Sat, Mar 31st - 9:57AM
LAUGHTER DOES GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE!
Bob had finally made it to the last round of the 1,000,000 Question. The night before the big question, he told the host MC that he desired a question on American History. The big night arrived. Bob made his way onstage in front of the studio and TV audience. He had become the talk of the week. He was the best guest this show had ever seen. The MC stepped up to the mike. "Bob, you have chosen American History as your final question. You know that if you correctly answer this question, you will walk away 1,000,000 dollars richer. Are you ready?" Bob nodded with a cocky confidence -- the crowd went nuts. He hadn't missed a question all week. "Bob, yours is a two-part question. As you know, you may answer either part first. As a rule, the second half of the question is always easier. Which part would you like to take a stab at first?" Bob was becoming more noticeably nervous. He couldn't believe it, but he was not sure, but American History was his easiest subject, and he played it safe. "I'll try the easier part first." The MC nodded approvingly. "Here we go Bob. I will ask you the second half first, then the first half." The audience grew silent with gross anticipation... "Bob, here is your question: And in what year did it happen?"
Comment (0)
|
Sat, Mar 31st - 9:39AM
THOUGHT FOR TODAY!
"For peace of mind, we need to resign as general manager of the universe."* -- Larry Eisenberg *1 Timothy 6:14b,16b "...our Lord Jesus Christ, ....he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords."
Comment (0)
|
Fri, Mar 30th - 6:31AM
LAUGHTER DOES GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE!
On my first day working at the gas station, I watched a senior co-worker measure the level of gasoline in the under-ground tanks by lowering a giant measuring stick down into them. "What would happen if I threw a lit match into the hole?" I joked. "It would go out," he replied very matter-of-factly. "Really?" I asked, surprised to hear that. "Is there a lack of oxygen down there or some safety device that would extinguish it before the fumes ignited?" "No," my co-worker continued. "The force from the explosion would blow out the match."
|
Comment (0)
|
Fri, Mar 30th - 6:24AM
THOUGHT FOR TODAY!
Until you are convinced that prayer is the most effective use of your time, you will not find time to pray!* Provided by Jerry Turner *17pray without ceasing, 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (NRSV) James 5:16 (NRSV) 16Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective.
Comment (0)
|
Thu, Mar 29th - 8:42AM
LAUGHTER DOES GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE!
"What do you have to do to become a doctor?" my six-year-old granddaughter once asked. Her dad, seeing an opportunity, said, "You have to do extremely well in school, take a lot of math and science, get into an excellent college, make the highest grades possible, and then go to med school, and follow that with an internship. Then you can start your own practice. Honey, as smart as you are, you can be anything you want to be." Erin gave all this a moment's thought and then asked, "What do you have to do to be queen?"
Comment (0)
|
Thu, Mar 29th - 8:29AM
THOUGHT FOR TODAY!
".....we cannot consistently behave in a way that is inconsistent with how we perceive ourselves. Your attitudes, actions, responses and reactions to life's circumstances are often determined by your conscious and subconscious self-perception."* (Neil Anderson, Daily Devotional from Freedom in Christ Ministries February 5) *"For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee." Proverbs 23:7 (KJV)
Comment (0)
|
Wed, Mar 28th - 6:40AM
LAUGHTER DOES GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE!
Two chiropractors have formed a partnership to open a new clinic. It's a joint venture.
Comment (0)
|
Wed, Mar 28th - 6:31AM
THOUGHT FOR TODAY!
The enabling grace of God not only forgave me of my sin, but Jesus paid the debt and set me free. The new birth not only results in forgiveness of sins, but Jesus paid the debt and set me free.* *17So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NRSV)
Comment (0)
|
Tue, Mar 27th - 8:32AM
LAUGHTER DOES GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE!
Tiring of the same old buzz cut from the base barber at Fort Dix, New Jersey, I went into town to get my haircut. The hairdresser noticed my accent and asked where I was from. "Trinidad," I said. "Is that in Arabia?" "The Caribbean." She laughed, "Sorry, I never was very good at geometry."
Comment (0)
|
Tue, Mar 27th - 8:22AM
THOUGHT FOR TODAY!
The poorest man is not one without money! The poorest man is the man without hope!* *Proverbs 29:18 (KJV) "Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he."
Comment (2)
|
Mon, Mar 26th - 11:29AM
LAUGHTER DOES GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE! CAT KILLER
"Curiosity Killed the Cat: that's the dog's story, and he's sticking to it!"
