In their book, Twang, Raymond Obstfeld and Shelia Burgner relate a great story about country music star, Travis Tritt.
Like many musicians, Tritt played in out-of-the-way joints before he made it big. He says many of these dives were dangerous places. Drunks would get into fights over the most insignificant things. However, Travis found a unique way to keep peace and protect the entertainers from harm. Here’s what he wrote: Continue reading
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Ray Stedman, a 20th-century evangelical minister and author, once shared a true story about a Houston man who received a letter from a popular international ministry seeking support for their broadcasting.
The ministry embraced a “health and wealth gospel” stating that since God can’t be out given, He will give back to you if you contribute to their cause. They figured if everyone who listened to their broadcast would send $76 their goal would be met. Furthermore, the letter promised that God would return their offering three times over. Continue reading
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The Scottish minister, Alexander Whyte, was known for his positive attitude and uplifting prayers in the pulpit. He always found something for which to be thankful.
One Sunday morning the weather was awful. It was a dark, dreary, and stormy day. One of the deacons remarked, “Well, the preacher won’t have anything to be thankful for on a day like this.” Continue reading
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Hans Krause, a minister from Finland, tells a riveting story about the time when a group of theological students was attending a training seminar on pastoral counseling.
One of the members shared some of her childhood experiences that had recently come to the surface. For years on end, she had been sexually abused by a close relative, and there had been nobody to help her.
Hans remembers how everyone listened with deep sympathy to her as she unraveled her experiences and feelings, sobbing, and stammering. Most were dead silent, not knowing what to say or do. Continue reading
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Jeff Strite tells the story about a farmer in a country restaurant who bowed his head in prayer before eating his breakfast.
Two young fellas at the next table thought it was odd and quietly made fun of him as he prayed. When the farmer finished his prayer, they chided: “Hey old man, does everybody out on the farm pray over their meals?” Continue reading
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A newly hired and eager young man just graduated from the state university with a degree in agriculture.
Excited about his new job with the county ag department he was assigned to visit local farmers and share his knowledge.
On his first visit to Farmer Jones, he drove up to the field where he was working and motioned for him to come over. Jones got off his tracker and asked, “How can I help ya’?” Continue reading
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“Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian any more than going to a garage makes you an automobile,” once quipped Billy Sunday, the baseball player turned preacher.
As a result of seeing so many professed Christians going to church, but not living out their profession in their daily lives, some have supposed that religion is a bad thing. “I’m not religious, but I’m spiritual,” has become a popular and oft-repeated mantra of many today. Continue reading
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“There are two ways in which a Christian may view his money,” opined Bible expositor and author W. Graham Scroggie. How much of my money shall I use for God?” or “How much of God’s money shall I use for myself?”
Scroggie’s observation reminds us of Jehovah’s statement through the prophet Haggai, “The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine” (2:8) Indeed, as the Psalmist penned, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it” (Ps 24:1). Continue reading
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John Wesley was about 21 years of age when he went to Oxford University. He came from a good home, was gifted with a keen mind and good looks. It’s said, however, he was a bit snobbish and sarcastic.
The devotional, Our Daily Bread, relates an incident that set in motion a change in Wesley’s heart. Continue reading
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Victor was born in the barrio of Carlsbad, California in 1940. Like his Mexican parents, he only spoke Spanish. In addition to the language barrier, Victor faced cultural challenges, when he began school, as well as blatant discrimination and a reading problem, later diagnosed as dyslexia.
In his Junior year, Victor quit school, moved back to Mexico, and worked for 10 years as a common labor, digging ditches and cleaning houses. During that time he met a compassionate young woman who taught him to read, which fueled his desire to be a writer. Continue reading
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