The Cleaning Lady

There was a little old cleaning Lady who went to a local church. When the invitation was given at the end of the service, she went forward wanting to become a member. The preacher listened as she told him how she wanted to be baptized and become a member of Christ's church.

The preacher thought to himself, "oh my, she is so unkempt, even smells a little, and her fingernails are not clean. She picks up garbage, cleans toilets -- what would the members think of her." He told her that she needed to go home and pray about it and then decide.

The following week, here she came again. She told the minister that she had prayed about it and still wanted to be baptized. "I have passed this church building for so long. It is so beautiful, and I truly want to become a member of Christ's church and a local member of this body of believers."

Again the preacher told her to go home and pray some more.

A few weeks later while out eating at the restaurant, the preacher saw the little old lady. He did not want her to think that he was ignoring her so he approached her and said, "I have not seen you for a while. Is everything all right?"

"Oh, yes," she said. "I talked with Jesus, and He told me not to worry about becoming a member of your church."

"He did?" said the preacher.

"Oh, yes" she replied. "Jesus said he's been trying to get into your church for years, and even HE can't get in."

Touch of the Master's Hand

Illustrations About Change

*Clickable Links Are Blue with Underlines:

Famous Quotes, Graphic Illustrations, Videos, Scriptures, and a Deeper Look at TheWord

https://youtu.be/KTB2qDQQ4pU

Touch of the Master's Hand

By Myra Ross Welch (1926)

Church Songs?

#Change

#Value

#Souls

#Price

#Scripture

Search Wikipedia for the Topic

WikiQuotes about Topic

You Think About it!

Kevin Rayner

• Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ParableIllustrations
• Email distribution list at https://groups.google.com/g/parable
• Go to Kevin Rayner's blog at https://parable-illustrations.blogspot.com/ for more illustrations and videos with illustrations. Help us spread the word about the teaching illustrations list. Pass on to your friends and invite them to visit the blog at https://parable-illustrations.blogspot.com/
• What illustrations would you suggest adding to these?

'Twas battered and scarred and the auctioneer
Thought it scarcely worth his while
To waste much time on the old violin,
But he held it up with a smile:


"What am bidden, good folks?" he cried,
"Who'll start the bidding for me?"
"A dollar! A dollar!" then "Two! Only two?"
"Two dollars, and who'll make it three?"


"Three dollars once, three dollars twice . . .
And going for three . . . " but no.
From the room, far back, a gray-haired man
Came forward and picked up the bow.


Then, wiping the dust from the old violin,
And tightening the loosened strings,
He played a melody pure and sweet,
As a caroling angel sings.


The music ceased, and the auctioneer
With a voice that was quiet and low
Said, "What am I bid for the old violin?"
And he held it up with the bow.


"A thousand dollars! And who'll make it two?
"Two thousand! Who'll make it three?
"Three going once? Three going twice?
"And going . . . and gone!" said he.


The people cheered but some of them cried,
"We do not understand!
What changed its worth?" -- Swift came the reply,
"The touch of the Master's Hand."


And many a man with life out of tune
And battered and scarred with sin
Is auctioned cheap to the thoughtless crowd
Much like the old violin.


A "mess 'o pottage"
A glass of wine
A game and he travels on.
He's "going" once
And "going" twice
And "going" . . . and almost "gone"


Then along comes the Master, and the foolish crowd
Never can quite understand
The worth of a soul or the change that's wrought
By the touch of the Master's Hand.

https://duckduckgo.com/?q="John+Maxwell"+Change&t=h_&iax=videos&ia=videos

When I was a young man, I wanted to change the world. I found it was difficult to change the world, so I tried to change my nation. When I found I couldn't change the nation, I began to focus on my town. I couldn't change the town and as an older man, I tried to change my family. Now, as an old man, I realize the only thing I can change is myself, and suddenly I realize that if long ago I had changed myself, I could have made an impact on my family. My family and I could have made an impact on our town. Their impact could have changed the nation and I could indeed have changed the world.

