by Inspiration | Jun 13, 2023 | Archives, Featured, Spiritual Growth
As my husband and I were working inside, we heard something hit the window. Looking out and seeing nothing, we stepped outside and there on the front porch was the… As my husband and I were working inside, we heard something hit the window. Looking out and seeing nothing, we stepped outside and there on the front porch was the still body of a woodpecker — a beautiful yellow-bellied sapsucker. He had flown into the window, and, we presumed, broken his neck. My husband picked him up for a moment and stroked the red cap on his head and laid him back down. Just then, I saw an eye blink. I was holding a utility cloth in my hand, and I picked him up and covered him, all but his head. His heart was racing wildly, and I felt just a twitch of his foot. I realized that this now helpless creature, if only knocked out, could revive at any moment and give me quite a pecking. Instinctive caution urged me to leave the bird there and hope he would come around, and that was my plan, that is until I saw the neighbor’s big black cat approaching in his most stealthy stalking mode. I took the bird inside and found a box with a lid — if he revived
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by Inspiration | Jun 8, 2023 | Archives, Featured, Spiritual Growth
A pastor had been on a long flight between church conferences. The first warning of the approaching problems came when the sign on the airplane flashed on: Fasten Your Seat… A pastor had been on a long flight between church conferences. The first warning of the approaching problems came when the sign on the airplane flashed on: Fasten Your Seat Belts. Then, after a while, a calm voice said, “We shall not be serving the beverages at this time as we are expecting a little turbulence. Please be sure your seat belt is fastened.” As the pastor looked around the aircraft, it became obvious that many of the passengers were becoming apprehensive. Later, the voice on the intercom said, “We are so sorry that we are unable to serve the meal at this time. The turbulence is still ahead of us.” And then the storm broke… The ominous cracks of thunder could be heard even above the roar of the engines. Lightning lit up the darkening skies, and within moments that great plane was like a cork tossed around on a celestial ocean. One moment the airplane was lifted on terrific currents of air; the next, it dropped as if it were about to crash. The pastor confessed that he shared the discomfort and fear of those around him. He
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by Inspiration | May 29, 2023 | Archives, Featured, Spiritual Growth
In one minute, in the privacy of your home, it can be explained how you can know for sure that you will receive the gift of Heaven. “These things have… In one minute, in the privacy of your home, it can be explained how you can know for sure that you will receive the gift of Heaven. “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that you may know that ye have eternal life” – 1 John 5:13 All you have to know are four things: 1. God says, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” – Romans 3:23 2. God says, “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” – Romans 5:12 This is the story of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. The price for sin is death. 3. God says, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” – Romans 5:8 God loves you very much. He doesn’t want you to go to Hell. In fact, He loves you so much that He sent His Son Jesus to this earth. This is why
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by Inspiration | May 23, 2023 | Archives, Featured, Spiritual Growth
A minister passing through his church in the middle of the day, Decided to pause by the altar and see who had come to pray. Just then the back door… A minister passing through his church in the middle of the day, Decided to pause by the altar and see who had come to pray. Just then the back door opened, a man came down the aisle, The minister frowned as he saw the man hadn’t shaved in a while. His shirt was kind a shabby and his coat was worn and frayed, the man knelt, he bowed his head, Then rose and walked away. In the days that followed, each noon time came this chap, each time he knelt just for a moment, A lunch pail in his lap. Well, the minister’s suspicions grew, with robbery a main fear, He decided to stop the man and ask him, ‘What are you doing here?’ The old man said he worked down the road. Lunch was half an hour. Lunchtime was his prayer time, For finding strength and power. ‘I stay only moments, see, because the factory is so far away; as I kneel here talking to the Lord, This is kind a what I say: ‘I just came again to tell you, lord, How happy I’ve been, since we found
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by Inspiration | May 20, 2023 | Archives, Featured, Spiritual Growth
It was a morning in early March 1945, a clear and sunny day. I was 24 years old and a member of the U.S. Army’s 35th Infantry Division, 137th Infantry… It was a morning in early March 1945, a clear and sunny day. I was 24 years old and a member of the U.S. Army’s 35th Infantry Division, 137th Infantry Company I. Along with several other companies of American troops, we were making our way through dense woods, towards the Rhine River in the German Rhineland. Our objective was to reach and take the town of Ossenberg, where a factory was producing gunpowder and other products for use in the war. For hours we had pressed through an unrelenting thicket. Shortly after midday word was passed that there was a clearing ahead. At last, we thought, the going would be easier. But then we approached a large stone house, behind which huddled a handful of wounded, bleeding soldiers who had tried to cross the clearing and failed. Before us stretched at least 200 yards of open ground, bordered on the far side by more thick woods. As the first of us appeared on the edge of the clearing there was an angry rat-tat-tat and a ferocious volley of bullets sent soil spinning as far as we could see. Three nests
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by Inspiration | May 12, 2023 | Archives, Featured, Spiritual Growth
Tell Them Some 14 years ago, I stood watching my university students file into the classroom for our opening session in the theology of faith. That was the day I… Tell Them Some 14 years ago, I stood watching my university students file into the classroom for our opening session in the theology of faith. That was the day I first saw Tommy. He was combing his hair, which hung six inches below his shoulders. My quick judgment wrote him off as strange – very strange. Tommy turned out to be my biggest challenge. He constantly objected to or smirked at the possibility of an unconditionally loving God. When he turned in his final exam at the end of the course, he asked in a slightly cynical tone, “Do you think I’ll ever find God?” “No,” I said emphatically. “Oh,” he responded. “I thought that was the product you were pushing.” I let him get five steps from the door and then called out. “I don’t think you’ll ever find Him, but I am certain He will find you.” Tommy shrugged and left. I felt slightly disappointed that he had missed my clever line. Later I heard that Tommy had graduated, and I was grateful for that. Then came a sad report: Tommy had terminal cancer. Before I could search
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