Purpose & Calling
Articles mainly about life purpose, calling, dreams, goals, destiny, making life count.
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True Desire
What is your true desire? Can you peel back the reasons for the way you want to live?
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GAME ON – Win the Moment!
Basketball has taught me that victory comes when you bounce back from difficulty. Lifeball is a far tougher game to play than basketball. Psalm 100 is my bedrock to come back from a rough day.
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Divine Imagination
In the Bible study Shann and I are part of, this week’s task is to spend time with a 10 year vision of what God is doing in your life and what He is asking of you.
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Transitions
My husband Shann and I love Thursday date nights. They include a home-cooked meal together with candlelight and then an hour watching Stanford’s continuing education class by one of the top professors on the campus.
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Take the Lead
My dad understood the importance of initiative. In Latin, initiative means to take the lead. We talked about initiative often.
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Invisible Cathedrals
As my husband Shann and I meet with Goldenwood, this unique community not only prayerfully considers gifting but more powerful considerations.
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Missional Gifts
My husband Shann and I are part of a beautiful community of believers who participate in an organization called Goldenwood. This program is designed to realign work with love and deepest calling.
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Simple
I liked how Dad spoke to me. He was a great coach because he could take a task that felt daunting and make it very achievable and simple.
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An Inspiring Example of Listening to God’s Will
Dad loved biographies more than any other type of book. He read to me children’s stories of inspiring people. One person he loved was Florence Nightengale.
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Life Changers
My dad loved people, and he built beautiful friendships. One person he loved is a man named Rachi Wortham. We just did a short video story about his life.
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The Wisdom of Sorrow
I recently went to a memorial, and one of the main verses was Ecclesiastes 7:2. I took time to look at this verse in various translations.
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Love Wins
One of my favorite lines in scripture says—“Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.” It’s located in two passages; Dad and I memorized Psalm 20 and Psalm 37.
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Do the Difficult
I had another dream of Dad. I saw him walking with mom into the door of the church where we hold the NBC musical theatre camp.
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The Highest Goals
My Dad was incredibly pragmatic. He was a genius at making complex concepts simple and easy to understand.
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Heart Change or Change of Heart
I miss Dad’s amazing advice. He often had remarkable wisdom. He told me creativity is powerful work. The work, each one of us, are called to do for our lives is a gift and a calling.
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Shooting Star
When Dad lay dying, I told him he would soon get to spend time with Sojourner Truth one of our favorite people. We never met Sojourner Truth, but we knew her story, and it changed us.
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Dad the Adventurer
Traveling through Switzerland recently reminded me how much fun my Dad had sightseeing around the world. He loved new places and adventures.
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Focused Feelings
Dad didn’t like it when I asked him how he felt. He instead preferred me to ask what he was learning from God or what he wrote about in Words of Hope.
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Establish the Work of Our Hands
In the Bible, Psalm 90 is a prayer by Moses, full of wisdom. Moses had eight requests in the last part of the prayer.
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Make Today a Masterpiece
“You pile up enough tomorrows, and you will find you have nothing but a lot of empty yesterdays.
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The Climb
When we stop climbing, facing the challenges life presents every day, we lose our mission and purpose . For the toddler, the climb is learning to stand and then walk.
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Wanting More
Very early this morning I asked myself this question: Is my life enough, or do I want more? My reality is while I am in my secret garden, it is a perfect place.
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The 5 Why’s
If you truly want to know your life purpose, ask yourself the 5 Whys. In fact, asking 5 Why’s may help solve many of your life problems and give you direction, especially in situations where you don’t know…
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Never Lose Your Dreams
The four P’s – Psalms, purpose, prayer & power. Dr. Shann Ferch tells the following story. One day my dad took me to Circle, Montana to visit his dad. Grandpa was living in a small shack.
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3 Pills, Big Job
Approximately 160 men with metastatic prostate cancer are counting on three (3) daily pills to give them a few more good days on this earth, celebrating each new day.
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Your King
Who is worthy to be called your king? What a profound question! According to Krois’ definition, A king is any person, any object, anything or undertaking that demands 100% allegiance and servitude.
