Running To Win on Oneplace.com

Your church needs you out on life's racetrack, running alongside the other members to get the job done together. The challenge for the new year is "get involved." That's what Esther did at a crucial point in the history of the Jewish people. She got involved even at great personal risk, as we should in order to face the daunting challenges of 2013.

Most of our choices do not affect world history. But sometimes, God puts us in situations where they can, and do. To save her people from extinction, Esther faced the risk of execution to beg the king of Persia to rescind a royal edict. She did not try to "pass the buck." She knew that at that key moment, "the buck stopped here."

At year-end, we are all conscious of passing time. We wish we had more time, but the sand keeps running through the hourglass. At crucial times, great leaders arise -- often from common roots. They find themselves at the vortexes of history, and are called upon to make momentous choices. Today we learn about one such leader, a woman named Esther.

At last the race to the stores is over. Today the kids attack their presents with a gleam in their eyes. For most of us, Christmas morning is a happy time as our families gather in the safety of our homes. But as you enjoy this day, take a few minutes and consider Christmas from a different viewpoint, from a place far away and a time long, long ago.

Many believers gather on Christmas Eve to sing carols and rejoice in the hope that another Christmas brings. For most of us, Christmas Eve is a time for family as the kids await the joys of opening presents. In the midst of all this, take a few minutes and consider Christmas from a different viewpoint, from a place far away and a time long, long ago.

The days before Christmas. For buyers it means last dashes to the mall. For merchants it means another frenzy of selling. But there were no malls in Bethlehem -- no lights, no friends. Indeed, Christmas had a humble beginning. This is a special edition of Running to Win, helping us understand what the real cost of Christmas was, especially for Mary, the mother of Jesus.

December 25 was not Jesus' actual birthday, but it is the date set aside long ago for us to honor that birth. For Mary, His mother, that birth began a long period of pain and sorrow, a personal toll we seldom consider. This is a special edition of Running to Win, helping us understand the real cost of Christmas.

In a few days we will celebrate the central event in human history, the coming of Jesus to live among us. But while Christians now enjoy the benefits of Jesus' birth, life, death and resurrection, there was one person who felt great pain when He came. This is a special edition of Running to Win, helping us understand the real cost of Christmas.

Army life requires discipline, focus, dedication, and a commitment to serve. As believers in Christ, "We're in the army now." Civilian life is over. It is time to make some adjustments, assess our gifts, find our places in God's army, wear His spiritual armor, and proclaim His life-giving message. Today, we are going on a mission, and we invite you to join us.

Seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months...Paul taught believers to "redeem the time, because the days are evil." Let's get out of bed and hit the track today as life presents both obligations and opportunities to use our time wisely. Let's buy back those wasted minutes by being aware of what's going on around us -- and there's a lot going on!

We need sleep to strengthen us for the day to come. When the sun rises each morning, it's time to wake up and get to work. The race of life begins anew, the clock is advancing, and as Paul says, "our salvation is nearer than when we first believed." Indeed, as this age draws to a close, the clock is ticking faster than ever.

William Booth founded the Salvation Army. Nearing death, his last message to an annual conference came in a telegram. It contained only one word: "others." What will your epitaph be as you near your finish line? Today we'll discuss what it means to find true community by sharing the pain of those around us.

Healing the complex hurts of those around us is a lot easier when we observe a few key teachings from the book of Romans. Paul knew that life would be hard. He taught that the body of Christ -- the church -- can be a place of healing for those in emotional pain.

Would you believe that many of the problems that people go to psychiatrists for could be resolved much more easily in a church? As we'll learn in a moment, involvement in a local church might be the cheapest medicine you could ever take -- help and support when you need it most. In today's message, find out how the body of Christ provides healing for even the deepest wounds.

As believers display God's character to each other, the world cannot help but take notice. The world will see Christians running life's race together, helping each other, not jostling for advantage. They'll see something they long for -- true fellowship -- where the needs of others take priority. Today Dr. Lutzer will share some insights on showing the love of God in practical ways.