Of Cabbages and Kings

‘The time has come’, the walrus said, ‘To talk of many things: of shoes and ships and sealing wax, of cabbages and kings.’
—Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking Glass

In preparing for revival at South Haven Church of the Nazarene next month, I was reading John Wesley's sermon, "The Most Important Question."

Wesley speaks of the philosophy that if a person of low station, a commoner, poor, uneducated, would try to talk about kings and kingdoms and things far above him, he would struggle to find the words because they would be unfamiliar to him.

He wouldn't know the language to use to describe what he experienced in association with the higher station of life, nor would he have the understanding of the things he might see or experience in relation to them to talk easily of them. Anything he might say, he would struggle to find the words to describe.

If the king, himself, or a prince, however, were to talk about such things, he would be able to speak freely about them because of his familiarity with those same topics and associations.

So it is with us who are so far below the Kingdom of God. We're unable to express ourselves well because what we see, and learn, and taste and experience is so far above us we don't even know the words to use to describe it.

Yet, Jesus, who is of that Heavenly Kingdom, can speak freely and clearly about such things. It's home to Him. He speaks of what He knows.

Doesn't it make sense then, that when an "expert" on the subject, someone who has been a part of that Heavenly Kingdom all His life (forever!), tells us what that Kingdom is like and how we can be a part of it, that we listen to Him?

And doesn't it make sense that we should also believe Him because He knows what He's talking about? He has been there. It's familiar to Him. It's His hometown.

I pray the Lord will help us to realize that He speaks the truth because He is the Truth. He knows what the truth about Heaven is because it's His home. Let's do our best to listen.

The Importance of Family Bible Reading

One of the greatest blessings God has given us is His Word, the Bible. The Bible truly is the inspired word of God. When you read the Bible, it's as if you are reading words that God's hand penned just for you.

The Bible is a roadmap with information pertaining to every aspect of life. Not only does it teach us how to be productive Disciples, but it teaches us how to be a successful spouse, a loving parent, a good employee, and much more. In addition, the Bible gives us examples as well as instructions to make it easier for those of us who are 'slow learners' (i.e., more stubborn than the rest).

The Bible is the most unique and most wonderful manual on how to live the human life that has ever been written. But if we don't read the Bible and study it, we will never discover the inestimable riches it contains. Nor will we learn how to live as we were designed to live.

Family Bible reading offers a number of benefits. It's a tremendous way for families to bond together by reading, discussing and learning what scripture says about all facets of life. It's also essential for living a Christian life, for developing and growing your faith and for molding your beliefs. There is a multitude of stories and parables for building character and teaching morals, and lessons for living.

If you've ever been in church, you've certainly heard stories from the Bible. But the only way to know if those stories are true and really happened as the minister described is to read the stories for yourself. Knowing what the Bible really says makes us more faithful and powerful witnesses to God's grace in our lives. And it has a much stronger impact on non-believers we might hope to convince of the Truth of the scriptures.

The ability to direct others to verses of scripture that will encourage them or help them get through the trials of life only comes through our personal knowledge of God's Word. As does the ability to explain why Christians believe as we do. Both of these are important to a fruitful, successful Christian life.

Has anyone ever asked what Easter is all about? Or who Jesus claimed to be? Or why we think Jesus really is God's Son? The answer to these and many other questions about creation, honesty, integrity, marriage, parenthood and so much more can be found in the words. But you have to read those words to know that—and to be able to share them.

With the abundance of Bible reading guides and Bible study tools available, anyone can study and understand the Bible. Maybe you would enjoy keeping a journal or as you study the Word. That way, when you find a verse that speaks to your heart, you can make not of it and find it again, or share it with someone else who could use the same encouragement.

While some people say the language of the Bible is hard to read, that doesn't have to be the case any more. There are many wonderful, scholarly translations that can be trusted for their authenticity and that are much easier to read and understand than the traditional King James version.

There are even Bibles geared specifically to children that make it easy for them to understand the Word as well. And it's never too early to start reading the Bible to your child and teaching her to read it for herself. In fact, starting young makes it much easier to make daily Bible reading a habit that will last a lifetime. Teach your child principles of biblical living and how God wants them to live will give them strength to stand against false teachings and better discern what is true and false as they grow.

The adage that "knowledge is power" is a true one, and it applies very much to Bible reading. The more knowledge you and your family has about God's Word, the more strength and power you have to stand firm on what you believe, regardless of what situations you may face.

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Doctor writes unusual prescriptions

Enjoy this guest post from Greg Miller and contact him to let him know you saw him on the Christian Daily Blog!

Candie LemunDrop was known by all her friends as a very sweet young lady.

Lately, however, Candie had begun exhibiting a few not-so-sweet qualities. At the beginning of each day, she was cheerful and happy. By the end of the day, however, she became irritable and short-tempered.

Candie worked in the office of her husband, Dr. Candy LemunDrop, whose passion was writing creative prescriptions.

“I recently noticed these late afternoon changes in my disposition,” Candie told Candii Lemindrop, a co-worker and her best friend.

“It’s so weird,” said Candie. “One minute, I’m happy and cheerful. The next minute, I feel like I’m my own worst enemy.”

“I have a bright idea,” said Candii. “I’ll set up an appointment for you to see your husband during office hours, that is unless you want to talk to him about it at home.”

“Oh, I couldn’t do that,” Candie said. “We don’t discuss anything at home that is remotely related to work.”

Candii made the appointment for Candie for the following Wednesday. While waiting to see her husband, Candie read several passages from the book of Psalms.

Candie read Psalms 66:1-3, “Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands: Sing forth the honour of his name: make his praise glorious. Say unto God, How terrible art thou in thy works! Through the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies submit themselves unto thee.”

A short time later, Candie walked into her husband’s office, kissed him on the cheek and said, “Hi, Honey. How is your day going?”

