Children’s Page compiled by Rev. E. Anderson

November 30, 2007 at 9:11 pm (Kids Stories)
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Rev. E. Anderson

The story is taken from a book compiled by the late Rev. Gerald Chamberlain, a great children’s story teller and a person who inspired and influenced many young people. With kind permission from his son, Paul. 

FROZEN TO HIS DINNER

Text   ‘For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord’ – Romans 6: 23

A hawk saw a dead rabbit on a block of ice floating down the Niagara River. Swiftly moving in for such a delightsome dinner the hawk was soon absolutely absorbed in the exercise of picking Brer Rabbit’s bones clean. 

Every now and then the huge bird lifted its head. He seemed to sense danger that was approaching. But he continued to eat and eat, thinking he could fly away at the last moment before the waters around plunge over the falls. 

As the ice block began to sweep over the Great Niagara Falls, the huge wings of the Hawk opened and began to flap powerfully. But his feet were stuck to the ice, firmly frozen, and try as he may, he couldn’t get free. With a terrifying shriek he plunged with the Ice Block down to destruction. If the Hawk had tried earlier up the river, he might have freed himself, for it was the water constantly washing over his feet that made the ice that bound him to the floating ice thicker and thicker.

He didn’t realize that like sin, that ice was getting a bigger grip and bigger grip on him. If you wind one piece of cotton around me pinning my arms to my sides, I’ll laugh at you and break the cotton without any real effort. But when you increase that thin strand to two thickness of cotton, it gets more difficult…..and when 50 times the cotton encircles me, I have to struggle. And when you have wrapped it round me a 100 times, I’m completely bound and cannot get free. 

Sin is just like that. The first cigarette. The first drink. The first drug . . . . Every narcotic, every alcoholic, every drug addict and sexual deviant started like that  

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A Time to Laugh presented by Rev. E. Anderson

November 30, 2007 at 9:05 pm (Time to Laugh)

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Rev. E. Anderson

KIDS IN CHURCH


3-year-old Reese:          “Our Father, Who does art in heaven,                           Harold is His name.           Amen.” A little boy was overheard praying: “Lord, if you can’t make me a better boy, don’t worry about it.                           I’m having a real good time like I am.” 

 After the christening of his baby brother in church,                    Jason sobbed all the way home in the back seat of the car.  His father asked him three times what was wrong.  Finally, the boy replied,  “That preacher said he wanted us brought up in a Christian home,                                       and I wanted to stay with you guys.”  

One particular four-year-old prayed,               “And forgive us our trash baskets      as we forgive those who put trash in our baskets.” A Sunday school teacher asked her children as they                                  were on the way to church service,            “And why is it necessary to be quiet in church?”  One bright little girl replied,         “Because people are sleeping.” 

 A mother was preparing pancakes for her sons, Kevin 5, and Ryan 3                The boys began to argue over who would get the first pancake.                           Their mother saw the opportunity for a moral lesson.    “If Jesus were sitting here, He would say,    ‘Let my brother have the first pancake, I can wait.’                        Kevin turned to his younger brother and said,                                                            “Ryan, you be Jesus!” 

A father was at the beach with his children when the four-year-old son ran up  to him, grabbed his hand, and led him to the shore where a seagull lay dead in  the sand.                                “Daddy, what happened to him?” the son asked.                     “He died and went to Heaven,” the Dad replied.  The boy thought a moment and then said, “Did God throw him back down?”                       

A wife invited some people to dinner.             At the table, she turned to their six-year-old daughter and said,                                   “Would you like to say the blessing?”   “I wouldn’t know what to say,” the girl replied.                      “Just say what you hear Mommy say,” the wife answer,  The daughter bowed her head and said,              “Lord, why on earth did I invite all these people to dinner?” 
 

And if you don’t send this to at least 8 people —– who cares?!  
Peace, love and happiness
         

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Contemporary Considerations presented by Rev. E. Anderson

November 29, 2007 at 10:00 pm (Contemporary Considerations)

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Rev. E. Anderson

The Hard Work of Getting Along
by Jon Walker

“Let us agree to use all our energy in getting along with each other.” Romans 14:19a (Message) 

If you have children, you’ll know exactly what I mean: Some days you look into their faces, and you see the attitudes of angels; on other days you want to scream, “Why can’t you just get along!” as they get into a cyclical argument about who moved a toy 1/32nd of an inch.  