Comment (0)
|
Mon, Mar 26th - 11:10AM
THOUGHT FOR TODAY
A man has to live with himself, and he should see to it that he always has good company.* -Charles Evans Hughes, jurist (1862-1948) *"But the aim of such instruction is love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and sincere faith." 1 Timothy 1:5 (NRSV) "Pray for us; we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things." Hebrews 13:18 (NRSV)
Comment (0)
|
Mon, Mar 26th - 11:08AM
THOUGHT FOR TODAY
Comment (0)
|
Sun, Mar 25th - 8:02AM
LAUGHTTER DOES GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE! BANKING WOES!
The girl came running in tears to her father. "Dad, you gave me some terrible financial advice!" she cried. "I did? What did I tell you?" said the dad. "You told me to put my money in that big bank, and now that big bank is in trouble." "What are you talking about? That's one of the largest banks in the world," he said. "Surely there must be some mistake." "I don't think so," she sniffed. "They just returned one of my checks with a note saying, 'Insufficient Funds'.
Comment (0)
|
Sun, Mar 25th - 7:52AM
THOUGHT FOR TODAY!
"Don't worry about anything. Worrying never solved anything. All it does is distort your mind."* -- Milton Garland (at 103, the oldest worker in the U.S.) Worry is the misuse of the imagination. *"Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." Phil 4:6 "Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath. Do not fret—it leads only to evil." Psalm 37:8 (NRSV)
Comment (0)
|
Sat, Mar 24th - 9:15PM
My God Shall Supply All Your Needs!
Philippians 4:19(NRSV) “And my God will fully satisfy every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” The Pastor walked to the pulpit, laid his Bible open on the pulpit, adjusted his handkerchief, straightened his tie, and tried to have the appropriate facial expression. He announced to the congregation, “Well, I have good news and bad news. The good news is that we have enough money to complete our new building project.” The air was filled with anticipation as he continued. “The bad news is that the money is still in your pockets.” I believe that God has created enough resources to meet the needs of every person and animal to which He has given life. God is not seeking to destroy those who do not have enough to live. He is seeking people who will share what He has given them with others who have need. The problem is that God gave us what we have not only to bless ourselves, but to bless all the families of the earth. We more often than not use what God has given us on ourselves but not others. As the Scripture says the purpose of work is to have something to give to those in need: Ephesians 4:28(NRSV) “…let them labor and work honestly with their own hands, so as to have something to share with the needy.” The purpose of work is to help those in need. As Tony Campolo has said, “There is nothing wrong with making a million dollars. It is just wrong to keep it.” There is a philosophy that is rampant in some politicians that is based on the philosophy of the Russian-American philosopher and novelist Ayn Rand (1905–1982). Her philosophy is: “…the concept of man as a heroic being, with his own happiness as the moral purpose of his life, with productive achievement as his noblest activity, and reason as his only absolute.” Even a babe in Christ recognizes this as a godless philosophy. The philosophy of Ayn Rand drives many of our American legislators. Selfishness and greed are virtues. We are to pursue our own happiness. Look after number one. This philosophy also promotes economic Darwinism: the survival of the fittest. Of course, the fittest in Darwinism economic system are the rich. (I asked a person how his daughter was doing? He replied, “She’s driving a Mercedes.”) The laborers are the slaves of the rich, who make them rich. The Ayn Rand legislators balance the budget on the backs of the working class, the seniors, and those who for varied reasons are not working. The fittest rich pay little or no taxes. The government is financed by the taxes of the middle class. I do not claim to have worked out a Christian Economy. However, I am sure it is not godless Communism, and I am sure it is not driven by Ann Rand’s ‘Look after number one! I read a disturbing article in “God Politics” a blog posted by Jim Wallace. The article was written by Ernesto Tinajero. He wrote on July 12, 2011:: In one of the most-viewed articles on FoxNews.com several weeks ago, writer Onkar Ghate presents a choice of competing moralities between Ayn Rand and Jesus. While his exegetical powers leave much to be desired, he is correct in noting that the choice many Americans will have to make, as far as political philosophies go, is between Ayn Rand and Jesus. I grew sad reading while his comments stating that Ayn Rand is the best representative of the neo-conservative vision for America — one where the individual is responsible only for the individual and selfishness is a virtue. If we take a little walk through the Bible starting with Genesis, the first thing we see is the wonderful creation that God made. He placed Adam and Eve in a perfect garden. God made them gardeners to care for their habitat. Does that sound like the EPA? They enjoyed their work because there was no such thing as toil yet. Of course, we all know the story of how Satan deceived Eve to disobey God and eat the forbidden fruit. Then she gave some to Adam who ate it. We see God pronounced judgment on Satan, Eve, and Adam. Satan, the Serpent, was to crawl on the ground and eat dust all of his days. The pain of child birth was multiplied for Eve. The