Sermon Central
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In His Book, Reaching The Invisible God, Author ... PRO
Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007 (message contributor)
In his book, Reaching the Invisible God, author Philip Yancey tells the story about his wife, Janet, who leads a weekly “Christian Circle” at a local nursing home. An Alzheimer’s patient named Betsy faithfully attends, led there by a staff worker, and sits through the hour. Every week Janet introduces herself, and every week Betsy responds as if she’s never seen her before.
After a few weeks, Janet learned that Betsy has retained the ability to read. She has no comprehension of what she is reading and will repeat the same line over and over, like a stuck record, until someone prompts her to move on. But on a good day she can read a passage straight through in a clear, strong voice. Janet began calling on her each week to read a hymn.
One Friday the senior citizens, who prefer to sing the older hymns they remember from childhood, selected “The Old Rugged Cross” for Betsy to read.
“On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross, the emblem of suff’ring and shame,” she began, and stopped.
She suddenly got agitated. “I can’t go on It’s too sad Too sad” she said.
Some of the seniors gasped. Others stared at her, dumbfounded. In years of living at the nursing home, not once had Betsy shown the ability to put words together meaningfully. Now, obviously, she did understand.
Janet calmed her: “That’s fine, Betsy. You don’t have to keep reading if you don’t want to.”
After a pause, though, she started reading again, and stopped at the same place. A tear made a trail down each cheek.
“I can’t go on It’s so sad” she said, unaware she had said the same thing two minutes ago.
She tried again, and again reacted with a sudden shock of recognition, grief, and the exact same words.
Finally, when Betsy seemed tranquil, Janet led her to the elevator to return her to her room. To her amazement Betsy began singing the hymn from memory. The words came in breathy, chopped phrases, and she could barely carry the tune, but anyone could recognize the hymn:
On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross
The emblem of suff’ring and shame.
New tears fell, but his time Betsy kept going,...
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According To The National Highway Traffic Safety ...
Contributed by Bruce Willis on Jan 5, 2007
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 6,390 young people ages 15-20 died in motor vehicle crashes in the year 2,000? Of them alcohol was involved in 2,339 deaths. And as related to drivers – 3,594 young drivers ages 15-20 died in motor vehicle crashes in 2,000 and of ...read more
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You And I Have Within Ourselves The Resources ...
Contributed by Charles R. Swindoll on Nov 1, 2004
You and I have within ourselves the resources for achieving amazing things if we do not allow our problems to overwhelm us. You may know the story of a young Hungarian athlete in the 1952 Olympics who won a gold medal with his ability to shoot a pistol. His right hand and eye coordination were so ...read more
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D. An Old Violin Player Explained Why His ... PRO
Contributed by Charles R. Swindoll on Nov 1, 2004
d. An old violin player explained why his violin had such quality. It was made from a certain kind of European tree, but not all of these trees would do. "The trees in the forest, sheltered by their neighbors, will not do," he said. "Fine violins come from lonely trees that grows on the ...read more
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Christianity Is A Religion, A Faith Of Love. ...
Contributed by Jim Kane on Jan 12, 2007
Christianity is a religion, a faith of love. Despite the fact that many, unfortunately, have been hurt in the name of Jesus, Christianity has liberated millions of people’s needs of all kinds. The love of God has been, and continues to be, a ...read more
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Perhaps You've Heard Of Watchman Nee. Watchman ... PRO
Contributed by Karl Eckhoff on Nov 13, 2003
Perhaps you’ve heard of Watchman Nee. Watchman Nee became a Christian in mainland China in 1920 at the age of seventeen and began writing in the same year. Throughout the nearly thirty years of his ministry, Watchman Nee was a unique gift from the Lord to the church. Though imprisoned for his ...read more
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