THE CRITICAL SPIRIT A salesman, visiting his barber for a haircut, mentioned that he was about to take a trip to Rome, Italy. The barber, who came from Italy said […]
Criticism | Humility | Justice | Pride Read More »
AN OLD FAVORITE One of the greatest joys of writing this letter is receiving the many varied versions of familiar and beloved old stories. My problem is I can’t always
Church | Complain | Criticism | Ministry | Motivation Read More »
LIFE IN THE PIRANHA BOWL Did you ever feel, as a pastor, that your life could be described as “Life in the Piranha Bowl.” As John Killinger puts it in
Church | Complain | Criticism | Ministry | Peace Read More »
BRIGHTENING THEIR DAY It happened the day after the 22 cent stamp went into effect. My wife was in a long line at the local Post Office. Everybody wanted 22
Complain | Criticism | Encouragement | Evangelism | Speech Read More »
CATTY REMARKS Angela was thrilled with her engagement ring and lost no time showing it to the girls at the office. “It must be reassuring for you to know,” meowed
Criticism | Dating | Jealousy | Love | Marriage Read More »
IN THE PUBLIC EYE Christian celebrities face the problem of knowing how to be both real and also live in a glass house. In Patricia Cornwell’s excellent biography of Ruth
Care | Criticism | Ministry | Risk | Simplicity Read More »
REJECTION The story of Elijah sitting under the juniper tree and pouting as he had been chased out of town by a ticked-off Jezebel is a study in rejection. He’d
Adversity | Criticism | Perspective Read More »
ATTITUDE People grow old only by deserting their ideals. Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up interest wrinkles the soul. You are as young as your faith, as
Bitterness | Criticism | Faith | Hope | Joy | Perspective | Suffering Read More »
COMMUNICATION Ron Davis, Minnesota Twins pitcher, objecting to a newspaper story in which he was quoted as criticizing the club’s management for trading away many of its top players: “All
Communication | Complain | Criticism | Speech Read More »
MIXED MESSAGE I saw a guy the other day that reminded me of an old story I hadn’t thought of for years. But it’s one of my favorites. A man
Commitment | Criticism | Speech | Worldliness Read More »
BE SURE YOUR SINS WILL BOOMERANG A. Phillip Johnson of Union City, California is almost 87 and for nine years has been the Chaplain of the Masonic Homes. Last year
Complain | Criticism | Revenge | Reward | Speech Read More »
RESPONSE TO CRANKS Gary Moore once devised an answer to take care of crank letters. “The enclosed letter,” he would write, “arrived on my desk a few days ago. I
Adversity | Appealing Talk | Complain | Criticism Read More »
GOD’S NEEDS John Wesley once received a note which said: “The Lord has told me to tell you that He doesn’t need your book-learning, your Greek and your Hebrew.” Wesley
Criticism | Knowledge | Preaching Read More »
MARRIAGE Young couples often bring pastors their problems, Rev. J. Harold Stephens says. I’m thinking of the bride, a poor cook, whose husband came home to find her crying. “The
Criticism | Humor | Marriage Read More »
TALENTS A hot-headed woman told John Wesley, “My talent is to speak my mind.” Replied Mr. Wesley, “Woman, God wouldn’t care a bit if you would bury that talent.” Christian
Complain | Criticism | Humor | Speech | Spiritual Gifts Read More »
JUDGED Fred Hintz writes us from Syracuse, New York about a news story he read regarding a new law on drunken driving in Louisiana that is now one of the
Criticism | Hypocrisy | Judgment Read More »
COMMUNICATION After telling the story of Jonah and the whale to her Sunday School class, the teacher decided to quiz them. She asked, “Timmy, what is the moral of the
Children | Criticism | Humor Read More »
CRITICISM When someone says, “I hope you won’t mind my telling you this,” you can be sure you will.
Complain | Criticism | Short Shorts Read More »
CRITICISM Criticism comes easier than craftsmanship. Plato
Complain | Criticism | Short Shorts Read More »
SILENCE IS GOLDEN The unspoken word never defeats one. What one does not say does not have to be explained. Sam Rayburn
Criticism | Short Shorts | Speech Read More »
Sign up for current sermon previews, illustrations, and bonus content.