Sometimes these opposite attitudes shift back and forth six times in five minutes! But let me ask you this: Do you think God ever looks at us – we adults; believers in community together – and he sighs, saying, “why can’t my children just get along?’” 

There are dozens of reasons we don’t get along with each other with the sin of pride right at the top of the list. But I think another huge reason we fail to live in authentic, consistent, committed, Christian community is because it’s too hard.  It requires real effort to work through our differences, to remain transparent and honest, to confront and to pay close attention to each other.

Frankly, it’s easier to keep relationships superficial; to ‘demonize’ one another when we don’t agree; to cut and run at the first sign of trouble rather than commit to each other. Yet, God placed within us a need for ‘stick-with-it’ commitments; his commitment to us is unbreakable, and he wants to see us extend the same commitment to each other (2 Cor. 8:5). But this kind of commitment takes time; something that has become far too scarce in our lives today (and that is a choice). 

God knows we will live in a healthy, Christian community if we will commit to living our lives together beyond our weekly meetings, if we will make each other a priority – sharing our lives over coffee, after work, at the ballpark, in the hospital.  The only way for us to become a “friend who sticks closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24) is when we focus on the quality of our relationships, not mere quantity or mere acquaintances. 

“You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honor.” (James 3:18, Message, Emphasis mine)  

So what? 

     ·                            Love no matter what – How can you plan to help others at all times (not just when it’s convenient? Proverbs 17:17) ~~ How can you develop a strategy for loving others at their worst, not just when they seem loveable? (Romans 5:8). 

     ·                            Show up – The most basic behavior of commitment is simply showing up. ‘If you care, you’ll be there.’ You may be surprised that your mere presence is a source of encouragement (Hebrews 10:25). 

     ·                            Intentional Commitments – Other than your spouse, have you ever told someone else, “I will always be there for you.” This week established an intentional commitment with another believer. Approach the Spirit’s choice, and bless that person by saying, “I want to grow close to you as a friend.”  

Jon Walker is a pastor-advocate living in Tennessee and the former pastor of communications at Saddleback Church

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A Time to Laugh presented by Rev. E. Anderson

November 29, 2007 at 9:52 pm (Time to Laugh)

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Rev. E. Anderson 

Marriage humour

Definition of a wife:  The person who is first to put their foot down after crossing the threshold; a female who would rather mend your ways than your socks; the one person who in an argument, if you win- you lose; she says that she has nothing to wear yet she also moans that she needs more wardrobe space. Definition of a husband:  A man who always consults his better half before his better judgment; A man who thinks twice before saying nothing; a man who buys his wife such fine china that she will never trust him to do the dishes; a person who has learned to turn off the car motor when his wife calls `I’ll be right out’.  

 How do men define marriage? ‘A very expensive way to get your laundry done free’. 

 ‘The most effective way to remember your wife’s birthday is to forget it once’. 

A man was speaking to God. `God why did you make women so beautiful?’ he asked. God said `I did that to make you love them.’Then the man asked: `Well, God; why did you make them such good cooks.’God said: `I did that to make you love them.’The man then asked: `But God why did you make women so stupid?’God said: `I did that to make them love you!’” 

Wedding Dress

Attending a wedding for the first time, a little girl whispered to her mother, “Why is the bride dressed in white?” ‘Because white is the colour of happiness, and today is the happiest day of her life’. her mother tried to explain, keeping it simple. The child thought about this for a moment, then said, ‘So why is the groom wearing black?’ 

Why Are Wedding Dresses White?

 A fresh-faced lad on the eve of his wedding night goes to his mother with the following question. “Mom, why are wedding dresses white?” The mother looks at her son and replies, ‘Son, this shows the town that your bride is pure’.  The son thanks his mom and goes off to double-check this with his father. ‘Dad why are wedding dresses white?’ The father looks at his son in surprise and says, ‘Son, all household appliances come in white.’ 

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Great Stories collated by Rev. E. Anderson

November 28, 2007 at 11:46 pm (Great Stories)

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Rev. E. Anderson

EXCUSE ME, ARE YOU JESUS!

A few years ago a group of salesmen went to a regional sales convention in Chicago. They had assured their wives that they would be home in plenty of time for Friday night’s dinner. Hurrying to catch the plane home with tickets and briefcases, one of the salesmen inadvertently kicked over a table which held a display of apples. Apples flew everywhere. Without stopping or looking back, they all managed to reach the plane in time for their nearly missed boarding. All but one! He paused, took a deep breath, got in touch with his feelings, and experienced a twinge of compassion for the girl whose apple stand had been overturned. 

