Fri, Feb 28th - 3:02PM
SUPPORT RELIGIOUS LIBERTY FOR EVERYONE
“Pope Francis has asked the world to speak out against the persecution of Christians. His request came a day after three Christmas Day bombings targeting Christians in Iraq killed at least 37 and wounded others. According to the pope, more Christians are suffering from discrimination and violence today than in the early centuries of Christian history.” quote from Jim Denison's Forum 2.6.14. It is very commendable that Pope Francis has spoken so clearly against persecution of Christians. Baptists over the centuries have stood for religious freedom.
John Smyth said, “That the magistrate is not by virtue of his office to meddle with religion, or matters of conscience, to force or compel men to this or that form or religion, or doctrine: but to leave Christian religion free, to every man’s conscience, and to handle only civil transgressions.” (The Baptist Heritage, Leon McBeth, Broadman Press, 1987; p. 85.) In modern English: That the government is not by virtue of being the government to interfere with religion, or matters of conscience, to force or compel men to this or that form of religion, or doctrine: but to leave all religion free, to every man’s conscience, and to govern only in civil transgressions. Likewise, Thomas Helwys said, "Let them be heretickes, Turcks, Jewes, or whatsoever it apperteynes not the earthly power to punish them in the least measures in spiritual matters.” (The Baptist Heritage, Leon McBeth, Broadman Press,
1987; p. 86.) In modern English: Even if they are heretics, Turks, Jews, or whatsoever it is not the business of any earthly power to punish them in the least measures in spiritual matter. This absolute freedom of religion and separation of church and State that Smyth and Helwys, the founders of Baptists as we know them, defended and died for, is what Baptists have defended until lately. But because the definition of religious freedom is being blurred because so many Christians are responding in kind to those who persecute them. So many Christians demand religious freedom for themselves but hinder others having religious freedom.
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Fri, Feb 28th - 7:57AM
THE OLD LIFE AND THE NEW
I find it helpful to think in these terms. Our biography is written in two volumes. Volume one is the story of the old man, the old self, of me before my conversion. Volume two is the story of the new man, the new self, of me after I was made a new creation in Christ. Volume one of my biography ended with the judicial death of the old self. I was a sinner. I deserved to die. I did die. I received my deserts in my Substitute with whom I have become one. Volume two of my biography opened with my resurrection. My old life having finished, a new life to God has begun. JOHN STOTT
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Fri, Feb 28th - 7:49AM
THOUGHT FOR TODAY!
The life I now live in the flesh is Christ [(Gal 2:20)], Who is my life [Col 3:4] hidden in Him [Col 3:3] seated with Him in the heavenly places {Eph 2:6] far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come, [Eph 1:21], blessed with every spiritual blessing.[Eph 1:3]* *Galatians 2:20 (NRSV) 20 and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Ephesians 2:6 (NRSV) 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, Ephesians 1:21 (NRSV) 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come. Colossians 3:3-4 (NRSV) 3 for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory. Ephesians 1:3 (NRSV)Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,.
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Fri, Feb 28th - 7:27AM
LAUGHTER DOES GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE!
Several women, each trying to one-up the other, appeared in court, each accusing the others of causing the trouble they were having in the apartment building where they lived. The judge, with Solomon-like wisdom decreed, "Okay, I'm ready to hear the evidence...I'll hear the oldest first." The case was dismissed for lack of testimony.
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Thu, Feb 27th - 8:35AM
THE BONDAGE OF THE OLD LIFE
Our former life was one of bondage to sin, self, fear and guilt, and to the unseen powers of evil which, because of our estrangement from God, had enslaved us. Did we not sometimes sigh in those days: 'if only I could be liberated from my guilt, from the judgment of God upon my sins, and from the powers of evil which have control over me?' I did. Then I learned that the only way to be set free from sin was for its just penalty to be borne, and that God had done this himself in and through Jesus Christ who died for our sins on the cross. Next I learned that if we become personally united to Jesus Christ by faith, we die with him, his death becomes our death, so that the penalty is paid, the debt is settled, and we are set free from the bondage of the old life. JOHN STOTT
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Thu, Feb 27th - 8:26AM
THOUGHT FOR TODAY!
THOUGHT FOR TODAY: To understand the heart and mind of a person, look not at what he has already achieved, but at what he aspires to.* -Kahlil Gibran, mystic, poet, and artist (1883-1931) *"Anyone who resolves to do the will of God will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own." John 7:17 (NRSV)
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Thu, Feb 27th - 8:18AM
LAUGHTER DOES GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE!