“It’s a great day!,” exclaimed Dr. Candy. “This is the day that the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it.”

“Most of my days start out okay,” said Candie, “but by the end of the day, I’m a miserable wreck.”

“You seem fine at home,” Dr. Candy observed.

“By the time I get home, all my work-related stress has disappeared,” Candie replied. “And you and I have such a good relationship that when I get home I’m feeling fine again.”

Dr. Candy asked his wife about any changes she may have made in her diet.

“You know that I made a decision to lose about 50 pounds,” Candie said. “For a while, I was eating a candy bar after every meal, but I decided not to do that any more.”

“Well, it looks like I’ve already solved your problem,” said Dr. Candy. “You stopped eating candy bars cold turkey, and you used up all your reserves of sweetness.”

“You’re going to write one of your unusual prescriptions for me aren’t you?,” asked Candy.

“I sure am, Sweetheart,” said Dr. Candy. “Don’t ever quit anything as important as candy bars cold turkey. Here’s your prescription. Before you go to bed tonight, eat two candy bars…then call me in the morning!”
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To contact the writer of this column about preaching and other speaking engagements, as well as puppet ministry,please email kidcool4jesus@yahoo.com.

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Second-graders tackle career choices

Enjoy this guest post from Greg Miller and contact him to let him know you saw him on the Christian Daily Blog!

Faith, Felicia and Fairness were second graders who loved to play “make believe” about their future careers.

One afternoon, however, the young ladies met to plan their futures for real. They met in a city park so they could enjoy the nice cool breeze. Faith’s mom accompanied them to the park, which was about one block from the community in which they lived.

After spending about two hours talking over various options, they announced their decisions.

“I must go first!,” exclaimed Felicia. “I can’t wait another second to share my thoughts!”

Knowing Felicia’s continued insistence on being first among the trio to make a major announcement, Faith and Fairness agreed to her request.

“I’m going to be a waitress in a fancy restaurant,” said Felicia. “I like listening to the relaxing music they play, and I love meeting new people. I’ll earn lots of tips, so I’ll make enough money to support several missionaries.”

“Thanks for letting me go second,” said Fairness, who always enjoyed being in the middle of things.

“I’ve decided to work as an astronaut,” said Fairness. “I’m going to work on a contract basis as a corporate astronaut.”

“So instead of orbiting the earth for the government, you’ll be going around in circles for yourself,” said Faith.

“That’s a good way of putting it,” said Fairness. “Plus, I’ll make lots of money, and when I’m not flying, I’ll be able to earn millions of dollars as a public speaker.

“I plan to give most of that money to a charity that helps needy children. Plus, I’d like to build a bunch of new orphanages all over the world.”

“How about you, Faith?,” asked Felicia. “What’s tugging at the strings of your heart?”

“I want to be a missionary,” said Faith. “Every time a missionary comes to our church, I get so excited about the work they are doing…you know…helping sick and hungry children and telling them about Jesus Christ, digging wells so people in small villages can have clean water, and providing Bibles and other written materials for evangelism projects.”

Faith told her friends that she didn’t know in which country she wanted to serve. “I do know I’d like to visit China, Great Britain, and Liberia,” she said.

Faith, Fairness and Felicia then stood in a circle, clasped each other’s hands and prayed for God to direct their lives.

“Lead us by your Holy Spirit, so we will always do your will,” prayed Fairness. “In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Felicia then prayed the prayer. Her “Amen!” was so loud that she startled her friends.

“You shouldn’t pray so loudly,” joked Fairness. “We don’t want to offend anyone!”

Looking to the right, then to the left, Faith proclaimed, “There’s no one around except for a few birds and butterflies, and they’re smart enough not to be offended!”

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To contact the writer of this column about preaching and other speaking engagements, as well as puppet ministry,please email kidcool4jesus@yahoo.com.

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New airline promotes Christian ministry

Enjoy this guest post from Greg Miller and contact him to let him know you saw him on the Christian Daily Blog!

Brand New Airlines of the Christian Faith offered in-flight chapel services on all its flights.

The airline’s chaplain, Pastor Carl, continuously exhibited a positive attitude. “I like to live with my head above the clouds,” he joked.

Pastor Carl faithfully conducted worship services aboard the airline’s No. 1 Airplane every Saturday and Sunday. “You don’t have to miss out on worshipping God in church just because it’s the weekend,” he said.

Pastor Carl used a variety of tools to illustrate his messages. One Saturday, several passengers were asked to compose and recite short poems about their relationship with Jesus Christ. The following day, he asked passengers to share a few brief testimonies.

Pastor Carl used the airplane’s take-off and landing processes to describe the mountains and valleys of life. “Each of us experiences life’s highs and lows,” he observed. “But through all of our joys and trials, the Lord Jesus Christ is with us.”

One weekend, Pastor Carl was sick, so he asked his assistant chaplain, Pastor Cornett, to share God’s Word with the passengers. “I would be thrilled to fill in for you,” said Pastor Cornett in a phone call from Pastor Carl. “I look forward to flying again. I haven’t flown for many years. Do you have any tips about in-flight ministry that you can share with me?”

“Well, let’s see,” said Pastor Carl. “You must remember that you are ministering to people of varying faith backgrounds. You must share the love of the Lord with all passengers, giving an equal opportunity to each of them to hear about God’s mercy and love.”

“No problem,” said Pastor Cornett. “That’s the approach I use with every sermon I preach at the church where I serve as the pastor. And my associate minister, Pastor Charlie, looks at ministry the same way that I do. He realizes the importance of everyone having an opportunity to hear about how much Jesus loves them.”

Pastor Cornett told Pastor Carl that Pastor Charlie believed adults should be ministered to in a way that even children can understand. “Pastor Charlie uses puppets, kids songs and other tools from which both children and adults can benefit,” Pastor Cornett said.

