Context is everything...

More on this here. 

Here's the context. What do you think Philippians 4:13 is referring to?

10 I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. 11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me. 14 Yet it was kind of you to share  my trouble. 15 And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only.16 Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again. 17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit. 18 I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. 19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 20 To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

 

You, Me, and Coffee Monday...

Let me encourage you and make you think ONE time a week (usually Monday morning) with a virtual Cup O' Joe with Bill in your email inbox. Two Simple Steps...

1. Go here and submit your email.

2. Check your email to confirm.

Something beautiful DID happen in 2020...

While 2020 wasn't the best or easiest year of our lives, God is still good! Our beloved 19-year-old daughter was baptized out at The Ridge where she serves as a disciplemaker.

You, Me, and Coffee Monday...

Let me encourage you and make you think ONE time a week (usually Monday morning) with a virtual Cup O' Joe with Bill in your email inbox. Two Simple Steps...

1. Go here and submit your email.

2. Check your email to confirm.

If you're a praying friend, here's how you can be praying for us in 2021! THANK YOU!

Thursday, January 21, 2020
A day-long gathering of the Women's Disciplemaking Learning Community (WDLC).

Sunday, January 24, 2021

Preach at the Church of the Open Bible, Streator, IL

 

Thursday, January 28, 2021

Peoria Area Leadership Community Ongoing (PALCO) lunch gathering at Pizza Ranch, Morton, IL.  Join us. Let me know you're coming. 

Thursday, January 28, 2021

This Disciplemaking training at 5:30 PM in Streator, IL.

 

Sunday,  January 31, 2021

Preaching God's Word at Christian Free Lutheran Church, Wheatland, IA.

Saturday 6-8 pm, February 6, 2021

I'll be responding to questions on the subject of disciplemaking as a way of life (like Jesus) at Trinity Church in Morton, IL.

Thursday, February 11, 2021
A day-long gathering of the new disciplemaking cohort known as the Peoria Area Leadership Community (PALC). This Disciplemaking Learning Community is especially for those who want to study, live, and share the disciplemaking genius of Jesus via disciplemaking friendships that multiply.

Saturday 6-8 pm, February 13, 2021

One of my favorite disciplemaking friends and I will be responding to questions on the subject of disciplemaking as a way of life (like Jesus) at Trinity Church in Morton, IL.

Sunday morning,  February 14, 2021

I'll be teaching at Cornerstone Fellowship Church in Arthur, IL.

Thursday, February 18, 2020
A day-long gathering of the Women's Disciplemaking Learning Community (WDLC).

 

Sunday,  February 28, 2021

Preaching God's Word at Christian Free Lutheran Church, Wheatland, IA.

 

Sunday,  March 7, 2021

Preaching God's Word at Christian Free Lutheran Church, Wheatland, IA. 

 

Thursday, March 11, 2021
A day-long gathering of the new disciplemaking cohort known as the Peoria Area Leadership Community (PALC). This Disciplemaking Learning Community is especially for those who want to study, live, and share the disciplemaking genius of Jesus via disciplemaking friendships that multiply.

Sunday, March 14th

Preaching in the morning service at Checkrow Community Church in Avon, IL.

Thursday, March 18, 2020
A day-long gathering of the Women's Disciplemaking Learning Community (WDLC).

Thursday, April 8, 2021
A day-long gathering of the new disciplemaking cohort known as the Peoria Area Leadership Community (PALC). This Disciplemaking Learning Community is especially for those who want to study, live, and share the disciplemaking genius of Jesus via disciplemaking friendships that multiply.

 

Thursday, April 15, 2020
A day-long gathering of the Women's Disciplemaking Learning Community (WDLC).

Monday-Tuesday, April 19-20, 2021

I'll be preaching in the first keynote session on Monday and doing disciplemaking training for pastors and  ministry leaders on Tuesday. More here.

Friday, June 4, 2021

I'll be doing disciplemaking training for pastors and ministry leaders from around the country in TN with the Christian and Missionary Alliance. More here.

“Dear friend, you are being faithful to God when you care for the traveling teachers…. Please continue providing for such teachers in a manner that pleases God. For they are traveling for the Lord, and they accept nothing from people who are not believers. So we ourselves should support them so that we can be their partners as they teach the truth.” —3 John 5-8  

If you can help us at any level, go here.

Goodbye to 2020 and Good Riddance!

Read the Bible with me and others starting January 1, 2021!

Year-End Giving: Can YOU help us finish 2020 $trong?

Note: My dear and longtime friend, Mike Pflederer, gave me his permission to use this beautiful tribute to his wife, Karen. Everything that Mike writes about actually happened to him in 2020.

Early in 2020, I was diagnosed with a small benign tumor on the base of my brain causing me to lose my hearing in my left ear. After many doctor appointments, MRIs, and Gamma Knife radiation, my loving wife, Karen, was right by my side. 

Then I contracted a bad case of shingles on the right side of my face which ended up eating a hole in my right eardrum causing significant hearing loss in my “good” ear. Again, after many doctor appointments, ENTs, audiologists appointments and eventually getting hearing aids, my loving wife was right by my side. 

Then in June I had a small accident at home and broke my back. Now have two rods in my back. I spent  11 days n the hospital and many more weeks in a makeshift hospital at home. Again Karen was always there right by my side. 

