The Scoop on Happiness in Church | Bob Turner

The Scoop on Happiness in Church | Bob Turner

Click here to read the full article at RENEW.org: https://renew.org/the-scoop-on-happiness-in-church/ [https://renew.org/the-scoop-on-happiness-in-church/]  This is an audio version of a written Article from RENEW.org * Check out other great articles on RENEW.org here: https://renew.org/articles/ [https://renew.org/articles/] I believe summer nights should end with ice cream. And I don’t just mean frozen desserts; I mean ice cream. Frozen custard counts. Same for gelato. In a tight spot, exceptions can be made for frozen yogurt. Please don’t bother me with sorbets, sherbet, popsicles, Italian ice, or snow cones–all sophisticated ways of smuggling frozen water into your body. Our family has tried to find America’s best scoops, especially during vacation. St. Louis loves Ted Drewes like they love hot summers and red t-shirts. Wisconsin is dotted with glorious frozen custard served with a side of fried cheese. Cincinnati rightly upholds Graeter’s. Kohr Brothers on the Atlantic coast peddles soft serve for an eye-popping $7, but still hits hard on a steamy day. Berkey Creamery at Penn State won us over; if the Nittany Lion offense could match the magic of the creamery, James Franklin would have three national championships by now. But State College is an eternity away; maybe for now we can hope that Memphis will get a Jeni’s so that a taste of brambleberry crisp won’t require a 3-hour pilgrimage. Listen for more... Join RENEW.org's Newsletter: https://renew.org/resources/newsletter-sign-up/ [https://renew.org/resources/newsletter-sign-up/] Join RENEW.org at one of our upcoming events: https://renew.org/resources/events/ [https://renew.org/resources/events/] Get the RENEW.org App -- https://renew.org/app-download/ [https://renew.org/app-download/]  Be sure to like, subscribe and follow on social media!  You can find us on: Instagram: @the.renew.network  Facebook: Renew.org  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RENEWnetwork [https://www.youtube.com/@RENEWnetwork] Twitter: @therenewnetwork TikTok: the.renew.network  Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/RENEW [https://rumble.com/c/RENEW]

What Does the Bible Say About Loneliness? | Taffeta Chime

Click here to read the full article at RENEW.org: https://renew.org/what-does-the-bible-say-about-loneliness/ [https://renew.org/what-does-the-bible-say-about-loneliness/]  This is an audio version of a written Article from RENEW.org * Check out other great articles on RENEW.org here: https://renew.org/articles/ [https://renew.org/articles/] Before the pandemic, I think it’s safe to assume many people would not have thought of loneliness as a big issue. Maybe it was an unfortunate inconvenience, but one that was fairly easy to overcome. But once isolation, quarantine, and distance became a reality, more and more people began to understand the impacts of loneliness and the importance of closeness and social contact. In fact, even before COVID, Cigna [https://www.businessinsider.com/sc/most-americans-are-lonely-according-to-cignas-loneliness-study-2020-2] performed a research study that showed that 61% of Americans were lonely, with the biggest demographic being Gen Z teens between 16 and 24 years old. Gallup [https://news.gallup.com/poll/473057/loneliness-subsides-pandemic-high.aspx] conducted a panel survey through the COVID outbreak to see the shifts in loneliness and, as is expected, numbers were at an all-time high during the pandemic, then lowered once quarantine procedures started to lift. But that doesn’t mean we’re not still lonely. In 2024, Dr. Vivek Murthy [https://www.newsweek.com/us-surgeon-general-loneliness-epidemic-1960451#:~:text=Some%2030%20percent%20of%20adults%20said%20they%20experienced,Monthly%20Poll%20from%20the%20American%20Psychiatric%20Association%20%28APA%29.], the US Surgeon General, declared loneliness as a national epidemic, with 30% of US adults saying they feel lonely at least once a week. Listen for more... Join RENEW.org's Newsletter: https://renew.org/resources/newsletter-sign-up/ [https://renew.org/resources/newsletter-sign-up/] Join RENEW.org at one of our upcoming events: https://renew.org/resources/events/ [https://renew.org/resources/events/] Get the RENEW.org App -- https://renew.org/app-download/ [https://renew.org/app-download/]  Be sure to like, subscribe and follow on social media!  You can find us on: Instagram: @the.renew.network  Facebook: Renew.org  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RENEWnetwork [https://www.youtube.com/@RENEWnetwork] Twitter: @therenewnetwork TikTok: the.renew.network  Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/RENEW [https://rumble.com/c/RENEW]

