Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Mar 29, 2008
Illustration: 4408 Eternal Loss Or Temporary Pleasure.
There’s a story of how money can blur vision: A certain tribe in Africa elects a new king every seven years but it invariably kills its old king. For seven years the member of the tribe enjoying this high honor is provided with every luxury
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Other
Contributed by Scott Jensen on May 15, 2008
When you take a public speaking class, you’re often told that an attention getting step is one of the best ways to keep your audience focused on what you want them to hear. People tend to notice when you say something that seems out of place or show something people can look at. I once used a
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Denomination:
Lutheran
A story is told of a Native American boy who is being initiated into manhood. He is released into an unfamiliar forest to live for a time on his own wits.
As he begins scouting the area, he sees a white wolf, and he imagines the status of the prize. To return not only successful, but with the pelt
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Mennonite
Contributed by Mark Eberly on Jun 30, 2009
GOD STILL SURPRISES US
Often God surprises us to our shame. I remember a couple that shared how they tried to witness and help their neighbor who was a raging alcoholic. They prayed for her and took her under their wing but she seemed hopeless. She might get clean for a little while, but then she
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Church Of God
Contributed by Dan Waite on Nov 25, 2005
based on 3 ratings
| 1,844 views
“The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” C. S. Lewis noted that the effect of the rule of the White Witch, which represents evil, is to cause it to be “always winter but never Christmas.”
Winter eventually wears on even those who love it. It becomes burdensome and is occasionally
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Free Methodist
Contributed by Paul Fritz on Jun 2, 2001
based on 34 ratings
| 2,032 views
A conference at a Presbyterian church in Omaha. People were given helium filled balloons and told to release them at some point in the service when they felt like expressing the joy in their hearts. Since they were Presbyterians, they weren’t free to say "Hallelujah, Praise the Lord." All through
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Evangelical/Non-Denominational
Contributed by Charles Wallis on Feb 15, 2008
Loren Mead: The mission of God and His church is “to see that no pain is unshared, not hurt unnoticed, no hunger untouched, no loss grieved alone, no death unknown, and no joy uncelebrated…The Church is to identify itself with the suffering that creeps into every life, every home, every
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Denomination:
Pentecostal
Quote: “You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving” (From Illustrations Unlimited).
Quote: Love is the key. Joy is love singing. Peace is love resting. Long-suffering is love enduring. Kindness is love’s touch. Goodness is love’s character. Faithfulness is love’s habit.
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Evangelical/Non-Denominational
Contributed by Paul Wallace on Oct 28, 2008
based on 2 ratings
| 3,527 views
"The fear of man is being more impressed with man's reaction to our actions than with God's reaction. That's bondage. When we have the fear of God upon us, we are impressed only with God's reaction. We are freed from the concern of what people think. That's freedom! That's release! That's great
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Wesleyan
Contributed by Mark Armstrong on Jun 1, 2009
based on 1 rating
| 4,731 views
‘In the face of disappointed world betrayal, a world in which all fixed points have proven illusory, a world in which we are anchorless and adrift. Christ is the foundation, the origin, the way, the truth, the life. In the face of a culture of death, a world of killing fields, a world of the
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Presbyterian/Reformed
Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Jun 8, 2009
SEEING BUT NOT EATING
The Jewish Rabbi known as Rav held a similar viewpoint. Brad Young summarizes his view, "One will be judged not only for sins committed against Torah but also for pleasures in life that were neglected because of a false religious abstinence. The sense of joy in living comes
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Independent/Bible
Contributed by Lisa Delay on Aug 10, 2005
I looked about some more and saw a huge maple tree. Magnificent, tall and strong it had many leaves like a flowing royal garment. It was lush and full of gorgeous green foliage so not a branch could be seen. It was in all its glory.
-Lisa DeLay, wrier and founder of wit4life.com
As I continued my
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Evangelical/Non-Denominational
Contributed by Chuck Sligh on Apr 14, 2013
based on 2 ratings
| 3,735 views
WHAT DOES "ALL" MEAN?
I know people who are carrying around a load of guilt over the past and they're loaded down with this extra weight God doesn't want them to have.
I remember a lady in my church in Wiesbaden I'll call Jill. Jill had rebelled against her parents, had been on drugs, had had
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Denomination:
Baptist
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