Jake had proposed to young Gina and was being interviewed by his prospective father-in-law. "Do you think you are earning enough to support a family?" the older man asked the suitor. "Yes, sir," replied Jake, "I'm sure I am." "Think carefully now," said Gina's father. "There are twelve of us..."
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Wed, Feb 26th - 7:14AM
Nature Fulfilled
Conversion, although supernatural in origin, is natural in its effects. It does not distrust nature, but fulfils it, for it puts me where I belong. It relates me to God, to man and to history. It enables me to answer the most basic of all human questions, 'Who am I?' and to say, 'In Christ I am a son of God. In Christ I am united to all the redeemed people of God, past, present and future. In Christ I discover my identity. In Christ I find my feet. In Christ I come home.' JOHN STOTT
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Wed, Feb 26th - 6:44AM
THOUGHT FOR TODAY!
"The fear is worse than the pain."* -- Shannon Bahr
*"for God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline." 2 Timothy 1:7 (NRSV)
"do not fear, for I am with you, do not be afraid, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand." Isaiah 41:10 (NRSV)
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Wed, Feb 26th - 6:36AM
LAUGHTER DOES GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE!
A Cajun named, Jean Paul, moved to Texas and bought a donkey from an old farmer named Ben for $100. The farmer agreed to deliver the donkey the next day. The next day, Ben drove up and said, "Sorry, but I have some bad news. The donkey died." "Well, then, just give me the money back," said Jean Paul "Can't do that. I went and spent it already." Replied Ben "OK, then. Just unload the donkey," said Jean Paul. "What ya going to do with him?" asked Ben. "I'm going to raffle him off," said Jean Paul. "You can't raffle off a dead donkey!" uttered Ben. "Sure can. Watch me. I just won't tell that he's dead," said Jean Paul. A month later Ben met up with the Cajun and asked, "What happened with that dead donkey?" "I raffled him off, I did. I sold 500-hunderd tickets at two dollars apiece and made a profit of $898," said Jean Paul. "Didn't anyone complain?" inquired Ben "Just the guy who won. So I gave him his two dollars back,” said Jean Paul.
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Tue, Feb 25th - 8:27AM
THOUGHT FOR TODAY!
Enough is enough!*
*Philippians 4:11 (KJV) Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
Hebrews 13:5 (KJV) Let your conversation be without coveteousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
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Tue, Feb 25th - 8:26AM
THOUGHT FOR TODAY!
Enough is enough!* *Philippians 4:11 (KJV) Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. Hebrews 13:5 (KJV) Let your conversation be without coveteousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
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Tue, Feb 25th - 8:17AM
LAUGHTER DOES GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE!
How can this be? Scientists say the world began with a Big Bang 13 billion years ago. All mankind got hit on the back of the head, and now astronomers see stars Millions of Light years away.
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Mon, Feb 24th - 8:40AM
A TWOFOLD TURN
Repentance and faith are in fact the constituent elements of conversion, when viewed from the standpoint of man's experience. For what is conversion but 'turning', and what is 'to be converted' but 'to turn'? The Greek verb is often used in the New Testament in secular, non-theological contexts to describe someone's action in turning round from one direction to another or turning from one place to another. When used in more technical, theological passages the verb has the same meaning. 'You turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God'. 'You were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls' (1 Thes. 1:9; 1 Pet. 2:25). Conversion therefore involves a twofold turn, a turn from idols and from sin on the one hand, and a turn to the living God and to the Saviour or Shepherd of souls on the other. The 'turn away' the New Testament calls repentance; the 'turn toward' the New Testament calls faith. So repentance plus faith equals conversion, and no man dare say he is converted who had not repented as well as believed. JOHN STOTT
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Mon, Feb 24th - 8:30AM
THOUGHT FOR TODAY!
“....all who believe in Christ are beyond the reach of danger.”* R. W. Dale *40I will make an everlasting covenant with them, never to draw back from doing good to them; and I will put the fear of me in their hearts, so that they may not turn from me. Jeremiah 32:40 (NRSV)
28I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. 29What my Father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father’s hand. John 10:28 - 29 (NRSV)
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Mon, Feb 24th - 8:19AM
LAUGHTER DOES GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE!
A man takes his dog to the vet. “My dog is crossed eyed, is there anything you can do for him? “Well,” says the vet, “let’s take a look at him.” So he picks the dog up and examines his eyes, then checks his teeth. Finally, he says, “I’m going to have to put him down.”
