What Does The Term “Worship” Really Mean?
WORSHIP/DEVOTIONAL ARTICLE | William Stewart | Odessa, Ontario
A myriad of writers through the years have penned much literature on the topic of worship. If one were to compile all the “worship is” statements obtainable, an exhaustive volume would no doubt be the result. So, we might inquire, “Why, after all the effort put forth by men and women through the years, do we yet again embark on a discourse about the meaning of worship?” Quite simply, it is good to be reminded of the things which we already know, and perhaps to be made aware of some things we have not known. The more we study and learn about the worship which our God is due, the greater our appreciation and more devoted our service will be. Read More
In his book, Five Cries of Youth, Merton Strommen asserts that the loudest cry of young people is their need to be accepted or loved. As we think about our youth, do we not find that to be true? Many times our self-worth was tied to the opinions of others. Perhaps, for this reason, you wore your hair a certain way or dressed according to the trends of the day. Young people often struggle because of an inferiority complex, which stems from the idea that no one loves or appreciates them. We long to be loved and accepted.
Just a few minutes ago, I was on the phone, long-distance, with my sister – my adopted sister. Even though she is adopted, I consider her to be my “real” sister. (We were both adopted. While we are not biologically related, we really are connected in a unique way.) We were reminiscing together because today was the wedding anniversary of our adoptive parents. Although both of our parents are gone now, it’s a joy for us to remember them! We miss them. They were dear folks who took us into their hearts and home and wanted us to call them Mom and Dad – even though we’d all previously been strangers! And you know, even though strangers, in the presence of their beautiful love for us, we bonded together as a real family. Each of us, as individuals with separate heritages, were brought together in love. And that illustrates a spiritual matter of extreme eternal significance. 
Fasting is an uncommon activity in our modern, Western culture. People tend to associate it with cultic and Eastern religions, ancient mysticism, medieval monasticism, or non-traditional health management. Obviously, there are misconceptions about fasting. Yet the Bible portrays fasting as an acceptable and spiritually beneficial practice. Biblical fasting is often linked with prayer. In this study, we will survey the nature and application of fasting in the Bible and its relevance today. 
