AFFIRMING MEANING IN THE MIDST OF MODERN BALDERDASH I Peter 1 In developing the series of sermons on affirmations I mentioned last month I included a sermon on affirming meaning in the midst of a…
Sermon Illustrations
MAKE YOUR REQUESTS SPECIFIC Whether it is in communication in general, or prayer in particular we are often instructed to be specific in our requests. I'm not sure you can use this item I found…
VARIATIONS ON THE SEASON Robert Moyer of Washington, PA sent us a story a few months ago that is appropriate to the season. It seems that one Sunday late in Lent a Sunday School teacher…
APRIL When I think of springtime it reminds me of the story of the old man who was being interviewed as he approached his 95th birthday. They asked if he had any hints on making…
THE DESIRE FOR PEACE Ramsey MacDonald, one-time Prime Minister of England, was discussing with another government official the possibility of lasting peace. The latter, an expert on foreign affairs, was unimpressed by the Prime Minister's…
CATCHING UP Rev. Kenneth Gombert of Hop Bottom, Pennsylvania sent in this item: President Reagan tells how we could match Russia's record after its more than half a century of socialism: "We'd have to cut…
WINSTON CHURCHILL The story starts with 10 year old Christopher climbing over a new wall of fresh bricks - - which tumbled down with him in a heap. They were not yet dry. And so…
TRINITY My wife was trying to get across a doctrine of the Trinity to her Sunday School class of 1st graders. Laboriously, she dragged out references to God the Father, and God the Son, but…
CONCENTRATE! Peppermint Patty is talking to Charlie Brown and she says, "My Uncle has always wanted to play the violin. Last week he went down to a music store, and bought one. Then he went…
RIGHTEOUSNESS SUSPECTED A traffic officer pulled a motorist over to the curb and demanded to see his driver's license. The driver produced a license, which the officer studied suspiciously for several minutes before waving him…
LETTERS TO CHESTER, THE CHURCHMOUSE Dear Chester, Why do you call the benches that you set in pews? 1st & 2nd grade Sunday School Class Dear Class, That is a very interesting question. There are…
FRIENDLY ADVICE WHEN FACING SURGERY Lisa Owens was facing knee surgery. She was a bit nervous about it, so she asked her boss, the veterinarian at the clinic where she worked if he had any…
RAPID TRANSIT The antiquated train on a branch line was creeping slowly through the countryside when suddenly it came to a dead stop. The only passenger in the car, a salesman riding the line for…
MAKING A BUCK RIGHT UP TO THE END Associated Press reported this one in the San Antonio Paper as reported to us by Charlie Palmer of Harlinger, Texas. 78550 In Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Ken McAvoy,…
BOSSES VERSUS LEADERS A boss creates fear; a leader creates confidence. Bossism creates resentment; leadership breeds enthusiasm. A boss says, "I" -- a leader says, "We." A boss fixes blame; a leader fixes mistakes. A…
PICKING ON THE UNITARIANS I get taken to task when our humor reflects on any group, but I guess it's O.K. to use a Unitarian joke when it comes out of a one of their…
MUSIC LOVER Oscar Wilde was asked to buy a subscription to the opera. However, Wilde found the opera to be a bore and refused. It was pointed out to him that his friend had bought…
EXPLANATIONS Political commentator Mark Shields tells this story as reported in Psychology Today (Nov. '84). The weekend before a Presidential election,(not the 1984 one, obviously. Ed.) a lowly Democratic Party hanger-on in the Second Ward…
THRIFTY WITH A BUCK Missionaries, like pastors, have to learn to cut financial corners and be good stewards. I read an amusing story about this dimension in the life of Mother Teresa of Calcutta in…
CHARACTER It is not true, as some writers assume in their treatises on rhetoric, that the personal goodness revealed by the speaker contributes nothing to his power of persuasion; on the contrary his character may…
