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align=left styleclass="style_MainText"><FONT
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"
color=#000000 size=2 face=Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif><FONT
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Century Gothic,ITC Avant Garde,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; COLOR: rgb(204,0,0); FONT-SIZE: 16px"
styleclass="style_ArticleHeadline">SERMON story:</SPAN></FONT><BR><BR>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; FONT-STYLE: normal; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-WEIGHT: normal"><FONT
size=4></FONT> </P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; FONT-STYLE: normal; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-WEIGHT: normal"><SPAN>When
I was new in ministry, I served a rural church in Kansas.<SPAN>
</SPAN>While I was visiting parishioners, a family invited me to stay for
lunch.<SPAN> </SPAN>The husband, a farmer, had just come in from the
fields.<SPAN> </SPAN>Over lunch, the wife asked with obvious concern
how the work was going.<SPAN> </SPAN>He allowed that it wasn't going
very well.<SPAN> </SPAN>It looked like rain, and he didn't know how
he was going to get the hay in.<SPAN> </SPAN>He had called several
people, but couldn't find anyone to help.<SPAN> </SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; FONT-STYLE: normal; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-WEIGHT: normal"><SPAN></SPAN> </P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; FONT-STYLE: normal; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-WEIGHT: normal"><SPAN>I
was a city boy, but I knew about hay and rain.<SPAN> </SPAN>It takes
weeks to raise hay, but it takes only minutes to ruin it.<SPAN>
</SPAN>Once hay is cut, it can't survive rain.<SPAN>
</SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; FONT-STYLE: normal; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-WEIGHT: normal"><SPAN></SPAN> </P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; FONT-STYLE: normal; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-WEIGHT: normal"><SPAN>I
said, "I'll help."<SPAN> </SPAN>My offer took them back a
bit.<SPAN> </SPAN>First of all, I was their minister, and they
wouldn't think of asking their minister to load hay.<SPAN>
</SPAN>More importantly, I was a city boy.<SPAN> </SPAN>In farm
parlance, "city boy" is akin to "tenderfoot."<SPAN> </SPAN>When the
going gets tough, farmers don't expect much from a city boy.<SPAN>
</SPAN>They protested, but their protest lacked conviction.<SPAN>
</SPAN>They were desperate!</SPAN></P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; FONT-STYLE: normal; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-WEIGHT: normal"><SPAN></SPAN> </P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; FONT-STYLE: normal; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-WEIGHT: normal"><SPAN>I
changed into jeans and a T-shirt, and we went to the fields. I have never
worked harder!<SPAN> </SPAN>It was ninety degrees in the shade, and
there was no shade.<SPAN> </SPAN>The bales of hay weighed fifty or
sixty pounds.<SPAN> </SPAN>The bed of the wagon stood three or four
feet off the ground.<SPAN> </SPAN>Getting the first layer on the
wagon wasn't too bad.<SPAN> </SPAN>Getting the second layer on the
wagon was harder.<SPAN> </SPAN>Getting the third layer on the wagon
meant lifting bales above our heads.<SPAN> </SPAN>And then there was
the fourth layer -- and the fifth -- and the sixth.<SPAN> </SPAN>I
don't remember how we did it, but we did it.<SPAN> </SPAN>The hay
was safely under cover when the rain started.</SPAN></P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; FONT-STYLE: normal; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-WEIGHT: normal"><SPAN></SPAN> </P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; FONT-STYLE: normal; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-WEIGHT: normal"><SPAN>The
farmer was embarrassed to have used his minister so poorly, but he was
grateful.<SPAN> </SPAN>I was tired and miserable, but I was also
pleased with myself.<SPAN> </SPAN>Nobody would have mistaken me for
a farm boy, but I had stuck it out and had helped to save the
day.</SPAN></P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; FONT-STYLE: normal; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-WEIGHT: normal"><SPAN></SPAN> </P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; FONT-STYLE: normal; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-WEIGHT: normal">Jesus
tells us that proclaiming the kingdom of God has just that kind of
urgency.</P></FONT></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><A name=LETTER.BLOCK17>
<TABLE style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 10px" id=content_LETTER.BLOCK17 border=0
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<TR>
<TD
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"
align=left styleclass="style_MainText"><FONT
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"
color=#000000 size=2 face=Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif><FONT
style="COLOR: rgb(204,0,0); FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Century Gothic,ITC Avant Garde,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; COLOR: rgb(204,0,0); FONT-SIZE: 16px"