“What? Because he is cross-eyed?”
“No, because he’s really heavy.”
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Sun, Feb 23rd - 7:52AM
AN IRRESISTIBLE OFFER!
'Irresistible' is the word an Iranian student used when telling me of his conversion to Christ. Brought up to read the Qur'an, say his prayers and lead a good life, he nevertheless knew that he was separated from God by his sins. When Christian friends brought him to church and encouraged him to read the Bible, he learnt that Jesus Christ had died for his forgiveness. 'For me the offer was irresistible and heaven-sent,' he said, and he cried to God to have mercy on him through Christ. Almost immediately 'the burden of my past life was lifted. I felt as if a huge weight ... had gone. With the relief and sense of lightness came incredible joy. At last it had happened. I was free of my past. I *knew* that God had forgiven me, and I felt clean. I wanted to shout, and tell everybody.' It was through the cross that the character of God came clearly into focus for him, and that he found Islam's missing dimension, 'the intimate fatherhood of God and the deep assurance of sins forgiven'. JOHN STOTT
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Sun, Feb 23rd - 7:41AM
THOUGHT FOR TODAY!
THOUGHT FOR TODAY: God was in Christ(1), Who is in you(2), Who is in Christ(3), Who is in God!(4) (1)"To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation." 2 Corinthians 5:19 (KJV) (2)"To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:" Colossians 1:27 (KJV) (3)"But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:" 1 Corinthians 1:30 (KJV) (4)"Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake." John 14:11 (KJV)
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Sun, Feb 23rd - 7:32AM
LAUGHTER DOES GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE!
A man and his wife are sitting at the kitchen table, which is next to the window. The man's name is Rudolph, and since he is Russian, people call him "Rudolph the Red." Rudolph looked out the window and said to his wife, "Oh look honey, it's raining outside." She looks out as well and says, "No, I think that is snow." He looks at her and says, "Rudolph the red knows rain dear."
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Sat, Feb 22nd - 8:35AM
THOUGHT FOR TODAY!
Put Women In Their Place--Beside Men!* Audra and Joe Trull *"There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus." Galatians 3:28 (NRSV)
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Sat, Feb 22nd - 8:26AM
LAUGHTER DOES GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE!
At school one morning the teacher asked little Johnny what he had for breakfast.
Little Johnny said, "Well, on my way to school I come cross this Apple tree, so I climbed up there and started eating apples. I guess I 'et' about six, said little Johnny.
"No", said the teacher," it’s 'ate'! It's 'ate'!"
Little Johnny said, well maybe it was eight I 'et'! I don't remember.
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Fri, Feb 21st - 7:48AM
LAUGHTER DOES GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE!
A lady who was speeding had an officer pulled her to the side of the road.
She didn't have her seat belt on so as soon as she stopped, she quickly slipped it on before the officer got to her window.
After talking to her about speeding, the officer said, "I see you are wearing your seat belt. Do you believe in wearing it at all times?"
"Yes, I do, officer," she replied.
"Well," asked the officer, "do you always do it up with it looped through your steering wheel?"
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Fri, Feb 21st - 7:45AM
THOUGHT FOR TODAY!
A higher state of mind and spiritual vision can only be achieved through the higher practice of personal character. If you live up to the highest and best that you know in the outer level of your life, God will continually say to you, Friend, come up even higher. (Oswald Chambers My Utmost For His Highest March 27.*
*48Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matthew 5:48
12All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted. Matthew 23:12 (NRSV)
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Thu, Feb 20th - 8:11AM
THOUGHT FOR TODAY!
If you want to be like Jesus, do what Jesus does.* Rick Warren *12Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. John 14:12 (NRSV)
6whoever says, “I abide in him,” ought to walk just as he walked. 1 John 2:6 (NRSV)
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Thu, Feb 20th - 8:05AM
LAUGHTER DOES GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE!
Benny wanted a job as a signalman on the railways. At his interview, the inspector asked him this question: "What would you do if you saw 2 trains heading for each other on the SAME track? Benny replied," I would switch the points for one of the trains." "Good. But what if the lever broke?", asked the inspector. "Then I'd run down to the signal box", said Benny, "and use the manual lever there." "What if lightning struck it?' asked the inspector. "Then..." Benny continued, "I'd run back into signal box & phone the next signal box." "What if the phone was engaged?" "Well.....in that case," persevered Benny, " I'd rush down out of the box & use the public emergency phone at the level of the crossing up there..." "What would you do if THAT was vandalized?" "Oh, well then I'd run into the village & get my Uncle Toby." This bizarre response puzzled the Inspector, so he asked, "And just why would you do that??" "Because Uncle Toby... He's never seen a train wreck!!"
