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The Pastor’s Pen: Truly hungry
In May 1846, 187 men, women and children left from Missouri in a wagon train headed to California. There was nothing exceptional about the group or this journey and we would have never known about them had they not made the decision to try a shortcut. The “Hastings Cutoff,” as it was known, was indeed…
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The Pastor’s Pen: $10 is $10
A man named Stumpy and his wife Martha went to the state fair every year, and every year when Stumpy saw the antique bi-plane he would say, “Martha, I’d like to ride in that airplane.” Martha always replied, “I know, Stumpy, but that airplane ride costs $10, and $10 is $10.” One year, Stumpy said,…
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The Pastor’s Pen: Ruby’s Prayer
Ruby Hamilton, a businesswoman in her 50s, was stunned at the loss of her husband of 32 years in a car accident. She had become a follower of Christ in her late 20s, but her husband didn’t share her newfound interest in spiritual things. Nonetheless, she had set about praying for him feverishly and unceasingly…
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The Pastor’s Pen: Three dollars worth of God, please
Tim Hansel, in his book “When I Relax I Feel Guilty,” writes some insights into what most people want from God. “I would like to buy $3 worth of God, please. Not enough to explode my soul or disturb my sleep, but just enough to equal a cup of warm milk or a snooze in…
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The Pastor’s Pen: Can you be defeated?
1 John 5:4: “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” It’s a scene from one of the “Star Trek” TV series. Worf, the Klingon, is captured by the evil Dominion. They intend to use him as a practice dummy in hand-to-hand…
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The Pastor’s Pen: The meanest man in Texas
Clyde’s father was a Bible salesman, but when he was old enough to stay home alone, he began refusing to go to church with the rest of the family. Most Sundays, while his family was in church, Clyde was hunting. One Sunday afternoon in 1929, when he was 17 years old, he met some men…
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Prayer of Grandma Jones
I want to tell you the story of an old lady whom everybody called “Grandma Jones.” She had a close relationship with Jesus. And she knew that Jesus wanted her to be a soul-winner. She wanted to lead others to Christ. However, Grandma Jones was pretty much homebound. She didn’t drive. She had no family…
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The Pastor’s Pen: The Master and the Child
The folklore surrounding Poland’s famous concert pianist and prime minister, Ignace Paderewski, includes a story, which though fictional, provides a true picture of what God can do with us: A mother wishing to encourage her young son’s progress at the piano bought tickets for a Paderewski performance. When the night arrived, they found their seats…
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The Pastor’s Pen: What makes us attractive?
What makes us attractive? Young girls in many countries have standards of beauty and appearance that are according to their national customs. Like most of us, people aren’t like runway models or movie stars. Most people in the world are like you and me—just people. We may be a bit overweight, some of us a…
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The Pastor’s Pen: There is someone beyond the grave
The University of Chicago Divinity School has what is called “Baptist Day” each year. On this day, each one is to bring a lunch to an outdoor picnic area, and the school invites one of the popular lecturers to speak at the theological education center. One year Dr. Paul Tillich came and spent 2-1/2 hours…
Category: Pastor’s Pen