ground was cursed; toil was added to work. In addition, God turned Adam and Eve out of the Garden of Eden. God placed guards at the entrance of the Garden to prevent man’s re-entry and his eating of the Tree of Life and thereby living forever in his fallen condition. Yet, there was mercy and hope. God made a promise in His condemnation of Satan: Genesis 3:15(NRSV) “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.” God promised that a Savior and Deliverer would come from the seed of woman who would crush the head of Satan, the Serpent. This Savior would recreate man into the creature God had intended him to be in the first place. He has come and done that! We need to think a little more of man’s crisis. Adam and Eve did not think of the consequences that their disobedience would have on their children. Certainly, they didn’t think of the effect their disobedience would have on the creation. Nonetheless, sin had a cosmic effect. God turned man out of the Garden, separated from God in the world without God and without hope. Paul put it this way: Ephesians 2:12(NRSV) “remember that you were at that time without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.” All men are born in the world having no hope and without God in the world.” My son was born in the Philippines because that was where his mother was. Every child is born in darkness, in the world without God and without hope because that is where all parents since Adam and Eve were when their children are born. There is only one escape from their condition, the Savior, Jesus Christ promised to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden after the fall. We don’t walk very far in the Scriptures to find sin in action: Cain killed Abel. When God came looking for Abel, he asked Cain, “Where is your brother, Abel?” to which he replied: “Am I my brother’s keeper?” The implied answer is “Yes”. Some people would say that answer is liberal It is certainly not consistent with Ayn Rand’s philosophy of ‘self interest’. Ayn Rand’s philosophy contradicts Paul in Philippians 2:4(KJV) “Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.” If we had time and space we could produce many Scriptural attacks against greed and selfishness which are virtues in Ayn Rand’s philosophy. Soon after the House of Representatives changed leadership in 2010, several bills were passed, even some eliminating Medicare and designed to dismantle Medicaid and the new health care program. Shortly after these bills were passed in the House, I came across Isaiah’s Words from the Lord: Isaiah 10:1-3(NRSV) “Ah, you who make iniquitous decrees, who write oppressive statutes, to turn aside the needy from justice and to rob the poor of my people of their right, that widows may be your spoil, and that you may make the orphans your prey! What will you do on the day of punishment, in the calamity that will come from far away? To whom will you flee for help, and where will you leave your wealth,” Should those in power in the House have their way, scenes will multiply that we have already seen enough of because people have no insurance. As a minister, and social worker I have talked with many who won’t go to a doctor when they are sick because they have no insurance and cannot afford to pay. Re-read Isaiah’s Word of the Lord and ask if it is the Christian thing to do to reduce the life span of American citizens by passing “iniquitous decrees, who write oppressive statutes”? Why won’t these people protect the life span of elderly, and yet do everything in their power to protect the life of the unborn. Is the life of the unborn more sacred than the life of the elderly? Or is it just money talking? Don’t spend money on abortion and don’t spend money on the senior citizens. Is the sanctity of life their real motivating force? Where is the sanctity of the life of the elderly? Life is sacred from the womb to the tomb. Listen to the commission of Jesus: Luke 4:18(NRSV) “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free,” Does this sound like Glen Beck who said that if your pastor uses the words social and economic justice, run from that church and report the pastor to his denominational headquarters as a Communist or Socialist? Is that what Jesus would say and do? Read this story given by Jesus: Luke 10:29-37(NRSV) “But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity.
He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.’ Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.” That sounds like universal health care. It sounds like social and economic justice. Read this story of economic justice given by Jesus. Matthew 20:1-16(NRSV) “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the laborers for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. When he went out about nine o’clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace; and he said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ So they went. When he went out again about noon and about three o’clock, he did the same. And about five o’clock he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, ‘Why are you standing here idle all day?’ They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard.’ When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, ‘Call the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and then going to the first.’ When those hired about five o’clock came, each of them received the usual daily wage. Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received the usual daily wage. And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner, saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage?
Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?’ So the last will be first, and the first will be last.” (Shouldn’t Christians be as generous as God has been to them?) The employer ran across some men who were just standing around. The employer asked them why they were not working and they replied because no man had hired them. These men were not lazybones. They were ready to work when the opportunity presented itself. The employer hired men at different times a day, but paid those that went to work last a day’s wages as he did those who went to work early and worked late. Jesus, our God knows it takes a day’s wages for anyone to live whether he goes to work early or late or doesn’t go to work at all. Do you think that Jesus would eliminate unemployment insurance benefits? (It is insurance, not welfare.) Do you think that Jesus would eliminate minimum wage laws as one person running for President has stated she would support? Actually, Jesus would pass legislation that the minimum wage would be what it takes for a person to live that day. I do believe God has provided for every soul he created but that selfish and greedy people are holding back what belongs to the needy. They are holding by what God has given them so that they could help the needy. God calls America to purge her economic philosophy from that of Ayn Rand who teaches that selfishness and greed are virtues. She teaches that the responsibility of a person is to pursue his or her own happiness. Do you recognize something unscriptural in that philosophy? We are challenged to remove that philosophy from our social and economic system. Some years ago I went to get lunch with a co-worker. The subject of Communism came up. I remember saying to him that Communism fails because it assumes that man will do right. Communism believes man is basically good. Capitalism is the most successful economic system because it is based on the fallen nature of man—selfishness and greed—what’s in it for me! Why should I do this or that? But Christians are new creatures in Christ. New Creatures in Christ know that selfishness and greed are vices. Christians must seek righteousness in their government. They need to purge their government of selfishness and greed. Matthew 25 tells us that there is coming a time when “the nations will be gathered before him” (Jesus). These nations will be judged on the basis of what their citizen’s do. The Scriptures are directed to the citizens: “Then he will say to those at his left hand, ‘You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they also will answer, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?’ Then he will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” Matt 25:41-46 Consider what the State of Texas did unto Jesus: The State of Texas facing a law to balance their budget and refusing to raise taxes, balanced their budget on the backs of the middle class and the poor. One of the most immoral actions they took was to take money designated to help the poor pay electric bills they could not afford and use it in their budget cutting process. Just today I heard of a man dying in his home of heat, with the air conditioner off because he could not afford the electric bill. Where is the sanctity of life they profess with their mouths? How much more immoral can our legislators be than to rob from a designated fund meant to help poor people pay their electric bill and use the money to balance their budget? When the citizens of the United States of America allow their legislators cut benefits to seniors and the poor they are doing these injustices to Jesus. When the citizens of the United States of America exempt the wealthy from contributing additional taxes to assist the most vulnerable citizens of our nation the citizens are doing Jesus a grave injustice. Many Americans insist that our Constitution is based on Judeo-Christian Principles, yet many of these same American’s are denying Christian principles from being applied to our economic system. The citizens of the United States will be held accountable for the lack of social and economic justice in our nation. Tell your legislators to do what Jesus would do.
Comment (0)
|
Sat, Mar 24th - 9:24AM
LAUGHTER DOES GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE!
Six-year-old Angie and her four-year-old brother Joel were sitting together in church. Joel giggled, sang, and talked out loud. Finally, his big sister had had enough. "You're not supposed to talk out loud in church." "Why? Who's going to stop me?" Joel asked. Angie pointed to the back of the church and said, "See those two men standing by the door? They're hushers."
Comment (0)
|
Sat, Mar 24th - 9:13AM
THOUGHT FOR TODAY!
"There are always enough hours in the days we give to God."* *"On the day when the LORD gave the Amorites over to the Israelites, Joshua spoke to the LORD; and he said in the sight of Israel, “Sun, stand still at Gibeon, and Moon, in the valley of Aijalon.” And the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, until the nation took vengeance on their enemies. Is this not written in the Book of Jashar? The sun stopped in midheaven, and did not hurry to set for about a whole day. There has been no day like it before or since, when the LORD heeded a human voice; for the LORD fought for Israel." Joshua 10:12-14 (NRSV)
Comment (1)
|
Fri, Mar 23rd - 9:05AM
LAUGHTER DOES GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE!
FOURTH GRADE LOGIC: A fourth-grade teacher was giving her pupils a lesson in logic. "Here is the situation," she said. "A man is standing up in a boat in the middle of a river, fishing. He loses his balance, falls in, and begins splashing and yelling for help. His wife hears the commotion, knows he can't swim, and runs down to the bank. Why do you think she ran to the bank?" A girl raised her hand and asked, "To draw out all his savings?"
Comment (0)
|
Fri, Mar 23rd - 8:53AM
THOUGHT FOR TODAY!
“One Person who's on your side always, no matter what you do or what the world does to you“... is Jesus Christ.* (Jim Denison, Park Cities Baptist Church) *What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? Romans 8:31 (NRSV)
Comment (1)
|
Thu, Mar 22nd - 8:49AM
LAUGHTER DOES GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE! GOLF QUITER
Two men were chatting casually at work over the water cooler. The conversation turned to golf and one asked the other, "Do you play?" "Yes, the younger man replied, "I used to, but I quit because I wasn't very good. I consistently shot in the lower seventies." There was a long, low intake of breath, then the other man said, "Lower seventies, huh?" "Yes," his coworker said. "Consistently?" "Yup, Every hole," the younger man said with a sigh.