=============

Imagine a world...

• Where one small act of kindness turned into billions of acts, like a never-ending chain.
• Where people value people and have a genuine love for one another.
• Where every neighborhood was safe because the community looked after each other.
• Where someone did something that unites us together instead of drives us apart.
• Where that someone is YOU!

This world that you imagine... What if it was real? What if you really did have a voice in your world and you really could make a difference?

Solid Guide Posts

Far off in the dark night, the ship's captain spotted faint lights. Right away, he ordered his signalman to send this message:

"Alter your course 10 degrees south."

Promptly a return message was received: "Alter your course 10 degrees north."

The captain was angered; his command had been ignored. So he sent a second message: "Alter your course 10 degrees south—I am the captain!"

Soon another message was received: "Alter your course 10 degrees north—I am seaman third class ones.

Immediately the captain sent a third message, knowing the fear it would evoke: "Alter your course 10 degrees south—I am a battleship!"

Then the reply came: "Alter your course 10 degrees north—I am a lighthouse."

Do you think that captain changed his course?

Quotes

In a sermon a well painted picture becomes a mirror to the soul and then a window to see God.

For a blog on quotes organized by topics, go to my blog at
http://reallifequotes.blogspot.com/

Preaching Methods

Thoughts about preaching

Unknown Author or is He known?

BIBLE STUDY 

There was a young lady who read a book and having completed it, remarked, "It was the dullest book I ever read."

Not long after she met a man, fell in love and was engaged to be married. One evening she said, "I have a book in my library by a man whose name is the same as yours. Isn't that a coincidence " He replied, "Not at all, I wrote the book."

She ran home, sat up all night rereading the book again. When finished she said, "That was the most interesting book I've ever read." Why had the book changed so much? Because she knew and loved the author.

Application: You will enjoy reading and studying the greatest book, the Bible, if you know and love the author. Then the Bible becomes the most interesting book in the world.

Penguin Love

Expository Preaching

Expository Preaching

Let me invite you into the preacher's head so that I can share with you my basic approach to preaching.

My first preference in preaching is to do what are called "expository" sermons. This kind of lesson "exposes" or reveals the teachings of a certain text of Scripture. It uses as its basis one particular passage of Scripture, develops the ideas that are presented in the passage, and applies those ideas to our daily lives.

The main alternative to expository preaching is topical preaching. A topical sermon begins with an idea or topic (for example: "Love", or "How to Be a Better Christian", or "Things Young People Should Avoid") and then finds several verses throughout Scripture that provide ideas related to the topic.

The advantages of expository preaching are many. For one, it presents the teachings of Scripture the way they were written: in context, presenting the ideas as the inspired writers presented them. Although I might add stories, illustrations, and applications, I try to present the main idea that is presented in Scripture. I enjoy preaching through books of the Bible because, again, I am presenting the Word of God the way God presented it to us. Dealing with the Scriptures this way also forces us to consider the difficult passages, maybe the ones we would rather not think about or have always had questions about. Studying them in context often helps us find the answers we need.

Expository preaching also helps me avoid my weaknesses in preaching only topically. If I preach on topics, I find that I wind up pounding the same drum over and over - the drum of my favorite topic, you see. If I just do topics, I might pull a verse out of context to try to make my point, and that isn't a good way to study Scripture. Also, I can easily just deal with the "hot topics" and not get beyond the "current issues" to deal with the more central matters. Expository preaching gets to the issues, but it does so in the context of how those issues are addressed in Scripture. Topical preaching also tends to start out with man's thinking ("What topic can I come up with?" "What topic do I think people need to hear about?), whereas expository preaching starts out with God's thinking ("What has God revealed to us in this passage or book?").

I certainly preach topically on many occasions. For one thing, people think topically. We usually don't wonder "What does Matthew 21 say?" but we want to know, "What does the Bible say about this or that topic?" In addition, the Bible is sometimes written topically. Paul sometimes gathers up several passages to prove the point he is making. But as we today try to get across the message of Scripture accurately, we need to think of books and passages and contexts. That will give us a good grasp of the Scriptures so that we can understand what the Bible says about the topics we want to know about.

