Forward Ever Forward » Religion

FW: One Man

Paul — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 06:00:08 +0000

One man, kneeling
alone in the night
Blood and sweat mix
outflowing in fright
Kneeling, praying
prone on the grass
“From my lips, Father,
let this cup pass.”

One man, standing
scorned, flogged, and beat
Harsh words still echo
there in the heat
“He is no king,”
he heard them cry
“Give us Barabbas!
and him — CRUCIFY!!”

One man, hanging
dying with thieves
Of the thousands who followed
for him, who grieves?
Friends watch at a distance
afraid to go near
Their whole worlds are shattered
their hearts filled with fear.

One man lived and died
in a rich grave was laid
For His blood was shed
that our debt be paid.
But death could not hold Him
resurrected He stands
To him who is weary
outstretched are His hands
In Christ there is rest
a requiem from strife
To him who believes
He will grant eternal life.

written by Ryan Corbi
Used with Permission

FW: At the Foot of the Cross

Paul — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 06:00:08 +0000

Fearing the battle was over
And I’d already lost the war,
I was tired of trying and failing.
I just couldn’t fight anymore.

So, dragging my battle-scarred body,
I crawled to the foot of the cross.
And I sobbed. “Oh please, Father forgive me.
But I tried…I tried.. and still lost.”

Then the air grew silent around me.
I heard his voice just as clear as the dawn:
“Oh, My child, though you are tired and weary,
You can’t stop, you have to go on.”

At the foot of the Cross, where I met Him,
At the foot of the Cross, where He died,
I felt love, as I knelt in His presence.
I felt hope, as I looked in His eyes.

Then He gathered me lovingly to Him,
As around us God’s light clearly shone.
And together we walked though my lifetime
To heal every wound I had known.

I found bits of my dreams, long forgotten,
And pieces of my life on the floor.
But I watched as He tenderly blessed them,
And my life was worth living once more.

I knew then why I had been losing.
I knew why I had not grown.
At the foot of the Cross came the answer:
I’d been fighting the battle alone.

At the foot of the Cross, where I met Him,
At the foot of the Cross, where He died,
Then I knew I could face any challenge
Together–just my Lord and I.

Written by Marcia Krugh Leaser

FW: A Call from Almighty God

Paul — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 06:00:36 +0000

There once was a minister whose storefront church was called The Almighty God Tabernacle. One Sunday, this minister was working late, and decided to call his wife before he left for home. The phone rang and rang, but his wife didn’t answer the phone.

The minister hung up and tried again. This time his wife answered right away. He asked her why she hadn’t answered before, but she said that she hadn’t heard the phone ring. The minister brushed it off and didn’t give it a second thought.

The next day the phone the minister used to call his wife began to ring. He answered it and there was a long pause on the other end. Finally, a man quietly asked the minister why he had called the previous night.

The minister couldn’t figure out what the guy was talking about. Then the guy said, “My phone rang and rang, but I didn’t answer.” The minister then remembered the mishap and apologized for disturbing him, explaining that he intended to call his wife.

There was another long pause before the man said, “I was planning to commit suicide on Saturday night, but before I did, I prayed, ‘God if you’re there, and you don’t want me to do this, give me a sign now.’ At that point my phone started to ring. I looked at the caller ID, and it said, ‘Almighty God.’ I was too afraid to answer!”

FW: 10 Profound & Spiritual Insights

Paul — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 06:00:48 +0000

1) Prayer is not a “spare wheel” that you pull out when in trouble; it is a “steering wheel” that directs us in the right path throughout life.

2) Do you know why a car’s windshield is so large & the rear view mirror is so small? Because our past is not as important as our future. So, look ahead and move on.

3) Friendship is like a book. It takes a few seconds to burn, but it takes years to write.

4) All things in life are temporary. If going well enjoy it, they will not last forever. If going wrong don’t worry, they can’t last long either.

5) Old friends are like gold! New friends are diamonds! If you get a diamond, don’t forget the gold! Because to hold a diamond, you always need a base of gold!

6) Often when we lose hope and think this is the end, God smiles from above and says, “Relax, it’s just a bend, not the end!

7) When God solves your problems, you have faith in His abilities; when God doesn’t solve your problems He has faith in your abilities.

A blind person asked St. Anthony: “Can there be anything worse than losing eye sight?” He replied: “Yes, losing your vision.”