“The only problem with me filling in for you is that Pastor Charlie’s wife, Sister Charlotte, has to work. You see, Sister Charlotte plays the piano for Pastor Charlie when he conducts the services. She works as a flight attendant for Brand New Airlines of the Christian faith.

“Pastor Charlie has a tendency to become really excited when he is ministering, and Sister Charlotte helps calm him down. With Sister Charlotte up-in-the-air in her role as a flight attendant, when Pastor Charlie’s excitement begins to rise, no one will be there to bring him back down to earth!”

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To contact Greg Miller for speaking engagements or puppet ministry, please email kidcool4jesus@yahoo.com.

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Bible memorization contest draws unenthusiastic response

Enjoy this guest post from author Greg Miller and contact him to let him know you saw him on the Christian Daily Blog!

Pastor Wanna Noe Bible felt his church needed a deeper knowledge of God's Word, so he decided to implement a month-long contest to test the congregation's desire to memorize Bible verses.

Pastor Bible promoted the contest for about one month. He announced the project on the church‘s Web site, purchased newspaper advertising, and ran announcements in the church's weekly bulletin.

Although response from the pre-contest publicity was dismal, Pastor Bible was not upset. “I realize people deal with many things on a day-to-day basic,” he told his wife, Mrs. Bible. “And I'm sure the folks realize the importance of knowing God's Word.”

Members of the congregation were asked to approach the pastor and volunteer for the project. Two weeks into the project, however, no one had contacted him, so the pastor decided to again appeal for participation.

“This will give you an opportunity to memorize the Word of God, and you'll be a much more effective witness for the Lord,” he said.

The following Sunday, the pastor called for a special meeting to be held in the church's fellowship hall after the morning worship service. He asked why no one in the congregation had responded to the call for Scripture memorization.

“I've been so busy at work,” said Bonnie. “I've had to work overtime every single day for the past month.”

“My time has been spent planning our family vacation,” said Buster. “I'm trying to make sure we get the best prices on motel rooms and restaurant discounts. Plus, I've checked the price of gasoline every day on the Internet. And I've also been working very hard on my job.”

“I'm in the process of starting a new business, and I'm trying to make sure I have all the proper licenses, select a good location and stock my new store with a great variety of merchandise,” said Bowman.

Pastor Wanna Noe Bible was discouraged by the reasons given by the members for not memorizing Bible verses. “I wish they would realize the importance of hiding God's Word away in their hearts,” he thought.

To the members of the church, the pastor said, “We still have one more week in the contest. I urge you to learn as many Bible verses as you can in the next seven days.”

The last Sunday in the contest arrived, and the pastor planned to announce that no Bible verses had been memorized. As he stood to make the announcement, Barbara raised her hand to get the pastor's attention.

“I memorized one verse,” Barbara said.

“What verse did you memorize?,” asked the pastor.

“John 11:35,” replied Barbara. “The reason it took me so long to memorize the verse was because it was so short that I almost didn't find it!”

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To contact Greg Miller about preaching and other speaking engagements, as well as puppet ministry, please e-mail kidcool4jesus@yahoo.com.

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Make use of your trunk before buying a suitcase

Enjoy this guest post from author Greg Miller and contact him to let him know you saw him on the Christian Daily Blog!

Macie, an elephant who lived in the largest city on a planet where all the residents were pachyderms, was planning a summer vacation.

Macie and her best friend, Maggie, went to numerous yard sales each week, so Macie decided to look for a new set of luggage in which to pack her vacation supplies: Sunscreen designed especially for tough skin, large bags of peanuts and a new pair of elephant boots. The boots were necessary because she needed to protect her feet from the hard, sharp rocks that covered the ground.

The month of May 2010 had almost finished its predestined trail through time, and Macie still needed her new luggage. Macie and Maggie arose early Saturday morning and headed for the yard sale sponsored by The Pachyderm Community Organization of the Planet. Since they were neighbors, Maggie offered to prepare breakfast so they would have plenty of energy for shopping.

As their destination came into view, Maggie observed that a couple of lady elephants were selling roasted peanuts. “Let's get several large orders of these delicious peanuts,” said Maggie. “It will be my treat, and it will help the organization raise a little more money for its various projects.”

“I know we ate breakfast at Maggie's Kitchen before we came here, but I'm always up for a generous helping of roasted peanuts, especially if they come from this great organization,” Macie said.

Macie and Maggie entered the building, purchased their peanuts, made themselves comfortable on the gigantic floor and began consuming their salty treats. The elephants ate so many peanuts that they closed their eyes, and soon they were fast asleep. About 15 minute later, Macie and Maggie awoke and, refreshed by their short nap, began shopping.

A large box labeled “Mystery Collectibles” caught Macie's eye. “Our friend Mollie will enjoy putting her ‘Mystery Collectibles' in this box,” she said.

“I don't know if all of Mollies' collectibles will fit in this box,” observed Maggie. “She has such a huge collection of collectibles.”

“I have a great idea!,” exclaimed Maggie. “Instead of buying this box for Mollie, why not buy it for yourself? You could use it for a suitcase when we go on vacation.”

“I don't really think that's such a good idea,” responded Macie. “I want to do something nice for Mollie. Besides, this box won't make a very good suitcase.”

“Even for an elephant, you are thick-skinned,” said Maggie.

“I'm no more of a thick-skinned pachyderm than you are,” replied Macie. “For one thing, I feel good after I do something nice for another elephant. For another thing, I've decided I don't need to buy a suitcase for vacation. I think the trunk I already have will hold everything I'll need to take with me!”

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To contact the writer of this column about preaching and other speaking engagements, or puppet ministry, please e-mail kidcool4jesus@yahoo.com.

