Third Sunday of Advent - A
C. David Mckirachan
Frank Ramirez
Contents
"Truckin'" by C. David McKirachan
"Heretic or Saint?" by Frank Ramirez
* * * * * * * * *
Truckin'
C. David McKirachan
Isaiah 35:1-10
I had just arrived in Berkeley to start graduate school. I had finally made it to the left coast. It was 1970 and I was positive that the Age of Aquarius was just around the corner. But in the meantime there was a lot of work to get done. My course load was stupid. I was in a program to earn two master's degrees in three years, one of which involved a forty-hour a week internship. This was before the day of search engines and laptops. I was going to be living at the library and in front of my typewriter. I was pooped after a week. My food budget was somewhere between five and ten dollars a week. I didn't need to identify with the poor. I was the poor. I was hungry.
"Truckin'" by C. David McKirachan
"Heretic or Saint?" by Frank Ramirez
* * * * * * * * *
Truckin'
C. David McKirachan
Isaiah 35:1-10
I had just arrived in Berkeley to start graduate school. I had finally made it to the left coast. It was 1970 and I was positive that the Age of Aquarius was just around the corner. But in the meantime there was a lot of work to get done. My course load was stupid. I was in a program to earn two master's degrees in three years, one of which involved a forty-hour a week internship. This was before the day of search engines and laptops. I was going to be living at the library and in front of my typewriter. I was pooped after a week. My food budget was somewhere between five and ten dollars a week. I didn't need to identify with the poor. I was the poor. I was hungry.
Peter Andrew Smith
“Hey Bill.” Jim made his way through the departing crowd and stuck out his hand. “Great meeting.”
“Yeah, it was a great meeting.” Bill smiled and shook the other man’s hand. “Thanks for being a part of it. I remember when I mentioned the 12-step program, you were doubtful.”
“You made a believer out of me.” Jim smiled back. “ I didn’t want to admit how much of a problem I had but you refused to accept my excuses and refused to give up on me. You changed my life.”
“No, you changed your life with the group helping you. I got to help but you did the hard work.” Bill patted the other man on the back. “I hear you and Arlene are back together again.”
“Yeah. Making amends was rough but it has made all the difference. Which is actually what I wanted to talk with you about.” Jim cleared his throat. “Can I ask you a question?”
“Yeah, it was a great meeting.” Bill smiled and shook the other man’s hand. “Thanks for being a part of it. I remember when I mentioned the 12-step program, you were doubtful.”
“You made a believer out of me.” Jim smiled back. “ I didn’t want to admit how much of a problem I had but you refused to accept my excuses and refused to give up on me. You changed my life.”
“No, you changed your life with the group helping you. I got to help but you did the hard work.” Bill patted the other man on the back. “I hear you and Arlene are back together again.”
“Yeah. Making amends was rough but it has made all the difference. Which is actually what I wanted to talk with you about.” Jim cleared his throat. “Can I ask you a question?”
C. David Mckirachan
Frank Ramierz
Contents
“Are We There Yet?” by C. David McKirachan
“Mary — A Child Prodigy?” by Frank Ramirez
Are We There Yet?
by C. David McKirachan
James 5:7-10
Did you ever wonder where they get the kids for the TV ads, you know the ones that are always smiling, and sitting next to parents on the couch, or at the table? Maybe your kids are like that. Maybe there are kids like that somewhere. But mine… well let’s say they were more likely to be involved in other activities.
They say that one sure test of intelligence is the ability of an individual to display delayed gratification, to wait for whatever it is they are looking forward to. So much for the intelligence of the human race, at least most of the ones I’ve come in contact with.
“Are We There Yet?” by C. David McKirachan
“Mary — A Child Prodigy?” by Frank Ramirez
Are We There Yet?
by C. David McKirachan
James 5:7-10
Did you ever wonder where they get the kids for the TV ads, you know the ones that are always smiling, and sitting next to parents on the couch, or at the table? Maybe your kids are like that. Maybe there are kids like that somewhere. But mine… well let’s say they were more likely to be involved in other activities.
They say that one sure test of intelligence is the ability of an individual to display delayed gratification, to wait for whatever it is they are looking forward to. So much for the intelligence of the human race, at least most of the ones I’ve come in contact with.
John E. Sumwalt
C. David Mckirachan
Contents
"A Christmas Reminder" by John Sumwalt
"Inditement" by C. David McKirachan
"Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town" by C. David McKirachan
* * * * * * *
A Christmas Reminder
John Sumwalt
Isaiah 35:1-10
He will come and save you. Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped... and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy.