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Wed, Feb 19th - 6:45AM
THOUGHT FOR TODAY!
The heart which feels gratitude is beyond the need of being schooled and compelled to do justly.* The Expositor’s Bible: Genesis p. 32 *8Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery; You shall not murder; You shall not steal; You shall not covet”; and any other commandment, are summed up in this word, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 10Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law. Romans 13:8-10 (NRSV)
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Wed, Feb 19th - 6:36AM
LAUGHTER DOES GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE!
Three preachers sat discussing the best positions for prayer, while a telephone repairman worked nearby. "Kneeling is definitely best," claimed one. "No," another contended. "I get the best results standing with my hands outstretched to Heaven." "You're both wrong," the third insisted. "The most effective prayer position is lying prostrate, face down on the floor." The repairman could contain himself no longer. "Hey, fellas," he interrupted, "the best prayin' I ever did was hangin' upside down from a telephone pole."
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Tue, Feb 18th - 8:11AM
NOMINAL CHRISTIANITY
The Christian landscape is strewn with the wreckage of
derelict, half-built towers -- the ruins of those who began
to build and were unable to finish. For thousands of
people still ignore Christ's warning and undertake to
follow him without first pausing to reflect on the cost of
doing so. The result is the great scandal of Christendom
today, so-called 'nominal Christianity'. JOHN STOTT
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Tue, Feb 18th - 8:05AM
THOUGHT FOR TODAY!
THOUGHT FOR TODAY: Why not go out on a limb? Isn't that where the fruit is?* -Frank Scully Arranged by Michelle Purifoy *'"Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, on account of Me. Rejoice, and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great, for so the persecuted the prophets who were before you.'" Mathew 5:11-12 '"Then the King will say to those on His right, "Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me." ... 'Then He will answer them, saying, "Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.'" Mathew 25:34-36,40
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Tue, Feb 18th - 7:56AM
LAUGHTER DOES GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE!
The manager of a large office asked a new employee to come into his office. "What is your name?," was the first thing the manager asked. "John," the new guy replied. The manager scowled. "Look, I don't know what kind of a namby-pamby place you worked at before, but I don't call anyone by their first name! It breeds familiarity and that leads to a breakdown in authority," he said. "I refer to my employees by their last name only - Smith, Jones, Baker - that's all. Now that we got that straight, what is your last name?" The new guy sighed and said, "Darling. My name is John Darling." The manager said, "Okay, John, the next thing I want to tell you..."
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Mon, Feb 17th - 8:11AM
THOUGHT FOR TODAY!
"There is always enough time for the things that really matter to us."* Jim Pleitz *"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:21 (NRSV)
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Mon, Feb 17th - 8:05AM
LAUGTER DOES GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE!
* When computing, whatever happens, behave as though you meant it to happen. * When you get to the point where you really understand your computer, it's probably obsolete. * The first place to look for information is in the section of the manual where you least expect to find it. * When the going gets tough, upgrade. * For every action, there is an equal and opposite malfunction. * To err is human . . . To blame your computer for your mistakes is even more human, it is downright natural. * If at first you do not succeed, blame your computer. * A complex system that does not work is invariably found to have evolved from a simpler system that worked perfectly. * The number one cause of computer problems? Computer solutions offered by family members. And if I may add - The best line I have heard when trying to explain to new computer users why something is happening that you don't understand is: "I think you have a problem with the interface between the chair and the keyboard."
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Sun, Feb 16th - 8:16AM
THOUGHT FOR TODAY!
"The game of life is a game of boomerangs. Our thoughts, deeds and words return to us sooner or later with astounding accuracy."* -- Florence Scovel Shinn *"Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for you reap whatever you sow. " Galatians 6:7 (NRSV) |
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Sun, Feb 16th - 8:07AM
LAUGHTER DOES GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE!
A Can of peaches
A very cranky old woman was arrested for shoplifting at a grocery store.
She gave everyone a hard time, from the store manager to the security guard
to the arresting officer who took her away, complaining and criticizing
throughout the process.
When she appeared before the judge, the judge asked what she had stolen from
the store. The lady defiantly replied, "Just a stupid can of peaches."
