 For to be carnally minded is death;
but to be spiritually minded is
life and peace.
Romans 8:6
Is it just me or have you also noticed that keeping your head and heart in the right place is real work? It takes a deliberate effort to maintain a godly perspective in a negative world. I'm not just talking about having a positive attitude; I mean being spiritually minded.
We're all born with a natural, carnal mind that tends to be focused on 3 things: I, me and mine. From birth it's all about us and what we want. As babies, we cried to get attention. As children and teens we whined to get what we wanted. As adults we've mastered all kinds of techniques to ultimately get our way, haven't we?
The spiritual mind is the exact opposite. It is others focused starting with pleasing God first. Jesus said about himself, "For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me." (John 6:38)
What is the mind of Christ? Consider this:
Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. (Philippians 2:3-8)
Having the mind of Christ involves abandoning my own will and ego, putting others' needs ahead of my own, and humbling myself to serve even to the point of great personal sacrifice. Talk about a tall order! But that's exactly what Jesus Christ, the great King of Glory did for us.
Here's where the rubber meets the road: Husbands, how are we serving our wives? Are we putting their needs – physical and emotional - above our own? Wives, are you truly honoring your husband the way the Bible describes? Do you think he feels it? Having the mind of Christ should start at home!
If you're a church leader, are you doing everything you can to promote others, or is it all about you and your ministry? What are you doing so that others will increase and you will decrease?
5 Ways To Keep Spiritually Minded
 1. Read & Study the Scriptures
That sounds like no-brainer, yet on an average week, how often do we read the Bible? Most will admit "not very". It's easy to say we're too busy...except we somehow seem to have time for TV, Facebook, romance novels, etc. If we don't get into the Word of God, the Word of God won't be getting in to us! Let's not forget that Christ was the Word made flesh... (John 1:1-14)
2. Pray In The Spirit
Jude writes, But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. (Jude 1:20-21). The value of praying in the Spirit is incalculable. I write more about praying in the Holy Ghost here. See Rom. 8:26-27 3. Meditate upon the WordLearn to go beyond just reading the scriptures. Meditate upon them, let the words of Christ sink into you. Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. (1 Timothy 4:15)4. Fellowship with other BelieversBeing with other like minded souls is a real morale boost and facilitates iron sharpening iron.5. Share the WordTeach a Bible Study to someone! It's one of the most amazing ways to learn the Word of God and become solid in what you believe. Start with a simple, free topical Bible Study and share it with a friend. Then watch what happens to you!We'll never get the mind of Christ by accident. It takes deliberate effort. But read the top verse again and remember the benefits of being spiritually minded: life and peace!
 If you missed Part 1 Click Here To get to that post.Please enjoy the second part of this great interview with Meagan Frank that comes in both video and in text below. Then leave a comment and check out the special offer specifically for Christian Home Church visitors from Meagan. Enjoy!
Advice to Men. Tap into your emotional side. Invest in knowing your own love language, as well as the love language of everyone in your house. Be open to conversation and don’t just listen, but hear what is being said. God’s instruction for husbands is pretty clear, and stay true to Biblical directives in all areas of your life.
Advice to Women. Accept your role as a submissive wife. Submission is not demeaning…it is simply the best way to navigate marriage and honors both God and your husband. We are called to submit, in love, to everyone around us, and it is incredibly important to do that as well as we can in our marriages.
Advice to those Courting now with Marriage in Their Future. Identify your red flags. Spend some honest time evaluating the baggage that the two of you are bringing into your marriage. Pre-marital counseling is a must for couples invested in lifelong marriage. It will help you to identify the potential pitfalls. Do not discount the family dynamics of your primary families. Open yourself up to healing from childhood wounds: addiction, divorce, abuse, neglect, abandonment. If you are entering a second marriage or if there are step children involved, work with therapists to help prepare everyone for the new roles you are all going to have. Basically, don’t just go through the motions. Pay attention to emotional reactions and then invest time in finding out why you might have reacted in a certain way.