He told his buddies to go on without him, waved good-bye, told one of them to call his wife when they arrived home at their destination and explain his taking a later flight. Then he returned to the terminal where the apples were all over the terminal floor. 

He was glad he did. The sixteen year old vendor was totally blind. She was softly crying, tears running down her cheeks in frustration, and the same time helplessly groping for her spilled produce as the crowd swirled about her, no one stopping or caring about her plight. 

The salesman knelt on the floor with her, gathered up the apples, put them back on the table, and helped organize her display. As he did this, he noticed many of them had become battered and bruised; these he set aside in another basket. 

When he had finished, he pulled out his wallet and said to the girl, ‘Here, please take this $40 for the damage we did. Are you OK? She nodded through her tears. He continues on with, ‘I hope we didn’t spoil your day too badly’. 

As the salesman started to walk away, the bewildered blind girl called out to him, ‘Mister….’  He paused and turned to looked back into those blind eyes. She continued, ‘Are you Jesus?’ He stopped in mid-stride, and he wondered. Then slowly he made his way to catch the later flight with that question burning and bouncing in his soul: ‘Are you Jesus?’ 

Do people mistake you for Jesus? That’s our destiny, is it not? To be so much like Jesus that people cannot tell the difference as we live and interact with a world that is blind to His love, life and grace. If we claim to know Him, we should live, walk and act as He would. Knowing Him is mre than simply quoting Scripture and going to church. It’s actually living the Word as life unfolds day to day. 

We are the apple of His eye, even though we, too, have been bruised by a fall. He stopped what he wa doing and picked us up on a hill called Calvary, paying in full for our damaged fruit.   

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Top Ten subscribed by Rev. David Gilpin

November 28, 2007 at 11:40 pm (Top Ten)

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Rev. David Gilpin

Senior Minister of Hope Church, Sheffield

 Behind everything you see is something you don’t see. This book is designed to outline nuggets of wisdom that often remain invisible behind thriving churches and ministries. Mixed with a touch of humour. Top 10 of Everything looks into the Private Word , the Practical World, the Handy Hints World and the Wide World of Knowledge. It gives advice on many subjects that may prove invaluable to established and up-and-coming leaders. Read it all at once or read it one Top Ten at a time. This book can also provide new preachers with an opportunity to ‘borrow’ some of the Tom 10 outlines to create lively and dynamic sermons. 

Top ten WAYS to move in the gifts of the spirit 

Krakatoa 

The gifts of the Spirit listed in 1 Corinthians 12 are referred to as the manifestations of the Spirit. Because God lives in heaven and in our hearts, we can receive a gift either down from heaven or up from our hearts. When a volcano erupts, what was under the surface manifests itself for all to see. It’s essential we stir up the gifts that are within us and allow the supernatural to be released from our lives. What an impact we can make! 

  1. CHOOSE TO BELIEVE THAT THE SAME SPIRIT

That rose Christ from the dead now lives in you. You have all that it takes living in you right now. 

  1. CHOOSE TO BELIEVE THAT IT IS GOD’S DESIRE

That rivers of life flow from your inmost being to touch and impact a needy world. The gifts are manifestations of the Spirit. 

  1. CHOOSE TO BELIEVE THAT THE GIFTS ARE GRACE GIFTS

The Greek word for ‘gift’ actually means ‘a gift of grace’. You don’t deserve it. You can’t earn it. It’s by the grace of God. Stop exalting men who move in the gifts. 

  1. CHOOSE TO DESIRE THE SPIRITUAL GIFTS EARNESTLY

Desire is the key that stirs up the gifts and causes them to be released at the point of need. 

  1. CHOOSE TO STEP OUT IN FAITH AND NOT FEAR-FAILURE

As you begin to step out, you release the power that accompanies the gifts. You can only learned whether the promptings are from God or yourself by stepping out and ‘having a go’. 

  1. CHOOSE TO LIVE A LIFE OF INTIMACY WITH GOD

As you keep regularly ‘tuned’ to the airwaves of God, you’ll not miss out on opportunities to move in the gifts of the Spirit. 

  1. CHOOSE TO HANG AROUND PEOPLE WHO MOVE IN THE GIFTS

When Saul hung around the prophets, he prophesied. The right environment can accelerate the rising of the gifts. 