 
Next was a bout of skin cancer on my face. After that, I passed a kidney stone. Needless to  say, this has been a  rough year. Through it all, Karen right there by my side. 

Finally, at Thanksgiving, I tested positive for Covid-19. I was sick and had to  quarantined for 14 days. Yes, once again, my faithful and loving wife, Karen, continually right by my side. 

Last night, as I was gazing into her eyes recounting this past year, it dawned on me: My wife is bad luck.

Note: Karen was the one to suggest that Mike write this all up. She's champ.

 

You, Me, and Coffee Monday...

Let me encourage you and make you think ONE time a week (usually Monday morning) with a virtual Cup O' Joe with Bill in your email inbox. Two Simple Steps...

1. Go here and submit your email.

2. Check your email to confirm.

Spiritually, 2021 Could Be Your Best Year So Far...

Would you like a better, stronger relationship with God?

By far the single most important thing I've done that has helped my relationship with God is reading through the Bible—with some friends.

News Flash: 
A better, stronger relationship with God and others will not happen accidentally.

This is your invitation to invite your friends and family to take a life-changing AND guilt-free Bible reading adventure together.

Join our 2021 Group Bible Reading Plan!

 

Or start your own group! 

 

This begs the question:
WHO needs to do this with you this year?

Share this post with them right now.

1. Here’s WHY you probably won't do this. (Just keeping it real.)

2. Here's a story about what God can do if you dare to try in 2021.

You, Me, and Coffee Monday... 
Let me encourage you and and make you think ONE time a week (usually Monday morning) with a virtual Cup O' Joe with Bill in your email inbox. Two Simple Steps...

1. Go here and submit your email.
2. Go to your email and click the Feedburner confirmation link.

Merry CHRISTmas Video! 24 minutes you won't regret...

 

If video doesn't appear, go here.

How might you use this 24 minute video with your family and friends this Christmas?

If you haven't seen the first season (8 full episodes) of this series on the life of Jesus Christ, go here.      

You, Me, and Coffee Monday...

Let me encourage you and make you think ONE time a week (usually Monday morning) with a virtual Cup O' Joe with Bill in your email inbox. Two Simple Steps...

1. Go here and submit your email.

2. Check your email to confirm.

Can we be on YOUR refrigerator?

Year-End Giving:

Can YOU help us finish 2020 $trong?

 

We'd LOVE to be on your refrigerator!

All you have to do is email us your mailing address!

Click image above to enlarge for viewing and reading!

For 18 years, God and you have made it possible for us, as Cadre Missionaries, to give our lives to multiplying disciplemakers here and around the world. Thank you.

And make no mistake: We still need your help!

Can you help us continue multiplying disciplemakers?

Here's how...

1. Invest in disciplemaking via the Allisons and Cadre Missionaries

2. Join our email prayer team ("prayer team" in subject line)

3. Bring Cadre training to your ministry or church

4. Become a trainer with Cadre   

5. Read and share The Disciplemaking Genius of Jesus

Thank you for investing in disciplemaking! Look at what God is doing!

Click image above to enlarge for viewing and reading!

Here's a pic of one side of our fridge.

Rethinking How Disciples are Made—Part 2

I picked up my fifteen year old son from school. When he got into the car, he announced, "I can drive now."

Having been through this before with his older sister, I saw the teachable moment and tried to lean into it. "Just because the state of Illinois gives you a permit and says you can now start driving with your parents in no way means that you can actually drive."

Unrelenting, my son spit back, "I'm a great driver."

Just as unrelenting, I shot back, "Driving the riding lawn mower at home in the yard and driving a car between the lines without actually hitting another car, stationary object, or a person are two different things."

"But I took a test in Driver's Ed today and passed. See, I'm a great driver," he affirmed—with a hint of indignation in his tone of voice.

"Passing a written driving test in a classroom in no way whatsoever means that you can actually drive a real car on a real road with other real cars around you. Really."

Then he threw down the challenge. He played the ace in his hand. He called me out AND called me an old man. "What's wrong old man? Afraid my driving is better than yours?"

The teacher/trainer in me kicked in. You see, when the learner is not getting the obvious point, the teacher/trainer may opt for drastic measures. There is a time to call his bluff and attempt to bring him back to reality. I calmly pulled the car over into a McDonald's parking lot. Put it into park. Got out and walked around to the passenger side front door. Opened it and said, "Let's go Mr. World's-Greatest-Driver-who-has-never-actually-driven-a-car-before. Show me what you've got."  

He looked stunned, but he quickly got out his seat and situated himself behind the driver's side of the car. He adjusted the seat, the mirrors, and fascended his seatbelt. So far so good. Then he stopped for a moment and looked down at the floor. After a long, quiet, pregnant pause, he looked up at me with complete seriousness and said, "Now which one of these pedals is the brake?"

I wished I was making this story up.

My prayer life has never been better.
THE BIG QUESTION IS:
What does this true story have to do with rethinking the way disciples are made?
* If you need a hint, go here.

If you really want to rethink how disciples are made!

You, Me, and Coffee Monday... 
Let me encourage you and and make you think 1 stinking time a week (usually Monday morning) with a virtual Cup O' Joe with Bill in your email inbox. Two Simple Steps...

1. Go here and submit your email.
2. Go to your email and click the Feedburner confirmation link.
You can unsubscribe at any time with no questions asked simply by clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any email you receive from Cup O' Joe with Bill. Honest. You got nothing to lose. Try it.