CupOJoewithBill.com

  Note: We are disciplemaking missionaries with   Cadre Missionaries . As such, we give a brief ministry update here at   Cup O' Joe with Bill   once every three months—for those who pray and support us. Click any image to enlarge for reading, viewing, and praying. Can you help us  continue  multiplying disciple makers ? 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 Click any image to enlarge for reading, viewing, and praying. All glory to God! Track with me on social media! Instagram            Facebook             Twitter       Let me encourage you most Mondays !

Check it out here . "God must love the blues. There’s a whole book in the Bible called Lamentations. The largest swath of  Psalms are the laments. And don’t forget the book of Job. God seems ok with suffering. Us? Not so much. Yet, suffering is a required course on the syllabus of following Jesus. The writer of Hebrews says this about Jesus and suffering: "Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered" (Hebrews 5:8). If Jesus learned through suffering, how much more is there for us to learn? Currently, we live in a Christian culture that embraces the happy parts of the Gospel (like Heaven), but not so much the promised pain, suffering, and lamenting that come to all who aspire to follow Jesus. In this book,  Presence Over Pain , my friend, Doug Rumbold, dares to wrestle with the vexatious topic of suffering. As you will see, he and his wife, Jess, are no strangers to suffering. The cliche’ "God will never give you more than you can h

The words we use are full of connotations. Would you rather buy a “pre-owned” car or a “used” car? See what I mean? It’s the same car, but, depending on which words are used, the connotation is different. While I love the concept of someone freely giving their time and talents to serve without pay, the term “volunteer,” when used in ministry, often seems to carry a connotation of “second best” or “not really that important.” I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard a wonderful, committed, effective non-paid servant in a ministry refer to him or herself as “just a volunteer.” For whatever reason, non-paid workers in the church have subconsciously picked up on the very unbiblical connotation that they are “ just volunteers.” This should bother us because it's a big, fat lie. Why? I contend that the Bible clearly teaches that every Christian is a full-time minister. (Do your own study on the "priesthood of the believer" or keep reading for more info below.)

  When you're preaching at a Free Lutheran Church and the president of the Free Lutheran Bible College and Seminary is in the congregation. #NoPressure #IForgotMyTie #Doh #Homiletics It reminded me of that time when I had to preach right after D.A. Carson . Not fun. Of course,  Dr. Wade Mobley  was kind and encouraging to me.  Here's the fun story of how God connected us to Christian Free Lutheran Church in Iowa . Have I ever told you how much I love and respect the Association of Free Lutheran Churches?  Here's why.   Track with me on social media! Instagram            Facebook             Twitter       Let me encourage you most Mondays !

We are disciplemaking missionaries with  Cadre Missionaries . From time to time, we give an update here. As you read this, we are on our way to a ten-day disciplemaking ministry trip in Arizona!  I'll be preaching, teaching, and doing disciplemaking training. We'll also be missionaries of encouragement to many of our disciplemaking friends along the way in the Phoenix and Tucson areas. Can  you  help us? 1. Will you please pray for us?      * Please pray for us as we travel and encourage and equip God's people all over Arizona.      *  Email me if you'd like to be a part of our prayer team . 2. Can you help us financially?       * We're praying for at least $1,250 for travel expenses and training materials.       *  Donate here . (Please note: "Cadre Allison")      Any little bit you can help us with is a HUGE encouragement to us.  Thank you so much for your prayers and support.  You really are God's wind into our disciplemaking sails with Cadre Missi

This Valentine's Day moment is brought to you by the Song of Solomon . If you're a regular reader of   Cup O' Joe with Bill , then you know that we're big on prayer—and prayerfulness. We often refer to The Disciplemaker's Prayer as a simple and powerful way to engage in Jesus-like disciplemaking. One of our disciplemaking friends, Stan Risinger, took the spirit and cadence of The Disciplemaker's Prayer and wrote The Married Man's Prayer ! The passages listed below are a simple Bible study. Look up the passage and find verses in the prayer. Then pray The Married Man's Prayer— and God just might change your heart, your marriage, and your life. I dare you. Bonus Video #1:   Here's a Thought on the  Super Bowl... If video doesn't appear above, go here . Just for Fun! I think this speaks for thousands of men. Bonus Video #2: What Moms Really Want for Valentine's Day If video above doesn't appear above, go here . Track with me on social media