Advice to Those Headed for the Rocks. Make a choice to move through it. Find God in your mess and call on Him to bring you closer to Him. Then listen with every fiber of your being to what God has to tell you. God wants our marriages to be a way for people to know Christ’s love. Seek out positive and supportive friends who are advocates for healthy marriage. Find couple friends who model how you want your own marriage to be and invite them in to give honest and real advice. Call on marital counselors if you need an objective, and trained professional to mediate the conversation. Read books about marriage, about anger, about love, about changing yourself. You can only each control what you do individually. Make a choice to improve yourself, and I would venture a guess that you’ll see positive changes in your spouse, as well as in your marriage. 
Special Offer to CHC Visitors Visit MeaganFrank.com and this Order Page for a special Offer to CHC Visitors.
Prefer an Ebook? Visit Smashwords and use this Ebook Code: Choosing to Grow: Through Marriage- BV49K.
If you liked this interview, please leave a comment and pass it along to your friends! Get future updates by joining our email list on the Contact Page.
 Author Meagan Frank Few topics are more important today than marriage. This loving, honorable relationship between a man and a woman was designed by God himself and is the foundation of society. Unfortunately, marriage has been downgraded by the world into a disposable partnership rather than a life-long commitment. "Till death do us part" really means "Till things get tough" to many. Weddings are easy; marriage is not.
I caught up with Meagan to talk about her new book Choosing To Grow Through Marriage. I hope you'll enjoy this 2-part interview, both in text and in video and be sure to check out the special offer to ChristianHomeChurch.com (CHC) visitors!
Who Is Meagan Frank? Explaining who I am has to start with where I am. I am a married mother of three children ages 11, 9 and 5. We live in Minnesota most of the year, but for the summers we come back to my home state of Colorado. I am a newly retired college soccer coach who has been a writer since I was seven. I have been an English teacher and a newspaper reporter as well as staying home full time with our children. I have only recently decided that I want to do who I’ve always been, and I am in the process of creating a business as a writer
Why should someone listen to you? That’s a good question. I admit I am hardly a formal expert in marriage. I majored in English and minored in Education in college so what I know about marriage has all been learned outside of a classroom. Were there even any college classes about marriage anyway? As part of my study in the Education department at Colorado College, I did study some psychology, but it was not a major emphasis. The unique nature of our college made me innately curious. It also taught me how to ask the deeper questions, and then how to analyze the answers.
Maybe that’s why you should listen to me. I know I don’t know everything there is to know about marriage, but I do know some of the best places to go for answers. With the help of people smarter than me, more experienced than me and who have offered up ideas about what works and what doesn’t, I researched my way to expertise. I read 25 titles, I interviewed 70 women ranging in age from 25-85 and I collected objective data for 170 women. I am still learning and growing through what life throws at me but the book is a great starting point.Why This Book? The idea for this book was a response to an on-my-knees conversation with God. I had hit a low and desperate spot in my life, and in my marriage. I pleaded with God for some help to get through it. The motivation to research for this book was the very next thought in my head. I have felt divinely inspired all along. I feel called to make our marriage and, marriage in general, a vehicle to know God’s love and to improve on the relationships around us.
Click Here For A Special Offer from Meagan for CHC Visitors!Why Now? Even the publishing story of this book feels as though God’s hand has been in the mix. Until now, I wasn’t ready, and the book wasn’t ready either. Eight years have passed since my night of prayer, but I knew all along that it was going to happen on a timeline that was not mine. I had all but given up on the book after a series of rejections and not much momentum. TreasureLine publishing seemingly came out of nowhere, and before I knew it I was contracted to finish the book. That was a year ago, and here I am with a physical offering to make to the world.  Who will get the most out of this book? That has turned into a pretty funny question. I initially thought my target audience was married people (maybe most specifically women) ages 25-55. I still think that is a good age range, but maybe it is best to talk about phase of life rather than an age. I think this book will be good for people who are truly invested in preparation for marriage…not just the wedding, but the marriage. Newlyweds who are coming down from the high of the honeymoon would likely benefit. New parents will find some great information in there about the intrusion of children, and well, I guess anyone who is interested in growing through all stages of marriage. There have been a number of men and women in their seventies (thanks to the women who were part of my research groups) who have read and enjoyed the book. There is more than research in this book, there are analogies and anecdotal stories. If marriage is a topic of interest, you’ll find something in this book for you.Click Here To Go To Part 2 of this Interview
Click Here for a Special Offer To ChristianHomeChurch (CHC) Visitors and visit MeaganFrank.com for more about this fascinating author. Please leave a comment below and share this article with others!