9) When you pray for others, God listens to you and blesses them; and sometimes, when you are safe and happy, remember that someone has prayed for you.

10) Worrying does not take away tomorrow’s troubles; it takes away today’s peace.

FW: Silent Night with a Twist

Paul — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 05:43:54 +0000

Lindsey Stirling does an amazing rendition of Silent Night, not to mention the cinematography is outstanding!

Click here to view the embedded video.

FW: A Jewish Christmas

Paul — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 20:46:19 +0000

The teacher, Ms. Jones, asked her student Patrick Murphy, “What do you do at Christmas time?”

Patrick eagerly addressed the class, “Well Ms. Jones, me and my twelve brothers and sisters go to midnight mass and we sing hymns; then we come home very late and we put mince pies by the back door and hang up our stockings. Then all excited, we go to bed and wait for Father Christmas to come with all our toys.”

“Very nice Patrick,” she said.

“Now Jimmy Brown, what do you do at Christmas?”

“Well, Ms. Jones, me and my sister also go to church with Mom and Dad and we sing carols and we get home ever so late. We put cookies and milk by the chimney and we hang up our stockings. We hardly sleep, waiting for Santa Claus to bring our presents.”

Realizing there was a Jewish boy in the class and not wanting to leave him out of the discussion, she asked, “Now, Isaac Cohen, what do you do at Christmas?”

Isaac said, “Well, it’s the same thing every year. Dad comes home from the office. We all pile into the Rolls Royce; then we drive to Dad’s toy factory. When we get inside, we look at all the empty shelves, and then begin to sing, ‘What A Friend We Have in Jesus.’ Then we all go to the Bahamas.”

FW: The Christmas Coat

Paul — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 06:00:24 +0000

It is amazing how this video was completely done with out anyone speaking a word. Quite beautiful!

Click here to view the embedded video.

utu

FW: Jesus Hugs

Paul — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 21:29:09 +0000

Have you ever had a “Jesus hug?”
Do you know what one feels like?
If you’ve never had a “Jesus hug,”
I pray one day you might.

A “Jesus hug” is different,
As far as hugging goes;
It’s a little taste of Heaven,
Here on earth below.

Only those who love the Lord,
Can give a “Jesus hug;”
It conveys God’s grace and mercy,
And unconditional love.

Those who give out “Jesus hugs”
Always seem to somehow know
Just when you’re in need of one
To make your spirit glow.

And if you ever need one
I hope that I will see,
So I can give you a “Jesus hug;”
Just like someone did for me.

FW: 7 Prayers for the Thanksgiving Holiday

Paul — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 19:19:23 +0000

In case you need some help in the prayer department we have listed seven thanksgiving prayers to try out. Ultimately, I am sure who ever you pray to will be happy to hear from you no matter what you say!

Thanksgiving Prayer 1

For an easy and quick prayer this Thanksgiving grace is for you.

Here at the table now we pray,
keep us together day by day.
May this our family circle be
held fast by love and unity. Amen.

Thanksgiving Prayer 2

This Thanksgiving prayer comes from the Bible. Use the Apostle Paul’s words to share your gratitude.

God most provident,
we join all creation in raising to you a hymn of thanksgiving through Jesus Christ your son. For generation upon generation peoples of this land have sung of your bounty; we too offer you praise for the rich harvest we have received at your hands. Bless us and this food which we share with grateful hearts. Continue to make our land fruitful and let our love for you be seen in our pursuit of peace and justice and in our generous response to those in need. Praise and glory to you, Lord God, now and for ever. Amen.

Thanksgiving Prayer 3

With our world engaged in many wars the next prayer are for the soldiers abroad.

Our Father,
we thank you for so many things.
We thank you for our home, our food and all the provision.
We thank you for this great nation.
We thank you for keeping us safe this year.
We thank you for the courage and bravery that our loved one has shown this past year by serving us and all the families of this country.
We thank you for him and ask you to continue to protect and guide him during his time of service.
Bring them all home safely so that we again can gather next year and thank you for even more.
Thank you Father for the meal that has been prepared for us.
We receive it joyfully and bless you for it.
Amen.

Thanksgiving Prayer 4

Give thanks for the turkey itself. Here is a PETA commercial which was banned from television (this is a family website, so the advertisement is not risque, but it is graphic on how turkeys are treated).

Click here to view the embedded video.

Thanksgiving Prayer 5

Feeling deeply patriotic this Thanksgiving, but not an Obama fan? Here is a prayer you can offer for our 44th president.