Articles:

The Crisis in Expository Preaching Today
By Walter C. Kaiser, Jr.

If I Were the Devil - (BEST VERSION) by PAUL HARVEY audio restored

This was done 47 years ago and look what we have now. Paul Harvey was a very perceptive person and one who seemed to have a handle on how things were progressing in a very non-productive and negative way.

This video ..... should certainly be seen by everyone.

This was 47 years ago. April 3, 1965. An amazing prediction.

Do you remember the famous ABC radio commentator Paul Harvey?

Millions of Americans listened to his programs which were broadcast over 1,200 radio stations nationwide.

When you listen to this, remember the commentary was broadcast 47 years ago on April 3, 1965.

It's short...less than three minutes. You will be amazed.

Willie of Duck Dynasty speaks at Harding's Chapel

Go to see Willie of Duck Dynasty speak in Harding University's chapel.
http://hardingtv16.pegcentral.com/player.php?video=062a06847fcb7539714b142a57be1edd

Black Sunday?

Black Sunday? by Greg Wanderman

Wow! I found the best deal ever and I want to share it with everyone I know. Forget about “Black Friday!” Forget about “Cyber Monday!” The REAL deal is something most people haven’t figured out yet. I am about to give you the best savings tip ever! I promise you will not find a deal this good at any retailer. Just read a bit further to find out about this amazing deal!

We’ve all heard about Black Friday. It is a day that retailers look forward to all year. It has the name Black Friday” because, traditionally, this is the day that many retailers go from being “in the red” (an accounting way of showing that expenses exceed revenue) to being “in the black” (revenue exceeds expenses). Black Friday, and the relatively new Cyber Monday (internet sales), are generally the most profitable days of the year for many retailers. So why would you shop on a day that literally gets its name from the fact that companies are getting their greatest profit from YOU?

I HAVE A BETTER IDEA. Why not go somewhere that YOU profit from the expense of someone else! You see, the best deal isn’t Black Friday or Cyber Monday, but something we might call “Black Sunday.” About 2,000 years ago, Jesus went to the cross on our behalf. Corporate humanity was in debt for our sins. Rather than offering cheap deals, Jesus offered the most costly expense imaginable, His blood. And if that were the end of the story, then expenses would still exceed revenue and we would still be “in the red.”

But Sunday came, and with it, the greatest profit ever…the risen savior! Because of “Black Sunday,” we now benefit from His profit – salvation. That’s right. We get the profit, not some corporation! You don’t have to camp out all night or wait in line this Thursday. Christ rose on Sunday, and you can receive His gift TODAY! If you want to receive His “profit,” turn away from a life of sin, confess Jesus as the Son of God, and be baptized for the forgiveness of sin. Then begin attending a bible believing, New Testament church where you can learn more about walking in the light! What a deal! A true savings!

Click here to post a response online

Greg Wanderman

Minister, church of Christ at Clover, South Carolina

W: www.churchofchristatclover.org

B: www.wandermaninthewilderness.com

I WAS JUST WONDERING

I

s it just me, or does your mind sometimes wander off on unpredictable tangents? Do stray thoughts and unanswerable questions ever bounce around your brain? Sometimes I wonder....

.....why I was fortunate enough to be born in a free country, and what my life – and my faith – would have been like if I had been born in some other nation?

…..why anyone is willing to jump through all of the unpleasant and grueling hoops necessary to become President of this nation?

.....why the commercials are so much louder than the programs they interrupt?

.....how television producers can place a group of carefully selected people in a staged situation, surround them with cameras and sound technicians, coach them to compete in contrived events for a million dollars, and then call it "reality" television?

.....how parents who never make any effort to discipline their children when they are young can later be so surprised and disappointed after those sons and daughters later grow up to lead undisciplined and self-destructive lives?

.....why in my lifetime I have heard so few sermons on the sins of laziness and gluttony?

