Contributed by Ed Vasicek on May 4, 2009
I learned something about myself from a Boy Scout ceremony. They had a candle that represented knowledge. The Scouts were admonished to not allow the breeze of laziness to blow it out.
I have long wondered what it was that makes me want to take short cuts and easy paths, so I now
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Independent/Bible
Contributed by Gregg Bitter on Nov 25, 2009
William Reid recognized how far our thankfulness falls short. He wrote, "Forgive us, Lord, for shallow thankfulness, For dull content with warmth and sheltered care, For songs of praise for worldly wealthiness, While of your richer gifts we’re unaware" (Christians Worship, 482:1, "Forgive
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Denomination:
Lutheran
Contributed by John Perry on Apr 18, 2010
COUNTING "THE LOST"
We have a national missing persons register in Australia. 35,000 people are reported missing each year in Australia - one person every 15 minutes! 95% of those are found w/i a short period of time. But there are still currently 1,600 long term
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Pentecostal
Contributed by Timothy Shumer on Aug 22, 2004
Should we strive to be like Jesus! Of course! But He was perfect, and for me, there’s always a little sense within that I know I am going to fall short of that perfection. I know I should keep it as a goal before me. Frankly, if I aim for that, I’ll get nearer than if I don’t, and if I am devoted
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Baptist
Contributed by Scott Bradford on Mar 18, 2008
Pastor Trevor Hudson, South African Missionary & Evangelist (spoke at South Texas Conference of the UMC’s "Soul Fiesta" in San Antonio) told a story about a man who had been at a party, and he had too much to drink. He decided to walk home from the party, and one his way home he decided to take a
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Denomination:
United Methodist
Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Jan 2, 2010
Satan says in effect to Jesus in Matthew 4 "JUST COMPROMISE AND YOU’LL GET WHAT YOU WANT", But the AUTHORITY OF RULE doesn’t come with a CROWN OF POWER from the enemy. It comes with a CROSS OF SUFFERING and humility.
Satan says "I’ll give you POWER WITHOUT THE PAIN, A CROWN WITHOUT THE
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Evangelical/Non-Denominational
Contributed by Greg Buchner on Mar 3, 2003
based on 64 ratings
| 3,785 views
Illus. - Bubba and the potato field
An old man lived alone in Idaho. He wanted to spade his potato garden, but it was backbreaking work, and his son, Bubba, who used to help him, was in prison.
The old man mentioned it in a letter he sent to his son by saying, “I’m not sure exactly what to do.
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Methodist
Contributed by Sam Wrisley on Oct 24, 2007
His name is Mark. He is a 50 year old man divorced and addicted to alcohol. I met him across some glass and was only able to talk to him through this heavy black phone. Mark was in Jail. With tears in his eyes he spoke of his fear. He has one chance to do right and doesn’t want to mess up. In
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Denomination:
Christian/Church Of Christ
HOW NOT TO ACHIEVE VIRTUE
How do we move from vice to virtue? Let me tell you first of all how not to... Even ancient pagans, those who never heard the Bible, recognized that living in vice was deadly and destructive. They were far ahead of our modern culture that is foolishly accepting vices
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Lutheran
Contributed by Tylor Cates on Jan 24, 2004
based on 169 ratings
| 6,601 views
DON'T LOOK BACK
And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God. - Luke 9:62
Text: Genesis 19:26; Luke 17:32,33
Summary: Once we start to follow Jesus we must never look back. We must give up our old way of life to find new life
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Baptist
Contributed by Guy Mcgraw on Feb 25, 2002
based on 14 ratings
| 2,584 views
Some years ago the MINNESOTA CRIME COMMISSION released a statement more in line with what the Bible teaches about man’s basic nature.
‘Every baby starts life as a little savage. He is completely selfish, and self-centered. He wants what he wants when he wants it – his bottle, his mother’s
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Contributed by Sermon Central on Nov 11, 2002
based on 5 ratings
| 1,575 views
There is an appropriate historical example of this folly of ruling out something ahead of time because it does not fit with one’s view of the world. When explorers first came to Australia, they encountered an animal the defied all known laws of taxonomy. They discovered a semiaquatic, egg-laying
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Contributed by Paul Wallace on Sep 22, 2004
On Monday, February 6, 1995, according to the Chicago Tribune, a Detroit bus driver finished his shift on the Route 21 bus and headed for the terminal. But somehow he took a wrong turn. He didn’t arrive at the terminal at the scheduled time of 7:19 p.m., and a short time later his supervisors
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Denomination:
Wesleyan
Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 6, 2006
based on 1 rating
| 1,606 views
John Williams of J.C. Williams Group, the 3rd largest consulting firm in the world, delivered some revealing and enlightening observations on the changing face of retail at a recent CBA gathering. These changes reach beyond retail to virtually every organization in America. They are:
· Time
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Contributed by Peter Loughman on Jul 28, 2007
The Carpet
True story, hard to believe, but true. We had friends at seminary who got a house sitting job back home in Ontario, Canada. It was a great gig, free housing for a whole summer. It was just like any other house sitting job except for one detail – the carpeting. They were instructed that,
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Denomination:
Evangelical/Non-Denominational
Contributed by Timothy Mills on Sep 26, 2002
based on 41 ratings
| 1,928 views
Is God’s will always done? No, because God does not will for us to sin. As a parent I want my children to be successful and to be a productive member of sciety. Doesn’t every parent want that? Then why are our prisons full to over flowing? Every coach wants every shot to go through the hoop,
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Contributed by Paul Fritz on Jun 26, 2003
based on 1 rating
| 2,634 views
Ingratitude denotes spiritual immaturity. Infants do not always appreciate what parents do for them. They have short memories. Their concern is not what you did for me yesterday, but what are you doing for me today. The past is meaningless and so is the future. They live for the present. Those who
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Denomination:
Evangelical/Non-Denominational
Recently, the media reported on a well known Christian pastor, Ted Haggard, who allegedy committed the sin of homosexuality. It was hurtful to read this. It was only a few short years before this that I read one of his books, How to keep your City from going to Hell. I was motivated by it, but
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Denomination:
Free Methodist
Contributed by Tim Spear on Sep 1, 2011
GIVEN, BUT NOT TAKEN
I like to use coupons to save money especially when eating out or for lodging. Businesses give coupons all the time, but not all are used. I found two such coupons in my wallet this week and started to throw them out, but then I thought they would be useful as an illustration.
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Denomination:
Baptist