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A different kind of Father’s Dayby Greg Miller

Enjoy this guest post from Greg Miller and contact him to let him know you saw him on the Christian Daily Blog!

Maureen and Mitch celebrated Father's Day several weeks early.

“I'm sorry I must work on Father's Day, because I know you and the kids would like to spend the afternoon with me,” said Mitch. “But since my job as a fireman requires me to work this Father's Day, we'll celebrate the holiday a couple of weeks early.”

“That's a wonderful idea, Dear,” said Maureen. “Would you like to eat lunch at your favorite restaurant?”

“Sure,” said Mitch. “But after we get back home, I'd like to change the routine a little. Instead of watching a baseball game like I usually do, I'd like for us to spend some quality time with the Lord.”

“What kind of quality time, Dad?,” asked Monty, the couple's son.

“Yeah, Dad, what kind of quality time?,” asked Monique, Monty's sister, whose favorite pastime was teasing her older brother.

“The first thing I'd like for us to do is spend some time praying to the Sovereign Lord,” said Mitchell. “We'll thank Him for His provision and ask Him for His guidance.”

“I think we should share our testimonies about how the Lord has worked in our lives,” said Monique.

“I can preach a short sermon,” said Monty, who at the tender age of 14, said he felt the Lord was calling him to attend Bible college and become a minister.

“I'll receive an offering,” said Mitch. “We can send the money to help missionaries build a church in another country.”

“This will be a different kind of Father's Day celebration,” said Maureen. “We should have done it years ago. I believe it will draw our family closer together and strengthen our relationship with our heavenly father.”

Mitch asked Monty if he thought the afternoon together would strengthen his relationship with his sister. “I don't think it will hurt,” Monty replied. “But we already have a great relationship. She just teases me too much.”

Mitch asked his son and daughter to rate his job as a dad. “You're a great father,” said Monique. You are a wonderful husband to mom, too.”

“I agree with Monique,” said Monty. “Plus, you're always taking us to church and teaching us about Jesus and how He shed His blood on the Cross and died for our sins.”

“I'm glad you came up with the idea for this special Father's Day celebration,” said Monique. “I think it will help all of us to appreciate each other more.”

“I hope it will help all of us appreciate our heavenly father more, too,” said Mitch. “After all, when it comes to being a father, the Sovereign Lord has more experience than all the dads in the world put together!”

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To contact the writer of this column about preaching and other speaking engagements, as well as puppet ministry, please e-mail kidcool4jesus@yahoo.com.

Stars debate their brightness

Enjoy this guest post from Greg Miller and contact him to let him know you saw him on Christian Daily Blog!

Francesca and Fred were stars who lived in different parts of God’s great and glorious universe.

Both Francesca and Fred had high opinions of themselves. “I’m the brightest star in the universe,” said Fred.

“Don’t be silly,” replied Francesca. “You’re the only star in the sky who doesn’t see my true brightness.”

“It seems that your opinion of yourself is the only one that counts,” said Fred. “You’re always talking about the brightness that overwhelms you when you’re standing in front of heaven’s mirror.”

“You’re just jealous,” said Francesca. “You’re a dreamer. You’re a wishful thinker. On the other hand, I’m a realist. I know what I see when I look at me. I see what I know when I look at me. I know what I think when I think about me.”

“You’re saying a lot, but you’re not saying anything,” said Fred. “You’re just talking in circles.”

“I’m millions of years older than you,” said Francesca. “That’s another reason to believe that I’m brighter than you.”

“Being millions of years older than me means only one thing,” replied Fred. “It means you’re millions of years older than me. It certainly doesn’t mean that you shine brighter than me.”

“There’s one more reason to say that I’m a brighter star than you,” said Francesca.

“I’m a graduate of the Heavenly Stars Celestial University,” Francesca said. “God himself handed my diploma to me!”

Francesca concluded her argument. “I’ve just given you all the reasons I am heaven’s brightest star,” she said. “Surely now you will concede the obvious.”

“The only thing I’m willing to concede is that you and I are very bright stars,” Fred said. “Only the Sovereign Lord, however, can judge which of us may have superior brightness. I know it may be highly unlikely, but He may say some other star is the brightest star in the Universe.”

Francesca giggled, “You’re so funny, Fred. God created us, so He knows more about us than we know about ourselves. Plus, it’s important to remember that each of us stars has been assigned a certain job to do.”

“I thought you were determined to have every star in the Universe bow at the Altar of the Mirror of Francesca,” said Fred.

“I do think I’m a very bright star,” Francesca beamed. “But since we started our little discussion, I’ve been thinking that while I may be the brightest star in the Universe tonight, you may shine more brightly tomorrow night.”

“The bottom line is no matter how brightly we shine, we’ll never outshine God’s Son, Jesus Christ,” said Fred.

“That’s right,” agreed Francesca. He created all of the stars in the Universe, and even on a cloudy day, He is far brighter than all of the rest of us put together!”
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To contact Greg Miller for speaking engagements or puppet ministry, please email kidcool4jesus@yahoo.com.

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Unborn baby comes to life in paintings

Enjoy this guest post from Greg Miller and contact him to let him know you saw him on the Christian Daily Blog!

Thad bowed his heart before the Sovereign Lord as bedtime approached.

“Thanks for a great day, Heavenly Father,” Thad prayed. “I had a super day at work, and tonight’s church service was wonderful.”

Thad spent a couple of minutes adjusting his sheet and blanket. He closed his eyes and, within a few minutes, he was fast asleep.

Thad possessed a great creativity which manifested itself in the form of dreams. On this night, Thad’s creative juices flowed as an artist. Thad’s dreams were so real that when he awoke, the creative talents he experienced in his dreams manifested themselves in real life for about a week.

Thad’s week as an artist was very productive. He painted portraits of his favorite presidents, George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. He painted a vivid illustration of God’s Creation. And he drew a series of paintings depicting the progression of growth of an unborn baby in the womb.

