Contributed by Tim Hinrichs on Mar 29, 2012
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TRAVELERS VS. TOURISTS
Canadian Pastor Mark Buchanan in his book "Your Church is Too Safe" points out the radical difference between a traveler and a tourist. "A traveler literally means 'one who travails.' He labors, he suffers, endures. A traveler -- travailer - ...immerses himself in a culture,
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Lutheran
Contributed by Tim Hinrichs on Mar 29, 2012
THE SALVATION OF KARLA FAYE TUCKER
Many of you probably remember Karla Faye Tucker. She was the first woman to be executed in the US since 1984. She was an accomplice to a brutal ax murder of two people in the early eighties.
Soon after being imprisoned, Tucker took a Bible from the prison
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Lutheran
Contributed by Tim White on Apr 2, 2012
LOST IN THE NOISE
A youth pastor wanted to illustrate something to his students. He placed some valuable objects on small tables around the room. On one of the tables was a Bible. There was a $5 bill on another table. There was a kids' meal from a fast-food restaurant on one table. Other tables
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Baptist
Contributed by Tim White on Apr 2, 2012
SALVATION: THE THREE ENVELOPES
When a pastor was trying at assure a teen of her salvation during times she didn't feel it, the pastor asked her if she had ever trusted and called upon Jesus.
She said, "Yes, I did that."
The pastor asked, "Did God do His part and save you?"
She said, "Oh yes,
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Baptist
Contributed by Tim White on Apr 2, 2012
HE KNOWS ABOUT ME
When I was talking with another counselor once, he asked if he could take me through an exercise that he uses to help people struggling with assurance or attaining victory, and/or were stalled in Christian growth.
He had me close my eyes and imagine that Jesus Christ walks into
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Baptist
Contributed by Tim White on Apr 16, 2012
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THE CUP ON ITS SIDE
A teacher set a cup on the table in front of his two disciples. He took a flask that had a little water in it and poured the water into the cups, evenly dividing all that was left. Trying to teach the students to be hungry for more knowledge, he said, "Your cup has water, but
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Baptist
Contributed by Tim White on Apr 16, 2012
There is a commercial for a television service provider that states, if you don’t get good programs, you feel bad about yourself. When you feel bad about yourself you go to self-improvement seminars. When you go to self-improvement seminars, you feel like a winner. When you feel like a winner, you
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Baptist
Contributed by Tim Smith on Jul 1, 2012
COULD IT HAPPEN EVERY DAY?
Jeff Ingle tells the story of spending four days with 75 other pastors in a Pastor's Prayer Summit in Wisconsin.
He writes, "In my time I've been to many camps, conferences and retreats but never have I been to anything like this. For four days, we met together with no
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Methodist
Contributed by Tim Smith on Jul 1, 2012
WHAT COMMITMENT?
When I was in my first year of ministry, I walked into our District preachers meeting at the same time as Bobbie Potter, who was pastor of Munholland UMC in Old Metairie. He asked if I preach last Sunday which I did. Then he asked, "What did you ask them to commit to?" I said I
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Methodist
Contributed by Tim Hinrichs on Jul 25, 2012
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ERASED
When we lived in Poland, I walked through one of the cemeteries in one of the cities. And as I was looking at the stones I was surprised to see many of the smooth stones scarred with a roughness right in the middle. Later I found out that the names had been gouged out because they were
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Lutheran
Contributed by Tim Smith on Jul 30, 2012
Jim Buskirk was pastor of Tulsa First UMC for many years. He’s been a mentor in my ministry. I listened to his sermon tapes for years. He once told this story.
A man named Henry got off the bus near his church. As he walked up the street, he noticed a young boy sitting by a flower bed near a
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Methodist
Contributed by Tim Hinrichs on Aug 3, 2012
My son Peter was born in Poland and has a Polish passport and yet since he’s my son, he also has an American passport. Depending on the situation, he can use whichever passport he wants and claims he is a citizen of both countries.
Some people think that they can do the same with their life here
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Lutheran
Contributed by Tim Hinrichs on Sep 13, 2012
THE BLUE AND RED SPIGOTS
John Michael Cussick (Surfing for God, 104) took out two brass spigots. One has a red knob and the other has a blue knob. The red knob represents how we often look at the Christian life. The assumption is that the source from which the water flows is a cesspool and so we
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Lutheran
Contributed by Tim Smith on Oct 21, 2012
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J Vernon McGee told the story of the days before the Civil War in a city in the south. At the center of town, there is a commotion as a crowd gathers for a public auction to watch the proceedings. In the crowd is an uncouth, foulmouthed, loud, boisterous man who is the meanest, cruelest, most
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Methodist
Contributed by Tim Smith on Oct 21, 2012
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WORKING HARD TO EARN SALVATION
United Methodist Bishop Reuben Job writes,
"If we are just good enough, do enough, deny ourselves enough, we will be forgiven, redeemed, and reconciled to God. Following this path brings no peace, assurance, or sense of companionship with God. Rather than asking
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Methodist
Contributed by Tim Smith on Oct 21, 2012
Jaymalis Davis was highlighted in the Times-Picayne series entitled, “Louisiana Incarcerated.” He lives in central city surround by drugs, crime and unemployment. His mother is crack addicted and largely absent from his home and his father, who was in and out of jail for drugs and car theft and
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Methodist
Contributed by Tim Smith on Oct 21, 2012
During his first year of seminary, Alan Hirsch led a small group of newly converted Christians that included “gays, lesbians, Goths, drug addicts, prostitutes, and some relatively ordinary people.” After graduating, he and his wife were called to go to South Melbourne Church of Christ in 1989 where
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Methodist
Contributed by Tim Smith on Oct 21, 2012
With his life in disarray, Steven Lavaggi sat on his bedroom’s wooden floor, and began searching his Bible for answers. His wife had just left him to marry a writer for The Rolling Stone Magazine. Ten days later, Steven discovered his son was stricken with Juvenile Diabetes. Then he lost his
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Denomination:
Methodist