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  Portland: The Streetcar and the Martyr

  Student Missions Blog: Sometimes I think I’m super-cool because I’m on a summer-long mission trip. I’m definitely enjoying Portland, but that’s not to say there haven’t been hard times or sacrifices.

  06/19/2014 - By John Rutledge

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  Middle East: It’s different

  Student Missions Blog: Different. That’s how I would best describe the past five months of my life since I left Texas and headed off to live in the Middle East. Not a bad different—just different.

  06/18/2014 - By John Rutledge

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  Germany: Seizing opportunities

  Student Missions Blog: God creates opportunities for us to share his story with people every day, but sometimes we are afraid of rejection or blinded by our own ambitions to see that divine appointment. However, we have to expect the unexpected.

  06/17/2014 - By John Rutledge

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  Orlando: Two full weeks

  Student Missions Blog: It has been one of the toughest two weeks of my life. There were so many hurdles, trials and problems that it was hard to keep up.

  06/16/2014 - By John Rutledge

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  Richard Ray: Vacation Bible Schools bless children, communities

  One of the greatest joys I get to experience as director of missions and as president of the Bivocational/Small Church Association is surveying the churches I serve. Recently, I was…

  06/16/2014 - By John Rutledge

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  Jeff Johnson: VBS trips lead to ‘service of God and God’s people’

  I went on vacation last week. We planned ours. Are you still planning your summer vacation? Well, pack your flak jacket.

  06/13/2014 - By John Rutledge

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  Letters: Patterson opens the door

  Having read “Muslim seminarian shows ideology trumps theology,” I’m wondering if a Mormon man or Jehovah’s witness man will receive the same benefit?

  06/13/2014 - By John Rutledge

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  Editorial: What about preaching and plagiarism?

  Pastoral plagiarism is back in the news. Actually, pulpit pilfering happens so often, it never goes completely away.

  06/12/2014 - By John Rutledge

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  2nd Opinion: When your pastor is way, way off

  I admit I don’t love my pastor. I have prayed for him once and once gave $10 to the church, but I still can’t say I love him. I mean he’s just weird.

  06/12/2014 - By John Rutledge

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  Vancouver: Seems like home, except when it doesn’t

  Student Missions Blog: I really like Vancouver. Most of it is like Austin, but other parts are different—like when I’m wearing a jacket in June and the locals are sunbathing in bikinis on the beach.

  06/12/2014 - By John Rutledge

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  Oklahoma: Two quotes sum it up

  Student Missions Blog: Two quotes describe my time here at the Baptist Children’s Home in Oklahoma City. The first one is, “Every child is a gift from God.” The second is, “God does not call the equipped; he equips the called.”

  06/11/2014 - By John Rutledge

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  South Asia: My life as a giant

  Student Missions Blog: I don’t fit in this country. I have never, in all of my life, consistently been the tallest person in the room. But that happens here a lot—that is, unless my 6-foot 8-inch supervisor is with us.

  06/10/2014 - By John Rutledge