FBCA BLOG
First Baptist Arlington is thrilled to announce a significant step towards fostering inclusivity and connection within our diverse community: live translation during our sermons! We understand that our church family represents a rich tapestry of cultures and languages, and we are committed to ensuring everyone can fully engage with and understand the powerful message of…
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“Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.” John Wooden (legendary basketball coach) One of the Global Flourishing Study domains we’ll be talking about over the next few years is character and virtue. “Character” is…
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Are you healthy? How do you know? Do you brush? Floss? Limit sugar? Take the stairs? Get enough sleep? Eat vegetables? Exercise? Serve others? Hydrate? Pray? Read the Bible? Spend quality time with friends and family? A short definition of flourishing is “holistically healthy.” Holistic considers all the parts of a thing. It involves the…
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Much has been written over the past couple of years about loneliness in America. One of the most notable documents on the subject is the 2023 Surgeon General’s 82-page report entitled, “Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation.” The subtitle of that advisory is “the Healing Effects of Social Connection and Community.” The Surgeon General’s report…
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Have you noticed how rare it is to share a meal with someone new these days? We scroll through food photos on Instagram, watch countless cooking shows, and order delivery through apps—all while eating alone at our kitchen counters. Something is missing, and deep down, we all recognize it. Last week, I asked a group…
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The notification appears: “Memory from 5 years ago.” Maybe it’s a relationship that ended, a career path that didn’t pan out, or a dream that fell apart. We’ve all been there – staring at our past, wondering if we’ve missed our chance to get things right. In a world obsessed with overnight success stories and…
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Holistic Health As we continue to explore various aspects of flourishing, it’s important to consider the chemistry between domains. Flourishing involves “holistic health,” but in some ways that optimal condition is unique to each person. The Human Flourishing Program defines flourishing as “when all aspects of a person’s life are good.” Yet, there can…
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What is the key aspect of flourishing? Tyler VanderWeele, Director of the Human Flourishing Program at Harvard University, sent out a research update last week related to meaning and purpose. In it, he references empirical evidence that a sense of meaning and purpose is a key aspect of flourishing. VanderWeele offers a nuanced distinction between…
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What is Mattering “Mattering” is the general belief that you are important to others. “Anti-mattering” is the feeling that you just don’t matter at all. Zach Mercurio is a researcher, author, and speaker who specializes in purposeful leadership. His upcoming book is entitled, “The Power of Mattering.” Zach cites some alarming statistics about “anti-mattering.” 60%…
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