styleclass="style_ArticleHeadline">FOR MORE SERMONS ON THIS TEXT, GO
TO:</SPAN></FONT><BR><BR><FONT
style="FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman,Times,serif; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><A
style="COLOR: blue; TEXT-DECORATION: underline"
href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1103485363300&s=1956&e=001WM2E_T0fA2y9VNS9oPzmT0Cwo0DgERkJpkbPJBBMsG0ss3R9yzvCIA6jVt1ozJasZocUV7oX_BRonr4L9-iiDsLpuMphyFU5DsoZA0-mwTdhmat6mkth8VfQ3yL9NfHcL6A1Ncgksc90ZSvLh1hZW7-Li7zyVbU2"
shape=rect target=_blank linktype="link"
track="on">http://www.lectionary.org/SermLinks/NT/NT03luke.htm
</A><BR><BR>Scroll down to chapter 10. There are links to three
sermons on this text posted
there.<BR><BR></FONT></FONT></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><A name=LETTER.BLOCK18>
<TABLE style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 10px" id=content_LETTER.BLOCK18 border=0
cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 width="100%">
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"
align=left styleclass="style_MainText"><FONT
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"
color=#000000 size=2 face=Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif><FONT
style="FONT-FAMILY: Century Gothic,ITC Avant Garde,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; COLOR: rgb(204,0,0); FONT-SIZE: 12pt">TRUE
STORY:</FONT> <SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">See the story of
the hay harvest in the sermon above.</SPAN><BR>
<DIV> </DIV></FONT></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><A name=LETTER.BLOCK19>
<TABLE style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 10px" id=content_LETTER.BLOCK19 border=0
cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 width="100%">
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"
align=left styleclass="style_MainText"><FONT
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"
color=#000000 size=2 face=Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif><FONT
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Century Gothic,ITC Avant Garde,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; COLOR: rgb(204,0,0); FONT-SIZE: 16px"
styleclass="style_ArticleHeadline">THOUGHT PROVOKERS:
<BR></SPAN></FONT>
<DIV style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><BR></DIV>
<DIV style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; FONT-STYLE: normal; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-WEIGHT: normal"
align=center>Throughout the whole (New Testament) </P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; FONT-STYLE: normal; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-WEIGHT: normal"
align=center>there runs the conviction <BR>that the time looked forward to
by the prophets <BR>has in fact arrived in history <BR>with the advent of
Jesus Christ....<SPAN> </SPAN></P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; FONT-STYLE: normal; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-WEIGHT: normal"
align=center> </P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; FONT-STYLE: normal; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-WEIGHT: normal"
align=center>The time of Jesus is <I>kairos</I>-a time of
opportunity.<SPAN> </SPAN></P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; FONT-STYLE: normal; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-WEIGHT: normal"
align=center>To embrace the opportunity means salvation; </P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; FONT-STYLE: normal; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-WEIGHT: normal"
align=center>to neglect it, disaster.<SPAN> </SPAN></P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; FONT-STYLE: normal; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-WEIGHT: normal"
align=center>There is no third course.</P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; FONT-STYLE: normal; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-WEIGHT: normal"> </P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; FONT-STYLE: normal; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-WEIGHT: normal"
align=center><SPAN> </SPAN>John Marsh</P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; FONT-STYLE: normal; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-WEIGHT: normal"> </P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; FONT-STYLE: normal; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-WEIGHT: normal"
align=center><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt">*<SPAN>
</SPAN>*<SPAN> </SPAN>*<SPAN> </SPAN>*<SPAN>
</SPAN>*<SPAN> </SPAN>*<SPAN> </SPAN>*<SPAN>
</SPAN>*<SPAN> </SPAN>*<SPAN> </SPAN>*</SPAN></P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; FONT-STYLE: normal; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-WEIGHT: normal"> </P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; FONT-STYLE: normal; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-WEIGHT: normal"
align=center>The Church has nothing to do but to save souls; </P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; FONT-STYLE: normal; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-WEIGHT: normal"
