Friday, Jun 29, 2007

June 29, 2007

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1 Chon 12; Psalm 60; Acts 11

How else but through a broken heart may the Lord Christ enter in.
Oscar Wilde


Lord, keep us praying always – may we keep our focus on the Spirit, and constantly and regularly pray for the needs on one another and for myself, that that I may find the right words to say and give me boldness to speak up and make known the mystery of the gospel, as I ought to.


"The Poem"

Every employee Down in Cagle’s place Liked writing Christmas poems a lot...
But the Pastor Who lived just east of them, Did NOT!

Poor Pastor came to help Susan for a season
Now please don’t ask why, No one quite knows the reason
It could be that his head wasn’t screwed on quite right
It could be, perhaps, that his shoes were to tight.
But I think that the most likely reason of all
May have been that his brain was two sizes too small.
But, Whatever the reason, His heart or his brain
He went there one Thursday to sweep the dirt down the drain

He swept and he swept, he hated to sweep
The dirt kept a coming he sobbed a huge sob, he started to weep
Staring at John’s dirty mess with a sour Grinchy frown,
Then he had an idea, he packed up his car and he headed to town
A shopping he went to get a mop, a super “O Cedar”
to suck up that pesky dirt and “make your life easier”
“Those people at Cagle’s” are filthy, he snarled with a sneer
“Tomorrow they’ll be tracking more muck on the floors right in here!
I must find a way to keep the dirt on the run, and keep it a running
He growled with his executive maintenance fingers nervously drumming

The super “O Cedar” whisked right though the job
It swept up the dirt, paper clips, & computer chips O yes sir re Bob!
The Pastor was so proud of himself for the choice
The place practically sparkled like a brand new Rolls Royce
But lo and behold a week or two passed
When with an insidious poem a vile plot had been hatched
A bag full of evidence planted in stealth with a smile
By Melinda or Shannon, or Jamie, a plot cruel and vile
Which was something the Pastor couldn't stand in the least!
He seethed and he shook and he growled like a beast!

This prevarication, he liked least of all!
No matter how minor, no matter how small,
He ran through the building, his ears burning and ringing.
Like a whirlwind blowing or a fat lady singing
Soon papers were strewn the place was a mess
And he scribbled graffiti on the walls in his stress!
The more that he thought, "I must stop this whole thing!
I’m no ordinary employee, I’m fit for a king
"Why for fifty-three years I've put up with it now!
I MUST stop unacceptable Employee behavior from rearing it’s head
I’ll take a one day seminar, I’ll get out the lead!

...But HOW?" Then he got an idea! An awful idea!
THE PASTOR GOT A WONDERFUL, AWFUL IDEA!
"I know just what to do!" He Laughed in his throat.
And he made a quick Santy Claus hat and a coat.
And he chuckled, and clucked, "What a great Grinchy trick!
"With this coat and this hat, I'll look just like Jim Cagle or Old Saint Nick!"

I’ll catch all those slacker employees of Cagle’s
Writing poems, playing pac man, drinking mocha or snacking on Bagel’s
There will be no more excuses, no short changing the boss
I’ll stop all the gossip, and nip the bud in the hoss
And if you’re wondering what the last smarty pants saying means you all chime
I haven’t got a clue, but, unlike your poems, know this, it rhymes

“So back to work you all,” the old pastor hissed
And leave the cleaning to me and nothing, not even a speck will ever be missed
Then he stood with a smile as he turned out the light
Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night

Posted by Dennis Kreiss at 9:11 AM |  MAKE A COMMENT  

Thursday, Jun 28, 2007

June 28, 2007

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1 Chon 11; Psalm 59; Acts 10

Anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows.
Charles H. Spurgeon


I pray that you would experience God’s Grace and peace. I thank my God upon every time I think of you, and in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, because of your partnership with me in the work of the gospel, and I am confident that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it no matter how long it takes; I know this is true because I have you in my heart, And this I pray, that your love may grow deeper in knowledge and discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with a life of righteousness which is pleasing to God.

Posted by Dennis Kreiss at 9:04 AM |  MAKE A COMMENT  

Wednesday, Jun 27, 2007

June 27, 2007

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Lord grant that the FIRE of my heart may melt the lead of my feet.
Unknown

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Tuesday, Jun 26, 2007

June 26, 2007

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The purpose of Christianity is not to avoid difficulty, but to produce a character adequate to meet it when it comes. It does not make life easy; rather it tries to make us great enough for life.
James L. Christensen

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Monday, Jun 25, 2007

June 25, 2007

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The highest science, the loftiest speculation, the mightiest philosophy, which can ever engage the attention of a child of God, is the name, the nature, the person, the work, the doings, and the existence of the great God whom he calls his Father. There is something exceedingly improving to the mind in a contemplation of the Divinity. It is a subject so vast, that all our thoughts are lost in its immensity; so deep, that our pride is drowned in its infinity.
C. H. Spurgeon

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Saturday, Jun 23, 2007

June 23, 2007

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Some people do not like to hear much of repentance; but I think it is so necessary that if I should die in the pulpit, I would desire to die preaching repentance, and if out of the pulpit I would desire to die practicing it.”
Matthew Henry

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Friday, Jun 22, 2007

June 22, 2007

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The less a man knows, the more he thinks he knows. The more he really does know, the more he realizes his ignorance and his limitations.
H. A. Ironside