The judge then asked why she had done it. She replied, "I was hungry and
forgot to bring any cash to the store."
The judge asked how many peaches were in the can. She replied, "Nine, but
what do you care about that?"
The judge patiently said, "Well, ma'am, because I'm going to give you nine
days in jail -- one day for each peach." As the judge was about to drop his
gavel, the lady's long suffering husband raised his hand and asked if he
might speak.
The judge said, "Yes, what do you have to add?"
The husband said, "Your Honor, she also stole a can of peas."
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Sat, Feb 15th - 8:57AM
THOUGHT FOR TODAY!
It is the consciousness of the threefold joy of the Lord, His joy in ransoming us, His joy in dwelling within us as our Saviour and Power for fruitbearing and His joy in possessing us, as His Bride and His delight; it is the consciousness of this joy which is our real strength. Our joy in Him may be a fluctuating thing: His joy in us knows no change.* Hudson Taylor *10Then he said to them, “Go your way, eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions of them to those for whom nothing is prepared, for this day is holy to our LORD; and do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10(NRSV)
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Sat, Feb 15th - 8:46AM
LAUGHTER DOES GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE!
Jay went to a psychiatrist. “Doc, he said, “I’ve got trouble.
Every time I get into bed I think there is somebody under it.
I get under the bed; I think there’s somebody on top of it.
Top, under, under top. I’m going crazy!”
“Just put yourself in my hands for two years,” said the shrink.
“Come to me three times a week and I’ll cure you.”
“How much do you charge?”
“A hundred dollars per visit.”
“I’ll think about it.”
Jay never went back. Some time later he met the doctor on the street.
“Why didn’t you ever come to see me again? Asked the psychiatrist.
“For a hundred buck a visit? A bartender cured me for 10 dollars.”
“Is that so! How?”
“He told me to cut the legs off the bed.”
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Fri, Feb 14th - 10:45AM
UNJUST SUFFERING
Peter shows us Christ's way of taking rebuffing and suffering for doing good. Peter says it is so much better to suffer for doing what is right than to suffer for doing what is wrong. Suffering for what we did wrong is only fair. Suffering for what is right is an opportunity to totally identify with Christ, Who suffered willingly on the Cross. Father, forgive me for the many times I complained about being treating wrongly magnifying my innocence rather than thanking God for the opportunity to identify with Christ's way of suffering. 1 Peter 3:17 (NRSV) “For it is better to suffer for doing good, if suffering should be God's will, than to suffer for doing evil.”
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Fri, Feb 14th - 8:46AM
THOUGHT FOR TODAY!
A servant girl, who was once asked how she knew she was a converted Christian, replied: 'Well, you see, I used to sweep the dust under the mat, but now I don't.' It is possible to visit somebody else as if Jesus Christ lived there, to type a letter as if Jesus Christ were going to read it, to serve a customer as if Jesus Christ had come shopping that day, and to nurse a patient as if Jesus Christ were in that hospital bed. It is possible to cook a meal as if we were Martha in the kitchen, and Jesus Christ were going to eat it.* JOHN STOTT *28just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.” Matt 20:28 40And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Matt 25:40
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Fri, Feb 14th - 8:36AM
LAUGHTER DOES GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE!
A couple is arguing about who should make the coffee in the morning. The wife says, “I think your should do it because you get up first.”
He counters with, “The kitchen is your domain, and you do all the cooking so you know where everything is. I think you should make the coffee.” “No way,” she says. “You should do it. The Bible even says so.” “What the heck are you talking about?” She grabs the family Bible, thumbs through, and point to the appropriate section: “Hebrews”
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Thu, Feb 13th - 9:11AM
THOUGHT FOR TODAY!
One of the basics of effective leadership is clarifying what good results will look like. Without a clear vision and understanding of where we are headed it’s easy to get sidetracked or stop short of our final destination. This holds true for our journey to understand the heart condition of Exalting God Only.* (Inspiring thoughts from Lead Like Jesus: Beginning the Journey Participant’s Study Guide - Page 62) *Jesus knew that the Father had given everything into His hands, that He had come from God, and that He was going back to God. So He got up from supper, laid aside His robe, took a towel, and tied it around Himself. Next, He poured water into a basin and began to wash His disciple feet and to dry them with the towel tied around Him. John 13:3-5
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Thu, Feb 13th - 8:58AM
LAUGHTER DOES GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE!
