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Saturday, July 09, 2011

Backsliding & Falling Away

A small boy was riding an open trolley home from Sunday School years ago with a tract titled "Faith in God" clutched tightly in his hand. He lost that grip, however, trying to maintain his balance and a gust of wind carried his tract out the door and down the street.

The boy cried, "Oh no! I've lost my Faith in God!"

Adult passengers nearby laughed at his unusual choice of words. One, more sober than others observed, "Most people couldn't tell you just when they lost their faith in God.  It just slipped away without much notice."

How firm a grip do we have on our faith? Could it slip away without much notice?
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Sunday, October 09, 2011

Self Destruction

Once there was an eagle soaring high in the sky and as it flew, almost out
of sight, it became unsteady and finally began to fall. It plunged to the earth in a
pasture near two men. When the men went to the eagle, they found him shaking
and trembling. In its claw was a rattlesnake.

The eagle had caught the reptile, soared into the sky, and finally lost the
battle when the snake bit it. Now there it lay holding onto the very thing that
killed it! People are the same way. The thing from which they hope to derive
some pleasure; but like the eagle in the story, they are fighting a losing battle
and are holding onto the very thing that will mean their spiritual death.

How sad it is to think of a soul being lost simply because a person is to
proud or too stubborn to free themselves of the thing which are destroying them!

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Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Mr. God

I'm sorry for keepin' ya up late.
But, I wanna know
If'n you're too busy, I can wait.

You see grandma's been forgettin'
A lot of things. Mamma says so.
She forgot my name, today, Mr. God,
And she's a walkin' kinda slow.

Yesterday, she jest left
Without even sayin' bye.
Daddy brought her back and
He had a tear in his eye.

So, I was wonderin', can you fix her?
She has somthun' called 'all tizers', daddy said.
She forgets who we are sometimes,
And she forgot that grandpa's dead.

Mr. God, you give her a new rememberer
'Cause I miss her playin', and stuff, with me
And the cookies she used to bake.
And, she was so smart, wasn't she?

She used to talk 'bout you a lot.
Now, she jest talks to herself and,
Mr. God, she don't know herself
From the pictures on the shelf.

Sometimes, she calls me 'little boy'
And pats my cheek or hair.
And she don't seem to care.

Please, Mr. God,
Will ya fix her, all new again,
A'fore she gets lost and
Can't bremember where she's been?

She ain't sang a Jesus song
Like I like to hear her to do.
Daddy says 'cause she is getting old.
But, she's not as old as you.

Daddy says you never forget and
You are older than anyone, anywhere.
Mamma says, "All we can do is
Remember her in prayer.

So, Mr. God, I'm jest askin'
'Cause I don't know how to pray.
'Cause you un'erstand what I try to say.

Does Jesus have a grandma
And does she forget people, too?
I guess she would be your mommy
And wouldn't she be older than you?

Well, I gotta go to bed.
Would ya keep grandma safe, O please,
So as she won't wander off and get lost?
She forgets her hat and coat,
and she could freeze.

I love her lots and
I wish she bremember I'm her little Andy
And bake some good cookies for me,
And even share my candy.

Tell my friend, Jesus, I was here and
Give Him a hug from grandma and me.
She used to know Him and I heard her say,
"Thank you, Jesus, for little Andy."

Good night, Mr. God. Are ya tired?
You work, so hard, all day.
I'll be back a'morrow, to visit,
Before I go out to play.

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Saturday, October 15, 2011

The cab ride

The Cab Ride

I arrived at the address and honked the horn.  after waiting a few minutes I walked to the door and knocked.. 'Just a minute', answered a frail, elderly voice. I could hear something being dragged across the floor.


After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her 90's stood before me. She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned on it, like somebody out of a 1940's movie.


By her side was a small nylon suitcase. The apartment looked as if no one had lived in it for years. All the furniture was covered with sheets.


There were no clocks on the walls, no knickknacks or utensils on the counters. In the corner was a cardboard box filled with photos and glassware.