The drawing from which Thad derived the most enjoyment was the one depicting the unborn baby acting and reacting, eating, praying, playing and sleeping. Even after his week of excelling as an artist, Thad couldn’t get Baby Thomas off his mind.

Thad decided to produce a series of paintings featuring Baby Thomas. And although most of Thad’s artistic ability had waned within a week of his dream, he discovered he could still paint very vivid images of Baby Thomas.

One of the Baby Thomas paintings featured the infant sucking his right thumb. In another painting, Baby Thomas bowed his head, worshipping the Creator.

Since people all over town were talking about the Baby Thomas paintings, Thad decided to open a small shop where the paintings could be displayed.

The Internet had become a popular communications tool, so Thad made a list of his favorite social networking sites. They were his favorites because he had started all of them. He used these sites to promote the opening of his shop.

The day for the shop’s grand opening soon arrived. A large crowd, including several visitors from surrounding states, showed up for the event. Thad gave away several door prices: Dinner-for-two at a popular steakhouse, a new TV, and a Bible.

After giving away the door prizes, Thad expressed this appreciation to attendees. He gestured toward one of the paintings on the wall. Baby Thomas’ head was moving up and down. He was wearing a big grin, and he was winking at the crowd, first with one eye, then the other.

Most of the crowd didn’t even see Baby Thomas’ movements in the painting, but Thurmond was very observant. Thurmond told Thad, You do a very good job of bringing a painting to life.”

“You haven’t seen anything yet,” Thad said. “Just wait until he starts doing jumping jacks!”

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To contact Greg Miller for speaking engagements or puppet ministry, please email kidcool4jesus@yahoo.com.

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Bible Reading Challenge

Last night at church, the pastor mentioned a man who had been reading the Bible all the way through every single month. He spoke of how, if we would spend just one hour a day, we could read the Bible through three to four times a year, and if we spend just one half hour a day, we could read it throug over two times every year!

This really made me wonder...

Why don't we do that?

What is wrong with us as Christians that we are so afraid to spend time in God's Word?

Are we afraid of the illuminating power of the Word?

I don't have all the answers, but I want to challenge you—and myself!—to begin reading the Bible a minimum of 15 minutes every single day. Starting today! And if you can spend an hour, or a half hour, do it. But 15 minutes. Surely we can spare that much for our Savior?

I've already begun. Won't you join me?

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Pastor dreams about Daniel in the lion’s den

Enjoy this guest post from Greg Miller and contact him to let him know you saw him on Christian Daily Blog!

Pastor Donald prayed to God for guidance about how to improve his prayer life.

“I want to know that you are listening, Lord,” the pastor prayed. “Please show me how to grow closer to you when I pray.”

Pastor Donald concluded his prayer time by reading First Thessalonians 5:17: “Pray without ceasing.”

The pastor cried out to God, “Oh, Lord, how can I pray without ceasing? I have to sleep, plus I have to be active in the ministry to which you have called me. It’s impossible to pray every second of every day.”

“You don’t have to be physically down on your knees praying all the time,” replied the Lord. “But you always need to have an attitude of prayer.

“I love you very much,” said the Lord, “When you go to sleep tonight, you’re going to enter the world of Daniel the Prophet. After you go to sleep, you’ll have a special dream. You’ll see that Daniel was a great man of prayer.”

A few moments later, Pastor Donald was fast asleep. Immediately, the dream transported him into the past, where Daniel was praying.

In the Old Testament book of Daniel, King Darius had issued a decree that stated anyone who asked any petition of any God or man for 30 days, with the exception of King Darius, would be cast into the den of lions.

As soon as Daniel learned about the decree, he went into his house and prayed near his open window. When the king heard that Daniel had disobeyed his decree, he was sorry and wanted to deliver Daniel. But he was reminded that the decree could not be changed. Daniel was thrown into the lion’s den, where he spent the night.

The next morning, Daniel told the king in Daniel chapter six, “My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt. Then was the king exceedingly glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God.”

Pastor Donald awoke from his dream. “Wow!,” he exclaimed. “Daniel was one courageous dude. He stood true to you and to your call on his life.”

Pastor Donald then told the Lord, “I’ve discovered that in the face of persecution, a child of God will always do well to keep the faith. I‘ve always known that you are the Creator, but I have also discovered you are the world’s greatest lion tamer!”

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To contact Greg Miller for speaking engagements or puppet ministry, please email kidcool4jesus@yahoo.com.

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Pastor Offers Sweet Way to Announce Easter Truth

Enjoy this guest post from Greg Miller and visit his website to let him know you saw him on the Christian Daily Blog!

Pastor East Err Sundae didn’t limit his messages about the resurrection of Jesus Christ to Easter Sunday morning.

So it came as no surprise to Pastor Sundae’s congregation when he announced that his sermon topic for April 25 would be “Jesus Christ is Risen!”

Pastor Sundae read his text…Luke 24:1-7... “Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.”

The pastor made eye contact with members and visitors alike as he read his text. He then asked everyone to bow their heads while he asked God to bless the message.

“Heavenly Father, thank you for this opportunity to preach your Holy Word,” he prayed. “Please help your Word to do its work in our lives. Send your Holy Spirit to bring the changes we need in our hearts and bless us to your service. In Jesus name. Amen.”

Pastor Sundae preached the most heart-stirring message his congregation had ever heard. He concluded his message by saying, “Brothers and sisters, Jesus Christ is alive forevermore. He lives in and reigns from heaven, and He lives and reigns in our hearts.”

As was the custom after the church’s Easter services, everyone stayed for a potluck covered-dish lunch. Pastor Sundae’s wife, Sister I. Scream Sundae, prepared her popular dish, Corn Ontopa SmashTaters Casserole.

