In his book Kingdoms in Conflict, Chuck Colson relates a time in the 1980’s when Polish Prime Minister Jaruzelski had ordered crucifixes removed from all public buildings.
The government had banned the display of the cross in hospitals, factories, and other public institutions. Following the Jaruzelski’s lead one zealous Communist school administrator removed all the crosses from a school’s lecture halls where they had hung since its founding in the 1920’s. Continue reading
Filed under Fundaments of Faith
Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a German theologian and author of the modern classic “The Cost of Discipleship.” He was also an anti-Nazi dissident.
When Hitler began interfering with churches and humiliating the German Jews, Bonhoeffer protested. He refused the fuehrer’s demands and would not participate with the state churches who compromised.
It’s said several of Bonhoeffer’s friends urged him to bend. They reasoned that they would lose the opportunity to preach altogether if they followed his example. Continue reading
Filed under Fundaments of Faith
Ralph “Babe” Pinelli was a major league baseball player in the early 20th century who later became an umpire.
It’s told that in 1935, Babe’s first year umpiring, he was the home plate umpire working a game in which Babe Ruth was playing. It’s was Ruth’s last year in the majors.
After swinging and missing at the first two pitches for strikes, Babe Ruth didn’t swing on the next pitch which he thought was a ball. Pinelli called, “Strike Three.” Continue reading
Filed under Fundaments of Faith
(NOTE: Today I have been traveling and just learned that there was a problem with today’s post. Evidently, our email subscribers received a broken link, as did most you on social media. So, I am reposting today’s blog and will delete the defective post. I’m sorry for the inconvenience.)
Henri Rechatin was a celebrated French tightrope walker who amazed audiences with his high-wire act as he walked across Niagara Falls in the 1970’s.
Once he crossed from the American to the Canadian side pushing a wheelbarrow with a grooved wheel. At the conclusion of this breath-taking feat, he was met with thunderous applause.
Rechatin then asked a little boy who was filled with wonderment, if he believed he could push him across the Falls in the wheelbarrow.
“Yes,” replied the little fellow. Continue reading
Filed under Fundaments of Faith
In the comic strip “Peanuts”, Lucy tells her brother, Linus that she has “converted” a school classmate to her way of thinking religiously. Linus is surprised, especially knowing how Lucy operates!
“How did you do it?” Linus asked. Continue reading
Filed under Fundaments of Faith
A Sunday school teacher was teaching her kindergarten children about the Golden Rule and the importance of helping others. After telling the parable of the Good Samaritan, the teacher said, “Remember, children we are here to serve others.” Continue reading
Filed under Fundaments of Faith
Don Graham tells a story about Linda, a young woman, who was traveling alone up the rutted and rugged highway from Alberta to the Yukon.
Linda didn’t know you don’t travel to Whitehorse alone in a rundown Honda Civic, so she set off where only four-wheel drives normally venture. Continue reading
Filed under Fundaments of Faith
A little boy asked his father what was the highest number he had ever counted to.
“Well, I don’t know,” his Dad replied, “ I never thought about it.”
Wondering why he asked, his Dad inquired, “What’s the highest number you ever counted to?”
Without hesitation he responded, “973. “
”Well, why did you stop there?” his dad asked. Continue reading
Filed under Fundaments of Faith
There’s an old story of a fellow walking through a cemetery of by gone days reading the epitaphs. Many were familiar sayings. “Rest in peace.” “A friend to all.” “Loving Mother.” “Gone but not Forgotten.”
Then he spotted a most unusual epitaph. Continue reading
Filed under Fundaments of Faith
In the Peanuts comic strip, we find Snoopy thinking to himself: “Yesterday I was a dog. Today I’m a dog. Tomorrow I’ll probably still be a dog.”
In the final frame he sighs, “Ohh…there’s so little hope for advancement.”
Sadly, some folks have resigned themselves to feel like Snoopy. They feel hopeless. Continue reading
Filed under Discipleship, Fundaments of Faith
ThePreachersWord 