48%|#000000 100%\" background_color_gradient_start_tablet=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.02)\" background_color_gradient_end_tablet=\"#000000\" sticky_position_phone=\"top\" sticky_position_last_edited=\"off|desktop\" global_colors_info=\"{}\" sticky_enabled=\"0\"][et_pb_row column_structure=\"1_4,3_4\" make_equal=\"on\" custom_padding_last_edited=\"on|phone\" module_class=\"menu-row\" _builder_version=\"4.16\" _module_preset=\"default\" use_background_color_gradient=\"on\" background_color_gradient_stops=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75) 0%|rgba(0,0,0,0.75) 100%\" background_color_gradient_overlays_image=\"on\" background_color_gradient_start=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_color_gradient_end=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" width=\"100%\" max_width=\"100%\" custom_padding=\"20px|19%|30px|19%|false|true\" custom_padding_tablet=\"12px|4.5%|0px|4.5%|false|false\" custom_padding_phone=\"\" animation_style=\"fade\"
- [Words of Wisdom Podcast Page](https://stfi.org/et_tb_item/words-of-wisdom-podcast-page-4/) - {"header":{"post_content":"[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" module_class=\"custom-header about mobile_bg_overlay\" _builder_version=\"4.24.2\" _module_preset=\"default\" background_enable_color=\"off\" use_background_color_gradient=\"on\" background_color_gradient_stops=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.02) 48%|#000000 100%\" background_color_gradient_overlays_image=\"on\" background_color_gradient_start=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.02)\" background_color_gradient_start_position=\"48%\" background_color_gradient_end=\"#000000\" background_image=\"https:\/\/stfi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/word-of-wisdom-podcast-banner.jpg\" module_alignment=\"center\" height=\"70vh\" height_tablet=\"50vh\" height_phone=\"50vh\" height_last_edited=\"on|phone\" custom_padding=\"0px||0px||false|false\" hover_enabled=\"0\" background_last_edited=\"on|desktop\" background_enable_color_tablet=\"off\" use_background_color_gradient_tablet=\"on\" background_color_gradient_stops_tablet=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.02) 48%|#000000 100%\" background_color_gradient_start_tablet=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.02)\" background_color_gradient_end_tablet=\"#000000\" global_colors_info=\"{}\" sticky_enabled=\"0\"][et_pb_row column_structure=\"1_4,3_4\" make_equal=\"on\" custom_padding_last_edited=\"on|phone\" module_class=\"menu-row\" _builder_version=\"4.16\" _module_preset=\"default\" use_background_color_gradient=\"on\" background_color_gradient_stops=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75) 0%|rgba(0,0,0,0.75) 100%\" background_color_gradient_overlays_image=\"on\" background_color_gradient_start=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_color_gradient_end=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" width=\"100%\" max_width=\"100%\" custom_padding=\"20px|19%|30px|19%|false|true\" custom_padding_tablet=\"12px|4.5%|0px|4.5%|false|false\" custom_padding_phone=\"\" animation_style=\"fade\" background_last_edited=\"on|desktop\" background_enable_color_phone=\"off\"
- [Single Event Layout 1 (orig)](https://stfi.org/et_tb_item/single-event-layout-1-orig-3/) - {"header":{"post_content":"[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" module_class=\"custom-header main-global-headers\" _builder_version=\"4.24.2\" _module_preset=\"default\" use_background_color_gradient=\"on\" background_color_gradient_stops=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75) 0%|rgba(0,0,0,0.75) 100%\" background_color_gradient_overlays_image=\"on\" background_color_gradient_start=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_color_gradient_end=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_image=\"https:\/\/stfi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/bookshelf.jpg\" custom_padding=\"0px||0px||false|false\" background_last_edited=\"on|phone\" background_enable_color_tablet=\"off\" use_background_color_gradient_tablet=\"on\" background_color_gradient_stops_tablet=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75) 0%|rgba(0,0,0,0.75) 100%\" background_color_gradient_start_tablet=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_color_gradient_end_tablet=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" sticky_position_phone=\"top\" sticky_position_last_edited=\"off|desktop\" global_module=\"5631663\" global_colors_info=\"{}\"][et_pb_row