Contributed by Terry Barnhill on Apr 15, 2013
SEEING BEYOND THE SHUTTERS
Jeseph Jennings, when on the verge of that glorious world to which Frances has gone, exclaimed "Beautiful! What a morning."
His weeping wife, not seeing what he saw, said, "Shall I open the shutters to give
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Presbyterian/Reformed
Contributed by Terry Barnhill on Feb 26, 2012
THE "GOING OUT"
We read in John 15:26, "When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me."
The "sending" the "going out" which Jesus refers to here is not like a king sending a servant. It is an extending
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Presbyterian/Reformed
Contributed by Terry Barnhill on Jun 15, 2011
THE TRUE BLESSING
When God blessed Abraham, He blessed him so that he could be a blessing to all nations. To be a true blessing to others requires that we share with them the power of God’s transforming Truth.
If you give food to a man who is trapped in a pit, they are still trapped in that
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Contributed by Terry Barnhill on Aug 8, 2010
In his book, “Miracles”, C. S. Lewis says, those whose faith is in science and experiments will learn “what regularly happens in Nature; the norm or rule to which she works. Those who believe in miracles are not denying that there is such a norm or rule;
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Presbyterian/Reformed
Contributed by Terry Barnhill on May 11, 2010
When 19th century American artist James Whistler was at the height of his artistic career, a wealthy patron purchased one of his pictures on the condition that the artist would accompany him home and help select a spot to hang the picture. Once at his mansion, the man held up the picture first here
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Presbyterian/Reformed
Contributed by Terry Barnhill on May 11, 2010
NO LONGER ON TRIAL
In a museum art gallery of old masters, one visitor was being particularly and audibly critical of these great works of art. Finally, an elderly attendant could stand it no longer and said, "If you please, sir, the pictures are no longer on trial...but the spectators are."
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Presbyterian/Reformed
Contributed by Terry Barnhill on May 11, 2010
Here’s a story about a woman who was standing at a bus stop. She had just cashed her tax refund check, so she was carrying more money than usual. She glanced around and noticed a shabbily dressed man standing nearby. As she watched, she saw another man walk up to him, hand him some money, and
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Contributed by Terry Barnhill on Oct 26, 2009
What Is Heaven?
By Terry Barnhill
What is heaven,
and why such hope upon it?
Heaven is already here
By faith in Christ who brought His kingdom near.
"Carpe diem," said ancient Horace,
"quam minimum credula postero."
"Seize the day trusting not in tomorrow."
Our hope is in the promises of
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Presbyterian/Reformed
Contributed by Terry Barnhill on Oct 24, 2009
Consider little Suzie. Little Suzie was finishing her prayer one night and said:
Dear God,
Please take care of mommy, take care of daddy, take care of my sister and my brother, and please, God, take care of yourself, because if you don’t, we’re all sunk. – Amen!
Suzie
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Presbyterian/Reformed
Contributed by Terry Barnhill on Oct 24, 2009
CULTURAL DESENSITIZATION
One evening Ardie and I decided we needed to get out of the house. On an impulse, we went looking for a good movie. When we got to the theater, we didn't recognize any of the movies that were playing, so we just picked one. It was titled "District 13" . . . big mistake!
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Presbyterian/Reformed
Contributed by Terry Barnhill on Oct 24, 2009
Here’s some common sense that doesn’t sound especially biblical, but it has some really good biblical foundations. Consider these quotes from “The Wisdom of Cowboys”:
• A cowboy would say, “Good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment.” Now this is from
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Presbyterian/Reformed
Contributed by Terry Barnhill on May 9, 2009
When I was teaching Middle School, I faced a problem that’s common to all teachers. I’d be giving instructions to the class, and while I was talking, one or two hands would flip up into the air. They had a question. I wasn’t finished giving the instructions, and already they had questions. My
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Presbyterian/Reformed
Contributed by Terry Barnhill on Jan 28, 2009
Look at this: three times Balaam beats his reliable donkey because he was too wrapped up in himself to see God’s road block in front of him. By the 3rd time he got his staff out he was going ballistic!!! Red-in-the-face and spitting mad!
Then, right there in the middle of Balaam’s donkey-beatin’
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Presbyterian/Reformed
Contributed by Terry Barnhill on Jan 28, 2009
A few years ago, when the new Volkswagen Beetle was introduced, one feature that received lots of attention was the claim to be burglarproof. Volkswagen bragged there was no way anybody could steal their car. To demonstrate their point, VW hired a highly skilled burglar and called a news
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Presbyterian/Reformed
Contributed by Terry Barnhill on Sep 6, 2008
A missionary to South America once wrote a reflective piece about his life in the jungles. He and his family knew the discomforts of such things as snakes and bugs. He told how he and his family were cleaning the house one day when they decided to take a break and have some tea. While sitting at
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Presbyterian/Reformed
Contributed by Terry Barnhill on Apr 16, 2008
An employee of a department store once told this story. He was working as a store clerk in Sporting Goods one day when a manager came in. She proceeded to tell each employee what they were doing wrong and how they should change. The next day she came in again and was upset that none of her
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Presbyterian/Reformed
Contributed by Terry Barnhill on Jan 21, 2007
Isaac Watts was a well known minister and writer of songs in the 1700’s. Among his better known songs are, “Joy to the World,” “Oh God, Our Help in Ages Past,” and “I’ll Praise My Maker While I’ve Breath.” The theme of this last hymn reflects Isaac’s great interest in the afterlife with Christ.
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Presbyterian/Reformed