A Hunter walking through the jungle found a huge dead elephant with a pigmy standing beside it. Amazed, he asked: "Did you kill that?" The pigmy said, "Yes." The hunter asked, "How could a little bloke like you kill a huge beast like that?" "I killed it with my club." The astonished hunter asked, "How big is your club?" The pigmy replied, "There's about 60 of us."
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Wed, Feb 12th - 8:22AM
IN CHRIST
If we are in Christ, personally and organically united to
him, God blesses us with enormous blessings -- a new status
(we are put right with him), a new life (we are renewed by
the Holy Spirit) and a new community (we are members of
God's family).
But how does it happen? We have to come in penitence and
faith to Jesus Christ, and commit ourselves to him. It is
thus that God unites us to Christ. And this union with him
is publicly dramatized in baptism, for to be baptized, Paul
wrote, is to be 'baptized into Christ' (Gal. 3:27).JOHN STOTT
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Wed, Feb 12th - 7:58AM
LAUGHTER DOES GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE!
As Barb was getting to know David and his family, she was very impressed by how much his parents loved each other."They're so thoughtful," Barb said. "Why, your dad even brings your mom a cup of hot coffee in bed every morning." After a time, Barb and David were engaged, and then married. On the way from the wedding to the reception, Barb again remarked on David's loving parents, and even the coffee in bed. "Tell me," she said, "does it run in the family?" "It sure does," replied David. "And I take after my mom."
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Wed, Feb 12th - 7:45AM
THOUGHT FOR TODAY!
Maximus says in Gladiator, "What we do in life, echoes in eternity."*
*25 But Abraham said, 'Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in agony. Luke 16:25 (NRSV)
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Tue, Feb 11th - 10:24AM
GOD WOKE ME UP THIS MORNING! PRAISE GOD!
God woke me up this morning with John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life." God so loved that He GAVE...! My response is "Lord. I so love that I give. I recognize God at work in me, both to 'will'...'desire'...'want to' do and to do God's will!" Philippians 2:13 (NRSV) "for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure."
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Tue, Feb 11th - 7:47AM
THOUGHT FOR TODAY!
Some people have just enough religion to make them miserable.* *But godliness with contentment is great gain. 1 Tim 6:6
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Tue, Feb 11th - 7:40AM
LAUGHTER DOES GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE!
A little old lady answered a knock on the door one day, only to be confronted by a well-dressed young man carrying a vacuum cleaner. "Good morning," said the young man. "If I could take a couple of minutes of your time, I would like to demonstrate the very latest in high-powered vacuum cleaners." "Go away!" said the old lady. "I haven't got any money!" and she proceeded to close the door. Quick as a flash, the young man wedged his foot in the door and pushed it wide open. "Don't be too hasty!" he said. "Not until you have at least seen my demonstration." And with that, he emptied a bucket of horse manure onto her hallway carpet. "If this vacuum cleaner does not remove all traces of this horse manure from your carpet, Madam, I will personally eat the remainder." "Well," she said, "I hope you've got a good appetite, because the electricity was cut off this morning."
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Mon, Feb 10th - 7:53AM
LIVING FAITH
David Brooks recently quoted Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel: "Our goal should be to live life in radical amazement... get up in the morning and look at the world in a way that takes nothing for granted. Everything is phenomenal.... To be spiritual is to be amazed." Tragically, Heschel notes that for many of us, "faith is completely replaced by creed, worship by discipline, love by habit; when the crisis of today is ignored because of the splendor of the past; when faith becomes an heirloom rather than a living fountain; when religion speaks only in the name of authority rather than with the voice of compassion." JIM DENISON FORUM
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Mon, Feb 10th - 1:23AM
THOUGHT FOR TODAY!
"God's gifts put man's best dreams to shame."* -- Elizabeth Barrett Browning Singer *"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God—9not the result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life." Ephesians 2:8-10 (NRSV)
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Mon, Feb 10th - 1:09AM
LAUGHTER DOES GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE!
The sergeant-major growled at the young soldier: “I didn’t see you at camouflage training this morning.”
“Thank you very much, sir.”
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Sun, Feb 9th - 8:10AM
FREE TO BE WHO WE ARE IN CHRIST!
Free to be ourselves
Jesus Christ calls us to be different from the world around
us and from what we ourselves once were. He endows us with
gifts that equip us for different tasks and enrich our
common life by their very diversity. He provides an
authentic norm by which to evaluate alternative expressions
of belief and behaviour. Above all, he sets us free, not
by granting us a freedom without limits (limitless liberty
is an illusion), but by enabling us to be the unique person
he created and intends us to be. JOHN STOTT
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Sun, Feb 9th - 8:05AM
THOUGHT FOR TODAY!