Comment (0)
|
Thu, Mar 22nd - 8:39AM
THOUGHT FOR TODAY!
"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us."* -- Ralph Waldo Emerson *"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." Galatians 2:20 (NRSV) "To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." Colossians 1:27 (NRSV
Comment (0)
|
Wed, Mar 21st - 6:06AM
LAUGHTER DOES GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE! FOOT PILL
A man limped into a hospital to have his foot X-rayed, and was asked to wait for the results. Some time later an orderly appeared and handed the man a large pill. Just then a mother with a small child in need of immediate attention entered. After the orderly disappeared with the new patient, the man hobbled over to get a glass of water, swallow the pill, and sat down to wait. Some time later the orderly reappeared carrying a bucket of water. "Okay," he said, "Let's drop the pill in this bucket and soak your foot for a while."
Comment (0)
|
Wed, Mar 21st - 5:55AM
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)
Comment (0)
|
Tue, Mar 20th - 7:26AM
LAUGHTER DOES GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE!
WEATHER FORECASTER: To tell the weather, go to your back door and look for the dog. If the dog is at the door and he is wet, it's probably raining. But if the dog is standing there really soaking wet, it is probably raining really hard. If the dog's fur looks like it's been rubbed the wrong way, it's probably windy. If the dog has snow on his back, it's probably snowing. Of course, to be able to tell the weather like this, you have to leave the dog outside all the time, especially if you expect bad weather. Sincerely, The CAT
Comment (0)
|
Tue, Mar 20th - 7:09AM
THOUGHT FOR TODAY!
Fear makes us give up before we even begin.* *1After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, “Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” Genesis 15:1 (NRSV)
6Be strong and bold; have no fear or dread of them, because it is the LORD your God who goes with you; he will not fail you or forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6 (NRSV) 8It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” Deuteronomy 31:8 (NRSV)
20And Samuel said to the people, “Do not be afraid; you have done all this evil, yet do not turn aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart; 1 Samuel 12:20 (NRSV)
9If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9 (NRSV)
Comment (0)
|
Mon, Mar 19th - 8:31AM
LAUGHTER DOES GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE!
After tucking their three-year-old child Sammy in for bed one night, his parents heard sobbing coming from his room.Rushing back in, they found him crying hysterically. He managed to tell them that he had swallowed a penny and he was sure he was going to die. No amount of talking was helping. His father, in an attempt to calm him down, palmed a penny from his pocket and pretended to pull it from Sammy's ear. Sammy was delighted. In a flash, he snatched it from his father's hand, swallowed, and then cheerfully demanded, "Do it again, Dad!"
Comment (0)
|
Mon, Mar 19th - 8:18AM
THOUGHT FOR TODAY!
I have found the paradox that if I Love until it hurts, there is no more hurt, but only Love.* Mother Teresa, Calcutta, India Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. 1 John 4:8 (NRSV)
So we have known and believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. 1 John 4:16 (NRSV) *
Comment (0)
|
Sun, Mar 18th - 8:32AM
LAUGHTER DOES GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE! BETTER PREACHING
After the visiting preacher finished, a woman came up and said, "You were much better than the preacher we had last Sunday. He spoke for an hour and said nothing." "Thank you," the visiting preacher replied. "Yes," she continued. "You did it in fifteen minutes."
Comment (0)
|
Sun, Mar 18th - 8:22AM
THOUGHT FOR TODAY!
"Dependent people need others to get what they want. Independent people can get what they want through their own efforts. Interdependent people combine their own efforts with the efforts of others to achieve their greatest success."* -- Stephen Covey *1 Corinthians 3:9 (NRSV) "For we are God’s servants, working together; you are God’s field, God’s building."
Comment (0)
|
Sat, Mar 17th - 10:03AM
LAUGHTER DOES GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE!
What did the unemployed dog chase his tail? ......the make ends meet.
Comment (0)
|
Sat, Mar 17th - 9:50AM
THOUGHT FOR TODAY!
"Today I live in the quiet, joyous expectation of good." *-- Ernest Holmen *"For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen?" Romans 8:24 (NRSV) "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)
Comment (0)
|
Fri, Mar 16th - 8:03AM
LAUGHTER DOES GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE!
A goober goes out for a walk. She comes to a river and sees another goober on the opposite bank. "Yoo-hoo" she shouts, "how can I get to the other side?" The second goober looks up the river then down the river then shouts back, "You are already on the other side."
