Mamie Adams always went to a specific branch post office in her town because the postal employees were friendly. On a busy afternoon, just a few days before Christmas, she stopped by to purchase a few stamps. While waiting in the long line, a man pointed out that there was no need to wait, a...

In the operating room of a large, well-known hospital, it was the nurse's first day on the medical team. She was responsible that all instruments and materials were accounted for before completing the final steps of the operation. She said to the surgeon, "You've only removed 11 sponges. We used...

A story is told of Abraham Lincoln. One day the President summoned to the White House a surgeon in the Army of the Cumberland from the state of Ohio. The major assumed that he was to be commended for some exceptional work. During the conversation Mr. Lincoln asked the major about his...

With God in the Crucible: Preaching Costly Discipleship is an Abingdon Press book that contains sermons by Peter Storey, former President of the Methodist Church of South Africa and Bishop of the Johannesburg/Soweto area for thirteen years. The book contains sermons preached in the...

"Advent comes from a Latin word meaning 'coming' or 'arrival,' and marks the four Sundays preceding Christmas as a time to prepare for celebrating Christ's birth. Advent is a season for Christians intentionally to remember their need for God to come again in their lives. It is a time for us to express a...

"When Jesus came the first time, He came in a manger. When He comes again, He is coming in majesty. The first time, He shed His royal blood for our redemption. When He comes again, He is going to be dressed in royal robes to reign in righteousness. The first time, He came to a crucifixion. When He comes...

"I have preached the gospel now these thirty years and more, and . . . often, in coming down to this pulpit, have I felt my knees knock together, not that I am afraid of any one of my hearers, but I am thinking of that account which I must render to God, whether I...

An older couple had a son, who was still living at home with his parents. The parents were a little worried that their son could not decide on his future career, so they decided to do a little test. They took a $20 bill, a Bible, and a bottle of whiskey, and put all three on the kitchen table, then they...

A nice young Post Office worker was sorting through her regular mail when she discovered a letter addressed as follows: GOD, c/o Heaven. Upon opening the envelope, the enclosed letter told about a little old lady who had never asked for anything in her life. She was...

In the December 21, 2002 issue of World magazine, Gene Veith points out, "Critics of Christmas say that the Christian holiday is nothing more than the old pagan celebration of the winter solstice. . . . For the ancient pagans, the winter solstice meant the triumph of darkness. The Druids called it...