One of my favorite songs right now is a song by a man named Jeremy Camp. It’s entitled "There will be a Day." I want to share the first verse and chorus with you in closing today. It goes like this:
I try to hold on to this world with everything I have
But I feel the weight of what it brings,
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Baptist
Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Jun 8, 2009
The foolishness of trying to cover up our sin is well illustrated with the story of the drunk husband who snuck up the stairs quietly. He looked in the bathroom mirror and bandaged the bumps and bruises he’d received in a fight earlier that night. He then proceeded to climb into bed, smiling at the
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Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Jun 8, 2009
Traders vs. Investors
We all have seen the effect of those who have given up on the economy.
In his newspaper column called “Market Report,” Bill Barnhart once explained the difference between investors and traders in the stock market.
“A trader in a stock,” writes Barnhart, “is making
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Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Jun 15, 2009
1938 God Moves In Mysterious Ways
At age 32, William Cowper passed through a great crisis in his life. He tried to end his life by taking laudanum. Then he hired a horse-drawn cabbie, ordering the driver to take him to the Thames, intending to throw himself from the bridge. It was one of London’s
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Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Jun 28, 2009
SECURITY
Consider this story in relying upon God:
The 3-year-old felt secure in his father’s arms as Dad stood in the middle of the pool. But Dad, for fun, began walking slowly toward the deep end, gently chanting, “Deeper and deeper and deeper,” as the water rose higher and higher on the child.
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THE ARTIST AND THE GARDENER
Both the artist and the gardener begin with contemplation, paying close attention to what is already there.
The gardner looks carefully at the landscape; the existing plants, both flowers and weeds; the way the sun falls on the land, and so on. The artist regards their
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Baptist
WE HAVE THE KEY
Father William Bausch told a story of a boy who one morning had arrived very early at school and waited patiently at the door. Next to arrive was a lady who was surprised that this youngster had arrived so early. "It’s locked" the pupil said as the teacher tried the door. She began
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Methodist
Contributed by Matthew Rings on Oct 18, 2012
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STONING THE PASTOR
I bought some small rubber rocks from DC Works and put them on the chairs before people came into the room. As I opened the message, I asked them if I said anything that was blasphemous if they would stone me. I told them not to be shy and to let me have it. I then introduced
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Presbyterian/Reformed
Contributed by Matthew Oliver on Oct 20, 2012
Christian man Carl Behr of Baldwin, Pennsylvania received a notice on Monday ordering him to remove the 24-foot high illuminated cross he has installed in his front yard and kept lit day and night. But Behr plans to fight the order at a municipal meeting. “It’s all about my faith, and some people
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Episcopal/Anglican
Contributed by Matthew Redder on May 17, 2018
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Some time ago I returned from a missions trip completely full of faith and ready to set the world on fire with the love of Christ. During my first church service back in the states I was asked to close our service in prayer. I joyfully obliged and went whole-heartedly into prayer full of faith and
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Evangelical/Non-Denominational
Contributed by Matthew Redder on May 21, 2018
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Have you ever shopped at Home Depot? Lowes? Or some other home repair-improvement type store?
If you have you've inevitably seen the piles of lumber tossed aside that are broken, cracked, warped, crooked, or just plain look bad. These piles of lumber go ignored as faithful builders go for the
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Evangelical/Non-Denominational
Contributed by Matthew Redder on Sep 21, 2018
I love this quote as I believe it is hard for the Christian artist to always understand their place in the church.
Truth be told, artists have an incredible gift and responsibility in the community to illuminate the realities of the Word and of this life we live. Wright puts it well:
"The
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Evangelical/Non-Denominational
Contributed by Matthew Redder on Sep 21, 2018
The story of Augustine's conversion is an inspiring and amazing one. In my opinion it is a miraculous account of God grabbing the attention of Augustine and speaking directly into his heart through the power of a perfectly timed scripture.
This could be a great illustration about the power of the
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Evangelical/Non-Denominational
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There is a church in Millan, Italy that was bombed out during WWII. All of the walls of the church fell down during the war except one. The wall left standing had Leonardo Da Vinci’s "Last Supper" scene painted on it. What a wonderful illustration of how this meal that we call the Lord’s
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Baptist
Let me illustrate with the words that Mark Buchanan wrote of his own experience in his book entitled “Your God Is Too Safe.” He wrote that when he was saved, “I hit the ground running. Immediately, I volunteered for everything, anything, that I felt vaguely interested in and marginally qualified
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Baptist
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If all the sleeping folk will wake up,
If all the lukewarm folk will get fired up,
If all the dishonest folk will confess up,
If all the disgruntled folk will cheer up,
If all the depressed folk will cheer up,
If all the estranged folk will make up,
If all the gossipers will shut up,
If all true
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Baptist
Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Apr 22, 2007
Russ Blowers is active in his local Indianapolis Rotary club. At club meetings each week a member gives a brief statement about his job. When it was his turn, Russ said: "I’m with a global enterprise. We have branches in every country in the world. We have our representatives in nearly every
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