Comment (0)
|
Fri, Mar 16th - 7:43AM
THOUGHT FOR TODAY!
“....eternal obligation of Righteousness....Now that "the fullness of time has come" it is at once our duty and our blessedness to accept complete emancipation and to "stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free."* ....R. W. Dale *5:1For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1 (NRSV)
22 But now that you have been freed from sin and enslaved to God, the advantage you get is sanctification. The end is eternal life. Romans 6:22 (NRSV)
Comment (0)
|
Thu, Mar 15th - 9:15AM
LAUGHTER DOES GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE!
A boss to a retiree: "As a symbol of our gratitude, we have created this special gold watch to serve as a reminder of your many years with the company. It needs a lot of winding up, is always a little late, and every day at quarter to five, it stops working."
Comment (0)
|
Thu, Mar 15th - 9:00AM
THOUGHT FOR TODAY!
He who believes that God is pledged to provide for him cannot be greedy, anxious, covetous; can only be liberal, and even magnanimous.* The Expositor’s Bible: Genesis p. 34* *25“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Matthew 6:25 (NRSV) 33But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33 (NRSV)
Comment (0)
|
Wed, Mar 14th - 5:52AM
LAUGHTER DOES GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE!
Tom and Darryl were out hunting deer. Tom asked, "Did you see that?" "No," Darryl replies. "Well, a bald eagle just flew overhead." "Oh," responded Darryl. A couple of minutes later, Tom said, "Did you see that?" "See what?" "Are you blind? There was a big, black bear walking on that hill, over there." "Oh." A few minutes later Tom again said, "Did you see that?" By now, Darryl is getting aggravated, so he says, "Yes, I did!" And Tom says, "Then why did you step in it?"
|
Comment (0)
|
Wed, Mar 14th - 5:48AM
THOUGHT FOR TODAY!
"When I hear somebody sigh, "Life is hard," I am always tempted to ask, "Compared to what?"* -- Sydney Harris *29Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:29 - 30 (NRSV)
"I call heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live," Deuteronomy 30:19 (NRSV)
Comment (0)
|
Tue, Mar 13th - 8:51AM
LAUGHTER DOES GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE!
An Amish boy and his father were visiting a mall for the first time. They were amazed by almost everything they saw, but especially by two shiny, silver walls that could move apart and then slide back together again. The boy asked, "What is this, Father?" The father (never having seen an elevator) responded, "Son, I have never seen anything like this in my life, I don't know what it is." While the boy and his father were watching with amazement, an old lady in a wheel chair rolled up to the moving walls and pressed a button. The walls opened and the lady rolled between them into a small room. The walls closed and the boy and his father watched the small circular numbers above the walls light up sequentially. They continued to watch until it reached the last number and then the numbers began to light in the reverse order. Finally the walls opened up again and a gorgeous, 24-year-old blonde woman stepped out. The father, not taking his eyes off the young woman, said quietly to his son, "Go get your mother."
Comment (0)
|
Tue, Mar 13th - 8:31AM
THOUGHT FOR TODAY!
"All our fears are caused by calculating without God."*
15 For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, "Abba! Father!" Romans 8:15 (NRSV) Dr. Duane Brooks, Tallowood's longtime pastor*
|
Comment (0)
|
Mon, Mar 12th - 9:23AM
LAUGHTER DOES GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE!
It was the first camping experience for Jed. As soon as he had pitched his tent, he went for a hike in the woods. In about fifteen minutes he rushed back into camp, bleeding and disheveled. "What happened?" asked a fellow camper. "I was chased by a black snake!" cried the frightened Jed. The camper laughed and retorted, "A black snake isn't deadly." "Listen," groaned Jed, "If he can make you jump off a fifty-foot cliff, he is!"
|
Comment (0)
|
Mon, Mar 12th - 9:05AM
THOUGHT FOR TODAY1
I do not hesitate to say that to interpret the church in terms of a privileged clerical caste or hierarchical structure is to destroy the New Testament doctrine of the church.* John Stott *25 But Jesus called them to him and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. 26 It will not be so among you; but whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant,
27 and whoever wishes to be first among you must be your slave; Matthew 20:25-27 (NRSV)
|
|
|
Comment (1)
|
Sun, Mar 11th - 8:20PM
LAUGHTER DOES GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE! NEW NEIGHBORS
My quiet Saturday morning ended abruptly when my 12-year-old son, Billy, and one of his friends burst through the door. "Hey Dad, announced Billy, "have you met the new neighbors?" "No." "Come on Dad, you have to meet them." "Some other time; I'm busy." "Dad, you have to meet them now." From the urgency in Billy's voice, I assumed the neighbors were waiting outside. I set aside my project and went to the front of the house. No one was there. "Where are they?" I asked. "Well, Dad," he explained, "we haven't met them yet either, but our baseball is in their living room!"
