Contributed by Mark Eberly on Sep 17, 2007
Ignatius of Loyola advocated a 28 day retreat and examination (he lived hundreds of years ago). Most of us can’t get away for 28 days but we can take a weekend retreat or just
...read more
Denomination:
Church Of God
Contributed by Mark Clarke on Sep 21, 2007
True story: one of the leaders of a large chruch found a young pastor in his office praying for the flock. He said, “We are not paying to pray. Pray on your own time!” Let me give you
...read more
Denomination:
Independent/Bible
Contributed by Mark Eberly on Sep 24, 2007
based on 1 rating
| 1,149 views
As a recovered alcoholic, I have a God-given opportunity to share with other alcoholics so that they also may recover. But the very first question is, “Do you want to get better?” If the answer is “no” or “I don’t have a problem” then the response is, “Sorry to bother you.” Pursuing the issue will
...read more
Denomination:
Church Of God
Contributed by Mark Eberly on Sep 24, 2007
Jesus did as much when he gave his first sermon in Luke 4. Jesus was asked to read the scripture in the synagogue and give some teaching. He read from Isaiah about freeing the captives, healing the sick, making the blind see, and enacting the Kingdom Day of Jubilee. He said today it is fulfilled in
...read more
Denomination:
Church Of God
Contributed by Mark Eberly on Oct 1, 2007
In the first game of the best-of-seven, 2004 American League Championship Series between baseball’s New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox, Boston’s ace pitcher Curt Schilling was in pain. An ankle injury kept him from being able to plant his foot and throw the ball with his usual skill. Schilling was
...read more
Denomination:
Church Of God
Contributed by Mark Eberly on Oct 8, 2007
When we give good gifts, we think of Christmas. There is a lady that my Dad knows who literally spends well over $500 on her child (that is one child) for Christmas. She doesn’t make a lot of money. She is an hourly employee in a service industry job. Translation: She makes at best a little of
...read more
Denomination:
Church Of God
Contributed by Mark Eberly on Oct 8, 2007
And since we work hard and live so affluently as part of the American Empire, when prices rise or we lose our jobs or another company makes a “run for the border” or gas prices hit $3.00 a gallon, most of us don’t consider God. He may be a peripheral idea. Out here on the edges of consciousness but
...read more
Denomination:
Church Of God
Contributed by Mark Eberly on Oct 8, 2007
Recently the stock market plummeted after hitting another record high and who saved the day? The empire! They lowered one insignificant rate but resulted in millions of dollars that would have been spent on interest to be used for spending. The empire saved us!!
Meanwhile nothing really changed
...read more
Denomination:
Church Of God
Contributed by Mark Eberly on Oct 15, 2007
There is a guy named Shane Claiborne who sees this Shema of Jesus to do to others as a radical call to a radical way of living. When he was in college at Eastern University near Philly, the newspaper had a headline about some homeless families that were being evicted from an old, abandoned
...read more
Denomination:
Church Of God
Contributed by Mark Eberly on Oct 15, 2007
Two men were walking along discussing God, eternity, and judgment. One of them stops and says, “You know, there is a question I’d like to ask God.”
“What question?” his friend responds.
“How could you let all the evil and despair and injustice occur in this world?”
“Yeah, it doesn’t make sense!”
...read more
Denomination:
Church Of God
Contributed by Mark Eberly on Oct 29, 2007
We live in a safety first culture. When I was a kid, we didn’t wear helmets when riding our bikes except on the BMX track. I turned out ok. Today we wear seatbelts, have car seats, and heaven forbid that the kids might actually get to ride in the back of a pick up truck. Not only that but cars now
...read more
Denomination:
Church Of God
Contributed by Mark Eberly on Oct 29, 2007
based on 1 rating
| 1,293 views
But loving is hard. The way is narrow. Not many really love the way Jesus does. Even in churches. We are more consumers than lovers. We are more takers than givers. I’ve poured into people and given and given as I know many of you have. I’ve poured into groups of people in this way. And they keep
...read more
Denomination:
Church Of God
Contributed by Mark Eberly on Oct 29, 2007
It is a narrow way. It is a difficult road. We have to leave much behind: our wants, our needs, our baggage, and our misconceptions. One time when we were first married, Kendra and I planned a trip to Cedar Point. I like to save money so we stayed in a hotel about twenty minutes from the point. It
...read more
Scripture:
Denomination:
Church Of God
Contributed by Mark Eberly on Nov 5, 2007
. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke prophetically calling America to right the wrongs of racial discrimination.
At one point after a defining court victory, Dr. King spoke with the president about enacting legislation to protect the civil rights of people of color. The president sided with Dr. King
...read more
Denomination:
Church Of God
Contributed by Mark Eberly on Nov 5, 2007
God spoke to me recently through a homeless guy I know. This man is a full-blown practicing alcoholic. Does he live out the Shema of Jesus? No. Not even close. But he is pretty intelligent although not very wise (except he does exhibit occasional profound insight). When he is sober and cleaned up,
...read more
Denomination:
Church Of God
Contributed by Mark Eberly on Nov 12, 2007
I want to give you the chance to receive a blessing. I have something for you to taste. It is fruit. You can receive it but do not take it. Hopefully you will find it good. I ask you to worship the Lord in this. Praise God for the goodness of fruit that nourishes us. Praise God for this symbol of
...read more
Denomination:
Church Of God
Contributed by Mark Eberly on Nov 12, 2007
Early in the summer, we’ve gotten burned with corn on the cob. Inevitably some grocery in late May or early June have a huge sale on fresh corn on the cob. For several years we’ve tried it. I look forward to good corn on the cob. Yet, we have always gotten burned with this early corn. It is awful.
...read more
Denomination:
Church Of God