  1. CHOOSE TO WALK IN THE MOTIVATION OF LOVE

The gifts aren’t for show, they are for lifting people to new levels of living. 

  1. CHOOSE TO ALLOW GOD TO PRUNE YOU

for greater manifestations of the gifts. John 15 tells us that God prunes us for increased fruitfulness. He enlarges our character for greater charisma (the Greek word for gift). 

  1. CHOOSE TO SUBMIT YOUR GIFTS TO THE LEADERSHIP OF YOUR LOCAL CHURCH

Everything should be done decently and in order. Unruliness can nullify the effectiveness of the gifts. 

Bible Extra: Daniel 11: 32; John 4: 4-26; John 7: 38-39; Romans 8: 10-11; 1 Corinthians 12: 1-11; 1 Corinthians 13: 13; 14: 1, 26-39 

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Powerful Quotes arranged by Rev. L. Goodwin

November 27, 2007 at 9:08 pm (Quotes)

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Rev. L. Goodwin

 QUOTES TO NOTE

 Decision Making Quotes

 “There are only two words that will always lead you to success. Those words are yes and no. Undoubtedly, you’ve mastered saying yes. So start practicing saying no. Your goals depend on it!”  Jack Canfield

“Greatness is not a function of circumstance. Greatness, it turns out, is largely a matter of conscious choice, and discipline.”  Jim Collins 

“I’m convinced that we can write and live our own scripts more than most people will acknowledge. I also know the price that must be paid. It’s a real struggle to do it. It requires visualization and affirmation. It involves living a life of integrity, starting with making and keeping promises, until the whole human personality the senses, the thinking, the feeling, and the intuition are ultimately integrated and harmonized.”  Steve Covey
 

“Making good decisions is a crucial skill at every level.”  Peter Drucker

“Most discussions of decision making assume that only senior executives make decisions or that only senior executives’ decisions matter. This is a dangerous mistake.”  Peter Drucker

“You will either step forward into growth or you will step back into safety.”  Abraham Maslow


“Sometimes you make the right decision, sometimes you make the decision right.”  Dr. Phil

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Knowing God serviced by Rev. E. Anderson

November 27, 2007 at 9:00 pm (Knowing God)

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Rev. E. Anderson

THE DYNAMIC IMPACT

2 CHRONICLES 29-32 

Quite a bit is chronicled about Hezekiah who was one of the godly kings that reigned in and over Judah. When he came to the throne things were none too good from many angles but especially in the knowledge of God and reverence of Him. This was all to change in the advent of this man at 25 years of age. One can truly assume that it was his desire for God and his faith knowledge of him that made him act as he did during his reign. What sense and understanding he did possess made him take steps that left a glorious witness behind in Judah’s history. It provoked 

       1/.   HIM TO PROMOTE THE LORD AMONGST HIS PEOPLE – 2 CHRON. 29: 10 

He actually decided to make a sacred covenant with the Lord in his heart to honour Him because he wanted His wrath to be removed and His gracious favour and covenant to be known. History had both told and taught him that because the Lord had His rightful place in the nation during David’s reign, it went well, and he knew he must get the people back on track so that the Lord’s grace and blessing would be restored and so the challenge to all.  

       2/.   HIM TO CLEANSE THE SANCTUARY AND URGED THE PRIESTHOOD TO ITS RESPONSIBILITIES – 2 CHRON. 29: 11 

The immediate requirement was to see the sanctuary purified and to call upon the priests to properly consecrate themselves to the Lord and discharge of their duties. He beheld their negligence and demanded that this should dramatically change. In no way was he going to allow the status quo to exist. The impact would be felt far and wide as he initiated a wholesale re-direction of procedure and there came also the emphasis on Passover Feast. People knew where his mind and commitment was focused. 

       3/.   HIM TO DISPOSE OF ALL THE IDOLATRY IN THE LAND – 2 CHRON. 31 

He made sure that the offensive idolatrous system that had been embraced by God’s people was removed, and it must have taken courage to have performed this. There was no room for the evil alongside of Jehovah. It had to go. 

       4/.   HIM TO TRUST GOD AMIDST A DIFFICULT TIME – 2 CHRON. 32 

Later events saw the Assyrians rise as a great power and they invaded the land, making great inroads and conquest in Israel and now into Judah. They were now arrogantly situated outside the Holy City but Hezekiah looked to the Lord in this extreme crisis, and was not to be disappointed. What a turn around occurred! 