THOUGHT FOR TODAY: Lord, help us to pass up every opportunity to be offended today.* (Dan Layne) *Proverbs 16:32 (NRSV) 32 One who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and one whose temper is controlled than one who captures a city.
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Sun, Feb 9th - 7:59AM
LAUGHTER DOES GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE!
The Antartian reported for her university final examination which consisted of "yes/no" type questions. She took her seat in the examination hall and stared at the question paper for five minutes.
In a fit of inspiration, she took her purse out, removed a coin and started tossing the coin and marking the answer sheet - Yes for Heads and No for Tails. Within half an hour she was all done, whereas the rest of the class was still sweating it out.
During the last few minutes, she was seen desperately throwing the coin, muttering and sweating. The moderator, alarmed, approached her and asked what was going on. Her reply was, "I finished the exam in half and hour, but I'm rechecking my answers."
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Sat, Feb 8th - 9:07AM
THE FREEDOM OF THE FORGIVEN!
Nobody who is unforgiven is free.
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Sat, Feb 8th - 8:58AM
THOUGHT FOR TODAY!
"Out of suffering comes creativity. You cannot spell painting without pain."* -- John Lithgow in Third Rock From the Sun (Shared by Ding G.) *"I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us." Romans 8:18 (NRSV) My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy," James 1:2 (NRSV)
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Sat, Feb 8th - 8:51AM
LAUGHTER DOES GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE!
Q: Did you hear about the person who forgot to pay their exorcist?
A: They were repossessed.
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Fri, Feb 7th - 9:11AM
Beyond the Borders
(W)e can wrongly take good things beyond the boundary of God's will: physical rest becomes laziness ability to profit becomes avarice and greed enjoyment of life becomes intemperance physical pleasure becomes sensuality interest in the possessions of others becomes covetousness enjoyment of food becomes gluttony self-care becomes selfishness self-respect becomes conceit communication becomes gossip cautiousness becomes unbelief anger becomes rage and bad temper lovingkindness becomes overprotection judgment becomes criticism same-sex friendship becomes homosexuality sexual freedom becomes immorality conscientiousness becomes perfectionism generosity becomes wastefulness self-protection becomes dishonesty carefulness becomes fear. Neil Anderson
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Fri, Feb 7th - 8:54AM
True Freedom
True freedom is freedom to be our true selves, as God made
us and meant us to be. JOHN STOTT
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Fri, Feb 7th - 8:39AM
THOUGHT FOR TODAY!
There is a hard law…When an injury is done to us, we never recover until we forgive.* - Alan Paton *12And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13And do not bring us to the time of trial, but rescue us from the evil one. 14For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; 15but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Matthew 6:12-15 (NRSV)
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Fri, Feb 7th - 8:29AM
LAUGHTER DOES GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE!
A customer at a counter of a garden ornament shop said to the cashier, “Give me four of those pinwheels, two of those pink flamingos, two of those sunflowers, and one of those bent-over grandmas in bloomers.” The cashier replied “that’ll be eight dollars for the pinwheels, ten for the flamingos, six for the sunflowers, and an apology for my wife!”
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Thu, Feb 6th - 2:40AM
THOUGHT FOR TODAY!
Compassion is difficult to give away because it keeps coming back.* *"Send out your bread upon the waters, for after many days you will get it back." Ecclesiastes 11:1 (NRSV) "give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.” Luke 6:38 (NRSV)
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Thu, Feb 6th - 2:30AM
LAUGHTER DOES GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE!
"Frank, if you have 20 dollars and Bill takes away 14. What would you have?” said the teacher.
"A fight!” answers Frank.
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Wed, Feb 5th - 8:25AM
THE COST OF DISCIPLESHIP
'What can a man give in exchange for himself?' Nothing is
valuable enough even to make an offer. Of course it costs
to be a Christian; but it costs more not to be. It means
losing oneself. JOHN STOTT
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Wed, Feb 5th - 8:13AM
THOUGHT FOR TODAY!
Good Instincts usually tell you what to do long before your head has figured it out.* - Michael Burke Arranged by Michelle Purifoy *"But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you." John 12:26 "Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with signs too deep for words. And god, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God." Romans 8:26-27
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Wed, Feb 5th - 8:04AM
LAUGHTER DOES GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE!
