Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Jul 8, 2007
Illustration: Reverse Reasoning
Often when couples meet for premarital counselling, they are entranced in a rosy fog of optimism. Blinded to the shortcomings, each sees only the other’s good points. But as the excitement of the new marriage wears off, they often drift to the opposite extreme and
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Other
Contributed by Mick Court on Jun 22, 2008
There was a father who took his two young children to an amusement park. They were so excited. After going on all the rides they wanted, he said now it is time for the ghost train! They both didn't want to go, and yet the father insisted it was part of the experience of going to an amusement park.
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Catholic
Contributed by Mark Eberly on Nov 18, 2008
As I mentioned, ancients held the belief that blood was significant. It was powerful. The Hebrews would hold animal sacrifices. The blood would be used to symbolically cover up the sin of the people. Hebrews 9:22 says that forgiveness does not come without the shedding of blood. The Hebrews had to
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Church Of God
Contributed by Mark Eberly on Jan 8, 2009
"TRUDGE"
The word "trudge" gives us a definite picture. We trudge through snow. It is laborious walk. It is tiring. It takes work. It seems to me to be rather unmotivated. Sometimes doing what is right seems like trudging. Sometimes doing what we need to do is not glamorous and exciting. Sometimes
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Church Of God
Contributed by Rick Pendleton on Jan 20, 2013
THE KOOL-AID STAND PARABLE
Jason wanted to buy Tubby's old bike. Tubby got a new one for his birthday and would sell Jason his old one for $10. It was a great deal. The problem was that Jason didn't have any money. His cousin, Scott, in another town, was making good money with his Kool-Aid stand.
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Baptist
(Note: I used this illustration as part of a funeral message in January 2017)
Back when I was 11 years of age, I really discovered pro baseball! We lived about four hours away from Cincinnati, Ohio, at the time—which was no problem for me!
Well, I must have really pestered Dad because he
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Baptist
Contributed by Joe La Rue on Feb 12, 2008
At a leadership conference several years ago I heard Pastor Wayne Cordeiro of New Hope Christian Fellowship in Hawaii tell the story about walking into a restaurant over the lunch hour and seeing one of his church members sitting at a table and talking quite excitedly with a man he didn’t
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Christian/Church Of Christ
Contributed by Rick Stacy on Jun 24, 2002
based on 2 ratings
| 6,890 views
Four guys in a jeep on a jungle trail in Viet Nam
I was told several years ago about four guys in a jeep on a jungle trail in Viet Nam. All was well until they were suddenly under fire from Viet Cong all around them. Bullets were flying at them from every direction. The driver tried frantically
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Christian/Church Of Christ
Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 24, 2002
based on 23 ratings
| 2,901 views
CONSIDER AGAIN CHRISTMAS
When Pope Julius I authorized December 25 to be celebrated as the birthday of Jesus in A.D. 353, who would have ever thought that it would become what it is today.
When Professor Charles Follen lit candles on the first Christmas tree in America in 1832, who would have
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Contributed by Curt Cizek on Feb 25, 2003
based on 21 ratings
| 3,816 views
Who has ever heard of Harriet Tubman before? Her story is an exciting one. She was a runaway slave who was able to get to the north with the help of some sympathetic people both white and black. She was so thankful for the help that she had received that she decided to risk her own life to
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Lutheran
based on 46 ratings
| 2,578 views
There is story about a Chinese artist, a new Christian who wanted to paint the parable of the prodigal son. In his first attempt, he painted the father standing at the gate with his arms folded looking sternly down the road at a son coming. Another Christian explained to him that was not the
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Wesleyan
Contributed by Scott Sharpes on Aug 27, 2003
based on 7 ratings
| 2,873 views
In the movie “City Slickers,” Billy Crystal plays a confused, dissatisfied thirty-something character with a vague sense that life is passing him by. Jack Palance- ancient, leathery, wise to the ways of the world (“a saddlebag with eyes”) – asks Crystal if he would like to know the secret of
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Nazarene
Contributed by Timothy Smith on Jul 19, 2004
based on 4 ratings
| 2,018 views
Have you heard of the man who claims and boasts of being the #1 NBA fan, and makes pro basketball his top priority? Listen to what he wrote in a national sports magazine recently. “April & May are not only my favorite months because of the NBA play-offs but they are my credit card company’s
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Christian Church
The United States Women's Softball team won the gold medal in Atlanta's 1996 Olympic games. They lost only one game. In the fifth inning against Australia, Danielle Tyler hit a home run over the center-field fence. When she was greeted by a swarm of well-wishing teammates at home plate she let the
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Evangelical/Non-Denominational
Contributed by Terry Cavanaugh on Nov 12, 2005
Sarah was an active three-year old- underscore active! She was always busy and always in a hurry because at three years of age, she already realized that there are so many exciting things to do and see and experience in this incredible world God has given us.
Sarah interrupted her playtime just
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Methodist
Contributed by Troy Borst on Feb 25, 2006
ILLUSTRATION... http://www.nbcolympics.com/athletes/5058592/detail.html
I think that Israel’s issue was the same as olympian Lindsey Jacobellis. First-time Olympian Lindsey Jacobellis of the U.S. distinguished herself as the top women’s rider in snowboard cross over the past two seasons. And she
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Christian/Church Of Christ
Contributed by Mark Armstrong on Apr 23, 2009
The game ‘Dungeons and Dragons’ first came to light in 1974. Players of D&D create characters which they live out in an alternative reality. And so D&D is a fantasy role playing game where players embark upon imaginary adventures in a created world. Although there’s a few variations of the game, a
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Presbyterian/Reformed
Contributed by Jeff Strite on Nov 21, 2011
STOP "SUPPOSING"
I remember reading the story of a faithful but fairly poor Christian woman. She was always cheerful and smiling and excited about life. But she was so cheerful that a friend of hers decided she was too cheerful. She needed a dose of "reality" and perspective.
So the friend said
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Christian/Church Of Christ
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