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Every book produced by Readers Digest, (as far as I know), if it says anything about the origin of life, or the age of the Earth, will say only one thing: that life evolved from non-living materials, and the Earth is millions of years old.
The Readers Digest point of view is common, as most TV programs, almost all science fiction, and almost every natural history (?animal?) program will also carry a similar message.  To someone who has never considered an alternative, it seems that there is no other way to view life and the universe.  This is what is known as a ?world view?.  It is an all-encompassing interpretation and it pervades every aspect of modern, western Man's thinking.

The one great contradiction to this secular world view is a Person.  This Person began his human life in a common stable, and lived in an obscure village for most of his life.  When he was about thirty years old suddenly appeared beside a small stream, where he was baptized, then he began a three-year program which, if true, ought to force every secular thinker to completely rethink everything they have accepted as true.

Modern science is quite certain about chemical processes ? they cannot be reversed, yet Jesus gave the command and dead people were . . .

Read more: Wonders of Creation - One Person's Difference

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This morning we are going to consider a place in Israel that is one of the oldest ruins on the face of the earth. Next to Jerusalem , no other Israeli city has received as much interest or research. It is the city of Jericho , and what took place there 3400 years ago has everything to do with us here this morning. The nation of Israel was a people of about 1million, living in a tent city called Gilgal, just 5 miles or so from Jericho . By faith they had been rescued from Egypt , by faith they had survived forty years of desert wanderings, by faith the Jordan River had stopped flowing so they could cross. Now the waters of Jordan flowed again, closing their exit, now they were ?in the cage with the tiger?- so to speak. In front of them was a fortress of incredible, even legendary, strength. It was the first city and perhaps the greatest city they were to face and God directed them to move forward. Consider for a moment what this meant. Here's a picture of the way it was built.

Read more: Faith Is the Victory

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You will always be rich enough to be generous.

My good friend Gordon Patterson, minister at New Hope Baptist Church told me of a year he spent in mission work in Kenya. He said that on one occasion, he visited a home and that on leaving was presented with a coke bottle full of goat's milk. This was the best gift his hosts could afford.

Jesus remarks about the single penny a woman puts in the offering at the temple. It was the best gift she could afford. Both these examples were of extravagant generosity. It is not the amount that is the issue, it is extent to which these poor people went to be generous. No matter how poor you are, you will always be rich enough to be generous.

Paul says, "he who supplies seed to the sower will increase your supply of seed and increase your harvest as well." The obvious caveat is, "if you plant what you have."

You know the story of the two lakes of the Holy Land.
The first is the northern lake of Galilee. Sometimes called the Sea of Galilee in the north. In Hebrew its name is Yam Kinneret.
It is watered from the Jordan River and underground springs. It is rich in . . .

Read more: You Have the Seed: Plant it

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Reruns can be dull, boring, uneventful re-hashing of the same ole stuff you've seen a hundred times before...but I've got a re-run to recommend to you that, when God's the producer, will make your day! Well, it makes MINE--every October 21, I re-live my wedding day....28 years ago today...so join me for a rerun like no TV drama, comedy or documentary special you've ever seen!

You see, when God brings two people together for a lifetime, it will get off-the-chart ratings of the bride and the groom, the kids that follow--and the crowd of friends and well-wishers who watch! Like all TV shows, it's not perfect, for sometimes the screen's fuzzy, or the wires cross; sometimes the tape breaks or the TV tube burns out. And sometimes, in a "real live" show, "someone" messes up the script and ends up in-the-doghouse for a day or two (OK, an hour or two...grin!), but it's always a hit in heaven's eyes!

The Lord who put it together knows how to keep it together...He's the real "Someone" who makes it happen and today, we'd like you to celebrate His goodness with us--as we pray for you and God's love, joy, and peace in YOUR life and marriage too. Someone "up there" cares about us all--single, married, wish-to-be, or widowed. We--and lots of you--are proof that . . .