.....why gossiping bad news about someone comes so much more naturally than "gospeling" the good news about Jesus?

.....how any preacher can speak of the indescribably great news of God’s grace with a frown on his face, and why some church services I have attended seemed as cheerful as funerals?

…..who I would be – if I would be – if my great-grandfather had never met my great-grandmother?

.....why millions of people spend their hard-earned money on lottery tickets, when the odds of winning those huge jackpots are, for all practical purposes, essentially zero?

.....how folks who conscientiously tithe can end up enjoying more financial security than people who never give a nickel to God or good works?

….why God even bothered to create human beings, since he knew in advance (1 Peter 1:18-20; Revelation 13:8) how bothersome they would be and how much it would cost Him to save them?

.....why Christians don't take the second coming of Jesus more seriously, when every other promise the Lord ever made has come true (2 Peter 3:3-10)?

I was just wondering.

– Dan Williams

God is Lovingly Watching You

I love children. They teach me a great deal. It is always need to watch kids play "peak a boo." Especially children still in the stage where they think as long as they can't see you, you can't see them. When you play hide and seek, they think as long as their head is covered they are well hidden. My friend was recently tell me about his experience. 

This flawed theory probably displayed itself best when my friend explain it and he said, "The other night when we were struggling to keep her in bed, we told her if we saw her out of bed one more time that she was going to get punished. We left her room thinking we had made our point; but no more than two minutes later, we saw her emerge with her blanket draped over her head trying to sneak past us. She thought since she couldn't see us, her blanket was working like some kind of cloak of invisibility. We laughed so hard that we couldn't punish her.

As funny and as silly as the philosophy "as long as I can't see you, you can't see me" is many of us live our lives that way when it comes to God. We think as long as we are not at church or with our Christian family God can't see and doesn't know how we live. Even if we don't believe that, many times that is the way we act. The truth of the matter is God sees all and we are no more clever than a two year old.

Hebrews 4:13 says "...there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do." We can't hide from God, and he knows the things we do -- whether we do them out in the open or try to hide them away in secret. So, as Christians let us try to live our lives in full knowledge that our heavenly father is watching us at all times.

We sing the words to a song, "There's an all seeing eye watching you." There is a heart full of love behind those eyes. God is not out to hurt us, but to see the bigger picture guiding us into something in our best interest.

TWO HORSES

There is a field, with two horses in it. From a distance, each horse looks like any other horse.  But if you stop your car, or are walking by, you will notice something  quite amazing. Looking into the eyes of one horse will disclose that he is blind. His owner has chosen not to have him put down, but has made a  good home for him. This alone is amazing. If you stand nearby and  listen, you will hear the sound of a bell. Looking around for the source  of the sound, you will see that it comes from the smaller horse in the  field. Attached to the horse's halter is a small bell. It lets the blind friend know where the other horse is, so he can follow. As you stand and watch these two horses, you'll see that  the horse with the bell is always checking on the blind horse, and that  the blind horse will listen for the bell and then slowly walk to where the other horse is, trusting that he will not be led astray. When the  horse with the bell returns to the shelter of the barn each evening, it stops occasionally and looks back, making sure that the blind friend isn't too far behind to hear the bell. Like the owner of these two horses, God does not throw  us away just because we are not perfect or because we have problems or challenges. He watches over us and even brings others into our lives to help us when we are in need. Sometimes we are the blind  horse being guided by the little ringing bell of those who God places in our lives. Other times we are the guide horse, helping others  to find their way.... Good  friends are like that... you may not always see them, but you know they are always there. Please listen for my bell and I'll listen for yours. And remember...be kinder  than necessary - everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle. Live simply, Love generously, Care deeply, Speak  kindly..... Leave the rest to God...

Negativity From The Pulpit

Church leaders must banish this negativity from their pulpits or they will continue to wonder why people keep leaving. For the full article, follow the link below.

http://forthright.net/2012/10/09/negativity-from-the-pulpit/

Time for new church management software?