'Would you carry my bag out to the car?' she said. I took the suitcase to the cab, then returned to assist the woman.


She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the curb.


She kept thanking me for my kindness. 'It's nothing', I told her... 'I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother to be treated.'


'Oh, you're such a good boy, she said.When we got in the cab, she gave me an address and then asked, 'Could you drive through downtown?'


'It's not the shortest way,'I answered quickly..


'Oh, I don't mind,' she said.'I'm in no hurry. I'm on my way to a hospice.


I looked in the rear-view mirror. Her eyes were glistening. 'I don't have any family left,' she continued in a soft voice.. 'The doctor says I don't have very long.' I quietly reached over and shut off the meter.


'What route would you like me to take?' I asked.


For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had once worked as an elevator operator.


We drove through the neighborhood where she and her husband had lived when they were newlyweds. She had me pull up in front of a furniture warehouse that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl.


Sometimes she'd ask me to slow in front of a particular building or corner and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing.


As the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon, she suddenly said, 'I'm tired. Let's go now'.


We drove in silence to the address she had given me. It was a low building, like a small convalescent home, with a driveway that passed under a portico.


Two orderlies came out to the cab as soon as we pulled up. They were Solicitous and intent, watching her every move. They must have been expecting her.


I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the door. The woman was already seated in a wheelchair.


'How much do I owe you?' 
She asked, reaching into her purse.


'Nothing,' I said


'You have to make a living,' she answered.


'There are other passengers,' I responded.


Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug. She held onto me tightly.


'You gave an old woman a little moment of joy,' she said.'Thank you.'


I squeezed her hand, and then walked into the dim morning light.. Behind me, a door shut. It was the sound of the closing of a life..

  I didn't  pick up any more passengers that shift. I drove aimlessly lost in thought. For the rest of that  day, I could hardly talk. What if that woman had  gotten an angry driver, or one who was impatient to end his shift?What if I had refused to take the run, or had honked once, then driven away?


On a quick review, I don't think that I have done anything more important in my life.


We're conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments.


But great moments often catch us unaware-beautifully wrapped in what others may consider a small one.


PEOPLE MAY NOT REMEMBER EXACTLY WHAT YOU DID, OR WHAT YOU SAID~BUT~THEY WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER HOW YOU MADE THEM FEEL.


Life 
may not be the party we hoped for, but while we 
are here we might as well dance.
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Tuesday, September 05, 2023

Unselfishness illustrations

Devotional Thoughts and Teaching Illustrations About Unselfish
W. Oregon Sara Tucholsky first HR - ultimate sportsmanship
Western Oregon Sara Tucholsky hit her first career HR with the help from Central Washington - ultimate sportsmanship. She tore her ACL running back to 1st as she missed it initially. Ump if she didn't run the bases by herself, the HR wouldn't count. If her teammates touched her, it would be void.

The opposing team saw her pain and did the unexpected, they picked her up and helped her touch each base.
Central Washington lost the game, 4-2 
Sportsmanship at its best.


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Proverbs 22:9 (MSG) Generous hands are blessed hands because they give bread to the poor.
Ecclesiastes 11:1 (MSG) Be generous: Invest in acts of charity. Charity yields high returns.
Psalms 100:5 (MSG) For God is sheer beauty, all-generous in love, loyal always and ever.
Proverbs 19:6 (MSG) Lots of people flock around a generous person; everyone’s a friend to the philanthropist.
Proverbs 11:24 (MSG) The world of the generous gets larger and larger; the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller.
Philippians 2:4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
Philippians 4:5 Let your gentle spirit [your graciousness, unselfishness, mercy, tolerance, and patience] be known to all people. The Lord is near.

unselfishness

Putting the concerns and interests of others before one’s own. Jesus Christ was the supreme example of this and believers should follow his example, denying themselves in order to serve others.

