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Ron Love

Ronald H. Love was called into the ordained ministry from a career as a state trooper. He has served Methodist churches in rural, inner-city and suburban settings for 20 years, and also served for four years as an Army chaplain. Dr. Love has also been a corporate librarian for a Fortune 500 company and been a university professor for ten years, teaching history and theology. His writing experience includes denominational publications, magazine articles on religion, and a newspaper devotional column. He holds a bachelor's degree in sociology (Slippery Rock State College), master's degrees in library and information science (University of Pittsburgh), secondary education (Duquesne University), church history (Indiana University of Pennsylvania), and theology (Wesley Theological Seminary), as well as a doctorate in homiletics (Pittsburgh Theological Seminary). Dr. Love now resides in South Carolina.
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Emphasis Preaching Journal

When the armistice was signed... -- Isaiah 58:1-9a (9b-12) -- Ron Love -- Ash Wednesday - B -- 2011
When the armistice was signed that ended the Spanish-American War, which was fought in 1898, the Ame
In the opening decades of Methodism, it was not... -- Titus 2:11-14 -- Ron Love -- The Nativity of our Lord - B -- 2011
In the opening decades of Methodism, it was not a church but a religious society focused on spiritua
NULL -- Exodus 3:1-15 -- Ron Love -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A -- 2011
Stephen Harold Spender (1909-1995) was an English poet, novelist, and essayist who concentrated on t
NULL -- Isaiah 50:4-9a -- Ron Love -- Passion Sunday - A -- 2011
After the Tucson shootings in front of the Safeway Store, where there was an attempted assassination
John Wesley had firmly established his societies... -- Isaiah 61:10--62:3 -- Ron Love -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - B -- 2011
John Wesley had firmly established his societies of believers who became known as Methodists for the
Gary Player, the professional golfer... -- Romans 12:1-8 -- Ron Love -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - A -- 2011
Gary Player, the professional golfer who was called the "Black Knight," looked back on his life at t
NULL -- 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 -- Ron Love -- Maundy Thursday - A -- 2011
In Billy Graham's daily devotional he was asked what is more important to God, our actions or the mo
Before they were to wed, Kat von D got a tattoo... -- Luke 2:22-40 -- Ron Love -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - B -- 2011
Before they were to wed, Kat von D got a tattoo of her betrothed Jesse James, underneath her left ar
Boastful of his drug addictions... -- Matthew 16:21-28 -- Ron Love -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - A -- 2011
Charlie Sheen, boastful of his drug addictions, parties with porn stars, and confrontations with CBS
NULL -- Isaiah 52:13--53:12 -- Ron Love -- Good Friday - A -- 2011
Alfred Lord Tennyson wrote a poem honoring the heroics of the British light cavalry at the Battle of
Friday, July 22, 2011, made it one year -- Revelation 21:1-6a -- Ron Love -- New Year's Day - A, New Year's Day - B, New Year's Day - C -- 2011
Friday, July 22, 2011, made it one year. A year that is a testimony of love.
Early politicians required feedback from the public... -- Romans 13:8-14 -- Ron Love -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - A -- 2011
Early politicians required feedback from the public to determine what the people considered importan
NULL -- John 18:1--19:42 -- Ron Love -- Good Friday - A -- 2011
In January 2011, three Christian missionaries were murdered in India.
During the Revolutionary War... -- Exodus 14:19-31 -- Ron Love -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A -- 2011
During the Revolutionary War, General George Washington knew how important it was to be a God-fearin
NULL -- Colossians 3:1-4 -- Ron Love -- Easter Day - A -- 2011
Lou Holtz, the renowned coach of Notre Dame, concluded his autobiography with this message: "God ans
There is a company in Florence, South Carolina... -- Matthew 18:21-35 -- Ron Love -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A -- 2011
There is a company in Florence, South Carolina, that has been making bricks for 125 years.
NULL -- Acts 2:14-32 -- Ron Love -- Second Sunday of Easter - A -- 2011
A very long and controversial hearing was held in the Senate before Clarence Thomas was approved as
In the 1700s many women had blemishes and pale skin... -- Philippians 1:21-30 -- Ron Love -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A -- 2011
In the 1700s many women had blemishes and pale skin that they wanted to enliven.
NULL -- John 20:19-31 -- Ron Love -- Second Sunday of Easter - A -- 2011
On January 14, 2011, President Barack Obama issued his proclamation for Religious Freedom Day.
In the October 1739 edition of Poor Richard's Almanac... -- Exodus 17:1-7 -- Ron Love -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 2011
In the October 1739 edition of Poor Richard's Almanac, Benjamin Franklin made this astute obs
NULL -- 1 Peter 1:17-23 -- Ron Love -- Third Sunday of Easter - A -- 2011
During the assassination attempt on Congresswoman Giffords in Tucson, six other individuals were kil
In the late 1700s, many houses consisted of a large room... -- Matthew 21:23-32 -- Ron Love -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 2011
In the late 1700s, many houses consisted of a large room with only one chair.
NULL -- Acts 2:42-47 -- Ron Love -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2011
Coincidentally at the time of the Tucson assassination attempt on Congresswoman Giffords, a report w
President John Adams described himself as... -- Philippians 3:4-14 -- Ron Love -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - A -- 2011
President John Adams described himself as "a church-going animal." He and his wife Abigail believed
NULL -- John 10:1-10 -- Ron Love -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2011
In the mid 1800s, Gustave Dore wore a book on his observations of life in London.

