At the 2013 Peacemaker Conference, Daniel Teater, the President of Live at Peace Ministries, had the opportunity to call us to strive for unity. Using Philippians 1:27 to 2:11, he asked us,”What gospel is your life gospelling?” In other words, what news is your life transmitting? What good news is your life proclaiming? Daniel explained… Read More »
Bishop Mouneer Anis, the Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Egypt, delivered his Keynote Address this morning at the 2013 Peacemaker Conference. It was refreshing, challenging, and encouraging to hear how Bishop Mouneer led his congregation in Egypt to respond to enemy attacks with gospel love. Bishop Mouneer recounted how on August 13, 2013, 42… Read More »
In this morning’s Keynote Address, Dale Pyne, the new CEO of Peacemaker Ministries called peacemakers to be advocates of freedom. Have you ever considered that the world and those in conflict are in slavery and bondage to sin? Whoever sins is a slave to sin. And seeing this bondage should make us desire to be abolitionists.… Read More »
In the first keynote address of the Peacemaker Conference, Paul Tripp challenged us to live as ambassadors for Christ. He asked us this tough question: “What set of values determine the way you make life decisions? Ownership values or ambassadorial values?” Paul Tripp explained that there are only two ways to live: “I’m either treating my… Read More »
For those of you who missed the 2013 Peacemaker Conference, I have put up a summary and reflection of each Keynote Address. My intent was to be concise but allow you to get a short summary of what was taught and what I found particularly helpful. Paul Tripp – A Radical Calling Dale Pyne –… Read More »
Last month we discussed How to Avoid Being Defensive When Criticized. This month we’ll take the next step and consider how we should respond once we’ve determined by God’s help not to be defensive. Before you start speaking to a person you’ve offended, please remember not to apologize. Yes, you heard me right. Do NOT apologize.… Read More »
Even in our dearest of relationships, people will not always extend grace to us and may be angry with us, rightly or wrongly. We have a choice then, in how we respond. We can become defensive and respond by attacking the person in return or we can be slow to anger and slow to self-justification. If… Read More »
Being angry well during conflict is a noble goal to have. After all, Ephesians 4:26 commands us to us “be angry and do not sin.” Being angry in conflict usually isn’t a problem, but being angry and not sinning is hard work! Anger can boil up in me pretty quickly. If I don’t ask for… Read More »
Have you ever found yourself disappointed in a relationship? Perhaps you expected a friend to meet your needs, but their faithfulness was lacking in your time of need. Or perhaps you expected marriage to cure your loneliness or help you find fulfillment but your spouse’s ability to be there for you and support you has… Read More »
Relational conflict… I think of tempers flaring, an argument brewing, and the peace disturbed. What on earth can be worse than conflict? My Answer: The miseries of sin are worse than relational conflict. In other words, sin is my enemy, not conflict. The old but precise language in the Westminster Confession of Faith puts the… Read More »