Unleash the Beast!

And he requires everyone…to be given a mark on his right hand or on his forehead,  so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark: the beast’s name or the number of his name.  […] His number is 666 (Rev. 13:16-18). 666 has reared its ugly head in the popular imagination again. Numerous viral…

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God O’ballD

The following is a quirky poem I wrote about double-mindedness. *** Right now I wood lyke 2 spell yor nayme with two dees beakuz iyme con-fused without fusion un-one Two without u blown to sub-atomic smithereens (set blender to atom-smasher. Hit bl-end) with ewe confronted with tornadic reinteriordecorating sudden death we(l)dding what a mess pureed…

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God’s Grandeur–Gerard Manley Hopkins

  Painting by Patrick Murphy God’s Grandeur The world is charged with the grandeur of God.      It will flame out, like shining from shook foil;      It gathers to a greatness, like the ooze of oil Crushed. Why do men then now not reck his rod? Generations have trod, have trod, have trod;…

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Evening THEN Morning?!?

“And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day” (Gen. 1:5). In the story of creation, have you ever wondered why each day concludes with the words, “And there was evening, and there was morning”?   Wouldn’t a day be morning then evening? Have you especially wondered why this phrase occurs the first day,…

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Bobblehead Devil

My wife took my son for a haircut the other day.  The barber had a bobblehead devil decorating her space for Hallowe’en (pictured above).  My son said, “Look!  A hungry guy!”  She chuckled because all my son saw was a guy with two forks.  I mean, what else can you be but hungry if you have…

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Learning Despair

The following is an excerpt from Absolute Surrender by Andrew Murray. *** Once more: these disciples were men who had been led to despair of themselves.  At the beginning of their three years’ class of instruction they had to give up all they possessed; but it was only at the end of that time that they began to…

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Linus Christianity

Hallowe’en is fast approaching so our family watched “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!” In case you haven’t seen it, here’s the story: Linus spends Hallowe’en in a pumpkin patch waiting for the Great Pumpkin (GP). The GP is a Santa Claus-ish figure that appears only in the most “sincere” pumpkin patches. He rewards children…

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The Rejected King

Sketch by Patrick Murphy Below is an excerpt from “Despising the Lamb” a booklet that will soon be available at The Voice of One. *** Samuel led Israel until he was old. His sons were dishonest and greedy (1 Sam. 8:1-3). The elders of Israel approached Samuel and said, “[A]ppoint a king to judge us the same as all…

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Out of my sight

Originally posted on My utmost 4 His garbage can :
It is right for us to make so much of the finished work of Christ. It is no exaggeration to say that the death and resurrection was more profound than even the creation of this natural realm. Because His appearing is the goal and fulfillment of creation.…

Purpose

Years ago, almost 15 years ago in fact, I sat waiting for someone to unlock the building next to our church.  It had been a busy week.  While I waited, I decided to pray.  The Lord spoke a few short sentences.  I have never forgotten them.  These few short sentences continue to define my understanding…

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