Opinion
Strong spirits: joy
Joy doesn't just happen. We have to receive it, choose it, and, if we want it to grow, share it.
Gary Schwerin
Besides serving as pastor at Caledonia Church, Gary Schwerin is the Spiritual Development Minister for the Rockford YMCA and Executive Director of Bridge Ministries of Rockford.
Opinion
Strong spirits: peace
Peace of mind and heart can be an elusive thing to find these days.
Opinion
Strong spirits: hope
Waiting is hard, but hope helps.
Opinion
Strong spirits: in everything?
Being thankful is a decision we make.
Opinion
Strong spirits: who do you love?
Not just to love those that love us, but to love everyone, even our enemies. Who can do that?
Opinion
Strong spirits: patient and kind
And kindness allows us to see people and treat people as God would.
Opinion
Strong spirits: love all!
Our call is to love all - even and especially those with whom we disagree, even our enemies.
Opinion
Strong spirits: dying and living
When people said they wanted to follow Jesus, he said, "Count the cost."
Opinion
Strong spirits: power
Which do you think is more powerful, love or hate?
Opinion
Strong spirits: run the race
Life, and in particular the life of faith in following Jesus, is a race. And it's not a sprint.
Opinion
Strong spirits: community
Have you ever been a part of a really wonderful community?
Opinion
Strong spirits: questions
We ought not be afraid of questions.
Opinion
Strong spirits: childlike
Can you find the magical in the mundane? Do you remember how to dream?
Opinion
Strong spirits: what are you looking for?
We are all looking for something. What we should be looking for?
Opinion
Strong spirits: praise
If you, like me, are weak on praising, go learn from the masters.
Opinion
Strong spirits: control
Whether it is human nature, or the culture we live in, or some other factor, most of us like to be in control.
Opinion
Strong spirits: these are the days!
We need a simple solution to keep us on track and moving ahead.
Opinion
Strong spirits: my biggest appetite
We all have appetites. We hunger and thirst for more than just food and drink
Opinion
Strong spirits: run the race
All of us are in an Olympics of a sort.
Opinion
Strong spirits: want to be like Jesus?
Who did you look up to as a kid? Who did you want to be like?
Opinion
Strong spirits: old or new?
Many of us long for the "good old days." But many of us also long for things to be "new."
Opinion
Strong spirits: truth!
We combat the lies best by knowing the truth, living in the truth, being filled with the truth.
Opinion
Strong spirits: working together
We can neither be nor do what God intends if we stand alone.
Opinion
Strong spirits: standards
There are standards for being a follower of Jesus, but the point is not to simply try harder.
Opinion
Strong spirits: love and power
For someone you love very much: what would you want them to have?