Comment (0)
|
Sun, Mar 11th - 8:02PM
THOUGHT FOR TODAY!
Trying to reduce life in the Spirit to a formula is like trying to capture the wind.* Neil Anderson *"the wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going, so is everyone who is born of the Spirit" (John 3:8).
|
Comment (0)
|
Sat, Mar 10th - 11:33AM
LAUGHTER DOES GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE!
A large two-engine train was crossing America. After they had gone some distance, one of the engines broke down. "No problem," the engineer thought and carried on at half power. Farther on down the line, the other engine broke down and the train came to a standstill. The engineer decided he should inform the passengers about why the train had stopped, and made the following announcement, "Ladies and gentlemen, I have some good news and some bad news. The bad news is that both engines have failed, and we will be stuck here for some time. The good news is that you decided to take the train and not fly."
Comment (0)
|
Sat, Mar 10th - 11:24AM
THOUGHT FOR TODAY!
"One should guard against preaching to young people success in the customary form as the main aim in life. The most important motive for work in school and in life is pleasure in work, pleasure in its result, and the knowledge of the value of the result to the community."* -- Albert Einstein (Shared by Maria) *"Do not love the world or the things in the world. The love of the Father is not in those who love the world;" 1 John 2:15 (NRSV) "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might." Deuteronomy 6:5 (NRSV)
Comment (0)
|
Fri, Mar 9th - 8:24AM
LAUGHTER DOES GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE!
It was a terrible night, blowing cold and rain in a most frightful manner. The streets were deserted and the local baker was just about to close up shop when a little man slipped through the door. He carried an umbrella, blown inside out, and was bundled in two sweaters and a thick coat. But even so he still looked wet and bedraggled. As he unwound his scarf he said to the baker, "May I have two bagels to go, please?" The baker said in astonishment, "Two bagels? Nothing more?" "That's right," answered the little man. "One for me and one for Bernice." "Bernice is your wife?" Asked the baker. "What do you think," snapped the little man, "my mother would send me out on a night like this?"
|
Comment (0)
|
Fri, Mar 9th - 8:19AM
THOUGHT FOR TODAY!
I can act holy without being holy, but I cannot be holy without acting holy. God wants my internal life to be godly because it is the source of all external actions.* * 22 But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, 'You fool,' you will be liable to the hell of fire. Matthew 5:22 (NRSV)
28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. Matthew 5:28 (NRSV)
|
|
|
|
Comment (0)
|
Thu, Mar 8th - 8:31AM
LAUGHTER DOES GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE! REFERRALS
When our local doctor began attending church services the minister was delighted, and it wasn't long before they were helping each other in their work, the minister referring people to the doctor, and vice versa. One referral from the doctor called at the church office with a note prescribing the minister's last four sermons. The minister was most pleased until he discovered that the patient's problem was insomnia.
Comment (0)
|
Thu, Mar 8th - 8:23AM
THOUGHT FOR TODAY!
“....Christ's Death—though they know neither how nor why—has done more than either His teaching or His life to constrain and enable them to trust in the mercy of God for the pardon of sin; and because Christ is the Propitiation for the sins of the world, God has responded to their trust, and they are eternally saved. For it is not the doctrine of the Death of Christ that atones for human sin, but the Death itself;”* R. W. Dale 17“Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God. John 3:17 - 18 (NRSV)
Comment (0)
|
Wed, Mar 7th - 8:48AM
LAUGHTER DOES GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE!
Vacationing in Alaska, I couldn't help but notice all the warnings about bears posted in campgrounds, visitors' centers and rest areas advising people not to feed the bears, how to avoid bears, what to do if a bear sees you, what to do if a bear attacks, and so on. My favorite, however, was a hand-lettered sign on the door of a small gas station in a remote area. It said: "Warning! If you are being chased by a bear, don't come in here!"
Comment (0)
|
Wed, Mar 7th - 8:29AM
THOUGHT FOR TODAY!