Dear God,
We are thankful for your divine provenance that limits presidential terms to four years as we await the coming of Nobama.
Until that time, give Obama eyes so that he may see past GQ magazine,
ears so that he can hear all the tortured screaming,
a brain so that he can make a decision,
and a nose to find his smelly mistakes.
Amen

Thanksgiving Prayer 6

Did you believe a Democrat is not just a political affiliation title, but rather a high calling from the Divine? If so, the below Thanksgiving prayer should reflect your inner most convictions.

Holy, holy God,
We believe that thou art God, and we believe that thou art holy,
and that thou art a holy Democrat, and that thou wilt be a Democrat forever.
Holy God,
We believe that thou hast separated us from our Republican brethren.
We do not believe in the unwise and unsacred traditions of our Republican brethren, which were taught to them by the childishness of their forefathers.
Rather we believe that thou hast elected us to the White House; and also thou hast made it known unto us that we should have majority control of Congress.
Thou art the same yesterday, today, and forever;
and thou hast elected us to save our country from Republican ignorance.
Around us are elected Republicans who, by thy wrath, will be cast down to Hell.
For this justice, O God, we thank thee.
And again we thank thee, O God, that as Democrats we are your chosen and a holy people. Amen.

Thanksgiving Prayer 7

If the other six prayers don’t work for you than our final prayer should cover all other aspects of your gratitude this Thanksgiving season.

We come, O Lord, these Autumn days,
With hymns of gratitude and praise.
Harvest of gold the plains adorn,
Rich fruits roll forth from Plenty’s horn;
Thou givest treasures from the rocks;
The little hills are clothed with flocks;
The seas are with their burden white,
And new Thy mercies day and night.
For changing seasons as they go,
For Autumn leaf, for Winter’s snow,
For the green verdure of the Spring,
For life in plant and life on wing,
For Summer with its ripening heat,
For hopes the rounded years complete,
For morn and noon, for night and day,
For light that marks our heavenward way;
For all the blessings of Thy hand,
For freedom in fair freedom’s land,
Pursuits of thrift that bring us wealth,
For schools and churches, peace and health,
For commerce, yielding up her stores,
Brought for man’s use from distant shores;
For countless gifts, O Lord, we raise
Our hymns of gratitude and praise.
Thou settest man in families,
And all his wants the earth supplies;
Of children, be they far or near,
Of children’s children gathered here,
We thank Thee for Thy gracious care,
And lift for them the secret prayer,
As clustered round each social board
We eat and drink, and praise the Lord.

FW: The Fiery Sermon

Paul — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 22:02:08 +0000

A member of a certain church, who previously had been attending services regularly, stopped going. After a few weeks, the pastor decided to visit him. It was a chilly evening. The pastor found the man at home alone, sitting before a blazing fire.

Guessing the reason for his pastor’s visit, the man welcomed him, led him to a comfortable chair near the fireplace and waited. The pastor made himself at home but said nothing. In the grave silence, he contemplated the dance of the flames around the burning logs.

After some minutes, the pastor took the fire tongs, carefully picked up a brightly burning ember and placed it to one side of the hearth all alone. Then he sat back in his chair, still silent. The host watched all this in quiet contemplation. As the one lone ember’s flame flickered and diminished, there was a momentary glow and then its fire was no more.

Soon it was cold and dead. Not a word had been spoken since the initial greeting. The Pastor glanced at his watch and realized it was time to leave, he slowly stood up, picked up the cold, dead ember and placed it back in the middle of the fire. Immediately it began to glow, once more with the light and warmth of the burning coals around it.

As the pastor reached the door to leave, his host said with a tear running down his cheek, “Thank you so much for your visit and especially for the fiery sermon. I shall be back in church next Sunday.”

Forward Ever Forward » Religion

FW: One Man

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FW: At the Foot of the Cross

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FW: A Call from Almighty God

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FW: Silent Night with a Twist

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FW: A Jewish Christmas

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FW: The Christmas Coat

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FW: Jesus Hugs

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FW: 7 Prayers for the Thanksgiving Holiday

Thanksgiving Prayer 1

Thanksgiving Prayer 2

Thanksgiving Prayer 3

Thanksgiving Prayer 4

Thanksgiving Prayer 5

Thanksgiving Prayer 6

Thanksgiving Prayer 7

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FW: The Fiery Sermon

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