Toward the Goal » Worth Reading http://www.toward-the-goal.net Fri, 03 Feb 2012 13:23:30 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 What Matters Most… http://www.toward-the-goal.net/2009/12/14/what-matters-most/ http://www.toward-the-goal.net/2009/12/14/what-matters-most/#comments Mon, 14 Dec 2009 22:38:54 +0000 John http://www.toward-the-goal.net/?p=1379 “Happy Holidays!”

What’s going through your mind, Christian? It’s okay… you can admit it…

“It’s CHRISTMAS you moron!”

Yep. I thought so.

Maybe you’ve been offended by the greeting. Maybe you’ve even verbalized it to the well-meaning (but misguided) person who thought they’d pleasantly wished you well this season. Maybe you’ve even decided you’re not shopping anywhere that “Christmas” is not well, um… spoken?

Yeah. We Christians can be such kill-joys during the “Holiday” season.

The point of this post? You probably know where I’m going, but you won’t find the rest here… it’s over at Todd Littleton’s place (he’s shared some good stuff).

Anyway, check out Todd’s thoughts on the never-ending war over “Christmas”: “What if Retailers Rated Christians?”

Oh, and prepare for a nice load of conviction.

]]> http://www.toward-the-goal.net/2009/12/14/what-matters-most/feed/ 2 Compassion International… Up Close and Personal. http://www.toward-the-goal.net/2009/04/28/compassion-international-up-close-and-personal/ http://www.toward-the-goal.net/2009/04/28/compassion-international-up-close-and-personal/#comments Tue, 28 Apr 2009 22:05:20 +0000 John http://www.toward-the-goal.net/?p=1231 Right now, a group of bloggers are in India visiting with children whose lives are being changed by Compasssion International. The purpose, of course, is to give these bloggers the opportunity to share with the world the story of what this incredible organization is doing worldwide to rescue children from poverty… giving them both hope for tomorrow and hope for eternity through Jesus Christ.

Anne Jackson is one such blogger, and today she shared about her encounter with a beautiful little girl named Lakshmi.

You’ve gotta read it.

You see, Anne’s touching moment with Lakshmi today cuts straight to the heart of what Compassion International is all about. Beautiful kids that, without help from people like you and me, have little to no hope for tomorrow. Their hopes and dreams stand little chance against the ravages of poverty.

Won’t you change a child’s life today?

]]> http://www.toward-the-goal.net/2009/04/28/compassion-international-up-close-and-personal/feed/ 3 Faith in the Skipper http://www.toward-the-goal.net/2009/03/30/faith-in-the-skipper/ http://www.toward-the-goal.net/2009/03/30/faith-in-the-skipper/#comments Mon, 30 Mar 2009 12:52:22 +0000 John http://www.toward-the-goal.net/?p=1200 It’s widely known that Trey Hillman, manager of the Kansas City Royals, is a devout Christian. Given his position, we know a lot about his life as manager of the Royals… but his faith is something of which the media rarely gives us a glimpse.

This morning, that’s changed. I love stories like this one, entitled “Faith in the Skipper”.

Check it out when you get a chance.

]]> http://www.toward-the-goal.net/2009/03/30/faith-in-the-skipper/feed/ 0 Two Missed Free Throws… http://www.toward-the-goal.net/2009/02/17/two-missed-free-throws/ http://www.toward-the-goal.net/2009/02/17/two-missed-free-throws/#comments Wed, 18 Feb 2009 03:27:43 +0000 John http://www.toward-the-goal.net/?p=1138 I could tell a lot of stories about two missed free throws in a basketball game, but this one on ESPN is far better than anything I could share.

Check it out.

]]> http://www.toward-the-goal.net/2009/02/17/two-missed-free-throws/feed/ 0 Arizona Cardinals… Super Bowl Bound! http://www.toward-the-goal.net/2009/01/18/arizona-cardinals-super-bowl-bound/ http://www.toward-the-goal.net/2009/01/18/arizona-cardinals-super-bowl-bound/#comments Sun, 18 Jan 2009 23:46:10 +0000 John http://www.toward-the-goal.net/?p=1107 If there has been one constant in the NFL over the years, it’s been that the Cardinals would stink. Today… they’re Super Bowl bound.