Preacher Work

Preacher at work.

https://youtu.be/XGOkWoaa7WI

How long have you owned a car?

How long have you owned a car?

Can you believe the miles on this car??? One for the Books ! Man Owned & Drove Same Car for 82 YEARS. Can you imagine having the same car for 82 years!?. I guess it was no longer under warranty. Mr. Allen Swift ( Springfield , MA.) received this 1928 Rolls-Royce Picadilly P1 Roadster from his father, brand new - as a graduation gift in 1928.  He drove it up until his death last year... at the age of 102!!!  He was the oldest living owner of a car from new. Just thought you'd like to see it.  He donated it to a Springfield museum after his death.  It has 1,070,000 miles on it, still runs like a Swiss watch, dead silent at any speed and is in perfect cosmetic condition. (82 years)  That's approximately 13,049 miles per year... It was the coldest winter ever. Many animals died from the cold. The porcupines, realizing the situation, decided to group together to keep warm. This way they covered and protected themselves; but the quills of each one wounded their closest companions. After awhile, they decided to distance themselves one from the other and they began to die, alone and frozen. So they had to make a choice: either accept the quills of their companions or disappear from the earth. Wisely, they decided to go back to being together. They learned to live with the little wounds caused by the close relationship with their companions in order to receive the heat that came from the others. This way they were able to survive. The best relationship is not the one that brings together perfect people, but when each individual learns to live with the imperfections of others and can admire the other person's good qualities. -- Author Unknown

Elvis Presley’s Bible

What is the value of

Elvis Presley’s Bible

It might surprise you.

The Son

Volvo gave away its seat belt patent to save lives.

==============
Years ago, there was a very wealthy man who, with his devoted young son, shared a passion for art collecting. Together they traveled around the world, adding only the finest art treasures to their collection.  Priceless works by Picasso, Van Gogh, Monet and many others adorned the walls of the family estate.

The widowed elder man looked on with satisfaction, as his only child became an experienced art collector. The son's trained eye and sharp business mind caused his father to beam with pride as they dealt with art collectors around the world.

As winter approached, war engulfed the nation, and the young man left to serve his country. After only a few short weeks, his father received a telegram. His beloved son was missing in action. The art collector anxiously awaited more news, fearing he would never see his son again.

Within days, his fears were confirmed. The young man had died while rushing a fellow soldier to a medic.

Distraught and lonely, the old man faced the upcoming Easter holidays with anguish and sadness. The joy of the season, a season that he and his son had so looked forward to, would visit his house no longer. On Easter morning, a knock on the door awakened the depressed old man. As he walked to the door, the masterpieces of art on the walls only reminded him that his son was not coming home. As he opened the door, he was greeted by a soldier with a large package in his hand. He introduced himself to the man by saying, "I was a friend of your son. I was the one he was rescuing when he died. May I come in for a few moments? I have something to show you."

As the two began to talk, the soldier told of how the man's son had told every one of his father's love of fine art. "I'm an artist," said the soldier, "and I want to give you this." As the old man unwrapped the package, the paper gave way to reveal a portrait of the man's son.  Though the world would never consider it the work of a genius, the painting featured the young man's face in striking detail.

Overcome with emotion, the man thanked the soldier, promising to hang the picture above the fireplace. A few hours later, after the soldier had departed, the old man set about his task.

True to his word, the painting went above the fireplace, pushing aside thousands of dollars of paintings. And then the man sat in his chair and spent Easter gazing at the gift he had been given. During the days and weeks that followed, the man realized that even though his son was no longer with him, the boy's life would live on because of those he had touched. He would soon learn that his son had rescued dozens of wounded soldiers before a bullet stilled his caring heart.

As the stories of his son's gallantry continued to reach him, fatherly pride and satisfaction began to ease the grief. The painting of his son soon became his most prized possession, far eclipsing any interest in the pieces for which museums around the world clamored.

He told his neighbors it was the greatest gift he had ever received.  The following spring, the old man became ill and passed away. The art world was in anticipation.

