COMMISSIONING OATH
When I hear the word "commission," the first thing that comes to my mind is the commission military officers receive when they enter into service. Commissioned officers derive their authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the
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Lutheran
THE CENTURY PLANT
Abraham has now reached the Century mark! He is 100 years old and Sarah is 90.
A common sight in America's Southwest desert is the century plant. It's unique. The century plant (Agave Americana) thrives in rocky, mountainous, desert sites. It has dramatic, splayed leaves that
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Baptist
Contributed by Garris Hudson on Mar 30, 2020
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In just a short time, just like He did with the plagues of ancient Egypt, God has taken away everything that we worship as an idol in place of Him. It is as if God were screaming for a world to hear,
You want to worship ATHLETES? I will shut down the stadiums.
You want to worship MUSICIANS?
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Evangelical/Non-Denominational
Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Sep 29, 2010
THE BRUISED REED
As I talked with Nancy that day she said,"I pray to God every night and ask Him why He has been so unfair to me. Why did He leave me alive?" She is an elderly woman suffering the results of a stroke. She said "My Mother died of a stroke. Why didn't He take me too, instead of
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Evangelical/Non-Denominational
Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Oct 16, 2025
[229]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - REDEDICATION BASED ON 1 CORINTHIANS 5:7
This poem is a penitent’s response to sin in his/her life. I think a lot of us would know David’s prayer and confession in Psalm 51.
Christians are not sinless people and the people who have a holiness teaching, and carry it
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Contributed by Garris Hudson on Jul 13, 2023
based on 1 rating
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Years ago Father John Powell told the sad story of a young woman named Norma Jean.
"Norma Jean Mortenson. Remember that name? Norma Jean's mother, Mrs. Gladys Baker, was periodically committed to a mental institution and Norma Jean spent much of her childhood in foster homes. In one of
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Evangelical/Non-Denominational
Contributed by Davon Huss on Aug 29, 2011
MEET ME AT THE MEN'S STORE
Paying my way through Ohio State University was demanding, but the benefit was worth the struggle. My father had died during my senior year in high school, and my mother had become blind. With her encouragement, however, I enrolled in the University on the eve of the
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Christian/Church Of Christ
Frederick Buechner, from Wishful Thinking
The Gospels depict Jesus as having spent a surprising amount of time healing people. Although, like the author of Job before him, he specifically rejected the theory that sickness was God's way of getting even with sinners (John 9:1-3), he nonetheless
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Contributed by A. Todd Coget on Nov 1, 2001
based on 13 ratings
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[Experiences of Mediocrity, Bob Russell, When God Builds a Church, Howard Publishing Co, 2000, pp 110-11]
The experience for a first-time visitor in many … churches goes something like this:
You drive into the parking lot of the church at 10:40 Sunday morning.
You assume you’re five minutes early
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Evangelical/Non-Denominational
Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Mar 14, 2025
[062B]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – DOES SUFFERING CANCEL OUT A GOD OF LOVE?
THE POEM AS IT IS WILL NOT FIT IN THE ILLUSTRATION SPACE AVAILABLE. I HAVE SPLIT IT INTO THREE PARTS. THIS IS THE SECOND PART
THE INTRODUCTION FOR THE POEM IS IN PART 1.
PART 2
SECTION B - PART 1 (THE CHRISTIAN
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Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Jan 7, 2026
[254]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – THE ASCENSION OF CHRIST
This poem ends with the ascension of Christ in this passage – {{Acts 1:9-11 After He had said these things, HE WAS LIFTED UP while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight, and as they were gazing intently into the
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A CURE FOR FEAR
The story starts with a boy of 12 whose name was Jim. Jim was a pleasant young lad, but one day his mother became very ill, the doctor came and saw her, and he explained to Jim and his father that in all probability Jim's mother will die. Sad right?
Well, the day came for Jim's
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Baptist