We Worship the God of Normal Things | Adam Jones

Click here to read the full article at RENEW.org: https://renew.org/we-worship-the-god-of-normal-things/ [https://renew.org/we-worship-the-god-of-normal-things/]  This is an audio version of a written Article from RENEW.org * Check out other great articles on RENEW.org here: https://renew.org/articles/ [https://renew.org/articles/] When my son, Andrew, was 5 years old, my wife and I read The Message for Kids from cover to cover with him. It’s a fantastic children’s Bible, and we all found ourselves looking forward to each day’s reading. Right about the time we closed the final chapter in that Bible, we found ourselves at a special worship service where families were encouraged to take communion together. Having just read the Bible and feeling confident in his knowledge of God, Andrew couldn’t wait! So, on this particular Sunday, we stood in a small circle and I explained how the piece of bread reminds us about Jesus’ body on the cross. He was nodding along, listening intently, and I was sure I was making a lifelong impact on his young mind. Next, I picked up the cup of juice and began explaining how it reminds us of Jesus’ blood that was shed for the forgiveness of sins.  Listen for more... Join RENEW.org's Newsletter: https://renew.org/resources/newsletter-sign-up/ [https://renew.org/resources/newsletter-sign-up/] Join RENEW.org at one of our upcoming events: https://renew.org/resources/events/ [https://renew.org/resources/events/] Get the RENEW.org App -- https://renew.org/app-download/ [https://renew.org/app-download/]  Be sure to like, subscribe and follow on social media!  You can find us on: Instagram: @the.renew.network  Facebook: Renew.org  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RENEWnetwork [https://www.youtube.com/@RENEWnetwork] Twitter: @therenewnetwork TikTok: the.renew.network  Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/RENEW [https://rumble.com/c/RENEW]

Bob Russell on Being a Disciple Making Grandparent

Click here to read the full article at RENEW.org: https://renew.org/bob-russell-on-being-a-disciple-making-grandparent/ [https://renew.org/bob-russell-on-being-a-disciple-making-grandparent/]  This is an audio version of a written Article from RENEW.org * Check out other great articles on RENEW.org here: https://renew.org/articles/ [https://renew.org/articles/] At our 2025 RENEW.org National Gathering in Indianapolis, longtime minister Bob Russell spoke on the joy and importance of being a disciple making grandparent: If you want to learn more about being a disciple making grandparent, here are some resources you’ll find helpful: * * The book The Disciple Making Grandparent [https://www.amazon.com/Disciple-Making-Grandparent-Guidebook-Grandchild/dp/1959467441/], by David Upchurch and Daniel McCoy (with one chapter centering on an interview with Bob and Judy Russell) * A free preview of The Disciple Making Grandparent [https://renew.org/product/preview-of-the-disciple-making-grandparent/], by David Upchurch and Daniel McCoy * To access more 2025 Gathering recordings, click here [https://reallifetheologypodcast.supercast.com/]. Listen for more... Join RENEW.org's Newsletter: https://renew.org/resources/newsletter-sign-up/ [https://renew.org/resources/newsletter-sign-up/] Join RENEW.org at one of our upcoming events: https://renew.org/resources/events/ [https://renew.org/resources/events/] Get the RENEW.org App -- https://renew.org/app-download/ [https://renew.org/app-download/]  Be sure to like, subscribe and follow on social media!  You can find us on: Instagram: @the.renew.network  Facebook: Renew.org  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RENEWnetwork [https://www.youtube.com/@RENEWnetwork] Twitter: @therenewnetwork TikTok: the.renew.network  Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/RENEW [https://rumble.com/c/RENEW]

10 Reasons I Go To Church | Nathan Boldt

Click here to read the full article at RENEW.org: https://renew.org/10-reasons-i-go-to-church/ [https://renew.org/10-reasons-i-go-to-church/]  This is an audio version of a written Article from RENEW.org * Check out other great articles on RENEW.org here: https://renew.org/articles/ [https://renew.org/articles/] I’ve heard it said, “We aren’t called to go to church. We are called to be the church.” Halfway true. Here’s the problem with that statement. Being and going strengthen each other. I can’t imagine how the being part of my walk with the Lord would strengthen if the going part of my walk with the Lord were fading. Going and being are not opposed to each other. They help each other. Furthermore, gathering is part of what the word “ekklesia” means. (Strange to argue against it.) Here are ten simple reasons why I go to church weekly. Listen for more... Join RENEW.org's Newsletter: https://renew.org/resources/newsletter-sign-up/ [https://renew.org/resources/newsletter-sign-up/] Join RENEW.org at one of our upcoming events: https://renew.org/resources/events/ [https://renew.org/resources/events/] Get the RENEW.org App -- https://renew.org/app-download/ [https://renew.org/app-download/]  Be sure to like, subscribe and follow on social media!  You can find us on: Instagram: @the.renew.network  Facebook: Renew.org  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RENEWnetwork [https://www.youtube.com/@RENEWnetwork] Twitter: @therenewnetwork TikTok: the.renew.network  Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/RENEW [https://rumble.com/c/RENEW]