Happy #ElevatedFriday! In Charlotte, NC, a high school football coach shares a unique bond with his starting quarterback. Several years ago, Coach Sam Greiner noticed that QB Braheam Murphy did not have a stable home life as Greiner would have to drop him off after practice in varying locations. As a result, Murphy’s grades were very poor; so poor, that Murphy became academically ineligible to play football. Upon seeing Murphy’s struggles, Greiner and his wife decided to take

As 2017 comes to an end and 2018 is rapidly approaching, it is a good time to make decisions on how we will make 2018 the best year of our lives. Many times with new year resolutions, we focus inwardly—losing 10 pounds, quit smoking, get that promotion at work, etc. But what if instead of focusing inwardly, we focused outwardly? One of Jesus' greatest messages was “as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.” This year, rather than make goals to change your curren

As the week of Christmas continues and the 2017 comes to a close, it is good to reflect upon the past year and make decisions on things in our lives that may need change, improvement, or continuation. Anyone with a pulse this year knows it was a tumultuous one in and around Washington, DC with the shockwaves tangibly felt nationwide. Those of us not directly working in Washington or for a political candidate may feel helpless in affecting what happens there and in our news, b

The day after the Christmas holiday, we all usually have full hearts, and hopefully, have fully thanked God for our blessings this year. What an incredible God we serve, who would send His own son to Earth for the sole purpose of saving we sinners from the punishment rightly due to us. Recognizing that we are all sinners in need of saving underlines the significance of Christmas. In 1 Timothy, Paul declares this most forcefully when he says, “Here is a trustworthy saying that

Merry Christmas! On this day, we as Christians celebrate the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ, whom God sent to Earth to save us from our sins. Traditionally, we celebrate this special day by giving gifts to each other, in much the same way as the three wise men did for baby Jesus. But for we whose life calling centers around the proclamation of the good news of Jesus Christ, this day means so much more. As written in the gospel of Luke about the birth of Christ, “And the ang

Happy #ElevatedFriday! As Christmas is just around the corner, we wanted to highlight a story of selfless giving. A 9-year-old boy named Mikah from Beachwood, Ohio was set to receive a new Xbox gaming system for Christmas, something he wanted very much. However just a few years ago, his family had fallen on hard times and were forced from their house, living for a period of time in a shelter. During his time in the shelter, Mikah remembered being given a blanket each night bu

Such has been done by countless Presidents and Congress before, a landmark piece of legislation was passed yesterday. Both sides of the political equation still stand opposed over this tax reform bill, causing many of us to follow in opposition or support. On the precipice of change, it is important to remember that the world will continue spinning and God will continue ruling until the day He decides it is time for Jesus to return. Therefore, deliverance nor damnation comes

As the GOP’s tax reform bill nears passage, the country is fairly split over the likely outcomes of this bill. While time will inevitably tell all, what can we do today to help a good outcome for all? We can pray. In Proverbs, it says, “The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will.” The United States, obviously, doesn’t have a king, but we do have an elected President and legislative representatives. We are called throughout the

The tragic train derailment in Washington State yesterday was an absolute tragedy. It shows that even when we strive to do everything right, even then, things can go terribly wrong. However God is closer than ever to us in these times. While He does not escort us through life avoiding every pitfall, He does give us the peace of mind we need to face the world. In John, Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not

The upcoming vote, and likely passage, of tax reform in Congress means that change is on the horizon for all of us. The potential passage of the first major piece of legislation pushed by the Trump Administration has been met with both support and resistance—with equal vehemence on both sides. In times of change such as these, the Bible offers this: “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.” Nowadays on social media, tim