Are you a believer who's considering marriage to an unbeliever? This article might be of interest.
 Click Picture For Part 1 Over 110,000 Google searches every month are initiated with phrases like "Why Go To Church?" What are people looking for? Words to remind them of the importance of fellowship? Some support for skipping church? Are others bored with church and their walk with God and hope to find something more than what they currently have? Whatever the reasons, if you've stumbled upon this article using a similar search, I'm glad you're here and I pray you'll find what you're looking for.
Why Should I Go To Church?
First, let's be clear about something: We don't go to church; we are the church. Church is a family more than anything else. However, since “going to church” is how most of us describe assembling together, I'll use it for this post.
Reasons Why to Go To Church
You Matter! Your Participation Is Important.
Too many of us wouldn't put church and participation in the same sentence. We're used to a few performing for the many who sit and listen. But here's what I Cor. 14: 26 says: How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying. Christ designed his church to function like active and connected members of a body under his headship. You Have Spiritual Gifts to Share With OthersAccording to Rom. 12, I Cor. 12-14, and Eph. 4, Christ has given gifts to his church. These gifts are for edifying others and should be encouraged. If you are not assembling together, others can't receive what you have, nor will you be blessed by others. Have a look at those chapters above to see what Christ has given to his church! We all fit in there somewhere.
Note: Spiritual Gifts and their use is a big topic and deserves it's own post. Ask about it later!
Your Presence Adds Excitement
Every group or church has it's own unique flavor and dynamic. Ever notice how the level of excitement raises or lowers according to who and how many of us assemble together? Numbers aren't what's important, but be assured others notice your absence. Have you ever been comforted by certain people just being there consistently? I sure have! You have no idea how your faithful attendance impacts others.
Church Is About Giving & Receiving
Jesus Christ designed his church to be an interactive fellowship. Read the book of Acts and you'll see a dynamic church praying for and with each other, looking out for each others needs, meeting in each others houses at different days and times, teaching, speaking in tongues and interpretation of tongues, prophesying, working miracles, offering words of wisdom and knowledge, and preaching the word. Everyone participated!
Does the Bible say you have to go to church? Here's what the Bible says...
Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.(Hebrews 10:23-25)
What is emphasis? Considering one another...provoke unto love and good works...exhorting one another... It's not about buildings, position or title, multimedia light shows, praise teams, elevating pastors, or fundraisers. Some of these things are helpful, but not the focus. Urging each other on from glory to glory is far more important than programs or electronic gadgetry. The bottom line is that we were all created by Almighty God for purpose. We all have a special place in the body of Christ - and it's not in a pew! We have gifts to give, wisdom to share, miracles to experience and encouragement to receive from others.Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. (Ecc. 4:9-10) The enemy of our soul would love nothing more than to see God's people separated from other believers and feeling worthless, unused, and unappreciated. We'll never experience the thrilling fulfillment God has for us if we're all by ourselves. The same is true if we're stuck in an organization that won't yield to the biblical pattern of interactive church.Related Article: Important Things You Should Know About Church Before You Go Back!If you'd like to get the next blog update, join our e-mailing list on the Contact Page!
Why Should I Go To Church?
Is Not Going To Church A Sin?
Is Going To Church In The Bible?
Christians ponder these questions nearly every Sunday. Do I have to go to church? Is it a sin to not go to church? Great questions! Questions that deserve biblical answers.
What is church anyway?
Most Christians in America view church as a weekly event. Church is a Sunday morning activity especially for the children. But is that what the Bible says? Does the Bible say I should go to a certain building, sit in a pew, sing a few songs, put money in the plate, and listen a pastor preach week after week?
From my early teens I was a regular church attender. Sunday mornings, Sunday evenings and Wednesday nights we were in church.
Later, I became a full-time minister and regularly preached all the things I was taught. One foundational truth I learned was to never add to or take away from the Word. The Bible is truth (it doesn't just contain truth), it's our final authority (overriding church handouts and by-laws), and THE source of all of our doctrine (regardless of denomination, visiting preacher or our beloved Aunt Maggie).
