Mike Ashcraft is senior pastor at Port City Community Church in North Carolina and co-author of “My One Word: Change Your Life with Just One Word”. You can follow him on twitter @mikeashcraft or watch his sermons on portcitychurch.org Do Something About One Thing In just a few weeks, once the holiday bustle is safely in the past, we will turn our attention to the hope of the new year. Our minds will drift towards the many ways we […]
What does December represent for you? Stress. Anxiety. Busyness. Worry. Regret… Hope. Anticipation. Celebration. Generosity. Joy… As much as I’d like to admit that my list resembles the second list, there’s a little of both around our house. December provides a unique time for reflection, looking back on another year past. We revisit both tragedy and triumph, victory and defeat as we reminisce all that was. Additionally, we anticipate all that awaits. A new year promises new opportunities and new beginnings. However, as we ebb […]
∞ “Just as God gives comfort to the faithful in their affliction, He will surely afflict the comfort of those unwilling to step beyond it—which probably makes Him an irresistible hero for the called, and the unspoken villain for those who’d rather keep cheering them on from a distance.” —Kevin Adams, The Extravagant Fool ∞ Far away, along the road to purpose, is a town called Comfortable. Hidden perfectly within the mountains, it sits just beyond the river and past the […]
Too often, I feel like no one can relate to my life–no one can understand where I’m coming from. In my frustration, I isolate myself on my own little island, set up camp, and throw a one-man pity party. However, I found some consolation this week from the Old Testament that gives me the strength to persevere. David knew the joy of victory. He also understood the pain of defeat. He danced with gladness, yet at times, his soul was troubled to […]
In high school, the number that adorned my baseball uniform was, forty-one. It was my number. I took possession of it and owned it. It didn’t have any significant meaning at the time, but since has taken on a life of its own. In college, I became a huge Dave Matthews Band fan, something like twelve shows in four years. Ironically, Dave Matthews has a song called #41 – creative considering it was the 41st song he had written. Through […]
My grandfather, Mendel Ham, grew up on a farm in rural South Carolina. Racial inequality was rampant in the Deep South during the 1930’s, but one of his best friends was an African-American farm hand. That pretty much sums up my grandfather—the stares and jeers weren’t strong enough to break his spirit. I didn’t know him as a young man, but I try to envision him approaching my grandmother to ask her on their first date. Or, see him as an eighteen-year old marine, serving our country […]
I love NC State football. As a 2004 graduate, I bleed Red & White! Last week, we hosted the #3 Clemson Tigers. The game was televised on ESPN’s Thursday Night Primetime and I was there with 57,000 others cheering on the Pack. State played well, much better than most expected, and as the 3rd quarter was closing, it was only 13-7 in Clemson’s favor. Then it happened. State’s Brian Underwood broke a run around the end and headed down the sideline […]
We get busy in life. Matt reminds us of why we dedicate ourselves to something other than ourselves.
- Robert Wagnon, CEO, Republic State Mortgage
