Growing Together Blog

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Written by Sparky Pritchard Friday, 11 December 2009 15:53

Looking for a heart-warming story for the Christmas season?  My eye caught this one in one of James Hewett’s books.

“It was the first day back to school after Christmas vacation, and the teacher used a good bit of the morning by going around the room and asking each child to tell how they spent Christmas.  The first boy said, ‘Well, we are Catholics and we went to midnight mass and came home and went right to bed.  The next morning we had a big breakfast and sat around the Christmas tree and opened all our presents.’  The second child then told her experience.  ‘We are United Methodists but we did about the same thing.  We went to the Christmas Eve candlelight service and came home and went to bed. We had a big Christmas breakfast and then opened all our presents.’  The third child then said, ‘Well we aren't Christians.  But we did have a big breakfast and opened presents around the tree.  Then we all got into the car and went downtown to my dad's department store.  He showed us all the empty shelves.  He showed us all the money.  Then we made a circle around the cash register, joined hands, and sang, What a Friend We Have in Jesus.’”

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Written by Geoff Chan Friday, 04 December 2009 16:17

Dr. Li was a bright, young orthopedic surgeon in China and a devout Buddhist when he came to Richmond to study. When he first came to the Chinese Bible study, he was arrogant and proud.  But God placed believers around him, including his professor, landlord, and close friends.  During the next two years, we witnessed his change in personality, and he became a follower of Jesus Christ in 2002.  He also became a humble man, with a servant’s heart. The transformation in Dr. Li’s life is a perfect example of the life-changing power of God.  Dr. Li was baptized at Immanuel, and after they moved to Minnesota, I had the privilege of leading his wife to Christ as well.  They are active in a local church, and this December they will be going to Chicago to attend a national mission conference for Chinese believers.

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Written by Sparky Pritchard Thursday, 26 November 2009 07:25

The 66^th Psalm is a song of thanksgiving in the aftermath of hard times.  The author writes of all the “tests” and “trials” that God’s people have endured, but affirms that God has been faithful and has brought them through the “tight spots” and into “a place of abundance.”  Listen to his offering of praise.

“Bless our God, O peoples; let the sound of his praise be heard, who has kept our soul among the living and has not let our feet slip. For you, O God, have tested us; you have tried us as silver is tried. You brought us into the net; you laid a crushing burden on our backs; you let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water; yet you have brought us out to a place of abundance” (Psalm 66:8-12, ESV).

Never lose sight of God’s blessings in the shadows of each day’s burdens.  There is always reason to praise.  And a grateful heart is always lighter than a critical spirit.

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Written by Sparky Pritchard Friday, 20 November 2009 12:02

November 22 is a date that lingers in many minds.  For some, it recalls the events in 1963 when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas.  (It is as vivid in my memory as 9/11 is for our younger generation.)  And November 22, 1963, was also the very day that many believers mourned when it was reported that C. S. Lewis had died.  (As you may know, Lewis taught at both Oxford and Cambridge, and after his conversion to Christianity became a staunch defender of the faith.)