Author Archives: ThePreachersWord

August 3, 2018 · 5:03 am

Heartfelt Religion

John Eldridge tells a story in one of his books about a businessman who called his daughter and asked her to join him for dinner. She was surprised but delighted. For years she had longed for a closer relationship with her father, for his interest in her.

She met him at the appointed restaurant, and almost immediately after they were seated, he pulled out his Day-Timer and began to review the goals that he had set for her that year. “I wanted to burst into tears and run out of the restaurant,” she later related. Continue reading →

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August 2, 2018 · 5:01 am

Mocking Creationism in Canada

This summer I have been teaching a class on Sunday evenings at Wellandport on “Evidences for our Faith.” We are demonstrating that there is solid, sound evidence for rational thinking people to be Creationists, to believe in the Bible as the Word of God and to accept the Deity of Jesus.

Through the course, we have cited many scientists who reject The General Theory of Evolution and believe in Intelligent Design. Following a recent study, one of the members suggested I check out a speech by Canada’s recently appointed Governor General, Julie Payette. Given last fall to scientists at an Ottawa convention, Ms. Payette mocked Creationists and religion in general. It was reported by those who heard that speech that her “delivery was theatrical, her tone incredulous.” Continue reading →

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August 1, 2018 · 4:59 am

Great Verses of the Bible: Matthew 13:44

 

The website Baseball History Daily relates an incredible story about a game played in Rhyolite, Nevada, one of the great boom towns of the early 20th Century.

It was June of 1905 and the local team was playing the team from nearby Beatty. Rhyolite’s William Griffith was playing first base when a ground ball was hit to him. Instead of an easy out, the ball struck a small stone and bounced away. While waiting for the ball to be returned by a spectator, Griffith picked up the stone to toss it off the field but noticed it had gold in it. So, he put it in his pocket. Continue reading →

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July 31, 2018 · 5:19 am

The Great Invitation

An American author and minister, Marshall Hayden, wrote an article several years ago with the intriguing title, “Would Every Non-Hurter Please Stand Up?”

Hayden observed that people come to church services and seem fine. They put on their best smile. Wear their best clothes. And look happy. Yet, he pointed out that we need to look beyond the facade and below the surface to realize that our pews are full of hurting people. Continue reading →

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July 30, 2018 · 5:01 am

Word of the Week: Selfless

Martin and Diedre Bobgan in their book, How To Counsel From Scripture, tell of a fascinating study dealing with the principle of the Golden Rule. It was conducted by Bernard Rimland, director of the Institute for Child Behavior Research.

“The happiest people,” Rimland concluded “are those who help others.” Continue reading →

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July 27, 2018 · 6:11 am

A 100 Year Anniversary

This morning I am reflecting on an event that occurred 100 years ago tomorrow, July 28, 1918, an event that impacted my life. Literally. My father Roy Chester Weliever was born in Montgomery County, Indiana.

Dad was a part of the what Tom Brokaw dubbed as “The Greatest Generation” who “gave so much and asked so little.” He grew up working on a farm just outside of New Ross, Indiana. Living through the Great Depression, times were tough. But his values were formed and forged by his parents Fred and Flora Weliever that would serve him well throughout his life. Continue reading →

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July 26, 2018 · 6:52 am

When Circumstances Are Beyond Our Control

There’s an old Yiddish expression when translated goes like this: “Man plans. God laughs.

I don’t know if God was laughing yesterday. I know I wasn’t. But my plans for the day abruptly changed.

In yesterday’s post, I wrote about a lesson that I was going to present at the Charlestown Road church in New Albany, Indiana. This lesson was prepared. The PowerPoint completed. My sermons note sent. And, of course, my plane ticket purchased and boarding pass printed.

I awoke before 5:00 AM, quickly dressed and left for the airport. The traffic was light. The border crossing was quick. There were no long lines in security. There was plenty of time for coffee and breakfast at Tim Horton’s. Continue reading →

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July 25, 2018 · 5:09 am

Great Verses of the Bible: Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

This morning I’m crossing the border back into the USA to fly into Louisville,  and speak for the Charlestown Road Church in New Albany, Indiana, tonight.

Their summer series theme is “Victory in Christ.” My assigned topic is “Helping Those Who Have Fallen.” As I was developing the lesson this passage came to my mind in Ecclesiastes 4:9-10.

“Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up.”

Continue reading →

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July 24, 2018 · 6:28 am

Pay it Forward

“Pay it Forward” is an expression that describes the concept of repaying a good deed to others instead of the original benefactor.

Lily Hardy Hammond may have originally coined the phrase when she wrote in her 1916 book, “In the Garden of Delight,” “You don’t pay love back; you pay it forward.”

While the expression has been around for a while, it was made popular in the movie, based on Catherine Ryan Hyde’s book, “Pay it Forward,” starring Kevin Spacey, Helen Hunt, and Haley Joel Osment. Continue reading →

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July 23, 2018 · 6:11 am

Word of the Week: Restraint

Henry Ward Beecher was an American minister and social reformer known for his support of the abolition of slavery.

Beecher tells the story of a man who once came to their house and confronted his father, regarding a personal grievance with him. The young man in Beecher’s words was “ red with wrath” and boiling over with rage.” His father “listened to him with great attention and perfect quietness until he had got it all out, and then he said to him in a soft and low tone, ‘Well, I suppose you only want what is just and right?’” Continue reading →

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