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Basketball Betrayal
Years ago, a wise college basketball coach evaluated a hopeful recruit with these words: “His body betrays him.” At the time, these were stunning yet insightful words. What in the world was he talking about?
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My Life Meaning
A good Friday to you, dear friends! Let’s start today’s Word of Hopefulness with two inciteful, elegant questions, answering Yes or No. Do you know why are you alive?
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The Climb
Today is the 43rd day of the year 2021. Wow! At least 10% of the year 2021 has already evaporated!
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The Battle for Your Heart
What do you hold most dear? What do you want to be most known for? Whatever the answer, G od’s intent for contacting us is for us to know and be known by the Lord Jesus Christ.
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Fridays With Fred
I am writing to all who call Fred Crowell brother and friend. I want you to know I love and appreciate you.
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Two Greatest Days, Two Greatest Miracles
Some say the two greatest days of your life are the day you were born and the day you die.
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OLOGY-Crowell’s Five
PHILOSOPHY-OLOGY PSYCH-OLOGY BASKETBALL-OLOGY LIFEBALL-OLOGY SPIRITUAL-OLOGY KEY STATEMENT: These five OLOGY’S are the five disciplines that have played a significant role in my life.
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Christ Is Our Life, Part 1
As I reflect on the major decisions of my life, there was one that took the longest to decide yet had the most impact on my life.
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Live Well Die Well
Today I received OXYCOURAGE from a wonderful man who was a valuable player on one of my basketball coached teams, approximately 44-years-ago team. He has had a significant career in changing thousands of lives.
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Letter to Fred
Good morning, Freddy J. Crowell. The immediate, direct question needing an answer is: How are you?
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Chreia-pithy Education
KEY STATEMENT. To encourage someone is to give them oxygen. 12-year-old Bella Crowell Ferch gives us an education on what 6 graders are learning at the Oaks Classical Christian Academy.
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Crowell Cancer War Report
Greetings dear WOH friends, Daily words of hope with Fred Crowell was inspired out of my need to fight cancer with firm resolve and a never-quit attitude. Cancer became a friend, not a foe.
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The Story – the Ask
Behind every Ask is a life experience story. The more significant the story, the larger the Ask. The less important the story, the smaller the Ask.
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The Crucial Life Question
WHAT IS YOUR M/P (MEANING AND PURPOSE FOR LIVING)? Meaning and purpose are jet fuel for life. Tell me in 30 seconds or less your reason for living!
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One Pill One Book
In my left palm is a white $200 pill. Its purpose is to prevent kidneys from producing testosterone, a food prostate cancer delights in eating. The prescription is to take four pills each day, totaling $800.
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Dear Fellow Cancer Fighters:
This morning the candle is lit here in my home office. Prayers for your courage, faith, and hope have been offered to our loving Heavenly Father in the glorious name of Jesus.
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Traveling Lightly
LIFE IS A RACE. For some, this means a long-distance marathon (maybe a decathlon?); for others, 400-meter hurdles. Too many live only long enough to run a 100-meter dash.
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You Can’t
Have you ever been told you can’t do it? I hope you replied, “ Yes, I can! “ A Crowell Core Value: Never let anyone or anything stop you from doing what God has asked you to do…
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Looking for a New Job?
The world’s best organization is looking for good people who are difference makers. Not long ago, in a Words of Hope, I spoke to the idea of kindness being described as useful goodness.
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No Crucifixion, No Resurrection
No pain no gain No sorrow no joy No work no pay No crooked line no straight line No hate no love No late no on time No defeat no victory The Scriptures say.
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Boys to Men
Words of Wisdom for All Boys Dr. James Jones, a leader of youth, once told me, “There are four vital foundations to govern your life by.” Control your environment.
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State of Life Address to the four most important people in my life
Dear and Lovely Crowell’s, my A-Team! You have expanded the A-Team to a United Team of 11 Saints.
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God Sent a Man
Who was this man? What was His meaning and purpose in life? Two profound questions for the ages. The questions were relevant when John wrote them around 90 AD.