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Not many things are quite as common — and, for that matter, quite as predictable — as the sunrise and the sunset. Yet that does not make them less spectacular, does it? We still find ourselves struck by their beauty. So much so, in fact, that at times we try to take pictures in order to capture what we are seeing and experiencing. Or, if others are nearby, we call some family member over to the window in order to share the beauty of the view with someone we love.
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Then I said, ‘See, I have come to do your will, O God’ (in the scroll of the book it is written of me).

If you’re the kind of person that doesn’t miss a super hero movie, you know that every one of them has an origin story. Bruce Wayne, for instance, witnessed the senseless murder of his parents when he was a child, which is why as an adult he was not only intent on fighting crime but also to instill in criminals the traumatic terror he experienced as a child, and that is why he donned the character of the Batman.

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John Jamison
Object: A small bag of potato chips. This message includes role-playing. Depending on your group of children, you can either select your players yourself or ask for volunteers when you need them. You will want one girl to be Mary, another to be Elizabeth, and two more children to be the people in town.

* * *

Hello, everyone! (Let them respond.) Are you ready for our story today? (Let them respond.) Excellent! But instead of just hearing the story,

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We Protestants don’t know what to do with Mary. Because the doctrines of the Catholic church have turned Mary into a sweet passive icon of virginal purity, we Protestants have been content to leave her out of our gallery of biblical saints — except of course, for her obligatory appearance in our Christmas pageants.
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The recurring phrase, "let your face shine" (vv. 3, 7, 19), offers an interesting opportunity to reflect on the meaning of God's presence in our world. This reflection takes on a particular significance during the Advent season.

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The name Johann Sebastian Bach has been familiar in church music circles for many years. Bach inscribed all his compositions with the phrase, "To God Alone The Glory." Professor Peter Schickele of the fictitious University of Southern North Dakota discovered an obscure relative, P.D.Q. Bach, known as the most bent twig on the Bach family tree. The name Bach had always been associated with fine music until P.D.Q. appeared on the scene. This fabled genius, P.D.Q.
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Year after year, we are drawn to this night. This night with its carols and candlelight, inhaling an atmosphere of poinsettia and pine, and exhaling the promise of peace. What is it about this night that so captivates our souls, I wonder? There are, I suppose, as many answers as there are people in this room.

Some are here because they are believers, faithful followers of the Christ. You are here to celebrate the nativity of your Lord. In the name of the Christ you worship and adore, I bid you a joyful welcome.

Harold C. Warlick, Jr.
The university chaplain was late for a meeting. He roared down the interstate through a sparsely populated area of his state. He was traveling ten miles per hour over the speed limit. As the blue light from the highway patrol car flashed in his rearview mirror, the churning in his stomach was exceeded only by his anger at his foolishness. Putting on his best professional face and a humble demeanor, he gave the officer the requested information and jotted in his date book the time and location of his court appointment.

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Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

Christmas is nearly here! In our worship today let us reflect the joy and happiness of Mary in the way in which we too greet the birth of our Saviour.

Invitation to Confession:

 Lord Jesus, we are longing for your birth.

Lord, have mercy.

 Lord Jesus, we wait to greet you with clean hearts.

Christ, have mercy.

 Lord Jesus, we welcome you -- make us right with you.

Lord, have mercy

 Reading:

 Luke 1:39-45

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