The pastor didn’t cook very often, but he always enjoyed creating a special dish for the special Easter potluck covered-dish meal. This year, Pastor and Mrs. Sundae’s granddaughter, East R. Bonnit, was celebrating her 10th birthday, so the pastor baked a birthday cake for her.

In the icing, Pastor East Err Sundae swirled “Happy Birthday, East R. Bonnit.” Then he swirled another message, “Jesus is not here, He is risen!”

“Why did you put the message about Jesus on the cake, Dear?,” asked I. Scream Sundae.

“I believe we are to take advantage of every opportunity to tell people about Jesus,” replied her husband. “And I don’t know of any commandment in the Bible that says, ‘Thou shalt not say, ‘Jesus is not here, He is risen’ on a birthday cake!’”

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To contact Greg Miller for speaking engagements or puppet ministry, please email kidcool4jesus@yahoo.com.

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Always Head in the Right Direction

Enjoy this guest post from Greg Miller and be sure to contact him to let him know you saw him on Christen Daily Blog!

Motorcycle, Bicycle and Tricycle were motoring down the Highway of Life.

They had left the glory and power of Easter, and they were headed toward the National Day of Prayer.

Along the way, they saw many beautiful, natural wonders - waterfalls, forests, rivers and mountains. After about a week, Four Wheel Car joined the caravan.

The foursome sang songs of liberty and happiness and shared stories of God’s provision and protection. “One day, a little doggie ran in front of me,” recalled Motorcycle. “God helped me to stop so I didn’t hit the little fella.”

“I was rolling through my neighborhood one Sunday afternoon, and a huge car tired to run me over,” said Tricycle. “But God was watching over me, and I did an emergency U-Turn. Within just a few moments, I was safe at home in my driveway.”

Unicycle joined the group several days after Four Wheel Car became a member. “Most of the time, I’m a loner,” Unicycle aid. “But you guys sounded so smooth and mellow as you were singing your easy listening gospel music that I just had to tag along.”

“We’re happy to welcome you,” said Tricycle. “Life’s road is sometimes difficult, and we can never have too many friends.”

Eighteen-Wheeler was rolling by, and he heard Tricycle’s comments. “I’d like to join the group,” said the Big Rig. “I’m tired of traveling the road all by myself. And since I’m so much bigger and faster than some of you, if we ever need to get somewhere in a hurry, all of you can hop inside and we can arrive at our destination in no time.”

Two-Wheel-Scooter eventually became the group’s final member. “What took you so long to join?,” asked Four Wheel Car.

“I’m not one to join too many groups,” Two-Wheel-Scooter replied. “But I’m sure glad I’m joining this one.”

The group of vehicles pulled into the parking area of a service station. “Those of us with engines must fill our tanks with the purest fuel available,” said Four Wheel Car.

“And add the proper fluids to keep the windshields clean,” added Eighteen-Wheeler.

“Don’t forget to check the pressure in your tires,” said Bicycle.

Unicycle told the group’s other members that she had made an observation. “We are all different shapes, sizes, and colors,” she said. “We look at life from a variety of perspectives. Some of us can travel faster than others, and we have been given talents to use for God’s glory.

“But what’s the most fascinating to me is that everything will always turn out OK on the Highway of Life because all of us are headed in the right direction. And if we continue to head in the right direction, we’ll always know where we’re going when we get there!”

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To contact Greg Miller for speaking engagements or puppet ministry, please email kidcool4jesus@yahoo.com.

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Associate Pastor Asked to Preach Easter Sunrise Service

Enjoy this guest post from Greg Miller and visit his website to let him know you saw him on Christen Daily Blog!

Pastor East R. Sunrize had begun planning his sermon for the 11 a.m. worship service on Easter Sunday.

The 40-year-veteran of pastoral ministry decided to concentrate on Christ’s Crucifixion and Resurrection during the sermon.

“When I talk about the Crucifixion, I’m going to focus on the fact that Christ’s death on the Cross was necessary to save mankind from sin,” Pastor Sunrize told his wife, Sunny. “And when I talk about the Resurrection, I plan to emphasize that Jesus’ coming out of the grave proves that He is more powerful than death.”

“Your messages are always so timely and inspiring,” said Sunny.

“That’s because I must depend on the power of the Holy Spirit,” said the pastor. “If I depend on myself and my own ability to preach God’s Holy Word, I know I’ll fall flat on my face.”

Pastor Sonrize decided to ask his associate pastor, Solar Sunraze, to preach the message at the church’s sunrise service.

Associate Pastor Sunraze had only been in the ministry for about three years, and he accepted most opportunities to preach. “It’s a blessing to stand behind the pulpit to preach God’s Holy Word,” he said.

He enjoyed preaching revivals, kids crusades, and Vacation Bible Schools, hosted the church’s radio and TV ministries, and wrote a newspaper column.

About two weeks before Easter, Pastor Sunrize called his associate pastor. “I’ve been thinking about offering a new ministry opportunity to you,” said the pastor. “I know how passionate you are about preaching the gospel.”

“Jesus died on the cross and shed His blood so that I could live forever with Him!,” said Associate Pastor Sunraze. “It’s a great honor to be called into ministry. So what is this new ministry opportunity you mentioned?”

“You know that Easter is coming up in a couple of weeks, right?,” asked the pastor.

“Yes, and I can hardly wait to hear you preach about the Crucifixion and the Resurrection,” said Associate Pastor Sunraze. “It was through the Crucifixion that Jesus shed His blood, and it was the Resurrection power of the Holy Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead.”

“I would like for you to preach an Easter message for the sunrise service at the church,” said Pastor Sunrize. “It starts at 6:30 a.m.”

“I am so excited that you’re offering this opportunity to me,” said Associate Pastor Sunraze. “But I’m afraid I must turn down your request.”

“But why?,” asked the pastor.

