Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Sep 21, 2008
Church history is replete of individuals who saw the importance of fearing God and not other individuals. Following in the footsteps of Paul, John Chrysostom had a period of isolation in the mountains near Antioch in A.D. 373. Although his time of isolation was cut short by illness, he learned that
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Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Oct 14, 2008
6588 I Thank Thee
O Thou whose bounty fills my cup,
With every blessing meet!
I give Thee thanks for every drop—
The bitter and the sweet.
I praise Thee for the desert road,
And for the riverside;
For all Thy goodness hath bestowed,
And all Thy grace denied.
I thank Thee for both smile and
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Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Oct 14, 2008
Always Had an Uplifting Prayer
Scottish minister Alexander Whyte was known for his uplifting prayers in the pulpit. He always found something for which to be grateful. One Sunday morning the weather was so gloomy that one church member thought to himself, “Certainly the preacher won’t think of
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Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Oct 14, 2008
based on 2 ratings
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In the first half of the 17th century, Germany was in the midst of wars and famine and pestilence. In the city of Eilenburg lived a pastor by the name of Martin Rinkart.
During one especially oppressive period, Rinkart conducted up to 50 funerals a day as a plague swept through the town and as the
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Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Oct 19, 2008
Many people are physiologically sensitive to chocolate. Certain of the larger benzene compounds present in chocolate are resisted by their bodies through an allergic reaction. Depending on the individual, this reaction may range from very mild, producing a minor skin rash, to very severe, producing
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Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Oct 19, 2008
Identification with Christ
The story has been told of a girl who was the daughter of one of the royal families of Europe, but had a big nose that in her eyes destroyed her beauty and resulted in her seeing herself as an ugly person. Finally her family hired a famous plastic surgeon to change the
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Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Nov 3, 2008
Our Own Folly
The murder of millions by the hands of the Nazi's during WWII is seen as one of the most evil acts of history. Considering how this was allowed to occur, a group of ministers met to discuss why the church in Germany had failed to take a stand against the evils of the Third Reich.
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Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Nov 3, 2008
Not of Works
Grace, triumphant in the throne,
Scorns a rival, reigns alone;
Come and bow beneath her sway!
Cast your idol works away!
Works of man, when made his plea,
Never shall accepted be;
Fruits of pride (vain-glorious worm!)
Are the best he can perform.
Self, the god his soul
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Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Nov 16, 2008
based on 3 ratings
| 1,884 views
Often music illustrates a theological point. Remember the kids song "Father Abraham"
Father Abraham had many sons,
And many sons had Father Abraham;
And I am one of them, and so are you,
So let’s all praise the Lord!
If the Judaizers got there hands on this one, they might have twisted it like
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Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Nov 16, 2008
RIGHTEOUSNESS CREDIT
The meltdown in world wide economic markets is seen by many economists over the issue of the sub-prime mortgage failure in the United States. Basically, it revolves around giving credit to those who did not deserve it.
You may have received in the mail those tantalizing
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Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Nov 16, 2008
A ship that is moored to a dock by a chain is only as secure as the weakest link in that chain. If a severe storm comes and causes even one link to break, the entire ship breaks away. So it is for those who try to
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Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Nov 23, 2008
How Many Promises in the Bible?
Dr. Everek R. Storms of Ontario spent a vast amount of time studying the promises of Scripture. Writing in Contact Magazine, he said:
“The Holy Scriptures contain a grand total of 8,810 promises. How do I know? I counted them. Dr. Storms goes on to classify the
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Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Nov 23, 2008
On God’s promises, C.H. Spurgeon said;
“God never gives his children a promise which he does not intend them to use. There are some promises in the Bible which I have never yet used, but I am well assured that there will come times of trial and trouble when I shall find that that poor despised
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Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Nov 23, 2008
based on 1 rating
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CONTRACT VS. COVENANT
In describing the nature of a Christ-Centered covenant, Bruce Shelley in Christian Theology in Plain Language, writes:
In modern times we define a host of relations by contracts. These are usually for goods or services and for hard cash. The contract, formal or informal,
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Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Dec 2, 2008
Kite
Once on a time a paper kite
Was mounted to a wondrous height,
Where, giddy with its elevation,
It thus express’d self-admiration:
“See how yon crowds of gazing people
Admire my flight above the steeple;
How would they wonder if they knew
All that a kite like me can do!
Were I but free, I’d
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Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Dec 2, 2008
The aspect of perfect obedience has perplexed and troubled many. Why is it that the one who sins greatly is condemned like the one who is much less sinful? Take a situation of three workmen on a building. One workman got so engrossed in his work that he wasn’t paying attention, stepped back and
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Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Dec 2, 2008
John Stott said: “No man has ever appreciated the gospel until the law has first revealed him to himself. It is only against the inky blackness of the night sky that the stars begin to appear, and it is only against the dark background of sin and judgment that the gospel shines forth”
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Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Dec 8, 2008
Letting Children Free to Develop?
I’ve used this illustration before, but I think it speaks so well as to the nature of guidance and children:
A Gentleman was once talking with a man who told him that he did not believe in giving little children any moral instruction whatsoever. His theory was
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Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Dec 8, 2008
“Gracious Father, I humbly beseech thee for thy Holy Catholic Church; fill it with all truth, in all truth with all peace. Where it is corrupt, purge it; where it is in error, direct it; where it is superstitious, rectify it; where anything is amiss, reform it; where it is right, strengthen and
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Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Dec 8, 2008
Being one with other Christians is much like a biological body. In any flesh-and-bones body, there are a variety of cells. There are nerve cells, blood cells, muscle cells, and many others, each having a distinct function. The body operates smoothly, not because the cells get together and vote on
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