align=center>therefore spend and be spent in this work.<SPAN>
</SPAN></P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; FONT-STYLE: normal; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-WEIGHT: normal"
align=center>It is not your business to speak so many times, </P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; FONT-STYLE: normal; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-WEIGHT: normal"
align=center>but to save souls as you can; </P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; FONT-STYLE: normal; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-WEIGHT: normal"
align=center>to bring as many sinners as you possibly can to
repentance.</P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; FONT-STYLE: normal; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-WEIGHT: normal"
align=center> </P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; FONT-STYLE: normal; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-WEIGHT: normal"
align=center>John Wesley</P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; FONT-STYLE: normal; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-WEIGHT: normal"> </P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; FONT-STYLE: normal; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-WEIGHT: normal"
align=center><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt">*<SPAN>
</SPAN>*<SPAN> </SPAN>*<SPAN> </SPAN>*<SPAN>
</SPAN>*<SPAN> </SPAN>*<SPAN> </SPAN>*<SPAN>
</SPAN>*<SPAN> </SPAN>*<SPAN> </SPAN>*</SPAN></P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; FONT-STYLE: normal; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-WEIGHT: normal"> </P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; FONT-STYLE: normal; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-WEIGHT: normal"
align=center>When the church stops seeking the lost, <BR>it is
lost.<BR><BR>Anonymous</P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; FONT-STYLE: normal; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-WEIGHT: normal"
align=center><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt"><BR>*
<SPAN> </SPAN>*<SPAN> </SPAN>*<SPAN> </SPAN>*<SPAN>
</SPAN>*<SPAN> </SPAN>*<SPAN> </SPAN>*<SPAN>
</SPAN>*<SPAN> </SPAN>*<SPAN> </SPAN>*</SPAN></P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; FONT-STYLE: normal; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-WEIGHT: normal"> </P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; FONT-STYLE: normal; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-WEIGHT: normal"
align=center>Does not the Church, in spite of her eternally heightened
prestige, <BR>often seem rather to be lingering on <BR>as a mere
decoration for certain private and public occasions?<SPAN>
</SPAN><BR>How much does she really have to say, spiritually, <BR>in that
central area of modern life <BR>where the questions essential to present
and future are decided?</P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; FONT-STYLE: normal; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-WEIGHT: normal"
align=center> </P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; FONT-STYLE: normal; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-WEIGHT: normal"
align=center>Hans Küng, <I>The Council, Reform and Reunion</I></P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; FONT-STYLE: normal; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-WEIGHT: normal"> </P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; FONT-STYLE: normal; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-WEIGHT: normal"
align=center><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt">*<SPAN>
</SPAN>*<SPAN> </SPAN>*<SPAN> </SPAN>*<SPAN>
</SPAN>*<SPAN> </SPAN>*<SPAN> </SPAN>*<SPAN>
</SPAN>*<SPAN> </SPAN>*<SPAN> </SPAN>*</SPAN></P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; FONT-STYLE: normal; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-WEIGHT: normal">Carlyle
Marney told of a joke that he heard at a meeting of Jewish-Christian
Church-Synagogue administrators in Miami: </P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; FONT-STYLE: normal; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-WEIGHT: normal"> </P><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">The rabbi begins,
"Thus saith the <I>Lord!</I><SPAN> </SPAN>The priest begins, "As the
<I>Church</I> has always said...."<SPAN> </SPAN>The Protestant
begins, "Now, brethren, it seems to <I>me</I>...."</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV></FONT></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></A><SPAN
style="COLOR: black">NOTE:<SPAN> </SPAN>See other hymn stories at
</SPAN><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><A
style="FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman,Times,serif; COLOR: blue; TEXT-DECORATION: underline"
href="http://www.lectionary.org/hymnstories.htm" shape=rect target=_blank
linktype="link"
track="on">http://www.lectionary.org/hymnstories.htm</A></FONT><A
name=LETTER.BLOCK22>
<TABLE style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 10px" id=content_LETTER.BLOCK22 border=0
cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 width="100%">
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"
align=left styleclass="style_MainText">
