Sermon Illustrations

?In his book Surviving Hell: A P.O.W.'s Journey, Leo Thorsness tells of the courage it took to worship in the infamous Hanoi Hilton prison in Vietnam.

?Bill Bryson writes about visiting Copenhagen in 1990 and was amazed to learn that Queen Margaret used to walk from the palace every morning to the shops to buy flowers and vegetables.

?Human tragedy is never ultimate. Purpose often springs out of chaos and light from the darkness.

?F.W. Boreham shares a story about his mentor J.J. Doke moving from New Zealand to South Africa and collaborating with Mahatma Gandhi.

During a trip to Lancaster, Penn., I once had dinner in an Amish home, where I heard about their unusual procedure for choosing a pastor.

?There's a story about an old man who was often sought out for advice and was greatly admired for his wisdom.

"The scoreboard said I lost today," Andre Agassi told the crowd.

?H. Stephen Shoemaker shares this story: Andy Catlett, a character in a Wendell Berry novel, has lost his right hand in a farm accident.

?In his sermon "Whistling in the Dark," Frederick Buechner says: "You have to be quiet to hear "

?If you travel to Canada's Thousand Islands region you can visit Boldt Castle, or what is left of it.