Posted by Ray Pritchard on 4.18.06 in Uncategorized
One of my favorite stories about the power of prayer to win the lost is over 1600 years old. It begins with a woman named Monica who was raised by Christian parents in North Africa. When she was old enough, her parents arranged a marriage to a pagan man. Evidently the marriage was very difficult because of divided spiritual …
Posted by Ray Pritchard on 4.17.06 in Uncategorized
I received an email with a heartrending question:I have a daughter that I don’t believe is saved. I pray for her but often times I can’t. I suppose that I’m angry she isn’t responding and feel incapable of helping her. What can I pray for on a daily basis so that she will come to Christ? At times …
Posted by Ray Pritchard on 4.16.06 in Uncategorized
Most people know that we’re living in the country. I was reminded again today how far out in the country we really are. When I woke up this morning, I noticed that the clock by our bed was blinking, which meant that the power had gone off overnight. It wasn’t until we saw my brother at church that we found out t …
Posted by Ray Pritchard on 4.15.06 in Uncategorized
Len Hoppe was in his early 40s when he died in 1996. Tonight the family is gathering in Memphis for a ten-year service of remembrance. I first met Len when I came to Calvary Memorial Church in Oak Park as pastor in 1989. In the kindness of God, we became very close friends. During our service together on the elder board, I …
Posted by Ray Pritchard on 4.14.06 in Uncategorized
I just recorded a new podcast with Stacy Harp on the evidence for the resurrection of Jesus.
Posted by Ray Pritchard on 4.14.06 in Uncategorized
It is now about 6:30 a.m. on Good Friday. The six trials of Jesus are coming to an end. Soon he will be scourged, beaten, bloodied, and crowned with a wreath of thorns. Slowly he will lead the procession through the narrow streets of Jerusalem. When he falls under the load, Simon of Cyrene will be summoned from the crowd to …
Posted by Ray Pritchard on 4.13.06 in Uncategorized
Like approximately 100 million other Americans, Marlene and I have gotten hooked on NBC’s hit show Deal or No Deal. If you haven’t seen the show, I really can’t explain it to you, but it has to with opening suitcases that contain various amounts of money, ranging from 1 cent to $1 million. Contestants have …
Posted by Ray Pritchard on 4.12.06 in Uncategorized
This morning I recorded my first podcast with Stacy Lynn Harp, the president of Active Christian Media in Orange, CA. For those who don’t know, podcasting is the latest technological innovation that allows anyone to become an Internet broadcaster. The neat thing about podcasting is that it is really “media on demand.” …
Posted by Ray Pritchard on 4.11.06 in Uncategorized
Lately the so-called “Gospel of Judas” has made headlines because it presents an alternative picture of Judas that transforms him from a traitor into a hero. Instead of betraying Christ, he turns him in because Jesus supposedly asks him to. If that sounds like so much “jailhouse lawyering,” that’s exactly what it is. …
Posted by Ray Pritchard on 4.10.06 in Uncategorized
Here are five Good Friday/Easter sermons from the series on the Apostles’ Creed. Please feel free to use these sermons in any way that may be helpful in your own sermon preparation or to prepare your own heart for this weekend.The Man Who Killed Jesus
The Day God Died
God’s Scapegoat
The Strangest Part of the Cr …