With the collector's passing, and his only son dead, those paintings would be sold at an auction. According to the will of the old man, all of the art works would be auctioned on Easter Day, the day he had received his greatest gift.

The day soon arrived and art collectors from around the world gathered to bid on some of the world's most spectacular paintings. Dreams would be fulfilled this day; greatness would be achieved as many would claim "I have the greatest collection." The auction began with a painting that was not on any museum's list. It was the painting of the man's son. The auctioneer asked for an opening bid. The room was silent.   "Who will open the bidding with $100?" he asked. Minutes passed. No one spoke. From the back of the room came, "Who cares about that painting? It's just a picture of his son.

Let's forget it and go on to the good stuff." More voices echoed in agreement. "No, we have to sell this one first," replied the auctioneer.

"Now, who will take the son?" Finally, a friend of the old man spoke.

"Will you take ten dollars for the painting? That's all I have. I knew the boy, so I'd like to have it." "I have ten dollars. Will anyone go higher?" called the auctioneer. After more silence, the auctioneer said, "Going once, going twice. Gone." The gavel fell. Cheers filled the room and someone exclaimed, "Now we can get on with it and we can bid on these treasures!" The auctioneer looked at the audience and announced the auction was over.

Stunned disbelief quieted the room. Someone spoke up and asked, "What do you mean it's over? We didn't come here for a picture of some old guy's son. What about all of these paintings? There are millions of dollars of art here! I demand that you explain what's going on here!"  The auctioneer replied, "It's very simple. According to the will of the father, whoever takes the son . . . gets it all!"

Just as those art collectors discovered on that Easter Day, the message is still the same-the love of a Father - a Father whose greatest joy came from His Son who went away and gave his life rescuing others. And because of that Father's love...whoever takes the Son gets it all.

HEAVEN'S GROCERY STORE

While walking down life's highway, a long, long time ago
I saw a neon sign that read: "HEAVEN'S GROCERY STORE."

As I came a little closer, door opened wide.
When I realized what had happened, I was standing inside.

A mighty host of angels were positioned everywhere
One handed me a basket and told me, "Shop with care."

Everything a Christian needed was in this grocery store
And what you couldn't carry, you were permitted to come back for more.

The first thing I got was PATIENCE, LOVE, was in the same row
Further down the aisle was UNDERSTANDING, you need that everywhere you go.

I got a box of WISDOM, and a bag or two of FAITH
I couldn't miss the HOLY SPIRIT, He was all over the place.

I stopped to get some STRENGTH and COURAGE to help me run this race
By then my basket was getting full, but I remembered I needed GRACE.

I couldn't forget SALVATION, for I knew salvation was free
So I tried to get enough to save both you and me.

Then I started to the counter to pay my grocery bill
Thinking I had all that I needed to do my Master's will.

While going up the aisle, I saw PRAYER, & had to put that in
Knowing when I stepped outside, I'd run right into sin.

PEACE & JOY were plentiful, they were sitting on the shelf
SONG and PRAISE were hanging near, so I helped myself.

When I finally reached the counter, I asked the angel, "How much do I owe?"
He smiled & said, "You just take them everywhere you go."

I asked again, "Please tell me, how much do I owe?"
The angel seemed astonished as if I should have known, "My child," he said "JESUS paid your bill, a long, long time ago."

Author unknown

Duck Church

There is an old preaching illustration that I feel is still relevant for us today. There was a community named Duckville populated completely by ducks. On Sunday, all the good ducks waddled off to duck church. While at church they would sing duck songs and listen to the duck preacher.

One Sunday the duck preacher decided to give a lesson about how God had given them wings so they could fly. He pounded the pulpit and said, "With these wings, there is nowhere we ducks cannot go! There is no God-given task we ducks cannot accomplish! With these wings we no longer need to walk through life. We can soar high in the sky!"

