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Raymond Knudsen, an Episcopalian priest in San Fernando, California, overheard his three small boys talking about what they would like to inherit when their father died. The oldest son wanted his dad’s watch and the middle one wanted his ring. The youngest son said “I want all of Dad’s checks.” The oldest…

In his sermon titled "Think Hard, Stay Humble," Francis Chan told the following story about a man named Vaughn who radiated the love of Christ to everyone around him: He said that a few years ago, a missionary came to his church and told a beautiful story about sharing the gospel with a remote tribe…

I don’t know if you recognize him, but you are looking at Kyle McDonald. Though he may not look like it in this picture, you’re looking at a great steward. It all started with this (SHOW PAPERCLIP): One red paperclip. Kyle used it to start a series of trades which he hoped would end in him trading for…

The New York Times reported the following story in 2006: On a weekend day a few years ago, a rural Georgia couple brought their 4 year old son to the children’s hospital in Atlanta. He’d been sick with fevers for several months that just were not going away. The doctors who were on duty ordered blood…

John Maxwell tells of his son, Joel Porter Maxwell. This, of course, happened some time ago now when his son was 14. He says that Joel got a job for the first time. You know, he worked hard and got that first paycheck. Now I don’t’ know if you remember your first official paycheck, but I do. I got it…

Author Tony Campolo tells how he disembarked from a plane only to discover he was scheduled to speak to a group of women at a World Day of Prayer event he had forgotten about. He rushed over to the meeting—held at a large, wealthy church—and arrived exhausted, not knowing what to say to the women gathered…

Just a few weeks ago this scene flickered onto our laptops and flat screens. The people who witnessed it said it felt like an earthquake. It left this smoldering building in ruins. You remember what happened: Joseph Stack, in some kind of dispute with the IRS over his taxes took matters into his own…

Kim Peek is the man who inspired the 1988 film Rain Man about an autistic savant with astounding mathematical skills. Peek is what doctors call a mega-savant. A savant possesses remarkable expertise in 1 to 3 subjects. Peek is an expert in at least 15, including history, sports, space, music, and geography.…

By the way, that destruction isn’t just theoretical either. It’s real! Fear will kill you! During the Gulf War of 1991, Iraq launched a series of Scud missile attacks against Israel. Many Israeli citizens died as a result of these attacks. After the war was over, Israeli scientists analyzed the official…

Nothing illustrates the “toy” mentality better than the attitude in the 1980's. Back then, Babyboomers with too much bling were called “yuppies.” Here’s their attitude captured in this bed time prayer: Now I lay me down to sleep. I pray my Cuisinart to keep. I pray my stocks are on the rise, and that…

By the way, did you know that it is your perspective that often leads you to be afraid? In the middle of summer, a woman was sitting in her car in a parking lot in Arkansas when she heard a loud bang and felt a sharp pain in the back of her head. She was sitting holding her hands behind her head when…

Giving Based on God’s Promises for the Future Gary Fenton told this story at deacons meeting 9/28/2009: His first church was very small—about 25-40 there on Sunday mornings. The offering was on a sign in the front of the church along with the attendance. It was usually about $100, some of which Gary…

Kim Peek is the man who inspired the 1988 film Rain Man about an autistic savant with astounding mathematical skills. Peek is what doctors call a mega-savant. A savant possesses remarkable expertise in 1 to 3 subjects. Peek is an expert in at least 15, including history, sports, space, music, and geography.…

Just a few weeks ago this scene flickered onto our laptops and flat screens. The people who witnessed it said it felt like an earthquake. It left this smoldering building in ruins. You remember what happened: Joseph Stack, in some kind of dispute with the IRS over his taxes took matters into his own…

Two men struck gold in the wilderness during the great Klondike Gold Rush. Each day they could hardly wait to get out of their bunks to continue their search for gold. They found more and more each day. They were so busy they didn’t noticed that summer had passed and that fall was upon them. They didn’t…

By the way, did you know that it is your perspective that often leads you to be afraid? In the middle of summer, a woman was sitting in her car in a parking lot in Arkansas when she heard a loud bang and felt a sharp pain in the back of her head. She was sitting holding her hands behind her head when…

One man, with a sanctified imagination, offered the following idea of what it is like to surrender your all to God: “I want this pearl, how much is it?” “Well,” the seller says, “it is very expensive.” But how much, we ask. Well, a very large amount. Do you think I could buy it? O, of course, everyone…

By the way, that destruction isn’t just theoretical either. It’s real! Fear will kill you! During the Gulf War of 1991, Iraq launched a series of Scud missile attacks against Israel. Many Israeli citizens died as a result of these attacks. After the war was over, Israeli scientists analyzed the official…

Greater Faith, 10/5/08 Intro. Praise & Worship Scx: eph 5: 15-21 Title: Blessed anyhow , be wise 15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord…

Environmentalism should be regarded on the same level with religion "as the only compelling, value-based narrative available to humanity," according to a paper written two years ago to influence the future strategy of the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP), the world's would-be environmental…

A year-end meditation from John Wesley's 1768 sermon, The Good Steward: The relation which we bear to God, the creature to Creator, is presented in various ways in the Scriptures. But no character more exactly agrees with our present state than that of a steward. A steward is not at liberty to use what…

A new study from The Barna Group reveals that just five percent of American adults tithed (i.e., made donations of at least 10 percent of their income to religious institutions or other charities) in 2007. The most likely groups to tithe were evangelicals (24%); conservatives (12%); people who had prayed,…

Giving Continues During Economic Downturn The results of a new study show that, while most Americans plan to spend less on Christmas presents this year, almost half are now more likely to give to charitable organizations. A World Vision survey, which was conducted by Harris Interactive, reveals that…

Library lets late fees fly for Hudson River pilot Monday, February 02, 2009 FRESNO, Calif. — Hero pilot Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger is every librarian's hero, too. The US Airways pilot splash landed his jetliner in the Hudson River on Jan. 15, and everyone on board escaped safely. But left in the cargo…

Dr. Frederich Pfotenhauer, president of the Synod during the Great Depression, said in his report to the Synod convention in 1932: “It is true that the present economic conditions throughout the world induce us, if we do not keep our vision clear, to curtail our church activities. No doubt, money is…