Contributed by Tim Smith on Feb 19, 2012
based on 1 rating
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THE UNEXPECTED CHRISTMAS
When I was in seventh grade, like so many youth at that age, music became a huge part of my life. I was awakened to the sounds of music of Elton John’s Greatest Hits, SuperTramp's Breakfast in America and Led Zeppelin 2. So my hope and dream was to build a stereo system
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Methodist
Contributed by Tim Smith on Feb 19, 2012
based on 7 ratings
| 2,885 views
THE TABLECLOTH
The brand new pastor and his wife were assigned to their first church in Brooklyn and were to reopen it. They arrived in early October excited about their opportunities. When they saw the church, it was run down and needed a lot of work. They set a goal to have everything done in
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Methodist
Contributed by Tim Hinrichs on Feb 23, 2012
based on 2 ratings
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ENCOURAGING BABIES
In 1995 twin girls Kyrie and Brielle were born prematurely. Weighing only 2 pounds each, they were watched over very carefully each in their respective incubators. Kyrie began putting on weight immediately, but Brielle struggled--she cried and cried, leaving her gasping and blue
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Lutheran
Contributed by Tim Hinrichs on Feb 23, 2012
A TIMELY TESTIMONY
Jim Cymbala tells an amazing story of one Sunday in his church: (Fresh Faith pp. 78-82)
During the choir anthem, Pastor Jim was touched by the words of one of the young men who was featured as a soloist during the song. As the song concluded, Pastor Jim was strongly prompted
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Lutheran
Contributed by Tim Smith on Feb 26, 2012
THE PLACE OF ABUNDANT ADVENTURE
Mike Slaughter tells the story of going to Darfur, Africa to minister to the refugees. "It was the first time in my life I knew I was going into a situation with a probability I could die; a situation that was utterly dangerous. There were people with guns. We would
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Methodist
Contributed by Tim Smith on Feb 26, 2012
IT ALL GOES BACK TO THE HEAD
Mike Slaughter tells the story of his dog Luka, a giant schnauzer. Luka had an infected toe for several months on his back leg and one of the things that he noticed is that Luka will tend to drag that back foot causing him to scrape his toe. Their vet couldn't figure
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Methodist
Contributed by Tim Smith on Feb 26, 2012
DREAM CENTER
At age 16, Matthew Barnett dreamed of a church that would be open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year serving the inner-city’s physical and spiritual needs and bringing a message of hope to the hopeless. In 1994 at the age of 20, he moved from Phoenix to Los Angeles to pastor a small
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Methodist
Contributed by Tim Smith on Feb 26, 2012
OBJECT LESSON: LEGO BRICKS
When you came in you received Lego building blocks of differing sizes and shapes. I’ve got a challenge for you; I want you to build something with your Lego blocks but there is one condition, you cannot use anybody else’s Lego block. Now what can you build with one Lego
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Denomination:
Methodist
Contributed by Tim Smith on Feb 26, 2012
WHERE ARE YOU?
But to be able to get where you’re going, you first have to know where you are. I learned this over Thanksgiving when I was in Atlanta. We used our Garman to get around as we were unfamiliar with the area. Garmans are great because all you do is enter the address of where you want
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Methodist
Contributed by Tim Smith on Feb 26, 2012
OPEN TABLE MINISTRY
Open Table started with a chance encounter with a homeless man named Ernie who simply asked a youth group serving him a meal if he could come worship at their church. The adult youth workers were moved to agree to come the very next day to bring Ernie to their church service.
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Methodist
Contributed by Tim Hinrichs on Feb 28, 2012
VETO POWER
Before democracy arrived in Poland, the country was run by Lords and rich landowners – the nobility from all over the country. The senate filled with these noblemen would make decisions for the country but they always had a hard time getting much done – why? Because every member of the
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Lutheran
Contributed by Tim White on Mar 5, 2012
THE UNENDING WISH
When I was a boy, my dad asked me if I could have one wish be granted, what would it be? We played that game as a family, and every time my brother or one of my sisters thought of a better wish than I thought about, I would change my wish. Then my dad unplugged all the fun by
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Baptist
Contributed by Tim Hinrichs on Mar 22, 2012
based on 1 rating
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MARY'S CHOICE
Mary Khoury, 17 from Damour, Lebanon and her family were forced to their knees before their home. The leader of the Muslim fanatics who had raided their village waved his pistol carelessly before their faces. His hatred for Christians burned in his eyes. "If you do not become a
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Lutheran
Contributed by Tim Hinrichs on Mar 29, 2012
based on 1 rating
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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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Denomination:
Baptist