Paula Marolewski
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Article
The Heart of the Gospel
Many Christians freeze up when they hear the word "evangelism." They say things like, "I can't share my faith!" "I don't know what to say!" "Where do you begin?" "It's so complicated!" But in fact, it's not complicated at all. It begins and ends with a Person ... the Person who is at the heart of the gospel and the core of our faith: Jesus Christ. Consider the first verses of the book of Romans: "Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the g
August 6, 2009
Article
Get Out of Your Comfort Zone
It's so easy to remain where we are comfortable. Our rounds of church, work, friends, and family are reassuring, pleasant, and peaceful. But Paul urges us in Romans 12:16 to get out of the comfort zone where we talk and interact with people "just like us" day after day. He urges us to "associate with the lowly." Associate with the lowly. Why would Paul find this point important enough to include in the magnificent litany that makes up Romans 12? Consider these seven powerful
August 6, 2009
Article
Severe Anxiety: Slowing Down Racing Thoughts
Part of the terror of anxiety is the force and power of the racing thoughts that accompany it. Adrenaline reaches a fever pitch, sending the body into pure fight or flight mode. Two things are essential at this point: to slow down, and to focus on something outside of yourself. To slow down, because your mind and body are running at breakneck speed; and to focus on something external, because the whole power of anxiety is that it wraps you up inside yourself and turns your mi
July 31, 2009
Article
Severe Anxiety: How Do You Help Someone Slow Down?
If you have a friend or family member who suffers from severe anxiety, you know that at times their thoughts seem to race out of control. Here are several points to be aware of as you reach out in love to help them slow down and regain a clear focus: Be ready to listen. The sufferer needs to talk out their thoughts - therefore, they need someone to be there to listen. That person is you. This is not, however, a five-minute conversation. It may take an hour or more for the per
July 31, 2009
Article
Top 10 Confession Killers
What inhibits us from the effective practice of confession, either privately or corporately? Here are the top 10 confession killers: nn1. Shame. Often, it seems as if everyone else has their act together ... surely they don't have any problems or struggles with sin! This (very fallacious!) view leads us to shame, and an unwillingness to confess our own faults. nn2. Pride. Then there is the case for pride. The same pride that changed Lucifer, the angel of light, into Satan, th
May 7, 2009
Article
All I Can Do is Pray
I've heard it a thousand times. I've probably said it a thousand times myself. Someone bares their soul to me, and the situation is terrible, painful, difficult ... far beyond the reach of anything I can do â or anyone can do â to help. And then those six words slip from my lips: nn "All I can do is pray." nnEven as I write the words, I can hear the defeat resonating from them. Properly translated, what I far too often mean when I say those six words is, "I'm sorry I can'
May 7, 2009
Article
Negative Memories: How Do We Move Forward?
âGod didnât give us a delete button to erase the memory of our past. So God must want us to remember our past, but move forward. How do I do that?ânnThe question from my friend was excellent â and poignant. We have all suffered terrible times in our lives. Sometimes we want to forget them as if they never happened, and sometimes we find ourselves dwelling on them so much that we are essentially âstuck.â How do we remember and yet still move forward? I believe the
April 9, 2009
Article
How to Pray for the Complete Person
As children, we prayed, âGod bless Mom and God bless Dad. God bless Aunt Susie. God bless my friend Elizabeth â¦â But as adults, we need to go farther than that. A lot farther. But sometimes, we just donât know what to pray. nnA large part of our confusion about what to pray for stems from the fact that we rarely look beyond the obvious. When someone is sick, we pray for healing. Thatâs it. When someone is in financial need, we pray that they get money. Then we stop.
April 9, 2009
Article
How to Destroy Your Church: Zip Your Lips
"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." â Edmund Burke nnIf you really want to destroy your church quickly, here is the number one rule: zip your lips when you see something wrong. nnGot that? Donât say anything. Donât speak up. Donât voice your concerns. Donât make waves. nnInstead, when you see something wrong â when you observe sin, when you become aware of division, when you discern that people are dividing into camps, when
April 9, 2009
Article
How to Destroy Your Church: No Pruning Allowed
One of the simplest ways to destroy a church is to put up a sign that says, âNo Pruning Allowed!ânnWhen you see slight deviations from the Word of God, little sins here and there â just let them alone. After all, theyâre small. No big deal. Nothing to get up in arms about. nnIgnore the words of James where he writes, âwhen sin is accomplished, it brings forth deathâ (James 1:15). Surely, that is an overstatement, even though he follows it up in the next verse with
April 9, 2009
Article
How to Destroy Your Church: My Way or the Highway
Destroying a church is easy, particularly if you are in a position of leadership. Simply insist on âmy way or the highway.â Itâs a very equestrian position: dig in your heels like a mule, and get on your high-horse at the slightest provocation. nnIf you want to take this position, remember these simple principles: nn* If anyone disagrees with me, they are de facto in the wrong. n* My way is Godâs way, so he is on my side. n* There are no grey matters, ever. Everything
April 2, 2009
Article
How to Destroy Your Church: Donât Look in the Mirror
Mirrors are useful things. They show us when we need to comb our hair, reveal the ketchup stain just out of sight on our shirt, and help us to get the specks out of our eyes. And because of that last item, if you want to destroy your church, you should never â figuratively speaking â âlook in the mirror.â nnDonât spend time examining yourself for sin. Donât put your words, actions, attitudes, and thoughts to the test. Donât do group evaluations to see whether th
April 2, 2009
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