Rick McDaniel

Latest

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  Jul 22, 2014

  6 Barriers to Effective Prayer

  These barriers can keep the power we need from being manifested in our lives and country. James 5:16 tells us, "The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." But is unrighteousness the only barrier to powerful and effective prayer? I am certain there are other barriers as well. Let me identify six.

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  May 16, 2014

  4 Reasons for Being a Church Member

  What identifies you as being part of God's team? Simply going to church occasionally or even regularly is not enough. What identifies you is being a member of a local church. Being a Christ follower makes you part of The Church but membership is what identifies you as a part of a local church. The membership commitment communicates clearly that you represent Jesus Christ through your local church. Here are four reasons why you should be a member of a local church.

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  Apr 20, 2014

  I Was There: My Easter Experience

  As we walked through ancient Jerusalem I was enamored by much of what I saw but I was waiting for the ultimate site. Finally our trip leader brought us to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre built on the site where Jesus was crucified, buried and rose again. It was the middle of the afternoon on a Tuesday and the place was packed with people. For those who question the impact or future of Christianity you could never doubt it on that day. The numbers of people, of Christian pilgrims simply added to

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  Apr 9, 2014

  5 Root Causes for a Crisis of Faith

  I do not know of many Christians who have not at some time had a crisis point in their walk with God. How we respond to such a crisis in many ways determines our future maturity as a Christian. Certainly the fact that there are today some who once knew the Lord Jesus and walked away from that relationship with Him, can be directly related to their failure of properly responding to a crisis of their faith in God. If all those who have walked away were to come back to the Lord there may not be an

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  Feb 23, 2014

  5 Reasons to Attend Church Regularly

  There is a disturbing trend I am noticing in churches. Maybe it is more in larger, contemporary churches than smaller, traditional churches. But since the majority of all churchgoers now attend larger churches this is of real concern. The trend is the decline in percentage attendance. In other words there are less people attending each church service in comparison with the number of people who call the church their home.

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  Jan 23, 2014

  The Non-Christians' Favorite Bible Verse

  The recent Phil Robertson Duck Dynasty controversy brought it up again. Bill O'Reilly quoted it on Fox News; Don Lemon quoted it on CNN. The favorite verse of the Bible referenced in the public sphere is Matthew 7:1, "Judge not, lest you be judged." The Bible's most misinterpreted, misused and misunderstood scripture verse is once again in the forefront of our public discourse.

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  Jan 2, 2014

  2014: Your Comeback Year

  As you look toward a new year the hope may be that this could be your year, the year that you have a great comeback. You may have gotten divorced, lost your job, had a health problem, lost a loved one or had another setback. Whatever the case, you can turn your setback into a comeback. In fact, it is possible to get back to where you once were or even do better. Could 2014 be the year of your comeback?

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  Dec 5, 2013

  10 Steps to a Less Stress Christmas

  Christmas can be a very stressful time. It is a frenzied season full of expectations and obligations. Decorations need to be put up, baking has to be done, presents have to be purchased and relatives must be visited. It is quite possible that in a season where you should experience peace and joy you may miss out on all of it. Here are ten steps you can take to manage your stress this Christmas season.

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  Nov 14, 2013

  5 Myths About Christianity

  The half-truths, lies and myths about Christianity seem to increase at the rate of social media growth. There are falsehoods about science and Christianity, the divinity of Christ and the veracity of the Bible. There are so many half-truths it would take volumes to dispel them. And there are the myths. These are five that warrant examination.

• Jul 1, 2013

  The Supreme Court Gets It Wrong on Gay Marriage Rulings

  The Supreme Court has ruled on gay marriage, but this highly complex and emotional issue is far from being settled. The attempt to reshape or redefine marriage will be met with fervent and persistent opposition. Just as forty years after Roe v. Wade abortion opponents continue to fight for the pro-life agenda, pro-traditional marriage supporters will fight on as well. The reality is there are many reasoned and logical arguments against gay marriage.