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Foundational Principles
Knowledge and understanding of the following three principles give meaning and purpose to life. Foundational Principle #1 Where did I come from when I was born? Foundational Principle #2 What am I doing here?
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Dear, Crowell Words of Hope Team
My dream of Hope is realized in, helping me, help you , help others. One of the most hopeless feelings is to lack the resources to help one in need or have them refuse to listen and receive…
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The End Game
In my career coaching years, I discovered a valuable premise which, in turn, can be transferred to practical life. I call it THE END GAME . How was it discovered in basketball?
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5 How Questions
Be careful how you answer these 5 how questions. Serious reflection may alter the course of your life. For the good! Try to answer each question in writing using 20 words or less.
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Contemplative Action
A young Spanish soldier was leading a fierce battle against the superior French army. He took a cannonball between his legs in 1521. Because of his valor, he was not executed.
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All Things Principle
When I study the lives of Joseph, Esther, David, Job, Daniel, Jonah, Mary the mother of Jesus, John the Baptist, Andrew, Peter, Paul, and other Biblical characters, I see an “ All Things Principle .” When I study…
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Destiny Dream Makers
“Why did your father end up living alone with a bottle of alcohol in his hand with no hope?” -Dr. Shann Ferch This question could be asked of every street beggar and homeless person.
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Win at School
Millions of USA students enroll in schools across the continent in September with the hope of winning! Unfortunately, far too many will lose the battle to win. Questions: Why so many failures?
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How do you want to live?
A noted clinical psychologist believes if you don’t know the why you can never discover the how . Based on this belief, the why becomes the fundamental crucial question. Why do you want to live?
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Position Doesn’t Determine Destiny
When position is more important than destiny the focus needs to be reversed. Research reveals focusing on destiny increases performance and health both individually and within a community. Position focus means: I am the father. Obey me.
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Living Life Backwards
The ability to see what is not seen is a valuable skill in coaching and teaching. It is discerning the invisible. In the athletic world, imagine there is a slender, tall, clumsy athlete.
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Love People or Love Things
In this world of people and things, we can either love people more than things, or things more than people. If we love things more the people, we will use people to get things.
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Passion and Competency
“Which one comes first?” In reading through Van Gogh quotes one stood out because of the fact NBC Camps hires more than 400 coaches each summer.
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Your Best Investment
This past Thursday the NBA gave us five continuous hours of drafting 60 fine college basketball players for a possible future with its professional teams.
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Paradox: Loss or Gain
If you happen to miss an athletic game, I imagine you would want two questions answered: “Who won?” “What was the score?” The scoreboard would tell us which team won, which team lost.
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The Talent of Success, Part 2
Success, the favored or the desired outcome will be more attainable if we like ourselves, like what we do and how we do it.
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Help Me Help You Help Others
As much as most of us need some help in life, we seem to want to do it all by ourselves no matter what the responsibility. Do you relate?
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Why We Coach
Do we coach for the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat? Or do we coach for the agony of defeat with seldom a thrill of victory? In my view, competitive sports is like real war.
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The Fred Crowell Story
All things work together for good to those who love God (Romans 8:28) is a true reality for these 77 years of my life!
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The Smart Start
Is it possible that 2019 could be the best year ever in your entire life? Even if it were remotely possible why not go for it? What do we have to lose? CROWELL’S 2019 GAME PLAN!
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The Principle and Foundation
If we look into history and today’s humanity, we often see an unknown in life. Here are some examples: Christopher Columbus set sail not knowing where he was going, where he was, when he got there.
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Prepare to Be Prepared
Being prepared for momentous sports, business or life events is not enough ! Being prepared to be prepared is the crucial first step to winning.
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Destiny Dream Makers
Every child has a destiny. God ordained each child to be His precious miracle. Adults help children discover that miracle and their destiny. There is nothing like a small child.
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Life Lessons from Vincent Van Gogh
TO QUALIFY TO BE A CRUCIAL OTHER THEY MUST HAVE A PROVEN TRACK RECORD. Few historical figures inspire me, enlighten me more richly and speak to my inner core than the best artist the world has ever known…
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One Year from Today
PURPOSE in life will keep you alive and well . FULFILLMENT makes it worth it . If these are true statements, then knowing your reason for living is critical and essential for your well-being.