The ducks quacked, "Amen!" throughout the duck congregation. The duck preacher concluded his message by exclaiming, "With our wings we can fly through life! WE ... CAN ... FLY!!!!" More ducks quacked out loud "AMENS!" in response. Every duck loved the service. In fact all the ducks that were present commented on what a wonderfully convicting message they had heard from their duck preacher.

Then when they left the church they waddled all the way home. They didn't fly like the duck preacher told them they could do. They went home just like they came - waddling.

Many times we are no better than the ducks going to duck church. We sit and listen to the preacher tell us from God's word about the power and abilities God has given us through His Spirit. We hear him tell us of the lives God desires us to live and how we need to change. But when it comes right down to it, too many times we go on acting the same way and doing the same things as when we came in. Let us not be like the ducks waddling away. Instead let us take heed of what we learn and spread our wings and fly.

Business Meetings

"Many church business meetings have no business meeting." ~S. C. Goad

How Do You Avoid Church Problems?

Here's an article by a friend of mine about avoiding church problems.

http://www.jeremyhoover.com/2/post/2012/01/suggestions-on-how-churches-might-avoid-conflict-in-leadership.html

Tolerance in Christianity

David Lipscomb ideas on "tolerance."
http://johnmarkhicks.wordpress.com/2012/01/04/how-much-do-we-tolerate-till-we-disfellowship-david-lipscomb-responds/

Sharing your Faith

Volvo gave away its seat belt patent to save lives.

Self Examination

The story is told of a monastery in Portugal, perched high on a 3,000 foot cliff and accessible only by a terrifying ride in a swaying basket. The basket was pulled with a single rope by several strong men, perspiring under the strain of the fully-loaded basket. An American tourist who visited the site got nervous halfway up the cliff when he noticed the rope was old and frayed. Hoping to relieve his fear he asked, "How often do you change the rope?" The monk in charge replied, "Whenever it breaks!"

Most likely all of us would agree it is crazy not to regularly examine and change something - like the rope in the story - that your life depended on. Strangely enough, however, a lot of us live our lives that way. We sometimes forget eternal life is dependent on how we live our lives here on earth. How often do we forget to slow down, examine how things are going, and make the decisions necessary to change any bad habits or sinful things we have gotten ourselves involved in? We keep doing the same old thing over and over again until something breaks.

In 2 Corinthians 13:5, Paul tells them: Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you —unless, of course, you fail the test?

Self examination is something we should regularly practice as Christians. Do you really want your eternal life to depend on something you have not examined and made sure is right? Of course not! Just like you would not want to go up and down on an elevator daily, supported by a rope you are not sure could hold you. Take some time today and make certain your life is right with God.

Johnny Horton - I'm A One Woman Man

Doctrine: Sound

What is Sound

Consider this article
http://stoned-campbelldisciple.blogspot.com/2006/10/who-is-sound-thought-from-1916-in-1916.html

Unity and Skeptics

"The Scriptures will never keep together in union and fellowship members not in the spirit of the Scriptures, which spirit is love, peace, forbearance, and cheerful obedience. This is the spirit of the great Head of the body. I blush for my fellows, who hold up the Bible as the bond of union yet make their opinions of it tests of fellowship; who plead for unity with all Christians; yet refuse fellowship with such as dissent from their opinions. Vain men! Their zeal is not according to knowledge, nor is their spirit of Christ. There is a day not far ahead which will declare it. Such anti-sectarian-sectarians are doing more mischief to the cause and advancement of truth, the unity of Christians, and the salvation of the world than all the skeptics in the world. In fact, they make skeptics.”

Barton W. Stone, 1835, quoted by Steven Clark Goad's book A UNITY CORDIAL.

Hermeneutics

A text without context is a pretext to a prooftext.

Evangelism

It does little good if Christians DECLARE and DEFEND the truth, but fail to DEMONSTRATE it in their own lives (Titus 1:16)

The Bible In 50 Words

THE PERFUME

As she stood in front of her 5th grade class on the very first day of school, she told the children an untruth. Like most teachers, she looked at her students and said that she loved them all the same.

