ORNAMENTALS
Back in 1960, my family moved from Ohio to Arizona. The first time we went to the Phoenix Airport, I was impressed by the beautiful orange trees that lined the drive. It was the first time this Ohio boy had ever seen citrus trees. The oranges were big as grapefruits. They looked so
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Christian/Church Of Christ
Contributed by Karl Eckhoff on Feb 12, 2004
based on 17 ratings
| 3,173 views
There once was a brier growing in a ditch when a gardener came along with his spade and dug it up. He dug around it and gently lifted it out of the ground, bringing the brier to ask itself, “What is he doing? Doesn’t he know I’m a worthless brier?” But the gardener took it and placed it in his
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Denomination:
Lutheran
Contributed by Pat Cook on Nov 29, 2005
Let me tell you a story about a small island in the South Seas inhabited by a group of people who had very little contact with the outside world. Theirs was a beautiful island – lush vegetation, wonderfully sweet-tasting fruit, and many domesticated animals good for eating. It was a tropical
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Baptist
Contributed by Loyd C. Taylor on Dec 8, 2023
“The Legend of Pepita’s Poinsettia”
Thank you much, my pretty friend,
For the beauty you display;
Those colors of green and red
Enhances our Christmas day.
Great is your reputation-
You’re like the Christmas Star,
For you are highly regarded,
No matter where you are.
You are called
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Baptist
Contributed by Pat Cook on Oct 21, 2003
based on 1 rating
| 1,472 views
I have an old tape by a group called One Bad Pig, a Christian thrash-metal group. About the most obnoxious kind of music available. Anyway, there’s one song on it called "Man in Black", with Johnny Cash being the guest vocalist. It’s quite a blend of country and metal.
At the very end of the
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Denomination:
Baptist
Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 20, 2002
based on 2 ratings
| 2,364 views
To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children, to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others, to leave the world a bit better whether by a healthy child, a
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Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on Dec 17, 2006
St. Augustine echoed this thought centuries ago in his beautiful poem entitled “Incarnation”:
Maker of the sun,
He is made under the sun.
In the Father he remains,
From his mother he goes forth.
Creator of heaven and earth,
He was born on earth under heaven.
Unspeakably wise,
He is wisely
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Denomination:
Methodist
Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007
based on 1 rating
| 2,699 views
Max Lucado writes in God Came Near “One New Year’s Day, in the Tournament of Roses parade, a beautiful float suddenly sputtered and quit. It was out of gas. The whole parade was held up until someone could get a can of gas. The amusing thing was this float represented the Standard Oil Company. With
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Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 28, 2008
based on 9 ratings
| 2,401 views
There is a story about a little girl who proudly wore a shiny cross on a chain around her neck. One day she was approached by a man who said to her, "Little girl, don't you know that the cross Jesus died on wasn't beautiful like the one you're wearing? It was an ugly, wooden thing." To which the
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Contributed by Gaither Bailey on Feb 20, 2009
French impressionist painters Henri Matisse and August Renoir were the closest of friends. Renoir’s health failed and the final decades of his life he was nearly paralyzed with arthritis. Yet, he continued to paint fighting tortuous pain with each movement and stroke of the brush. Matisse asked,
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Presbyterian/Reformed
Contributed by Davon Huss on Jan 16, 2012
NOT ENOUGH CHAPELS
An elderly woman was being conducted through a great cathedral in Europe. The guide spoke of its beauty of design, calling attention to the statues and painting. The woman was unimpressed. At the conclusion of the tour she asked the guide, "How many souls have been saved here
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Christian/Church Of Christ
Contributed by Donnie Martin on Feb 6, 2010
Failing to Give Him the Key
The early years of the 19th century were troubled times in the German confederation. Rumors of revolution and rioting had the federated government in panic. Klemens von Metternich, the chief statesman of the confederation, ordered thousands of young men drafted into the
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Baptist
Contributed by Paul Fritz on Jul 12, 2002
Illustration:The great violinist, Nicolo Paganini, willed his marvelous violin to Genoa -- the city of his birth -- but only on condition that the instrument never be played upon. It was an unfortunate condition, for it is a peculiarity of wood that as long as it is used and handled, it shows
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Denomination:
Evangelical/Non-Denominational