The constant pressure to stay in the know causes many moms to be glued to their phones 24/7. However, this is one of the leading factors behind a rise in anxiety. Unfortunately, due to the bombardment of notifications and the temptation of aimlessly scrolling, moms often find their focus shifting away from their children, leading to a sense of mom guilt.

If you're constantly on edge and unable to shake the feeling you should be more engaged with your kids, your phone might be the problem. Here are seven ways our phones produce anxiety and lead to mom guilt.

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The pastor or church staff member or the chairman of a committee or a church officer has overstayed his/her welcome.

Let’s talk about how to tell.

One church I pastored had a vivid illustration of what happens when a member holds a position so long they begin to “own” it. Behind the church–same block–sat the synagogue. Across the street from the synagogue sat the funeral home, owned by one of our deacons. One day this good man told me, “Preacher, we could have bought the land the synagogue is sitting on for a pittance years ago.”

Our growing church needed additional land, which is why we were having this conversation.

He said, “When the house that used to sit on that property came up for sale, the people wanted $30,000 for it. I was willing to raise the money and buy it. I felt we’d be needing that property in the future.”

“The trouble was that Mr. McClanahan, the church treasurer who had held that job for decades, vetoed it. He said that was just too much money for that piece of land, and we would not pay it.”

“No one, including the preacher, wanted to stand up to McClanahan, so we let it go.”

“And now,” the deacon said, “We can’t touch that piece of ground for a million dollars.”

He was right in that. I’d asked around discreetly and found that out.

A church where I was guest-preaching was in the act of trying to dislodge a church secretary who had held that office since Noah was a little boy. Even though she was in her mid-70s and long overdue for retirement, she would not budge. As the unofficial church boss, the woman would not change her way of doing things, would not agree that the pastor had the right to have an administrative helper who would do what he asked, and would not agree to go away quietly. (I have no idea how it turned out. These things rarely go smoothly.)

So, here are ten signs the person has held this church job too long.

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The name “ISIS” has been a dominant presence in the news in recent times, but the frequency with which we hear this name does not always equal understanding of it. Johnnie Moore, former campus pastor at Liberty University and author of Defying ISIS, provides insight into five crucial things Christians should know about the terrorist organization so that we can better understand world events.

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Discerning the Good from the Bad

In our consumer society, where prevailing wisdom says we should be loyal to products or brands only insofar as our needs and tastes are satisfied, it can be easy for churchgoers to have a very low threshold for leaving a church. The preaching loses some luster. The children’s ministry isn’t as fun as it could be. The worship leader’s hairstyle becomes bothersome. There are lots of bad reasons for leaving a church. But what are some legitimate reasons for leaving a church?

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Here are seven:

The issue of gun control has long been a major issue for many Americans. While some Americans believe the U.S. needs more comprehensive gun control laws, others believe increased restrictions will hinder their Second Amendment right to bear arms.

Here is what five Christian leaders have said about gun control:

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The thing that often makes tragedy overwhelming, incomprehensible, and soul-numbing is just how unexpected it can be. Life is going according to plan, and suddenly your world is rocked and you are left reeling.

That’s why it’s so important to have Truth stored up in your heart before tragedy strikes. By being in the Word and in prayer every day, you’re building up a savings account of Truth that you can one day pull from when you need it most.

If, however, you find yourself in the midst of tragedy right now, or currently know someone facing unspeakable hopelessness and hurt, these 10 prayers can be a light for your path as you pray through the hard times.

God never promised a pain-free world. But he did promise never to leave us or forsake us. He does promise his steadfast love never ceases, and his mercies never come to an end. If you are in the midst of hard times, cling to Him and trust in his goodness and love for you.

Here are 10 prayers you can pray when tragedy strikes…

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Every single one of us has something to be grateful for, no matter how grim things look in our individual lives.

The church has been a central part of the Christian faith since New Testament times. We are even said to be living in the "Church Age." Today, there is such a wide spectrum of church types, denominations, and ways of conducting a worship service and leading a congregation. The health of the global Church is more important now than ever, and while innovative approaches to church outreach may be helpful, it's of utmost importance to have God's Word, prayer, and clear preaching of the Gospel as central to a church's mission. These 10 Christian leaders, from past and present, offer insight into marks of a healthy church and warning signs that a church is going down the wrong path. Is your church being faithful to the Great Commission and offering Gospel-centered worship each week?

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With all the modern resources at our fingertips, we still suffer from leadership deficiency – in our nation, workplaces, churches and homes. We have too many leaders who believe their position mandates their influence, rather than their influence enabling them to be effective in their position. Many of today’s leaders lead by forced coercion - a “my way or the highway” mindset that makes them more like dictators. President Theodore Roosevelt once said, “The leader leads, and the boss drives.” The Boss often plays the Boss Card. They force obedience, strictly because of their position and status. But, as author and expert John Maxwell says, “Leadership is not about titles, positions or flowcharts. It’s about one life influencing another.”

As you are reading this, odds are you are picturing someone you know in a leadership position that drives more than they lead. I know I am picturing someone as I write. I also have to quickly examine my own life. God has placed all of us in a position of leadership, if not in our workplaces or churches, then certainly in our homes as parents. I know there have been times when I don’t exemplify the qualities of a Godly leader.

I don’t want to knock all of the great books out there on leadership. There are some terrific resources available from people who know far more about the topic than many of us do. But, there’s one resource that has a lot to say on the topic of effective leadership, and it’s available for free. You can actually access it right on your phone. It’s the Bible, and the passage is Proverbs 16. Go ahead and read it. I’ll wait.

This chapter is chock full of leadership lessons. Below are nine principles that are critical characteristics of a good, godly leader:

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Christian faith was integral to so many classic authors' writings. Deep and abiding faith can be seen in writers of both poetry and prose, and this list includes just a few of them. We hope it will inspire you to appreciate the writings of these authors to an even greater extend or maybe to pick up their works for the very first time!

Although some may think that it is difficult to connect with authors and writings from previous centuries, perhaps the connection of shared faith may serve to bridge that gap and help you see these writers in new ways. The famous Christian father Augustine said that "All truth is God's truth," and while the works of these authors are fiction, it holds true that we can glean insights into God's character, faith, and human nature by reading their portrayal of these things. We hope you enjoy reading this list.

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