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Destiny
Knock, knock! Who is there? Destiny, I’ve been expecting you. -Bolt Destiny is what one can become, as opposed to what one is at the present time.
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Crowell’s 80-20 Rule
This is a valuable rule for aspiring basketball players who come to NBC Camps . Actually, it is valuable to all people. Personally, I delight in teaching it to those who come under my coaching influence.
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Carpe Diem – Seize the Day
The Roman poet, Horace, coined this phrase in a poem published in 23 BC. The Crowell family was introduced to Carpe Diem in Robbin William’s excellent movie, “Dead Poet Society” in 1989.
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Rules for Life
Three basic rules to guide your life. Know and understand your present condition. Discover and resolve your past condition. Plan and prepare your future condition.
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Man on a Mission
Get out of my way if you don’t want to be loved; if you don’t want to receive kindness, if you don’t want to be told over and over again that you are a miracle if you don’t…
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NBC Camps Maui, 2011
NBC Camps Maui, 2011 Attended my first NBC Camp with my daughter that I love. I thought the camp was for her. I was wrong.
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The Best Movie Ever
The academy award winning, best picture you have seen in your lifetime, is you . You are the screenwriter, the producer, director, lead actor, and in charge of promotion and sales.
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Today Will Never Come Again
“Do something special. ” It is absolutely amazing the difference there is when one decides to, “have not a good day, but a great day.” Today I decide, to make today a Great Day.
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Vision Carries Conviction
Encourage children to dream big dreams; train them the life skills to make their dreams and visions come true. The creative gift, imagination, separates the human mind from every other creature on the planet. Imagination births vision.
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Mission Possible
Knowing how you want to live is the first step in living the way you want to live. – FJC At one time the television series, Mission Impossible, was one of the most popular programs in America.
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From Now On
Movies are delightful experiences for the Crowell – Ferch families. Recently we watched Hugh Jackman star in the life story of PT Barnham. THE GREATEST SHOWMAN is in the top five 2017 money makers.
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Destiny
Key statement: Destiny is the product of habits; habits are the products of actions; actions are the products of words; words are the products of thoughts, and thoughts are the products of dreams.
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Decision Time – Three Choices
YES, NO, OR THINK ABOUT IT! Thomas Kelly, while a student at Haverford and Harvard in the early 1900s, made a yes decision.
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Three Big Questions?
1. Are you ALL IN? 2. If ALL IN; all in for what? All in for living life to the max? All in for family relationships? All in for your career? All for what? 3. WHY?
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An Elegant Question – You Should Know the Answer
How do you want to live? Be careful now. This is not a trick question! Seriously. How do you really want to live your life?
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Oxygen Is Encouragement – Encouragement Is Oxygen
Both oxygen and encouragement cure disease and negativity. Lack of oxygen and encouragement create poor physical, mental, and spiritual health. One of the most amazing women living today, in Dillingham, Alaska, was transported to Anchorage.
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Is High School a Joke?
Nearly 25% of high school students at a large school district in the state of Washington skip school every day.
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Brave New World
There is a new world out there for you. It is a world of possibilities. Joy beyond belief and opportunity with no ceiling waits for all. Wallace Ungwiluk has come to brave a new world.
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Dash
What are you going to do with your dash? – DASH begins the day you were born. Ends the day you die. What are you going to do with your dash?
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Lessons Learned from Italy
For 13 days 37 basketball players and adults toured fantastic Italy. These are a few of the lessons we learned and hopefully live out the rest of our lives. CONTENTMENT IS AN ATTITUDE!
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Dream Come True
Key statement: The martyred missionary, Jim Elliot, has often been quoted with this amazing statement. “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” True story: Fairbanks Alaska 1966.
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Emotional “Artistic” Intelligence
The Logical Deduction: God the creator is the ultimate artist. Humankind was created in the image of God. Therefore all humans are uniquely created to be artists. God’s gift to us is artistic talent.