“I feel I must always be fully awake when I preach,” said the associate pastor. “You see, I’m not a morning person.

“If I start preaching a sermon when I’m not wide awake, I might fall asleep while I’m preaching. And it would be the first time I’ve ever fallen asleep during one of my own sermons!”

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To contact Greg Miller for speaking engagements or puppet ministry, please email kidcool4jesus@yahoo.com.

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Book Review: The Sacred Meal by Nora Gallagher

The Sacred Meal by Nora Gallagher is part of the Ancient Practices Series, but it's actually the first of her books that I've read. It gives a different insight to communion than I typically study or even consider. That's not a bad thing!

Ms. Gallagher and I obviously come from different backgrounds, ecclesiastically, and probably theologically, however, there were many insights that she gave to the meaning of communion, or the Eucharist, or the Lord's Supper (depending on your ecclesiastical background) that I found interesting. She points out that this is a time of waiting on the Lord and listening for Him to speak, then receiving from Him, and afterward, even through the sense of "jet lag," letting the experience "seep in into [our] cells."

What Gallagher calls "practices," and this being but one of them, I have always considered "traditions," which is the term I find most Nazarenes use. I found I liked her term as well, because the traditions that we practice are what make us Christian.

If you'd like to have a deeper understanding of Communion, and of how it is a practice of the Church because it draws us closer to Christ, I'd definitely recommend The Sacred Meal. I have a few pastor friends I think should read it. If Communion is truly a practice—a tradition—of our faith, as are Baptism, Prayer, etc. then we need to better understand it. And I, personally, believe the Nazarene Church as a whole needs to place more emphasis on it. But that's for another post.

I'd give this one four stars!

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This is the Day that the Lord has Made by Rev. Greg Bishop

Why are we in such a big hurry for this day, or week to end?

We use a lot of catchy phrases like "Thank goodness, it’s Friday," or on Wednesday we say, "Hump day, only two days 'til the weekend," or "Boy, you can sure tell it’s Monday, can't wait 'til 5 o'clock." Then Sunday evening it’s "Where did the weekend go?"

I want to encourage us to look forward to every day of the week. Each day has it’s purpose. Enjoy every day and appreciate the fact that you have today, and today is like no other day.

We need to individually decide how to be productive mentally, physically, and spiritually as we enter into each day. I can only offer a suggestion, you must decide how to make your own agenda Sunday through Saturday.

S - Start the week off properly. Worship with your Christian brothers and sisters. The Word of the Lord says for us to assemble together (Hebrews 10:25), and the purpose on Sunday, of course, is to give praise and worship to our heavenly Father, Who is worthy of all our praise.

M - Make an extra effort to do a good deed today. Make Monday a smile day. If you go to the fast food drive-thru, be pleasant to the person at the window. They could be having a bad day and your smile and kindness might just brighten their entire week. You may even want to try it at the bank, the grocery store, maybe even Wally-World. It really does work most of the time.

T - Take time to be alone with your Lord. He wants to hear from you and He wants to speak to you. We are important to Him. Remember He gave His very best for His children. We shouldn't just confine this to Tuesday, it should be the norm for every day. Just make a special effort today.

W - Walk with integrity. don't give anyone a reason to condemn you. The Bible tells us to refrain from even the appearance of evil (1 Thessalonians 5:22). Doing so will ensure no one can legitimately condemn us for any reason.

T - Talk to someone about the Lord today. It will not only help them in eternal matters, but it will give you a sense of obedience to the Lord. The Holy Scriptures tell us to be prepared in season and out to give an account for the hope that we have (1 Peter 3:15). we're busy people and we don't always get a lot of opportunities to witness as we would like, so make the best of every opportunity. wouldn't Thursday be a great day to tell someone about Jesus?

F - Finish the work week with a sense of accomplishment. Know that you've done your best. You've heard the old adage "don't worry, be happy." Jesus mentioned this. He was telling us that worrying about things won't change them. If you know you've done your best, rejoice in that fact.

S - Saturday is my day of rest, as it probably is for many people. I believe we all want to look back on our previous six days and feel a sense of accomplishment. Be good to yourself today. don't dwell on the things that didn't go exactly the way you would have liked. Instead, concentrate on the good things from each of the days of this past week. And look forward to next week for what it is... a blessing from God.

But I Just Can't Change!

Enjoy this guest post from Katherine Swarts and visit her website to let her know you saw her on the Christian Daily Blog!

Do you believe that the Bible is truthful?

Does that include the passages that say you “can do everything” through Christ’s strength (Philippians 4:13, NIV) and that “no temptation has seized you except what is common” to humanity (1 Corinthians 10:13)?

You don't fully believe it if you say, “I can't get rid of my temper/worrying/unclean thoughts—what works for others never works for me!”

I know—the temptation to do so can be practically irresistible. I’ve spent much of my own life whining aout how unfair it is that I have to live with this temperament combined with these circumstances. Implying that my bad attitudes are God’s fault for having made me—and arranged my life—the way He did.

Even once we accept that God knows better than we do, we still complain about the difficulty of changing for the better. Like six-year-olds screaming, “I’ll never learn to ride this bike!!!,” we howl at every fall. We demand instant and easy perfection. We threaten to quit trying if God doesn't change us faster.

And He, ever the understanding Parent, keeps a supporting hand on us and bears with us patiently until we finally learn.

Assuming we don't actually give up. Perhaps when Jesus advised us to “become like little children,” one thing He had in mind was that with children, persistence ultimately wins over frustration. No toddler gives up on learning to walk, however frequent the falls along the way. Few six-year-olds really abandon their bikes permanently. But give children ten years to “grow up,” and a surprising number drop each new venture with the first failure: “I tried, and I can't do it.”

In Christian growth, perhaps the ugliest four-letter word is “can't.” It implies God is too weak to lead us to victory.