  • The supreme example of selflessness is that of Jesus Christ himself
  • In his life and work Jn 5:30; Ro 15:3 See also Mt 15:32; Jn 13:3-5; 2Co 8:9
  • In his dying for others Mt 20:26-28 pp Mk 10:43-45 Php 2:5-8 See also Isa 53:3-12; Jn 10:17-18; Ro 5:6-8; 1Co 15:3; 2Co 5:14; 1Th 5:10; 1Pe 2:22-24; 3:18; 1Ti 2:6
  • Unselfishness is a result of a relationship with Jesus Christ
  • Christian discipleship begins with a denial of self-interest Mt 16:24 pp Mk 8:34 pp Lk 9:23 Mk 10:45 See also Ro 6:6; 2Co 5:15; Eph 4:22; Col 3:9
  • It springs from an experience of life with Jesus Christ Php 1:21-24 See also Php 3:7-11
  • It is inspired by the example of Jesus Christ Php 2:4-5 See also Jn 13:14-15; 1Jn 3:16; 4:19-21
  • It is the result of the Spirit’s work in the believer Gal 5:22-26
  • Putting others first is fundamental in Christian behavior
  • Ro 12:10; 1Co 10:23-24 This was particularly so when it came to the exercise of personal scruples. See also Ro 14:7; 15:1-2; 1Co 8:9; Eph 4:32-5:2; Col 3:13; 1Ti 6:18
  • Unselfishness involves a proper attitude to one’s own self-importance
  • Php 2:3 See also Ro 12:16; Gal 6:2-3; Eph 4:2; 5:21; 1Pe 3:8; 5:5
  • Unselfishness is expressed in Christian service
  • Lk 22:26; Gal 5:13 See also 1Pe 4:10; 5:2
  • Examples of unselfish behavior
  • Those who put others first Ge 13:8-9 Abraham; Ex 32:31-32 Moses; Ru 1:16-17 Ruth; 1Sa 12:3-5 Samuel; Ne 5:14-18 Nehemiah; Mk 12:41-44 a poor widow; Mt 15:21-28 a mother; Mt 26:6-13 pp Mk 14:3-9 a woman with a jar of perfume; Jn 3:27-30 John the Baptist; Ac 4:32-37 the first Christians; Ro 16:3-4 Priscilla and Aquila; 1Co 16:15 the household of Stephanas; Php 2:20-21 Timothy; Php 2:29-30 Epaphroditus
  • Paul’s ministry was motivated by the interests of others 1Co 10:32-33; 11:1 See also Ac 20:33-35; 1Co 9:3-15,19-23; 2Co 11:23-29; 13:4; Php 2:17; 1Th 2:8-9,19-20
Manser, M. H. (2009). Dictionary of Bible Themes: The Accessible and Comprehensive Tool for Topical Studies. Martin Manser.

You Think About It!
Kevin Rayner


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Sunday, March 05, 2023

Perseverance Illustrations

 Devotional Thoughts and Teaching Illustrations About Perseverance 

Jason had a great game the week before as the quarterback of his football team, he threw for 500 yards passing and four touchdowns. Everyone was talking about how great he was the next week was an important home game and the opposing team had a huge defensive lineman. Within 3 seconds after the ball was snapped, this guy was all over Jason. He was slammed so hard to the ground that his head was left divots in the field. He was on his back more than he was on his feet. Needless to say, Jason had a horrible game. No touchdowns were thrown, but four interceptions were completed. They lost by 30 points after the game. Everyone avoided talking to him except his father, he said. Jason, that's the best game I've ever seen you play, not because of the yards passing or touchdowns thrown, but because you kept getting up after you were knocked down. You played tough today and I'm. So proud of you. Sometimes our greatest victory is just getting back up. Everybody gets knocked down. The question is, what do you do then? You think about that! 

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You Think About it!
Kevin Rayner




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Saturday, June 20, 2015

Edmond Church of Christ Songs - MP3

Edmond Church of Christ Congregational Acapella Singing

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