Illustrations Archives

• Illustration: Pastor, Hospitality  (March 16, 2010)
  The young couple invited their elderly pastor for Sunday dinner. While they were in the kitchen preparing the meal, the minister asked their son what they were having. "Goat," the little boy replied.
• Illustration: Love  (March 2, 2010)
  A group of 4-8 year olds was asked, "What does love mean?" Here are some of their answers:
• Illustration: Worship  (March 2, 2010)
  Craig Brian Larson reminds us of the time that, ?Not long ago, the world watched as three gray whales, icebound off Point Barrow, Alaska, floated battered and bloody, gasping for breath at a hole in the ice. Their only hope: somehow to be transported five miles past the ice pack to open sea. Rescuers began cutting a string of breathing holes about 20 yards apart in the six-inch-thick ice.
• Illustration: Forgiveness  (March 2, 2010)
  In his book Taking the Risk Out of Dying, Lee Griess reminds us of the cartoon strip, Calvin and Hobbes. Calvin is a little boy with an overactive imagination and a stuffed tiger, Hobbes, who comes to life as his imaginary friend. In one cartoon strip, Calvin turns to his friend Hobbes and says, "I feel bad I called Susie names and hurt her feelings. I'm sorry I did that."
• Illustration: Choices, Lost and Found  (March 1, 2010)
  Two older men are pushing their carts around Wal-Mart when they collide. The first old guy says to the second guy, "Sorry about that. I'm looking for my wife, and I guess I wasn't paying attention to where I was going."
• Illustration: Lent  (March 1, 2010)
  Lent originally was established for new Christians, those who experienced a call. They were to spend 40 days and 40 nights preparing for their baptism. If at the end they still wanted to follow Jesus, then on Easter Eve they would be baptized as the sun was rising in the east, signaling the new day, the new era, inaugurated because of the Resurrection.
• Illustration: Mistaken Identity  (February 21, 2010)
  With his request approved, the CNN News cameraman quickly used his cell phone to call the local airport to charter a flight. He was told a twin-engine plane would be waiting for him at the airport. Arriving at the airfield, he spotted a plane warming up outside a hanger. He jumped in with his bag, slammed the door shut, and shouted, "Let's go!" The pilot taxied out, swung the plane into the wind and took off.
• Illustration: Stress, Worship  (February 20, 2010)
  In his Turning Point Daily Devotional for Feb. 18, 2010, David Jeremiah shares this: "A Netherlands-based electronics firm is creating a bracelet that will change color and flicker from yellow to red when a person's emotions rise to unhealthy levels. It's being developed chiefly for stock traders on European exchanges. When trading becomes too intense and the trader's blood pressure rises, the device will issue a warning to 'take a time-out, wind down or reconsider their actions,' said the manufacturer. The results, hopefully, will be beneficial to investors--to say nothing of the stock brokers themselves.
• Illustration: Vulerability  (February 18, 2010)
  The mimosa pudice plant is sometime called the sensitive plant. Found in Central and South America, it folds up its leaves in response to heat, wind or human touch. Some human beings are like that.
• Illustration: Scars  (February 18, 2010)
  In The Odyssey, there is a scene that takes place near the end of the story. Odysseus returns home after many years of wandering. He is in disguise as an old man. At first nobody recognizes him, not even his wife and child. One night before bed, Odysseus? aged nurse bathes him. At first, she thinks he is just a stranger; but while bathing him, she recognizes a scar on his leg.
• Illustration: Sacrifice  (February 18, 2010)
  Recently, The Cincinnati Enquirer told the story of a man who donated 80 gallons of blood. He is the record holder for the local blood bank. According to the report, if 60 people gave every drop of blood in their bodies, it would not equal what he has given. His name is Paul Michaels, age 78. It would be notable if we could show that kind of commitment to the cause of Christ. He set the example. He gave His lifeblood for us.
• Illustration: Resurrection  (February 18, 2010)
  Journalist Robert MacNeil once wrote, ?I associate different emotions with traveling toward the different points of the compass. Going east is going back to where we all came from, toward the dawn; to the west is escape, adventure, the pull of the sunset. Going south brings an anticipation of languor, of being enfolded in limpid air. When I head north, my blood quickens?it takes a special people to live where nature makes it so hard.?
• Illustration: Resurrection  (February 18, 2010)
  When Julius Caesar came to Alexandria, he was show the coffin of Alexander the Great. He then was asked if he would like to see Ptolemy?s coffin. He said, ?I came to see a king, not a corpse.? When we come to church, we come to see a King, not a corpse!
• Illustration: Resurrection  (February 18, 2010)
  There is much to be learned from reading epitaphs. There is a wonderful epitaph on the grave of a Patience Holmes. It is so popular that it has been used on many other gravestones in New England. Patience died in 1845, age 24, in Plymouth, Massachusetts. The epitaph says:
• Illustration: Resurrection  (February 18, 2010)
  Years ago when Bishop Brown of the Episcopal Church came to speak in Virginia?s historic St. Luke's Church, Isle of Wight County, he said, ?It has been said that Bishop Brown wants to be buried in St. Luke?s graveyard. That?s nonsense. I?m here to tell you that Bishop Brown doesn?t want to be buried anywhere.?
• Illustration: The Lord's Supper  (February 18, 2010)
  Is it possible that what begins as a memorial can become a presence? Imagine if you stood before the Washington Monument and suddenly the father of our country was at your side. When we come around the Lord?s Table, we come to a memorial of the dying Christ and find ourselves suddenly confronted with the living Christ.
• Illustration: Honesty  (February 18, 2010)
  According to recent news reports, in Greensboro, N.C., an 11-year-old boy discovered a purse with $2,000 inside. The boy suspected it was stolen and turned it in to police. The boy, Edward Myers, was helping plant trees in a park when he found the purse. He could be an example to people much older. We also can hope for a day when honesty does not surprise people.
• Illustration: Denial  (February 18, 2010)
  In Mel Lazarus? comic "Momma," the title character is visiting her shiftless son who is still in bed. She says, ?Francis, do you ever think about the challenges in life?? He replies, ?Constantly, Momma. I?ve been doing it for years?and have actually figured out how to avoid most of them.? Challenges come to all. There is no way, no matter how much we wish it so, to avoid the challenges of life.
• Illustration: Betrayal  (February 18, 2010)
  In Saratoga, N.Y., there is a strange monument. It is comprised of a sculpture of a boot and an inscription of praise that never mentions by name the one being memorialized. The monument is in honor of Benedict Arnold, a brave Revolutionary War general before he became a traitor.
• Illustration: Baptism, Lost and Found  (February 16, 2010)
  A drunken man stumbles across a baptismal service on Sunday afternoon down by the river. He proceeds to walk into the water and stand next to the old country preacher. The minister notices the old drunk and says, "Mister, are you ready to find Jesus?"