October 2008

John 12:23-27 (25) David Augsburger writes in Sticking My Neck Out that when James Calvert went out as a missionary to the cannibals of the Fiji Islands, the captain of the ship sought to turn him back. \”You will lose your life and the lives of those with you if you go among such savages,\” […]

Mark 4:10-13 (11) A man born in the city decided to move to the country and start a chicken farm. He bought 200 baby chicks and a farmhouse with some land around it. The chickens all quickly died. He bought 200 more baby chicks. Again, they all died. Puzzled and distressed, the man wrote to

Matt 13:18-23 (18) The underlying truth is that even though we are faithful to present the gospel to the world all people will not be ready to receive it at the same time. In addition to our varying receptivity to the Word, however, is the fact that various things militate against our reception. In the

Acts 2:41-47 \”Now and Long Ago\” by Glen Lough, recounts the history of Marion County, West Virginia. In that account the reader is told of Frederick Ice who was an early settler on the South Branch of the Potomac River in Frederick County, Virginia. In 1752 Indians raided his cabin. They killed Frederick\’s wife Mary

Psa 14:1; 53:1 April Fool \’s day has been an excuse for people around the globe to try to trick their friends with practical jokes. One of the most successful attempts occurred in 1957 when the BBC news show \”Panorama \” told their audience that due to a very mild winter the spaghetti weevil had

Eccl. 1:1-11; Matt. 28:18-20 Maintenance and mission are both necessary in order to minister effectively. When maintenance is emphasized while neglecting mission, it loses its purpose and becomes little more than a bore and a chore. When mission is emphasized at the expense of maintenance, its accomplishment is neutralized. Maintenance and mission are both necessary

Romans 1:21 We\’re not very good at saying \”Thank You,\” are we? We\’re like the little boy….. On his return from a birthday party his mother queried, \”Bobby, did you thank the lady for the party?\” \”Well, I was going to,\” he answered, \”But a girl ahead of me said, \’Thank You,\’ and the lady

Ephesians 4:11-13(13) Conflict is sure to surface when ball hog is teamed with a better ball hog. This seems to have happened in the NBA. Chris Webber, former Sacramento Kings ball hog now plays for the Philadelphia 76ers. He has discovered that Allen Iverson is more efficient at playing the game virtually by himself. The

Luke 2:8-20 Edershiem and Barclay both espouse the theory that the shepherds which visited at Jesus\’ birth watched over the sacrificial sheep destined for the Temple and that these were special herders. An unblemished lamb was offered as a sacrifice to God morning and evening in the Temple. To see that the supply of perfect

Matthew 9:16-17 Resolutions? Change? What is there about a new year that makes us think that something is changing? What makes us think that we will change? We make promises to ourselves that we are going to alter our behavior believing that something magically is different this time. We long for change of significance. Will