Read more: A "Someone" Rerun

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Have you ever been in someone else's kitchen and see them prepare raw hamburger on the counter, then as you watched they immediately prepared some bread on the same surface? Have you ever been in a public washroom and as you wash your hands you notice a person from another cubicle just leave without washing at all? Have you ever seen someone counting money and they lick their fingers to get a better hold on the bills? All of these actions have a ?contaminating? aspect to them. Is this just a phobic response, or is it a bad practice that can be harmful to yourself and others?

Go a step deeper, is it sin? I want to talk with you about purity from an Old Testament perspective this morning. In the days of Moses when the Law was given, impurity was a complex issue. A person could do many natural actions and be considered impure because of them. A woman gives birth and is considered impure for a certain number of days, and that depending on whether it's a boy or a girl. A person touches a corpse, perhaps of a relative as they bury them, and is considered unclean or impure. Eating a certain kind of meat or preparing food in particular way resulted in impurity. This was considered just as defiling as a moral impurity would be, like swearing, lusting, lying, thieving, murdering. Until it was dealt with in the prescribed manner, it would render that person impure.

Here's the point and the reason for why we consider this in light of what we are about to read?Purity, to God, is the starting point. Before God empowers or employs, He . . .

Read more: Gilgal?s Sanctification

  1. Three Words Will Do
  2. Your Treasure: Send it On Ahead
  3. Wonders of Creation - Gecko Feet
  4. Earthquakes of The Heart

Subcategories

The Spur Article Count:  92

Marcia Laycock is a pastor's wife and freelance writer living in Alberta Canada.  Her devotional book The Spur of the Moment has been endorsed by Janette Oke, Phil Callaway and others.  To order, and to view more of Marcia's writing, see her web site - www.vinemarc.com

Wonders of Creation Article Count:  37

Written By Richard Gunther.

Harris Dvores Article Count:  1

Harris Dvores is a corporate lawyer in Orlando, Florida. But only from 9 to 5. For more than 20 years, he has pursued his passion to create: everything from Christian music and church skits, to Star Trek scripts and board games. His new website, www.harrisdvores.com, is a playground for the mind and spirit. A Jewish believer, Harris has been given truly amazing stories to share about the power of God.

Rev. Spence Laycock Article Count:  49

Rev. Spence Laycock pastors at Church of the Open Bible, Ponoka, Alberta, Canada.

Pastor Bert Nieuwenhuis Article Count:  2

Pastor Bert Nieuwenhuis is the interim pastor at Somerset Bible Chapel, Manitoba, Canada.

Diane Davis Article Count:  1

Diane Davis, a former policewoman in Toronto, recently retired from a lengthy career as a civilian member of the Ontario Provincial Police.  Amongst many things, she is now turning her attention to writing, music, and her 5 grandchildren.  She is also Pastor Tim's mom.

Melva's Devotions Article Count:  48

Blog Writings by Melva Cooper.

Melva Cooper is a wife, mother and grandmother from Jonesboro, Arkansas. God has given her, in her retirement years, the ministry of writing for HIM. "Even in old age, you will still produce fruit" is a verse He has given her (Psalm 92:14). And it is her desire to serve Him all the days of her life.

Barb's Mantle Article Count:  59

Barbara, a Christian homemaker, began her Web Site through encouragement from her son, and a dream. It quickly became a ministry for the Lord. She began writing devotionals to encourage, inspire, and build up spiritually those coming to her site.  Barbara is a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother.

Sandra Boyte Article Count:  10

Writing poetry that brings glory to God is Sandra's passion.  No matter where she has lived, or what she has gone through, she has found that God is always there before her to lead her in His paths and to catch her when she falls.  Married, with two sons two granddaughters on the way, Sandra's future goals include writing more poetry trying her hand at writing short devotionals for children.

Dr. Harold McNabb Article Count:  98

Dr. Harold McNabb pastors at Westshore Presbyterian Church in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.

Peggie's Den Article Count:  77

"Ever feel as though life is a lions' den and like Daniel, you're right in the middle of it all? Enjoy these "Devotions from the Den" (Lions 'n Life at Peggie's Place) and delight in God's promises of love, joy and peace for whatever is happening in YOUR den today!"

Misc Article Count:  77

Miscellaneous archived items.

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