column_structure=\"1_4,3_4\" make_equal=\"on\" custom_padding_last_edited=\"on|phone\" module_class=\"menu-row\" _builder_version=\"4.24.2\" _module_preset=\"default\" transform_scale_last_edited=\"off|desktop\" transform_translate_last_edited=\"off|desktop\" transform_rotate_last_edited=\"off|desktop\" transform_skew_last_edited=\"off|desktop\" transform_origin_last_edited=\"off|desktop\" transform_styles_last_edited=\"off|desktop\" width=\"62%\" max_width=\"100%\" custom_padding=\"20px||30px||false|false\" custom_padding_tablet=\"12px|4.5%|0px|4.5%|false|false\" custom_padding_phone=\"\" hover_transition_duration=\"0ms\" background_last_edited=\"on|desktop\" background_enable_color_phone=\"off\" hover_transition_duration_tablet=\"\" hover_transition_duration_phone=\"\" hover_transition_duration_last_edited=\"on|desktop\" hover_transition_speed_curve_tablet=\"\" hover_transition_speed_curve_phone=\"\" hover_transition_speed_curve_last_edited=\"on|desktop\" sticky_position_tablet=\"top\" sticky_position_phone=\"top\"
- [All VF Videos - Individual Posts](https://stfi.org/et_tb_item/all-vf-videos-individual-posts-3/) - {"header":{"post_content":"[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" module_class=\"custom-header\" _builder_version=\"4.16\" _module_preset=\"default\" use_background_color_gradient=\"on\" background_color_gradient_stops=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75) 0%|rgba(0,0,0,0.75) 100%\" background_color_gradient_overlays_image=\"on\" background_color_gradient_start=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_color_gradient_end=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_image=\"https:\/\/stfi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/bookshelf.jpg\" custom_padding=\"0px||0px||false|false\" background_last_edited=\"on|phone\" background_enable_color_tablet=\"off\" use_background_color_gradient_tablet=\"on\" background_color_gradient_stops_tablet=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75) 0%|rgba(0,0,0,0.75) 100%\" background_color_gradient_start_tablet=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_color_gradient_end_tablet=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" global_colors_info=\"{}\"][et_pb_row column_structure=\"1_4,3_4\" make_equal=\"on\" custom_padding_last_edited=\"on|phone\" module_class=\"menu-row\" _builder_version=\"4.24.2\" _module_preset=\"default\" width=\"62%\" width_tablet=\"100%\" width_phone=\"100%\" width_last_edited=\"on|phone\" max_width=\"100%\" custom_padding=\"20px||30px||false|false\" custom_padding_tablet=\"12px|4.5%|0px|4.5%|false|false\" custom_padding_phone=\"\" hover_enabled=\"0\" background_last_edited=\"on|desktop\" background_enable_color_phone=\"off\" sticky_position_tablet=\"top\" sticky_position_phone=\"top\" sticky_position_last_edited=\"on|tablet\" global_colors_info=\"{}\" background__sticky_enabled=\"on|sticky\" background_color_gradient_end__sticky=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" use_background_color_gradient__sticky=\"on\" background_color_gradient_start__sticky=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75)\" background_color_gradient_stops__sticky=\"rgba(0,0,0,0.75) 0%|rgba(0,0,0,0.75) 100%\" sticky_enabled=\"0\"][et_pb_column type=\"1_4\" module_class=\"col-1\" _builder_version=\"4.16\"
- [Unassigned](https://stfi.org/et_tb_item/unassigned-5/) - {"header":{"post_content":"[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.23\" _module_preset=\"default\" background_color=\"#fcfbff\" custom_padding=\"10px|10px|10px|10px|true|true\" global_colors_info=\"%91%93\" locked=\"off\" theme_builder_area=\"post_content\"][et_pb_row column_structure=\"1_5,3_5,1_5\" _builder_version=\"4.23\" _module_preset=\"default\" width=\"100%\" max_width=\"1440px\" custom_padding=\"0px|0px|0px|0px|true|true\" custom_css_main_element=\" display: flex;|| align-items: center;|| flex-wrap:wrap;\" custom_css_free_form=\"selector, selector .et_pb_row {|| display: flex;|| align-items: center;|| flex-wrap:wrap;||}\" global_colors_info=\"{}\" custom_css_main_element_last_edited=\"on|phone\" custom_css_main_element_phone=\"align-items: center!important;||display: flex!important;\" custom_css_main_element_tablet=\" display: flex;|| align-items: center;|| flex-wrap:wrap;\" theme_builder_area=\"post_content\"][et_pb_column type=\"1_5\" _builder_version=\"4.23\" _module_preset=\"default\" custom_padding_tablet=\"\" custom_padding_phone=\"||0px||false|false\" custom_padding_last_edited=\"on|phone\" global_colors_info=\"{}\" custom_css_main_element_last_edited=\"on|tablet\" custom_css_main_element_tablet=\"width:33%;\" custom_css_main_element_phone=\"width:40%!important;||margin-bottom:0px!important;\" theme_builder_area=\"post_content\"][et_pb_image src=\"https:\/\/stfi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/