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Thursday, Jun 21, 2007

June 21, 2007

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1 Chron 7; Psalm 28-30; Acts 5

They are the happiest Christians, who have the lowest thoughts of themselves, and in whose eyes Jesus is most glorious and precious.
John Newton's Letters

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Wednesday, Jun 20, 2007

June 20, 2007

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1 Chon 10; Psalm 58; Acts 9

We all know far more of the Bible—than we practice. The head is far in advance of the heart. It is no easy thing to be a Christian—however easy it is to be called one.
John Angell James

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Tuesday, Jun 19, 2007

June 19, 2007

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1 Chon 9; Psalm 57; Acts 8

The disciples of Christ, like their Lord and Master, often feel themselves alone. The season of sickness, the hour of bereavement, the period of trial, is often the occasion of increased depression from the painful consciousness of the solitude and loneliness in which it is borne. The heavenly way we travel is more or less a lonely way. We have at most but few companions. It is a "little flock," and only here and there we meet a traveler, who, like ourselves, is journeying towards the Zion of God… If, indeed, true religion consisted in mere profession, then there were many for Christ. But if the true travelers are men of broken heart, poor in spirit, who mourn for sin, who know the music of the Shepherd's voice, who follow the Lamb, who delight in the throne of grace, and who love the place of the cross, then there are but 'few' with whom the true saints journey to heaven in fellowship and communion.
Octavius Winslow

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Monday, Jun 18, 2007

June 18, 2007

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1 Chon 8; Psalm 56; Acts 7

In short, I will preach it, teach it, write it, but I will constrain no man by force, for faith must come freely without compulsion. Take myself as an example. I opposed indulgences and all the papists, but never with force. I simply taught, preached, and wrote God's Word; otherwise I did nothing. And while I slept , or ate with my friends Philip and Amsdorf, the Word so greatly weakened the papacy that no prince or emperor ever inflicted such losses upon it. I did nothing; the Word did everything.
Martin Luther

Posted by Dennis Kreiss at 9:17 AM |  MAKE A COMMENT  

Saturday, Jun 16, 2007

June 16, 2007

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1 Chon 7; Psalm 55; Acts 6

Whether we like it or not, asking is the rule of the Kingdom. If you may have everything by asking in His Name, and nothing without asking, I beg you to see how absolutely vital prayer is."
Charles Spurgeon

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Friday, Jun 15, 2007

June 15, 2007

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1 Chron 5; Psalm 54; Acts 5

Sun attacks though unexpected means, sin attacks through unexpected opportunities, Sin attacks the unprotected life.
Adrian Rogers

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Thursday, Jun 14, 2007

June 14, 2007

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1 Chron 4; Psalm 11

If your heart takes more pleasure in reading novels or watching TV or going to the movies or talking to friends than sitting alone with God and embracing him, sharing his cares and his burdens, weeping and rejoicing with him then how are you going handle forever and ever in his presence, you'd be bored to tears in heaven if you're not ecstatic about God now.
Keith Green

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Wednesday, Jun 13, 2007

June 13, 2007

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If Christianity is untrue, then no honest man will want to believe it, however helpful it might be: if it is true, every honest man will want to believe it, even if it gives him no help at all.
C.S. Lewis

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Tuesday, Jun 12, 2007

June 12, 2007

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Yes, we want to forget that most of God’s people in the early days of the church did not have the peace of mind. They did not seek it. They knew that a soldier does not go to the battlefield to relax - he goes there to fight!
A.W. Tozer

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Monday, Jun 11, 2007

June 11, 2007

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The art of being wise is the art of what to overlook. The petty and mundane steal much of our time.
William James

Posted by Dennis Kreiss at 9:13 AM |  MAKE A COMMENT  

Saturday, Jun 09, 2007

June 9, 2007

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The reason that most major goals are not achieved is that we spend our time doing second things first.
Robert J. McKain

Posted by Dennis Kreiss at 9:32 AM |  MAKE A COMMENT  

Friday, Jun 08, 2007

June 8, 2007

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Success is the world's criterion of merit; fidelity is God's.
Charles S. Robinson

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Thursday, Jun 07, 2007

June 7, 2007

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One man can awaken another. And then waken his next door brother And the three awake, can awaken the town By turning the whole place upside down And the many awake can make such a fuss That they finally awaken the rest of us One man up with dawn in his eyes ... MULTIPLIES
Dwight Bain

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Wednesday, Jun 06, 2007

June 6, 2007

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2 Kings 21

From heaven’s standpoint, all spiritual victories are won not primarily in the pulpit, not primarily in the light of publicity, nor yet through the ostentatious blaring of trumpets, but in the secret place of prayer
Paul E. Billheimer

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Tuesday, Jun 05, 2007

June 5, 2007

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Hudson Taylor
Whatever is your best time in the day, give that to communion with God.

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Monday, Jun 04, 2007

June 4, 2007

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People see God every day. They just don’t recognize him!
Pearl Bailey

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Saturday, Jun 02, 2007

June 2, 2007

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An essential condition of listening to God is that the mind should not be distracted by thoughts of resentment, hatred, ill temper or vengeance.
RVG Tasker

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Friday, Jun 01, 2007

June 1, 2007

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To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing.
Martin Luther

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