Contributed by Mark Eberly on Aug 24, 2009
Micaela played t-ball. Many of you know about the t-ball experience. One of the kids asked me if Micaela’s team was good. I chuckled because from what I see no t-ball team is “good.” They are there to learn some basics and have fun.
The biggest struggle that the coaches face is not kids who can’t
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Contributed by Mark Eberly on Aug 10, 2009
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7-ELEVEN TIME
Essayist Noelle Oxenhandler writes, "But increasingly we live in the twenty-four-hour time of commerce, of convenience. It is 7-Eleven time, the fluorescent time of unmodulated, shadowless light, where coffee and doughnuts are available at all hours, where the rhythm of breakfast,
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Contributed by Mark Eberly on Aug 10, 2009
The phrase that helps remind me of not giving in to weariness (and we all get tired) is: Keeping on Keeping On.
Again this is not praying the same prayer in order to wear God down, it is being consistent, constant, and unwavering even when we don’t feel like it. I’m sure the widow wanted to give up
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Contributed by Mark Eberly on Aug 3, 2009
Simply put the person asking for bread in the middle of the night is not admirable but is rude. He does not know or does not care about shame.
By the way does everyone know what BFF is? It is part of the new lingo of texting, which is kind of like shorthand. BFF is “Best Friends Forever.” And now
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Contributed by Mark Eberly on Aug 3, 2009
Jesus confronts all those misconceptions and says you can pray, this is how you do it (“Our Father”), and God does hear you. God is not out to punish you or play tricks on you by giving you poison when you need and ask for food. You don’t have to jump through all these man-made hoops. Ask, seek,
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Contributed by Mark Eberly on Jul 28, 2009
ACTIVE DISCIPLESHIP
Relation to Christ activates and empowers the whole of life when humans choose to act. Without action, nothing happens. It is kind of like getting into a car and just sitting there without turning the ignition and putting the car into gear and pushing on the accelerator and
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Contributed by Mark Eberly on Jul 28, 2009
DECISION WITHOUT DETERMINATION
Some choose and pray a prayer. This is the great heresy of the last hundred years. I made a choice when I was ten. But there is no determination. I have been convinced by the Lord that a decision without determination and effort is absolutely meaningless.
In
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Contributed by Mark Eberly on Jul 13, 2009
Now here are some cultural issues that may help us gain a clearer picture. The crumbs that fell underneath the table were pieces of bread used to wipe one’s hands. They did not fall there accidently. They were thrown under the table indicating both excesses of the rich man and his utter lack of
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Contributed by Mark Eberly on Jul 13, 2009
The rich man had no excuse as Lazarus sat right outside his gate. He can’t claim that he didn’t know or didn’t see the poor. Sound familiar? “I don’t know any poor.” We live in the suburbs so we don’t have to see the poor. We applaud laws that keep the homeless from sleeping where we can see them
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Contributed by Mark Eberly on Jul 13, 2009
How far do we take this? Jesus doesn’t say. I can’t tell you but I can make suggestions that push you to a greater dependence on God and a greater obedience.
Albert Schweitzer left his status as a professor, gave up his organ playing and went to Africa as a missionary doctor. He believed this
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Contributed by Mark Eberly on Jul 6, 2009
I am free in Christ to drink any coffee that I want. But if I know that certain brands of coffee or tea have not be grown and bought in a responsible fashion then in my opinion I am abusing my freedom and am hindering my witness to those who have suffered from the injustice. I had a Starbuck’s
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Contributed by Mark Eberly on Jul 6, 2009
HIGHER STANDARD OF GOD
Paul very much emphasized that we are responsible to others. Not responsible for them but to them. We are held to a high standard (at least we should be) by our own conscience, by others, and by God.
Too often we make excuses such as not knowing that something was
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The heart is the seat of man’s inner life.
It represents our true character.
The seat of our emotions, reasoning, will,
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Contributed by Mark Eberly on Jun 30, 2009
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However, it the image of the “enraged king” who sends an army to destroy the city and kill those who have committed but then rejected the summons that bothers us. Is God really that way? I don’t know about you but I have this image of someone who completely flies off the handle in a rage and temper
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Contributed by Mark Eberly on Jun 30, 2009
GOD STILL SURPRISES US
Often God surprises us to our shame. I remember a couple that shared how they tried to witness and help their neighbor who was a raging alcoholic. They prayed for her and took her under their wing but she seemed hopeless. She might get clean for a little while, but then she
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Contributed by Mark Eberly on Jun 30, 2009
KFC CHICKEN JOY
A few weeks ago, KFC through Oprah made it possible for every person to get a free meal of KFC’s grilled chicken. People were exuberant. The computer server was overwhelmed with requests. We were able to get the coupons and went the next day. The restaurants were overwhelmed by the
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Contributed by Mark Eberly on Jun 23, 2009
Note the contrast between fleeing and pursuing. It is not enough to just stop doing things or at least stop the frequency of those things that do not honor God. Sometimes it is easy to think, “I just do it once in while. What’s the harm?” The problem is that people really do see what you’re saying.
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