However, that was impossible, because there in the front row, slumped in his seat, was a little boy named Teddy Stoddard.

Mrs Thompson had watched Teddy the year before and noticed that he did not play well with the other children, that his clothes were messy and that he constantly needed a bath. In addition, Teddy could be unpleasant.

It got to the point where Mrs. Thompson would actually take delight in marking his papers with a broad red pen, making bold X's and then putting a big "F" at the top of his papers.

At the school where Mrs. Thompson taught, she was required to review each child's past records and she put Teddy's off until last. However, when she reviewed his file, she was in for a surprise.

Teddy's first grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is a bright child with a ready laugh. He does his work neatly and has good manners... he is a joy to be around."

His second grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is an excellent student, well liked by his classmates, but he is troubled because his mother has a terminal illness and life at home must be a struggle."

His third grade teacher wrote, " His mother's death has been hard on him. He tries to do his best, but his father doesn't show much interest and his home life will soon affect him if some steps aren't taken."

Teddy's fourth grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is withdrawn and doesn't show much interest in school. He doesn't have many friends and he sometimes sleeps in class."

By now, Mrs. Thompson realized the problem and she was ashamed of herself. She felt even worse when her students brought her Christmas presents, wrapped in beautiful ribbons and bright paper, except for Teddy's.

His present was clumsily wrapped in the heavy, brown paper that he got from a grocery bag.

Mrs. Thompson took pains to open it in the middle of the other presents. Some of the children started to laugh when she found a rhinestone bracelet with some of the stones missing , and a bottle that was one-quarter full of perfume . But she stifled the children's laughter when she exclaimed how pretty the bracelet was, putting it on, and dabbing some of the perfume on her wrist. Teddy Stoddard stayed after school that day just long enough to say, "Mrs. Thompson, today you smelled just like my Mom used to."

After the children left, she cried for at least an hour. On that very day, she quit teaching reading, writing and arithmetic. Instead, she began to teach children.

Mrs. Thompson paid particular attention to Teddy. As she worked with him, his mind seemed to come alive. The more she encouraged him, the faster he responded. By the end of the year, Teddy had become one of the smartest children in the class and, despite her lie that she would love all the children the same, Teddy became one of her "teacher's pets."

A year later, she found a note under her door, from Teddy, telling her that she was still the best teacher he ever had in his whole life.

Six years went by before she got another note from Teddy. He then wrote that he had finished high school, third in his class, and she was still the best teacher he ever had in his whole life.

Four years after that, she got another letter, saying that while things had been tough at times, he'd stayed in school, had stuck with it, and would soon graduate from college with the highest of honors. He assured Mrs. Thompson that she was still the best and favorite teacher he had ever had in his whole life.

Then four more years passed and yet another letter came. This time he explained that after he got his bachelor's degree, he decided to go a little further .

The letter explained that she was still the best and favorite teacher he ever had. But now his name was a little longer....The letter was signed, Theodore F. Stoddard , MD.

The story does not end there. You see, there was yet another letter that spring. Teddy said he had met this girl and was going to be married. He explained that his father had died a couple of years ago and he was wondering if Mrs. Thompson might agree to sit at the wedding in the place that was usually reserved for the mother of the groom.

Of course, Mrs. Thompson did. And guess what? She wore that bracelet, the one with several rhinestones missing. Moreover, she made sure she was wearing the perfume that Teddy remembered his mother wearing on their last Christmas together.

They hugged each other, and Dr. Stoddard whispered in Mrs. Thompson's ear, "Thank you Mrs. Thompson for believing in me Thank you so much for making me feel important and showing me that I could make a difference."

Mrs. Thompson, with tears in her eyes, whispered back.

She said, "Teddy, you have it all wrong. You were the one who taught me that I could make a difference I didn't know how to teach until I met you."

=========================
Warm someone's heart today . .. . pass this along.

I love this story so very much, I cry every time I read it. Just try to make a difference in someone's life today? tomorrow? just "do it"

Random acts of kindness, I think they call it.