A foursome of senior golfers hit the course with waning enthusiasm for the sport."These hills are getting steeper as the years go by," one complained. "These fairways seem to be getting longer too," said one of the others. "The sand traps seem to be bigger than I remember them too," said the third senior. After hearing enough from his buddies, the oldest and the wisest of the four of them at 87 years old, piped up and said, "My friends, just be thankful we're still on this side of the grass!"
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Tue, Feb 4th - 8:55AM
THOUGHT FOR TODAY!
"Reflect upon your blessings, of which every man has plenty, not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some."* -- Charles Dickens *"Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." Philippians 4:8 (NRSV)
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Tue, Feb 4th - 8:46AM
LAUGHTER DOES GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE!
A man, fond of practical jokes, decided late one night to send his friend a collect telegram which read: "I am perfectly well." A week later, the joker received a heavy parcel...collect...on which he had to pay considerable charges. Upon opening it, he found a big block of concrete which had this message: "This is the weight your telegram lifted from my mind."
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Mon, Feb 3rd - 11:40AM
MY DAILY PRAYER
Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Father, Thy will be done in my life as it is in heaven. Your will above mine at all times. Your will is the only legitimate motive. May Your will be my unmixed motive for life. Psalm 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
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Mon, Feb 3rd - 9:17AM
THOUGHT FOR TODAY!
Jesus did not worry at all that He was going to help someone that didn’t deserve it. Are His followers today free from that fear?* *Matthew 8:16 (KJV) 16When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick: |
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Mon, Feb 3rd - 9:04AM
LAUGHTER DOES GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE!
I was inspecting communications facilities in Alaska. Since I had little experience in flying in small planes, I was nervous when we approached a landing strip in a snow-covered area. The pilot descended to just a couple hundred feet, then gunned both engines, climbed, and circled back. While my heart pounded, the passenger beside me seemed calm. "I wonder why he didn't land," I said. "He was checking to see if the landing strip was plowed," the man said. As we made a second approach, I glanced out the window. "It looks plowed to me," I commented. "No," my seat mate said. "It hasn't been cleared for some time." "How can you tell?" I asked. "Because," the man informed me, "I'm the guy who drives the plow."
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Sun, Feb 2nd - 8:25AM
THOUGHT FOR TODAY!
"I try to avoid looking forward or backward, and try to keep looking upward."* -- Charlotte Bronte *Colossians 3:1 - 2 (NRSV) 1So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth,
"Beloved, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead," "looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:2 (NRSV)
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Sun, Feb 2nd - 8:14AM
LAUGHTER DOES GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE!
A duck walked into a bakery one day and asked for a pork chop.
The baker said, "We aren't a butcher; we don't sell meat here."
So the duck left.
The following day the duck went back and asked again.
This time the Baker said, "No, if you come here again I will nail your feet
to the floor."
The following day the duck returned and asked, "Have you any nails?"
The baker replied, "No." And the duck said, "Well, I'll have two pork chops then."
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Sat, Feb 1st - 8:31AM
THOUGHT FOR TODAY!
The cross bears those who bear the cross.”* Sundar Singh, one of India's most famous Christians *24Then Jesus told his disciples, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. Matthew 16:24 (NRSV)
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Sat, Feb 1st - 8:21AM
LAUGHTER DOES GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE!
HOW TO CALL THE POLICE WHEN YOU'RE OLD, AND DON'T MOVE FAST ANYMORE .
George Phillips, an elderly man, from Walled Lake, Michigan, was going up to bed, when his wife told him that he'd left the light on in the garden shed, which she could see from the bedroom window. George opened the back door to go turn off the light, but saw that there were people in the shed stealing things.
He phoned the police, who asked "Is someone in your house?" He said "No, but some people are breaking into my garden shed and stealing from me." Then the police dispatcher said "All patrols are busy. You should lock your doors and an officer will be along when one is available." George said, "Okay." He hung up the phone and counted to 30. Then he phoned the police again. "Hello, I just called you a few seconds ago because there were people stealing things from my shed. Well, you don't have to worry about them now because I just shot and killed them both, the dogs are eating them right now." and he hung up. Within five minutes, six Police Cars, a SWAT Team, a Helicopter, two Fire Trucks, a Paramedic, and an Ambulance showed up at the Phillips' residence, and caught the burglars red-handed. One of the Policemen said to George, "I thought you said that you'd shot them!" George said, "I thought you said there was nobody available!" Don't mess with old people.
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Name: Doyle Purifoy
