Contributed by Mark Eberly on Oct 23, 2008
Be more active in knowing what you are buying and who you are buying it from. For example, fair trade is a designation used for coffee and tea to not only make sure that justice is done by paying farmers fair wages but they also make sure that these farmers farm responsibly: they take care of the
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Contributed by Mark Eberly on Oct 23, 2008
Yet, excuses still abound. “It’s too hard. It’s too messy. It’s too inconvenient. It’s takes too much time.” I just have one thing to say—“Wah!”
“It doesn’t really matter. What difference can I make?” Actually each one of us makes a huge difference. Do you believe that every single person matters
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Contributed by Mark Eberly on Oct 27, 2008
POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS & WRONG JUDGMENT
Relationally, I think of assumptions as unproven conclusions. We draw conclusions based on our experiences, our perceptions, and limited information.
Sometimes misinformation. In my opinion, much of this year’s political campaigning has been about
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Contributed by Mark Eberly on Oct 27, 2008
SPELLING A WORD
A woman died and went to heaven but when she arrived at the "Pearly Gates," she found Peter. "Before you can come in, you have to spell a word," he said.
"What word?" she asked.
"Any word?"
"L-O-V-E. Love," she said.
"Come on in. But I was wondering if you'd do me a quick
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Contributed by Mark Eberly on Nov 11, 2008
He prefers that we do NOT go into debt. Think about it… Most of us right now have firsthand experience that when financial woes hit us, every other area of our lives (those other six areas that we’ve talked about) are effected. Verse 6 actually said something that I felt was very convicting and
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Contributed by Mark Eberly on Nov 11, 2008
In our group we discussed some of the intricacies here. Studies have shown that people on the average spend 30% more if using a credit or even a debit card when making their normal purchases. For many people, dolling out cash helps us spend less. However, some in the group pointed out that the
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Contributed by Mark Eberly on Nov 11, 2008
The penny is an interesting piece of metal. The price of the metal within the penny actually is worth more than its assigned value. And to top it off, the penny is almost worthless at least in terms economic buying power. You can’t get anything for penny nowadays. I can’t think of anything.
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Contributed by Mark Eberly on Nov 11, 2008
SUPPORT YOUR LEADERSHIP
Doing what is right means that we give our leaders support. This does not mean we have to agree with them all the time. In our governmental structure, it also does not mean that we should not criticize their decisions if they are bad ones. We are allowed that freedom.
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Contributed by Mark Eberly on Nov 11, 2008
Get involved and be willing to learn. I think sometimes the greatest damage the Christians do to our collective witness is being unwilling to learn and listen to the perspectives of others. They think that they are to get involved but that ends up meaning that they are there not to help but make
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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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Contributed by Mark Eberly on Nov 18, 2008
In fact, pagan rituals often drank the blood of animals that were sacrificed because they superstitiously believed that the life force became a part of them. It could extend their own life. Conquering leaders sometimes drank the blood of the defeated kings because they believed that their power and
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Contributed by Mark Eberly on Nov 18, 2008
Several years ago I worked during the summer as a chaplain in a large hospital in Dayton. Part of my responsibilities was to be “on call” every other weekend for a 24 hour period. We had to remain at the hospital but be available if and when a need arose for a chaplain. Many times the need was
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Contributed by Mark Eberly on Nov 26, 2008
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Attitude of Gratitude
God loves a cheerful giver. God will make you rich if you are generous in every occasion. Somehow I think that God sees this richness in more than just money and material possessions. Don't you? And generosity results in a thankful attitude and even a cheerful attitude.
You've
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Contributed by Mark Eberly on Nov 26, 2008
If we are truly full of thanks for what God has done for us and we are truly grateful for the things that God has done which we could not have done for ourselves, then the result is a love for others and a desire to serve others. If our attitude is truly changed, then giving to others and meeting
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Contributed by Mark Eberly on Nov 26, 2008
THANKSLIVING
Last week I shared with you a story about a young man with bipolar disorder that died while I was a chaplain. For those of you who were with us, do you remember that? How the parents stayed with him and were there for him even though he put them through so much hell. They were there
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Contributed by Mark Eberly on Dec 3, 2008
But in God's scheme of things, a person's a person no matter how small. In fact in God's scheme, the least are the most important. The poor and marginalized and abuse and downtrodden are given God's favor over the important, or wealthy, or famous.
Chris Tomlin wrote a worship song that I love
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Contributed by Mark Eberly on Dec 15, 2008
"SEEKER"
In recent years, there has been a movement of calling people who are not Christians "seekers." It was a way to classify people who come into the church looking for God without labeling them offensively as "sinners." It was a way to try to keep church accessible to anyone and everyone. Has
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Contributed by Mark Eberly on Dec 15, 2008
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Many don’t want to serve except to serve themselves. But we all serve something. Some serve the idols of money and materialism. Some serve the idols of addictions. Some serve the idols of entertainment. Some serve gods made in their own image. We are called to remind people that God has created
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