So what happens when the minister searches the scriptures for direction on how the church is suppose to function, and can't find most of the things he's been taught? Does he brush his concerns aside and just keep going like he has year after year? Or does he practice what he's preached to others and lay aside his own beliefs in favor of the truth of the Word of God?
When Jesus confronted the Pharisees about their traditions and teachings, I laughed. When Jesus confronted me about my teachings and traditions, it wasn't so funny. As I recall, it was a time of fear and trembling.
 I believe there are thousands of church leaders today shaking in their shoes because they know the Bible does not support the pattern of church they were taught and currently live by. That fear is partly financial. They are like the buggy whip maker watching something called an automobile make it's way down the road without a horse.
If you go to church, why do you? Have you ever searched the scriptures to understand your relationship with other believers? You might be surprised to see what the Bible says! You might also be on the edge of a whole new life in Christ!
For some scriptural answers to the question, "Do I have to go to church?" Click Here to fast forward to Part 2 of this topic.Visit our Contact Page to add your name to our email list to get future updates!
 The reviews of Parting Ways keep coming in and I'm overwhelmed! Thank you everyone! Your comments and feedback are inspirational!I drew from many personal experiences in writing this Christian Fiction novel.
Parting Ways is the story of an ambitious, young minister who must ultimately choose between following the truth he reads in the scriptures, or following the evolving teachings of his denominational church leaders. That's the brief thumbnail overview of the book. But here's what one reader shared on Amazon.com... The book has been getting many positive 5-Star reviews for which I'm truly grateful! I particularly appreciated CindyM's review because she reveals more of the other story elements that aren't depicted on the book's cover. Real life has many subplots, conflicts and rabbit trails doesn't it? Thank you CindyM for mentioning some of these other points. You might enjoy reading Parting Ways if you like...- Inspirational stories of faith and family;
- Colorful characters with integrity, humor, and flaws;
- The gifts of the Spirit at work in everyday situations;
- Stories set against the backdrop of beautiful Arizona;
- Real church outside of conventional religion;
- To read of people who love America;
- To read of the blessings of diligence and hard work;
- A little unexpected romance;
- The dark, flavorful world of coffee;
- And to see the truly mysterious and unpredictable ways of God play out.
If you gave a nod to any of these literary ingredients, then add Parting Ways to your reading list! If you've already read it, please consider leaving a comment here and on Amazon.com. Your comments, reviews and feedback are greatly appreciated!If you live in the Gilbert, Chandler, Temple, Mesa, Queen Creek or Phoenix area, you might be interested in coming to the Book Signing at Inspirations Bookstore and Tea Shoppe on Friday, August 12, 2011, from 6:30-8:30 PM.  Inspirations is located at the far west end of the shopping center off W. Queen Creek and S. Alma School Rd. Inspirations loves the local community and regularly features Christian Bands and other talent. Enjoy their huge assortment of teas, smoothies, gifts, books, music, and other Christ-centered items.
Once again, thanks for the reviews of Parting Ways everyone! Parting Ways is available in paperback on PatrickSipperly.com (Save 10% over Amazon.com), at Inspirations Bookstore & Tea Shoppe, Amazon.com. Or if you prefer to e-read it, check out Kindle or Smashwords. If you like to hear books on audio, listen to the first chapter narrated by the author here.
 If you like audio books, then you might like to sample the first chapter of Parting Ways narrated by the author!Find out more about Parting Ways by visiting PatrickSipperly.com
 Business And The Bible
How Are We Treating Others?
And as ye would that men should do to you,
do ye also to them likewise.
Luke 6:31
Don't you love working with businesses that treat you fair and square? What you see is what you get without crazy surprises or disappointing results? I sure do! Unfortunately, things don't always work out that way – even when the business owner claims to be a believer.
I've been going though a difficult situation with a service company I hired some time ago. According to our agreement, certain things were supposed to happen at certain times and they weren't getting done. When I pointed these items out in neatly typed black and white, rather than admitting error, the “Christian” Business owner skirted the issue and tried to put the error on me. Amazing.