-- Isaiah 35:4b-6a
Howard Thorsby had never felt more out of place in all of his 56 years than he did that Black Friday, standing in line at 4:00 a.m. outside of Mall Marty World. He had never done anything like this before. A shy, quiet man, except around his friends in the choir at church and some of his relatives, Howard avoided crowds whenever possible. To be bunched together with several hundred excited Christmas shoppers was almost more than he could endure.
"A Christmas Reminder" by John Sumwalt
"Inditement" by C. David McKirachan
"Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town" by C. David McKirachan
* * * * * * *
A Christmas Reminder
John Sumwalt
Isaiah 35:1-10
He will come and save you. Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped... and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy.
-- Isaiah 35:4b-6a
Howard Thorsby had never felt more out of place in all of his 56 years than he did that Black Friday, standing in line at 4:00 a.m. outside of Mall Marty World. He had never done anything like this before. A shy, quiet man, except around his friends in the choir at church and some of his relatives, Howard avoided crowds whenever possible. To be bunched together with several hundred excited Christmas shoppers was almost more than he could endure.
Rick McCracken-Bennett
Sandra Herrmann
Contents
What's Up This Week
"Lessons of a Farmer" by Rick McCracken-Bennett
Who in the World Are You Trying to Convince Anyway?" by Rick McCracken-Bennett
"Whom Did You Go to See?" by Sandra Herrmann
What's Up This Week
What's Up This Week
"Lessons of a Farmer" by Rick McCracken-Bennett
Who in the World Are You Trying to Convince Anyway?" by Rick McCracken-Bennett
"Whom Did You Go to See?" by Sandra Herrmann
What's Up This Week
C. David Mckirachan
Keith Wagner
Contents
"Why did he ask?" by C. David McKirachan
"The Power of Patience" by Keith Wagner
"Roads to Joy" by Keith Wagner
Why did he ask?
by C. David McKirachan
Matthew 11:2-11
"Why did he ask?" by C. David McKirachan
"The Power of Patience" by Keith Wagner
"Roads to Joy" by Keith Wagner
Why did he ask?
by C. David McKirachan
Matthew 11:2-11
John E. Sumwalt And Jo Perry-sumwalt
Contents
What's Up This Week
A Story to Live By: "A Prison Called Unforgiveness"
Shining Moments: "Right Here in My Church" by April McClure Stewart
Good Stories: "Patient Waiting" by John Sumwalt
Scrap Pile: "Peace Table" by Connie Schroeder / "Nix on Extravagant Welcome?"
What's Up This Week
Speaking of "lifting up the lowly," as Mary does in this week's Gospel reading from Luke, April McClure Stewart finds herself lifted up in an unexpected way by a lowly fourth grader in her church's after-school program. This was a boy who had been disrupting things in every imaginable way that children can be disruptive. April found herself wishing he would stay away. But she discovered the Spirit was working in wondrous ways through the church to touch this boy's heart, as she tells in her wonderful Shining Moments story:
What's Up This Week
A Story to Live By: "A Prison Called Unforgiveness"
Shining Moments: "Right Here in My Church" by April McClure Stewart
Good Stories: "Patient Waiting" by John Sumwalt
Scrap Pile: "Peace Table" by Connie Schroeder / "Nix on Extravagant Welcome?"
What's Up This Week
Speaking of "lifting up the lowly," as Mary does in this week's Gospel reading from Luke, April McClure Stewart finds herself lifted up in an unexpected way by a lowly fourth grader in her church's after-school program. This was a boy who had been disrupting things in every imaginable way that children can be disruptive. April found herself wishing he would stay away. But she discovered the Spirit was working in wondrous ways through the church to touch this boy's heart, as she tells in her wonderful Shining Moments story:
What is StoryShare?
StoryShare is a treasure house with hundreds of good stories to share, stories which relate authentic, life-changing experiences that demonstrate the Lord's power and presence. Many are intensely personal accounts that concern visions, healing, or answers to prayers, but all bear witness to the indescribable joy, comfort and peace that come from a personal encounter with the divine. Our "Good Stories" section includes short fiction, parables much like those Jesus told.
Can I share stories that I have?
Yes, you can. You have good stories to share too, probably more than you know: personal stories, and stories from others that you have used over the years. StoryShare is always looking for stories involving personal experiences of the presence of God. Have you or someone you know heard the voice of God or been healed as a direct answer to prayer? If you have a story that you can share send it to StoryShare for review. Simply click here (storyshare@sermonsuite.com) and email your story to us.
