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A well known speaker started off his seminar by holding up a $20 bill. In the room of 200, he asked, Who would like this $20 bill? Hands started going up. He said, I am going to give this $20 to one of you but first, let me do this. He proceeded to crumple the dollar bill up. He then asked, Who still…

How to Abide and How to hear God’s will

Plants unknown in certain regions have suddenly sprung from the soil: the seeds have been wafted on the winds, carried by birds, or washed ashore by the waves of the sea. So vital are seeds that they live and grow wherever they are borne; and even after lying deep in the soil for centuries, when the…

There was a good old soul whose minister called to see her when she was dying. Among other things he said to her, “My sister, you are very weak; don’t you feel yourself sinking?” She looked at him, and gave no answer, but said, “Did I understand you, minister? Please tell me what you said—I hope you…

There were two brothers, one of whom had been diligently attentive to his worldly business, to the neglect of true religion. He succeeded in accumulating considerable wealth. The other brother was diligent in the service of the Master, and had learned both to distribute to the poor and for conscience’s…

When one of the martyrs was about to burn for Christ, he said to the judge who was giving orders to fire the pile, “Will you come and lay your hand on my heart?” The judge did so. “Does it beat fast?” inquired the martyr. “Do I show any sign of fear?” “No,” said the judge. “Now lay your hand on your…

One reason God has a poor people is so that He may display more the power of His comforting promises and the supports of the gospel. “There,” says the architect, “this building is strong.” Yes, but it must be tested: Let the wind blow against it. There is a lighthouse out at sea, but it is a calm night—I…

If your house were on fire, you would rejoice to hear that the fire engines were coming down the street. You would feel an absolute certainty that they were coming to you, because your house was in a blaze if no one’s else might be. If there were appointed today a commissioner for the relief of such…

In his book Prayer: Experiencing Awe and Intimacy with God, Timothy Keller says, “It is remarkable that in all of his writings Paul’s prayers for his friends contain no appeals for changes in their circumstances.” — Prayer: Experiencing Awe and Intimacy with God by Timothy Keller, p. 19-20 1 Thessalonians…

# Philippians 1:9-11 ## Opening — Paul’s Prayer This morning we conclude our look at the opening section of Paul’s letter to the Philippians. In verses 1–2, we have the opening salutation which identifies the author, Paul, and with him Timothy—The young man he has mentored. It also identifies the recipients—all…

An enterprising youngster from Minnesota was looking to get some candy. He wanted candy, and he wanted it now. So this 4-year-old boy took his great-grandpa’s SUV and took a joyride to the store. Sebastian Swenson backed the car out of a driveway and drove 1½ miles down a four-lane road at 15 mph during…

Clinical Psychologist Karra Harrington said, “Maintaining high quality relationships may be a key for protecting brain health from the negative impacts of loneliness. Older adults who feel more satisfied in their relationships have a 23% lower risk of dementia, while those who feel their relationships…

In their book, No Rules Rules: Netflix and the Culture of Reinvention, Reed Hastings, Erin Meyer write, “The vast majority of firms fail when their industry shifts. Kodak failed to adapt from paper photos to digital. Nokia failed to adapt from flip phones to smartphones. AOL failed to adapt from dial-up…

2020 was an unbelievably bad season for the Chicago Bears. They found themselves losing in the wild card round of the playoffs into which they had inadvertently backed through many losses. All this tragedy happened even though coach Matt Nagy made the difficult decision earlier in the season of laying…

Instead of emphasizing the merry and bright upbeat Christmas celebrations, some churches are having Blue Christmas Services on the Winter Solstice (the darkest day of the year) for those in their community who find Christmas time difficult. "At its deepest level, I think the Christmas gospels tell the…

Danny Holmes is guilty of robbery, kidnapping, murder, and a few other crimes. He has been in jail for a while now; he committed the crimes in 2016. One day recently he looked at a notebook on which he’d written the lyrics to the song “Redeemed” by Big Daddy Weave. The words were, “Then you look at this…

Dr. Joshua Brown, a professor of psychological and brain sciences at Indiana University and his colleague, Dr. Joel Wong, an associate professor of counseling psychology at Indiana University set out to answer one question. How can they help clients derive the greatest possible benefit from treatment…

During the 2017 shooting at First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, TX, Pastor Frank Pomeroy and his wife lost 26 members of their church family, including their own 14-year-old daughter. As the nation sat stunned at the news of the largest mass shooting in Texas history, the media requested a statement…

When Cody Parkey’s field goal attempt bounced off the uprights twice and the Chicago Bears failed to advance in the 2019 playoffs, fans were disappointed. Sportswriter Brian Smith watched the play and said there is something to learn even in life’s losses. Smith said Parkey was redeemed by replays showing…

Andrea Gaylord was forced to leave her home in Paradise, California because of the Camp fire. Her dogs, Miguel and Madison spent a lot of time outdoors, but she did not have time to locate them before she left. Fearing the worst, Gaylord checked with local shelters. She learned that Miguel had been rescued…

A library in Louisiana said a book that was checked out 84 years ago was returned by the son of the woman who checked it out as an eleven-year-old. A note on the Library’s website said the son found the Spoon River Anthology while cleaning the house. They said the book is in bad shape and is not worth…

Kurt Pilgeram of California contracted with Alcor Life Extension Foundation to cryogenically preserve his late father. People do this hoping that at some later time, after a cure for whatever killed the patient is discovered, they can be unfrozen and cured. Pilgeram discovered the company only preserved…

The most popular college class in America today is at Yale University. Psych 157: Psychology and the Good Life is attracting 1200 students per semester. According to the professor, today’s college students are not happy, and she thinks the unhappiness extends far beyond college students. “Students are…

In THANKS! How Practicing Gratitude Can Make You Happier, Robert A. Emmons, Ph.D. writes, “It is also easy to see how gratitude can have a difficult time surviving in a culture that celebrates consumption. But in gratitude we recognize that we are not ultimately producers and consumers but, above all,…

Carrie DeKlyen, a 37-year-old Wyoming mom went to the doctor complaining of headaches. Doctors diagnosed Carrie with a dangerous malignant brain tumor. He told her of a clinical trial for a new treatment that she qualified for that might allow her to live another 10-15 years. The results of blood tests…