This Christian businessman wasn't holding up his end of the agreement and was in clear breach of contract. After a heated conversation we terminated our agreement. A few days later he emailed me to say he was getting out of that business. As it turns out, I'm not the only one who's complained about his services. It's too bad really, but it's also instructive. I was glad for the relatively peaceful resolve, but wanted to make sure I'd learned all I could from this experience. I'm certainly not immune to being less than Christ-like myself.
As a Christian Businessman, I need to conduct business the way Jesus would. If you're a business owning believer, consider these questions with me:
- What's most important to me: Making money or offering the best product and service I can?
- Am I treating my clients the way I want to be treated?
- Am I being completely clear and upfront with my customers?
- Am I pointing out what my employees do right as much what they do wrong?
- Are my contracts and agreements written equitably and honorably or are there hidden fees and traps to snare customers?
- How's my reputation in the community?
FedEx has a great philosophy about business: People – Service – Profits. Here's how their Culture Page starts: “Take care of our people; they in turn will deliver impeccable service demanded by our customers, who will reward us with the profitability necessary to secure our future.”
Talk about having your priorities in order! Jesus gave us this instruction that is relevant for both in business and life:
Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. (Matthew 22:37-39)  Parting Ways A Novel by Patrick SipperlyFollow the story of an ambitious Pastor who must choose between following his denomination...or following God. "This Book Is Wonderful!" ***** - StormyC - Amazon.com ReviewerSee the book trailer & Save 10% Over Amazon.com by ordering Here!
The overriding principle is this: Treat Others The Way You Want To Be Treated.
Every once in a while I catch the TV series “Undercover Boss”. It's where a CEO or a big business owner gets into disguise and becomes an entry-level employee in his own company for a week. It's eye-opening for everyone and worth a watch. We business owners could learn a lot by wearing the shoes of our customers and employees for a time now and then.
With all of the social media options available today, customers can write and post comments about our businesses in minutes. What will they write about ours today? Will we get a 1-star or a 5-star review? Will they ever come back or will they return with a car full of their friends because of the great service they received?
More importantly, what kind of review would Jesus Christ give us if he did business with us today? Would he be pleased with our offerings or take his business elsewhere?
This Article Was Featured In The Pagosa Daily Post in Pagosa Springs, Colorado!  And be ye kind one to another,
tenderhearted, forgiving one
another, even as God for Christ's
sake hath forgiven you.
Ephesians 4:32
What does the Bible say about forgiveness? Plenty! If you're a “cut to the chase” person like me, then have a look at this:
For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. (Matthew 6:14-15)
If we follow this out to conclusion, the unforgiving person won't be forgiven and will die in their sins. They will stand before God, the Righteous Judge, with unrepented and unforgiven sins and will be judged according to the Word. Don't be that guy!
"If a bad man offends you, forgive him, lest there be two bad men."
By the way, God doesn't use a sliding scale when it comes to sin like we do sometimes (Adultery = 9; Lying = 7.5; White Lies = 5; Stealing = 6.8...) Sin is sin and all sin carries the same judgment: death.
He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. (Proverbs 28:13)
Forgiveness is the most God-like characteristic I can think of, but it isn't a passive characteristic. The Bible doesn't say anywhere to just “forgive and forget” and that's it. That attitude, though gracious sounding, isn't biblical and rarely brings real peace and resolve. Here's what should happen:
Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him. (Luke 17:3-4)
That word rebuke means: to express sharp, stern disapproval of; reprove; reprimand.
And here's how that should take place...
Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. (Matthew 18:15-17)
Shouldn't we confront others the way we'd want to be confronted if we're in the wrong? Makes sense. Ever notice how soon after we get on to someone about a fault that someone is getting on to us – often about the very same thing? I hate it when that happens!
“Lord, let my words be sweet today, for tomorrow I may have to eat them.”
Finally, let's give each other room to repent. Some offenses can be cleared away in a conversation, others may require time to work out, pay back, rebuild trust, or repair. Give a person time and opportunity to make things right – the same amount of time we hope to receive when it's our turn to seek forgiveness.
For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. (Matthew 7:2)
Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. (Galatians 6:1)
 Parting Waysis available at PatrickSipperly.com! All orders placed through the website get10% off of the Amazon.com price!Join Parting Ways Novel on Facebook!
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