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Church is a treasure hunt
Don Chapman writes: “Recently I visited a church where I had to jump over a few unnecessary hurdles before I finally took my seat in their worship service. There was no sign out front. I drove to the church’s location and was surprised not to see a sign. Was I in the right place? I’ve…
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The Pastor’s Pen: Make your reservation
Is your name written in the Book of Life? Ruthanna Metzgar, a professional singer, tells a story that illustrates the importance of having our names written in the Book of Life. Several years ago, she was asked to sing at the wedding of a very wealthy man. According to the invitation, the reception would be…
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The Pastor’s Pen: When to save a drowning man
Watchman Nee tells the story of his stay in China with 20 other Christians. The bathing accommodations were inadequate in the home where they were lodging, so they went for a daily dip in the river. On one occasion, one of the men got a cramp in his leg and began sinking fast. Mr. Nee…
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The Pastor’s Pen: Do you want to be famous?
English evangelist George Whitefield (1714-1770) learned that it was more important to please God than to please men. Knowing that he was doing what was honoring to the Lord kept him from discouragement when his enemies falsely accused him. At one point in his ministry, Whitefield received a vicious letter accusing him of wrongdoing. His…
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The Pastor’s Pen: True Disciples
When I was a teenager we had a revival in 1971 at Inez First Baptist Church. There were so many people saved that it seemed like the whole town had turned to Christ. The revival lasted for almost three weeks. Over 100 people made decisions. It seemed that just about every young person at Inez…
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The Pastor’s Pen: Using your time
The state of Indiana is in a state of confusion about time, according to a fascinating article in a recent issue of The New York Times. In the small town of Vevay, for example, it can be 3 p.m. at the post office, but across the street in Danner’s Hardware Store, the time is 2…
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The Pastor’s Pen: Proper Worship
Let the one who would worship God open his mouth in praise, his heart in receptivity, his mind in contemplation, his purse in dedication, and his hand in fellowship. Songwriter and worship leader Graham Kendrick said, “Worship is first and foremost for His benefit, not ours, though it is marvelous to discover that in giving…
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The Pastor’s Pen: The truth of the book
“It’s a strange thing: the book has never been so accessible. According to the Guinness Book of Records, L. Ron Hubbard’s writings of Scientology have been translated into 65 languages; the Quran is supposed to be read in Arabic so it has not been translated as much; The Book of Mormon is in about 100…
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The Pastor’s Pen: No replacement refs
Way back in October 2012, sports fans across the United States were howling foul. Officiating calls in the final week of replacement referees in an NFL game and Major League baseball’s National League Wildcard game turned the sports world into a finger-pointing circus. On Sept. 24, 2012 Monday Night Football game between the Seattle Seahawks…
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The Pastor’s Pen: They will not prevail
Psalm 22:6-8: “But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people. All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head.” When Susan Boyle stepped out on the stage of “Britain’s Got Talent” years ago people laughed at her…
Tag: Jack Ward
