A ROCKY FOUNDATION

                  Dr. Livingstone was a missionary who plunged deep into the heart of Africa. His exploits were passionately followed by the world and his foray’s widely discussed. In the early 1870’s news from him went quite. The world held its breath in wonder at what had become of him. The New York Herald made a decision to send Henry Stanley to discover what had happened to the famed Livingston. Dead or alive they desired the story and spared no expense in procuring it. Interestingly, Livingstone was a loving grace filled follower of Jesus and Stanley an adventure seeking journalist who viewed Christianity with considerable cynicism. Finally he located Livingstone near Lake Tanganyika. Stanley arrived just in time to aid the old missionary with medicine and supplies and news from home. Yet, Livingstone gave Stanley far more. Curious as to what would motivate and inspire a man to leave all; Stanley desired to dig further still. Throu...

            There was a woman who was diagnosed with a terminal illness and had been given three months to live. She contacted her pastor and had him come to her house to discuss certain aspects of her final wishes. The told him what songs she wanted sung and what scripture she would like read. She requested to be buried with her favourite Bible. Everything was in order and the pastor was about to leave when the woman suddenly remembered something very important to her. There is one more thing she said excitedly.   What’s that? came the pastor’s reply. I want to be buried with a fork in my right hand.   The pastor was quiet. “That surprises you, doesn’t it”? The woman asked. Well to be honest I am puzzled by the request,” Said the pastor. She explained “in all my years of attending dinners, I always remember that when the dishes are cleared, someone would inevitably lean over and say “keep your fork”. It was my favorite part because I knew s...

  The story is told of a king who was in his throne room, holding a council with his advisers and high ministers of state. Suddenly there was a bang and a clatter at the door of the throne room. All eyes turned as the door burst open and a young boy ran into the room. One of the king’s royal guardsmen tried to stop the boy. “Hold there, lad!” he shouted. “Don’t you know you’re disturbing the council of the king?” “He’s your king,” laughed the boy, “but he’s my Daddy!” And the boy bounced into the open arms of his father, the king. As a child of the king he outranked any minister, ambassador or dignitary. He was the only person who would dare to wake up the king at 3:00 a.m. for a glass of water. In the closing remarks of his letter to the Philippians, Paul wrote, “Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever”( Phil. 4:20). Paul referred to God as “our God and father”. The term "our" simply personalizes. It also reminds us we are a family. The phrase "our F...