Contributed by Mark Eberly on Apr 14, 2008
This is a picture of Johnny. Johnny’s mother saw him playing church with the family cat. The cat was sitting there quietly while Johnny preached his sermon to the cat.
Johnny’s mother smiled and went back to her work. A little while later, she heard a huge commotion where Johnny was supposed to
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Church Of God
Contributed by Mark Eberly on Apr 14, 2008
Pride asserts control over others and over outcomes. Pride takes all the credit. “I controlled that. I did it.” We have been given by God that ability to plan out a course of action. But we often are just planning our actions and setting goals, we are trying to control the outcomes. That is pride.
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Denomination:
Church Of God
Contributed by Mark Eberly on Apr 14, 2008
Pride keeps us as Americans from taking a look around this world that we live and realizing that people die every day so that we can enjoy the privileges that we enjoy.
Did you know that Americans consume about 80% of the world's coffee supply? And yet, we aren't told a lot about the coffee
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Church Of God
Contributed by Mark Eberly on Apr 22, 2008
DROPPING YOUR FINGER
Two old friends met one day after many years. One attended college and now was very successful. The other had not attended college and never had much ambition, yet he still seemed to be doing well.
Curious as to why, the college graduate asked his friend, "How has everything
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Church Of God
Contributed by Mark Eberly on Apr 22, 2008
There is a song that we sing called, "Enough." Sometimes singing the message of a song can have a tremendous impact. This is one for me. The words are about contentment in Jesus.
"All of you is more than enough for all of me, for every thirst and every need. You satisfy me with your love, and all
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Church Of God
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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Church Of God
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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Church Of God
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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Church Of God
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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Church Of God
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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Church Of God
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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Church Of God
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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Church Of God
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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Church Of God
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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Church Of God
Contributed by Mark Armstrong on Aug 3, 2009
The setting is the front of a small church. The pastor says from the pulpit, ‘I’ve misplaced my sermon notes, so I’m just going to read from this devotional—if I can find it here. While I look, maybe the choir can lead us in a hymn’. He glances at the choir which has one person.
The choir
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Denomination:
Presbyterian/Reformed
Christian guitarist Phil Keaggy, in his song "A Time and a Place," said, "Said the robin to the sparrow,
I would really like to know Why these anxious human beings
Rush about and worry so. Said the sparrow to the robin,
Friend, I think
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Denomination:
Methodist