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Katherine Swarts is founder and owner of Spread the Word Commercial Writing, a copywriting service based in Houston, Texas. Visit her devotional/poetry blog at http://newsongsfromtheheart.blogspot.com.

Strong Relationships

Enjoy this guest post from Corrie Howe!

“He had no majesty to attract us to him; there was nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.” Isaiah 53:2

Since the birth of my youngest, nearly eight years ago, I’ve watched with interest the proliferation of reality TV shows dealing with various types of relationships. There are shows about matchmaking, parenting, swapping spouses, roommate wars, strangers on islands and friends redecorating one another’s homes.

When I nursed my infant daughter, I watched a show called Joe Millionaire. The entire show centered on a construction worker’s dilemma over picking a mate from 20 women who believed he was worth $80 million. He constantly asked himself, “Is she attracted to me or my imaginary money?”

A year later a show premiered called “Average Joe.” I didn’t watch it, but the commercials led me to believe the conflict in the show was “Can a physically attractive woman desire a physically unattractive man?”

I don't know about you, but as I reflected upon forty years of relationships, most of my important and long lasting relationships didn’t start from attraction. As I’m thinking about the people I hold near and dear to my heart, I think most of my important relationships stemmed out of common bonds.

My relationships with my parents, brothers, grandmothers, aunt, uncles and cousins started because we shared the same blood, but the fact that I still relate to them is because I grew to understand and love them.

My relationships with my in-laws (on my side and my husband’s side) started out because we share one person in common, but as I started spending time with them, I grew to value and trust them.

I have several relationships from my previous employment. Initially we shared an employer or vocation in common. The fact that I’m still in relationship with them after leaving the company a decade ago means we built something past the original common bond.

From what I can pick up from these TV shows about relationships, there doesn't seem much to keep the relationship together after the cameras stop rolling.

Pretty much all my own relationships which started out with a strong attraction of some sort usually ended with disappointment. There were dozens of men and women with whom I seemed to “hit it off” right away but now I can't tell you where any of them are. Despite the original attraction, we didn’t share common interests or values. Our personalities conflicted. We couldn’t unconditionally accept one another. There wasn’t mutual trust and loyalty....

One year I had Isaiah 53:2 stuck in my head. The Message translation is “There was nothing attractive about him, nothing to cause us to take a second look.” The NIV says, “He had no majesty to attract us to him, there was nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.”

This verse is in the Old Testament in a series of prophecies foretelling the arrival of Israel’s Messiah (savior). The Prophet Isaiah said there was nothing to attract his peers to Jesus, nothing to cause them to desire to know him better. You see, the Jewish people were looking for a King from the royal line of kings to rise up and lead a rebellion reestablishing Israel as a sovereign nation. They weren’t looking for a baby to be born in a manger wrapped in swaddling clothes.

I think Isaiah’s words are just as true today. How many times did people introduce me to Jesus and I didn’t desire him. He doesn't have the glamour of Hollywood riches or the excitement of sports fame. When I originally looked at him, I thought a relationship with him meant a lot of “don’ts”...which wasn’t really attractive. It was only after I began spending time with Him and understanding him better that I count him as the most important relationship in my life.

Now, I’m attracted to him because he loves me even though I am not perfect. In fact, he already knows I’m not perfect which is why he died on the cross for my sins. I find him attractive because his death on the cross and my belief in him guarantees me eternal life with God. I find comfort in being able to come to him daily for the things we all look for in relationships – unconditional love, acceptance, and forgiveness.

Thank you, Lord, for your ways are not our ways. In fact, your ways are much higher than our ways. We confess that we are often beguiled by the outward appearances. You are interested in the heart. Thank you for your precious gift of Jesus, who had no earthly majesty about him, but he gave up his heavenly throne to assume the punishment for our sins. Now when you look on our hearts, you only seen the righteousness of Jesus and we can stand before you unconditionally loved and forgiven. Amen.

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Corrie Howe is thrilled to be able to write about her walk with the Lord today. Typically she writes about her middle son over at Just Because My Pickle Talks Doesn't Make Me an Idiot. While she does weave in how her faith helps her in "the joy in the challenge of Asperger's Syndrome," her primary purpose of the blog is to bring hope and humor into an often hopeless and dark community of special needs.

Something From Nothing

Enjoy this guest post from Cathy Bryant of Word Vessel Blog.

“And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God." (I Corinthians 6:11, NIV)

Sweat dripped from my brow as we finished the demolition of a dilapidated shed and cleared the area for the new metal storage building that would take its place. But as I viewed the amount of scrap wood left over from the old building, I realized we had a problem. What would we do with it? I immediately thought of Dad.

Dad could take what other people saw as junk and make it useful and functional again, sometimes with humorous results. Like the old tractor with a mason jar for a fuel pump and the old Buick whose dome light flashed on every time I stepped on the brakes. I gave him a quick phone call. He would take the wood.

In the year following, Dad made me a coffee table, butler’s table and jewelry box—all from the scrap wood. What we had considered worthless was transformed into useful and beautiful treasures.

It is the same with us.

God can take a life that seems beyond hope or help and turn it into something useful—even valuable. Our lives, once ruined by the stain of sin, were redeemed at a great cost and made clean by the blood of Christ. And God is still at work in our lives, refining us for His purpose and His kingdom.

So the next time you doubt that God can use you, remember the lesson of the old wooden shed. You have been carefully crafted by the Master Carpenter into a useful vessel for Him.

Dear Lord:

Thank You that our lives have purpose. That You can use us, even when we mess up. Thank You for Your grace and the blood of Jesus that makes it possible.

In Jesus’ name we pray,
Amen

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Cathy Bryant loves to use her writing for God’s glory. You can visit her at http://WordVessel.blogspot.com where she gives away free Christian fiction every week.