Author's posts

Dec 02

A Letter From Fred: Sweet Lorraine Song

Here’s a great story and song. Fred Stobaugh charmed the globe as a 96 year-old songwriter, but his legacy might be as a marriage healer. Phil Luciano’s piece in the Peoria Journal Star: link YouTube documentary, which tells the main story (#1 video), and 5 more videos that tell the followup story of the song …

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Nov 22

A W Tozer

A. W. Tozer, a modern day prophet, was a key figure in The Christian and Missionary Alliance. His legacy reaches through time and has impacted countless millions. A prolific author and pastor, Tozer was known for his emphasis on the deeper life movement. His message, informed as it was by A.B. Simpson the founder of …

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Nov 22

Prevenient, Justifying, and Sanctifying Grace

Good, not to long, article on Wesley’s view of Prevenient, Justifying, and Sanctifying Grace. http://www.umc.org/what-we-believe/our-wesleyan-heritage  To sanctify means to set apart as or declare holy; consecrate. To consecrate means to make or declare (something, typically a church) sacred; dedicate formally to a religious or divine purpose. Through God’s sanctifying grace, we grow and mature in …

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Nov 15

Treasured Truths – Adoption

Notes from the Treasured Truth podcast (Pastor James Ford, Jr.) [5 parts (podcasts) in Moody Radio app] Gal 4 God ‘removed’ slave or free, male or female, etc. (In Gal 3 he removes barriers.) However, this was on a spiritual level. He did not remove the physical/practical differences – e.g. Males and females are physically …

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Nov 03

Cubs Win, Cubs Win

On Nov. 2, 2016, the Chicago Cubs won Game 7 of the World Series over the Cleveland Indians, 8-7 in 10 innings. It was a great game and a great season for the Cubs. Here are a few of my reflections. (More could be written-it will suffice for now.) Click the file. game7-reflection

Nov 01

Great commission or morality

Good devo by Joe Stowell on the idea that the great commission is more important than promoting morality. Some good ideas to use in the Two Decrees sermon.  http://getmorestrength.org/daily/one-at-a-time/ 

Oct 24

Establishments and Institutions

Sermon idea:  I like institutions (look up definition). They exist to carry out a needed duty. ‘The establishment’ on the other hand seems to mainly be there to maintain itself.  In Yancey’s ‘The Jesus I Never Knew’ book he says, on page 197, that Jesus posed a genuine threat to the establishment in Jerusalem. More …

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Oct 24

There is nothing enlightening about shrinking

Great quote by Marianne Williamson. Thanks Dave Lafary at the Faith Encounter, 10-19-16 at Wesley Church.

Oct 13

Grasping and being moved to Please, Know, and Resemble God

From Tim Keller’s daily reading plan (and his fuller book) from YouVersion (below). I want this ultimate relationship with God. I want to grasp what Jesus did for me and all of mankind. I want to be in relationship with God to please Him, know Him, and resemble Him, as I love those around me …

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Oct 10

A Catholic, Baptist, and a Methodist Go to Heaven

A Catholic, Baptist, and a Methodist Die and Go to Heaven They go before St. Peter at the Pearly Gates. All three are believers (and strong Christians) so St. Peter is going to let them in. However, their mansions are not quite ready yet and St. Peter doesn’t have any place to put them. With …

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