Vertical Thought

Vertical Thought was published from 2003 to 2013 by the United Church of God. It was created to give relevant content to help young people ages 12-22 discover and live God's way of life. 

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The Elusiveness of Time

If we want more time, we must plan for the time we have.
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Exams: Pass or Fail?

We can ace the tests that God gives us. We may stumble every now and then since none of us are perfect, but God allows us retake some of our exams. All we have to do is study for these...
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Freedom and Basic Gratitude

Now is the time to show basic gratitude for the many freedoms we still enjoy in whatever part of the planet we call home.
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Can You Identify?

How do your actions identify you? Do they identify you as a follower of Christ?
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3-Ws

I've discovered that there are three other Ws that we all need to consider: Watch, weep, warn.
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God's Feasts Answer the Big Questions - Part 1

Just as teachers prepare lesson plans for their students, God, through His feasts, provides a lesson plan for humanity.
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Coping with Cliques

No one likes to be excluded, but it happens often in our society. Here is valuable information to help you know how to respond to the problem of cliques.
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Answers from Genesis - Part 8

Here are more frequently asked questions about Genesis, the book of origins.
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Serving in the Middle East

God's intent is to have His people live what they believe and not merely preach it.
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The "Is It Worth It?" Media Filter Test

You can make wiser media choices.
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Countering Media Influence

The pressure to conform is relentless. Everything seems to be against those who want to live in obedience to God. How can we resist?
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Extrabiblical Evidence of Jesus Christ

References to Christ appear in more than just the Bible—secular historians of his era talked about Him as well. The following is from our free booklet Jesus Christ: The Real Story:
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Jesus Christ: Victim of Stolen Identity

Most people understand that Jesus died for our sins, and the details of His illegal crucifixion are well known. But few know that after Jesus' death His identity was stolen! Many well-intentioned believers have fallen for the deception. Are you...
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Vantage Point - How Will Jesus Impact You?

One measure of greatness is the impact a person makes on the world.
Magazine Issue

Vertical Thought: April - June 2010

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The Need for God

We may be among the only ones who believe in God with all of our hearts and minds at this time. But the whole world needs God, His incredibly generous blessings now and the amazing spiritual future with Him in...
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Layla Grace Will Live Again

Suffering, sickness, pain and death are realities in this present evil world we live in. But there is a future world coming—the Kingdom of God—when all suffering, sickness, pain and death will be abolished.
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Financial Alchemy Puts Iceland in Hot Water

If you want to make money, you have to do real work with a real product rather than making doubtful bets with borrowed money.
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What Comes After "Try, Try Again"?

Staying motivated is often a challenge when we're constantly facing trials. Repeatedly getting pushed down when it appears that there's no possibility to succeed makes finding the will to persevere seem far from our reach. Sometimes life is hard.
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Snow or "Snowmageddon"

Although extreme winter storms can sometimes create havoc with roads, is there some benefit from this unique element of God's creation, besides skiing and sledding?