October 22, 2013

Give & Take

Poem

Our minds can be so deceitful

We think we’re kind; is it true?

Harsh words dispel life’s kindness

In just a second or two.

—Bill Tassie, Burlington, Michigan

Let's Pray

Have a prayer need? Have a few free minutes? Each Wednesday morning at 8:15 EDT the Adventist Review staff meets to pray for people—children, parents, friends, coworkers. Send your prayer requests and, if possible, pray with us on Wednesday mornings. Send requests to: Let’s Pray, Adventist Review, 12501 Old Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, MD 20904-6600; fax: 301-680-6638; e-mail: [email protected].

Sound Bite

“God will
not consult
your past to
determine
your future.”


—Pastor Dany Hernandez,
during his sermon “How Are You Going to Finish?” at the Forest Lake Seventh-day Adventist Church in Apopka, Florida, on May 25, 2013; based on Philippians 3:13, 14

Adventist Life

Our pastor is good, but he’s not God! One of the things our pastor and choir director try to do is coordinate the sermon theme with the choir’s special music. One Friday evening at choir practice there was the normal quiet chitchat as the pastor and choir director discussed sermon topics and music for the next couple of months. Suddenly everyone’s attention was riveted when we heard the pastor’s announcement. Out of the surprised silence came laughter. Sensing he had startled everyone, the pastor said, “I can change it if you want,” which brought more laughter and loud requests of “No, don’t change it, don’t change it. Make it happen!”

His announcement? As the pastor was giving the choir director the sermon topic, he said, “I’ve scheduled the Second Coming for April 28.”

—Donna Bechthold, Tillamook, Oregon

 

Although well acquainted with using current technology ourselves, we were amused when Pastor Tony Hunter, in preparing to read a verse of Scripture at the North Shore Seventh-day Adventist Church, said, “Let’s turn to Jonah, chapter 1 . . . H’mmm, it seems my Bible stopped working.”  

Hunter proceeded with his sermon, but we chuckled quietly to ourselves when several minutes later his wife slipped forward with a “paper” Bible for him to use!

—Marshall and Glenda Merklin, Chicago, Illinois

 

When our son Tim turned 8 years old, we gave him a Bible. The Bible had a picture of Jesus holding a lamb. Tim loved that Bible.

We were sitting at the table one day for dinner, and Tim was very quiet. Serious, he looked at us and said, “Mom, Dad, when I die, bury me with my Bible.” We were so touched.

Unfortunately, Tim took his Bible to junior camp that summer, and it got mixed up with some other child’s things—Tim never saw his Bible again, but our dinner table experience has been a precious memory to us.

—Delores Master, Falling Waters, West Virginia

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