       5/.   HIM TO EXPERIENCE A PERSONAL HEALING – ISAIAH 38 

There came the time and moment when the he was sick and informed that he was to die but before doing so was to set his house in order. He prevails in prayer and receives an immediate answer and healing. Because he knew the Lord he was able to enjoy this special blessing. The only problem, he did not use the fifteen years to maximum effect for God. Surely a lesson to take note of.

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Sermon Starters provided by Rev. E. Anderson

November 26, 2007 at 9:49 pm (Sermon Starters)

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Rev. E. Anderson

This is but a sermon starter to get you thinking and studying in relation to the text and theme. Trust it will be provocative and promotive. 

THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD   

Psalm 23  

This is an eye opener… Some probably never thought nor looked at this Psalm in this way… even though they say it over and over again..


 1/.    ‘The Lord is my Shepherd’  –  That’s Relationship!            

2/.     ‘I shall not want’  –  That’s Supply!       

 3/.     ‘He maketh me to lie down in green pastures’  –  That’s Rest!         

4/.     ‘He leadeth me beside the still waters’  –   That’s Refreshment!        

5/.     ‘He restoreth my soul’  –   That’s Healing!        

6/.     ‘He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness’  –  That’s Guidance!         

7/.     ‘For His name sake’  –   That’s Purpose!         

8/.     ‘Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death  –   That’s Testing!         

9/.     ‘I will fear no evil’  –  That’s Protection!       

10/.    ‘For Thou art with me’  –   That’s Faithfulness!       

11/.    ‘Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me’  –  That’s Discipline!        

12/.    ‘Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies’  –  That’s Hope!     

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Illustrations of Note provided by Rev. E. Anderson

November 26, 2007 at 9:45 pm (Illustrations)

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Rev. E. Anderson

STOREHOUSE 

Major firms usually have tremendous storehouses where they stockpile their goods in order to be able supply the need of their customers. A ‘storehouse’ is a must for them. They need to make sure when there is big demand they are up to meeting the immediate request. 

Joseph, in the Bible, was called upon in the course of newly appointed office as prime minister to construct countless large storehouses that would contain the abundance of grain that was going to be created in the next seven years. God ha revealed that there was going to be seven years of famine, so it was essential that the profusion of corn should be safely housed in readiness for the critical years.

What a tremendous building enterprise was on in order to stock such a seeming infinite quantity of grain! The king, people and Joseph must have felt relieved and assured when they saw these storehouses filled to capacity believing that in the coming emergency they would be fully provided for. The fear factor would be somewhat removed as they saw all these storehouses erected and full of one of the basic requirements of life. They knew they would not starve because there was a fullness of supply at hand ready to be distributed. 

In our modern way of living we like to think that our larders and pantries are stocked so that we lack nothing. We are able to go to them on a daily basis and take from our freezer, refrigerators and shelves the things that keep our bodies satisfied and existence going. They are stocked on a regular basis so what is needed is available when required. 

Above all, it is inspiring to know that God has storehouses that He wills that we should be acquainted with. Whilst it is good and helpful to have the aforesaid, our faith should not be focussed on such. It is essential to be aware of the fact that God’s storehouses must be known and drawn upon and they touch upon this life and the life to come.  

One of the present storehouses is His Word. In the Bible there is stored up an located great promises from Himself to His people and they should be acquainted with and live off them. He goes on sacred record to give choice assurances that guarantee the fruitfulness, security and blessedness of life and here and now. In no uncertain way we are told, ‘man does not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God’ – Matthew 4: 4. God is there to be our Guide, Provider, Protector, Healer, Restorer etc., (see Psalm 23) and it is vital to digest in our minds an hearts what He has to say.

Just like the big oil refineries with their vast tanks of oil, there is the guarantee that my car will not run short of gas or oil! What is assured now is also guaranteed on an eternal footing. No one need have any anxiety with regard to eternity because there is storehouse after storehouse of blessing waiting to be drawn and lived upon by those who belong to God.

There never will be a time in that eternal setting when God finds himself embarrassed because of a lack within himself or resources. Already He has in mind the thought, prospect, will and ability to utterly satisfy His new creation out of His infinite treasuries. He is going to find enormous pleasure in seeing all this new Family of His blessed in an incredible manner and measure.     

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