Yes, the Arizona Cardinals are headed to the Super Bowl.

Unbelievable.

I couldn’t be happier for them, though… with a QB like Kurt Warner, how can you NOT pull for these guys? Just check out this article and tell me you won’t be rooting for him…

]]> http://www.toward-the-goal.net/2009/01/18/arizona-cardinals-super-bowl-bound/feed/ 1 Poverty, First-Hand… http://www.toward-the-goal.net/2009/01/08/poverty-first-hand/ http://www.toward-the-goal.net/2009/01/08/poverty-first-hand/#comments Thu, 08 Jan 2009 12:00:53 +0000 John http://www.toward-the-goal.net/?p=1097 We all know that disease, hunger, and poverty are prevalent conditions in our world. We know it’s bad, and we know that people are suffering.

But we don’t REALLY have a grasp on it, do we?

Today you have a chance to get a better understanding. I guarantee you that this blog post will make these issues strikingly real to you. Be forewarned… while no pictures are shared, the descriptions given in the post are a bit graphic.

Puts everything in perspective, doesn’t it?

(HT: Anne Jackson)

]]> http://www.toward-the-goal.net/2009/01/08/poverty-first-hand/feed/ 3 Javier’s Christmas Wish http://www.toward-the-goal.net/2008/12/24/javiers-christmas-wish/ http://www.toward-the-goal.net/2008/12/24/javiers-christmas-wish/#comments Wed, 24 Dec 2008 15:37:39 +0000 John http://www.toward-the-goal.net/?p=1056 ESPN has been a treasure trove of touching stories the past couple days.

Here’s another one, where Don Barone shares his experience in taking a 12-year-old boy named Javier fishing: “Christmas for Javier”.

Now most of us have a wish-list for Christmas… we want a new gadget, some new clothes, maybe some tools or toys of some sort. Our lists are shallow and short-sighted in light of Javi’s Christmas wish.

Why?

All he wants for Christmas is a family.

You’ll want to read this story. Check it out here.

]]> http://www.toward-the-goal.net/2008/12/24/javiers-christmas-wish/feed/ 0 Hope… at a Football Game http://www.toward-the-goal.net/2008/12/23/hope-at-a-football-game/ http://www.toward-the-goal.net/2008/12/23/hope-at-a-football-game/#comments Tue, 23 Dec 2008 19:00:38 +0000 John http://www.toward-the-goal.net/?p=1053 This is one of the most awesome sports stories I’ve ever read: “Outpouring of Faith” (chronicling this year’s Gainesville State / Grapevine Faith high school football matchup in Texas). God was clearly working in the middle of this game.

Check it out when you get a chance. It’s DEFINITELY worth the time to read.

Oh, and one other thing… you may need a kleenex.

]]> http://www.toward-the-goal.net/2008/12/23/hope-at-a-football-game/feed/ 1 Climate Revolt… http://www.toward-the-goal.net/2008/10/23/climate-revolt/ http://www.toward-the-goal.net/2008/10/23/climate-revolt/#comments Thu, 23 Oct 2008 16:57:28 +0000 John http://www.toward-the-goal.net/?p=994 Interesting article published earlier this week in Canada’s “National Post”. Apparently, some member states of the European Union are re-evaluating the Union’s CO2 reduction goals in light of the financial crisis.

Apparently, pocketbooks are more important that saving the planet. Climate alarmists will surely squeal.

Anyway, check out the article here.

HT: Tim Challies.

]]> http://www.toward-the-goal.net/2008/10/23/climate-revolt/feed/ 0 Commission Stories… http://www.toward-the-goal.net/2008/10/14/commission-stories/ http://www.toward-the-goal.net/2008/10/14/commission-stories/#comments Tue, 14 Oct 2008 22:40:21 +0000 John http://www.toward-the-goal.net/?p=979 Here’s a very powerful site for those of you interested in missions (that would be all of you believers, hopefully): commissionstories.com.

Today’s post is particularly powerful, recounting the story of Gabriel Mugmal, an Ecuadorian believer who faced death at the hands of his friends and neighbors for his faith in Christ.

Check it out when you get a chance. Trust me, it’s worth the time. God is at work amongst the Quicha people of Ecuador!

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