The Christian is a man who has ceased to do what he wants to do and who has begun to do what Christ wants him to do."I'm trying to learn the truth of these words. In a consumer culture which makes religion a means to my end, I am tempted every day to pray so God will bless me, to read Scripture so he will guide me, to serve him so he will serve me. I am tempted by a transactional religion in which I do my part and God does his part. But none of this is biblical Christianity.* Quoted by Jim Denison, Resident Theologian at the Baptist General Convention of Texas in his devotional of 7/16/09 GodIssues *46“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I tell you? Luke 6:46 (NRSV)
Comment (0)
|
Tue, Mar 6th - 8:42AM
LAUGHTER DOES GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE
Little Johnny sat playing in the garden. When his mother came out to collect him, she saw that he was slowly eating a worm. She turned pale. "No, Johnny! Stop! That's horrible! You can't eat worms!" Trying to convince him further she noted, "Now the mother worm is looking all over for her nice baby worm." "No, she isn't," said Johnny. "How do you know she's not?" said the mother. "Because I ate her first!" answered Little Johnny.
Comment (0)
|
Tue, Mar 6th - 8:31AM
THOUGHT FOR TODAY!
"Your net worth doesn't equal your personal worth." Remember the source of your personal worth.* Jim Denison, Pastor Park Cities Baptist Church Dallas TX *19Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God, and that you are not your own? 20For you were bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body. 1 Corinthians 6:19 - 20 (NRSV
Comment (0)
|
Mon, Mar 5th - 8:34AM
LAUGHTER DOES GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE!
The believer's faith is as valid as its object, which is the living (Christ) and written (Bible) Word of God. With the infinite God of the universe as the object of Christian faith, there is virtually no limit to the spiritual heights that positive believing can take you.* (Neil Anderson 6/4/03) *"Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;" Hebrews 6:19 (KJV)
Comment (1)
|
Mon, Mar 5th - 8:25AM
LAUGHTER DOES GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE
My five-year-old nephew wanted to caddy for my brother's golf game. "You have to count my strokes," my brother told him. "How much is six plus nine plus eight?" "Five," answered the nephew. "Okay," my brother said, "let's go."
Comment (0)
|
Sun, Mar 4th - 8:35AM
LAUGHTER DOES GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE!
After the dedication service of his baby brother in church, little Johnny sobbed all the way home in the back seat of the car. His father asked him three times what was wrong. Finally, the boy replied, "That preacher said he wanted us brought up in a Christian home, and I wanted to stay with you guys.
Comment (1)
|
Sun, Mar 4th - 8:20AM
THOUGHT FOR TODAY!
To determine your life solely by the prospect of worldly success is to risk the loss of the best things in life.* The Expositor’s Bible: Genesis p. 33 *36For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? Mark 8:36 (NRSV)
Comment (0)
|
Sat, Mar 3rd - 9:12AM
LAUGHTER DOES GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE!
A young man was visiting a psychiatrist, hoping to cure his eating and sleeping disorder. "Every thought I have turns to my mother," he told the psychiatrist. "As soon as I fall asleep and begin to dream, everyone in my dream turns into my mother. I wake up so upset that all I can do is go downstairs and eat a piece of toast." The psychiatrist replied, "What, just one piece of toast for a big boy like you?"
Comment (0)
|
Sat, Mar 3rd - 8:58AM
THOUGHT FOR TODAY!
He who believes that God is pledged to provide for him cannot be greedy, anxious, covetous; can only be liberal, and even magnanimous.* The Expositor’s Bible: Genesis p. 34* *25“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Matthew 6:25 (NRSV)
Comment (0)
|
Fri, Mar 2nd - 8:43AM
LAUGHTER DOES GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE!
On a U.S. cruiser the officer of the deck asked the starboard lookout, "What would you do if a sailor was washed overboard?" "I'd yell 'Man overboard,'" answered the lookout snappily. "Good," said the officer. "Now what would you do if an officer fell overboard?" The lookout asked, "Which one, sir?
Comment (0)
|
Fri, Mar 2nd - 8:28AM
THOUGHT FOR TODAY!
God is holy, righteous, just, and wise enough to save by grace through faith without violating His holiness, righteousness, or justice.* *Deuteronomy 32:3-4 (NRSV) "For I will proclaim the name of the LORD; ascribe greatness to our God! The Rock, his work is perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God, without deceit, just and upright is he;
Comment (0)
|
Thu, Mar 1st - 7:23AM
LAUGHTER DOES GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE!
When our local doctor began attending church services the minister was delighted, and it wasn't long before they were helping each other in their work, the minister referring people to the doctor, and vice versa. One referral from the doctor called at the church office with a note prescribing the minister's last four sermons. The minister was most pleased until he discovered that the patient's problem was insomnia.
Comment (0)
|
Thu, Mar 1st - 7:11AM
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? Jesus knew that no one He helped deserved it!*
*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:
Comment (1)
|
Back to Blog Main Page
|
|
| About Me |
|
|
Archives
|
| |
Name: Doyle Purifoy
