Posted by Ray Pritchard on 10.22.08 in Devotional
In his blog entry called Sacrifice vs. Offering, Brian Bill quotes a missionary who when asked about the sacrifices missionaries must make, explained it this way.It might feel like a sacrifice at the beginning but once you lay it on the altar, it becomes an offering.And that thought reminded me of a story I read years ago about an elderly minister …
Posted by Ray Pritchard on 10.20.08 in Devotional
I’m glad we don’t know the future. Even the good stuff would scare us to death….
Posted by Ray Pritchard on 10.19.08 in Devotional, Travel
Tonight we finished the final service of the Bible conference at Grace Baptist Church in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada. Just a few minutes ago Marlene finished packing, tomorrow we turn in our rental car, and around noon we start the long trip back home. Before leaving this lovely spot, I want to say thank you to Pastor Steve Bray for…
Posted by Ray Pritchard on 10.16.08 in Bible Study, Devotional
This morning I ended up reading only one chapter. I was “reading the 16s” (see this entry for an explanation) so I decided to start with the first one—Genesis 16—and I never made it anywhere else. Here’s what you find in chapter:1. Sarah suggests that Abraham sleep with their Egyptian servant Hagar.2. Hagar gets pregna…
Posted by Ray Pritchard on 10.15.08 in Devotional
By the time you read this Marlene and I will be on our way to Prince Edward Island. Okay, let’s stop right there and try to remember our 5th-grade geography. I say that because every time I’ve mentioned Prince Edward Island recently, I’ve gotten exactly the same response, a vague look that says, “I know I’ve heard…
Posted by Ray Pritchard on 10.14.08 in Devotional
This morning I’ve been reading a pre-publication copy of Significant Living by Jerry and Shirley Rose. Subtitled “A Road Map for the Rest of Your Life,” it’s aimed at older Baby Boomers—people over 55, which happens to precisely my demographic. The book is fun to read because it switches back and forth as an ongoing co…
Posted by Ray Pritchard on 10.12.08 in Devotional
I received an email from a friend going through a hard time. The details don’t matter except that this friend feels like giving up. My friend feels a bit guilty for feeling that way because not everything is going bad. Some things are actually pretty good. But there is a sense of frustration and emptiness and perhaps a bit of wishing that thi…
Posted by Ray Pritchard on 10.10.08 in Current Events, Devotional
In these confusing, uncertain times, I found this quote from John Calvin (HT Of First Importance) reassuring:Our circumstances are all in opposition to the promises of God. He promises us immortality: yet we are surrounded by mortality and corruption. He declares that He accounts us just: yet we are covered with sins. He testifies that He is propit…
Posted by Ray Pritchard on 10.9.08 in Devotional
Yesterday Marlene and I ate breakfast with two women who are attending the Retirees Conference at Cannon Beach. One woman said she now lived in Oregon but she was really from California but shortly after World War II, she and her husband had lived for a few years in Michigan because it was her husband’s home state, but she didn’t feel a…
Posted by Ray Pritchard on 10.8.08 in Bible Study, Devotional
This morning I got up early and starting “reading the 8s.” Tomorrow I will “read the 9s” and on Friday I will “read the 10s.” This is all about a new Bible reading plan that I came up a month or so ago. Let me mention in passing that over the years, I’ve done almost every reading program imaginable. I&…
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