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The Artist
KEY STATEMENT: The artist of the universe not only created the earth with the majestic mountains, life-giving rivers, plains and valleys covered with all manner of grains and fruit trees, God crested each human to be an artist.…
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Fantastic News – Crowell Basketball
KEY STATEMENT: As Deuteronomy suggests, write it on your forehead, place a string around your forehead, so you never forget what God has given you in wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. Remember this!
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Knock Knock
Knock knock. Who’s there? Destiny I’ve been expecting you! The Ferch Crowell families love good movies. BOLT is a “fam fave.” Rhino, the hamster, who scoots around rapidly in a rolling ball is a gleeful character.
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Look at Me, Boys!
Key Statement: You listen with your eyes. What you don’t see is often more important than what you can see. True Story: 10:30 PM, dark, bitter cold, winter night. Anacortes, Washington.
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Doctrine, Philosophy, Belief System
50 years ago Susie and I were doing post grad work at the Institute of Biblical Studies. We were eager learners. The best professor in our lives jolted us one day with these words, “Doctrine is dynamic.
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Harley Sundown’s Alaska
Scammon Bay nestled on a hillside on the shores of the Bering Sea, is Coach Harley Sundown’s Disneyland. The saying, “Where you are, be all there,” fits Harley to a T.
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So Hard, to So Easy
Hard work pays off 14 plus years ago in the birthing room at Sacred Heart Hospital, the doctors went into emergency mode hoping to save Ariana Alexis Crowell / Ferch’s new life.
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Meet a Modern Day Angel
You His mighty angels doing His bidding. – Psalm 103 Today Jan Foland emailed her drawing of her vision of a sacred place.
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Lessons from the Prophet Jeremiah
“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
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His Pleasure, His Purpose
All things were created in Him, by Him and for Him. Colossians 1:16 Thanks to the incredible gift of imagination, given only to human kind, we have minds to take us to the past, present, and future.
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Meaningless Is Meaningless
What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun. Is there anything of which one can say, “Look! This is something new”?
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When Dreams Become Goals
A dream is only a dream until you write out the dream in crystal clear terms; then it becomes a goal.
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Just Say Yes
“Do what you can with what you have left.” – Jay Carty Thank you Jay Carty for answering the questions to Words of Hope. Jay is in the Fred Crowell Hall of Fame book for spiritual giants.
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Crowell Is Alive Yesterday and Today
Yesterday is today in China. Today is tomorrow in the USA. Amazing things happen to the body when it is subjected to two times zones. Spokane and Jiaozuo are 15 hours different in time.
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Stars
“Above me lay the day blind stars waiting for their light.” – Wendell Berry Twinkle twinkle little star is a delightful childhood rhyme. Sun, moon and stars all fascinate me. Once stars were a sailors GPS.
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Love Kids Love Kids
“Come to me as a little child.” – Jesus My days are filled with wonder and joy, because I’m living in the world of kids. Kids who want to become men and women.
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Ukulele-jumping Fleas
New discoveries in music and in life. This miniature guitar originated in Portugal. The Hawaiians fell in love with this nimble, fun instrument. They named it the ukulele , the jumping flee.
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Come and Share Your Master’s Happiness
The final week in September must be wedding weekend. The Crowell’s had three invitations. In reading the Gospels Jesus clearly spoke highly of weddings. Yesterday my former personal assistant married. All weddings are not equal.
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A date with Fairbanks, Alaska
My buddy the ex tax collector turned apostle won’t be asked for wisdom from me today, today St. Matthew gets a day off.
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Hard Work Is Not Enough
Why is hard work not enough? Because love and passion bring meaning & purpose to HW? Why is meaning and purpose essential to hard work? Because if you love hard work your motivation will be inspired?
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Green Lights Red Lights
The first day of September is Crowell’s January first day? Why? Always a wise question because if you know the why the “how too follows” like a dog on a leash.
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Letter from the President
LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT When I took a leap of faith to begin NBC Camps in 1971, a lot of people thought I was crazy. That was a long time ago and a lot has changed.