<DIV><FONT
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"
color=#000000 size=2 face=Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif><FONT
style="FONT-FAMILY: Century Gothic,ITC Avant Garde,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Century Gothic,ITC Avant Garde,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; COLOR: rgb(204,0,0); FONT-SIZE: 16px"
styleclass="style_ArticleHeadline"></SPAN></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"
color=#000000 size=2 face=Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif><FONT
style="FONT-FAMILY: Century Gothic,ITC Avant Garde,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Century Gothic,ITC Avant Garde,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; COLOR: rgb(204,0,0); FONT-SIZE: 16px"
styleclass="style_ArticleHeadline">HYMN STORY:</SPAN></FONT> <SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Great Is Thy
Faithfulness</SPAN><FONT
style="FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman,Times,serif; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><BR><BR></DIV>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; FONT-STYLE: normal; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-WEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="COLOR: black">Thomas Obadiah Chisholm was born in a log cabin in
Franklin, Kentucky in 1866.<SPAN> </SPAN>He received his education
in a little country schoolhouse, and at age 16 began teaching
there.<SPAN> </SPAN>He became a Christian at age 27, and with no
college or seminary training was ordained to the Methodist ministry at age
36.<SPAN> </SPAN>He served as a Methodist minister for a year, but
ill health made it impossible for him to continue.<SPAN> </SPAN>He
moved to Vineland, New Jersey, where he opened an insurance
office.<SPAN> </SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; FONT-STYLE: normal; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-WEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="COLOR: black"></SPAN> </P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; FONT-STYLE: normal; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-WEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="COLOR: black">Always interested in poetry, Chisholm wrote hundreds
of poems during his lifetime.<SPAN> </SPAN>He was inspired by
Lamentations 3:22-23 to write the text for "Great Is Thy
Faithfulness."<SPAN> </SPAN>Those verses read, "The steadfast love
of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new
every morning; great is your faithfulness."<SPAN> </SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; FONT-STYLE: normal; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-WEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="COLOR: black"></SPAN> </P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; FONT-STYLE: normal; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-WEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="COLOR: black">Chisholm experienced that faithfulness.<SPAN>
</SPAN>He suffered ill health most of his adult life, and never made much
money -- but he said, "God has given me many wonderful displays of His
providing care which have filled me with astonishing
gratefulness."</SPAN></P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; FONT-STYLE: normal; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-WEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="COLOR: black"></SPAN> </P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; FONT-STYLE: normal; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-WEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="COLOR: black">Chisholm sent the words to "Great Is Thy
Faithfulness" to his friend, William Runyan, and Runyan wrote the music
for this hymn.<SPAN> </SPAN>Runyan was a friend of Dr. Will
Houghton, the president of Moody Bible Institute, and "Great Is Thy
Faithfulness" soon became Houghton's favorite.<SPAN> </SPAN>Dr.
Houghton invited George Beverly Shea, an unknown singer at the time, to
sing hymns on the Institute's radio station.<SPAN> </SPAN>Shea, of
course, included Dr. Houghton's favorite hymn in his
repertoire.<SPAN> </SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; FONT-STYLE: normal; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-WEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="COLOR: black"></SPAN> </P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; FONT-STYLE: normal; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-WEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="COLOR: black">Billy Graham, then a student at Wheaton College,
became familiar with George Beverly Shea (and this hymn) through those
radio broadcasts, and invited Shea to become part of his
ministry.<SPAN> </SPAN>It was through their work that this hymn
became popular internationally.</SPAN></P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; FONT-STYLE: normal; MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-WEIGHT: normal"><SPAN
style="COLOR: black"></SPAN> </P><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Even
though he suffered ill health for most of his adult life, Chisholm lived
to the ripe old age of 94.<SPAN> </SPAN>During his later years, he
lived in Ocean Grove, New Jersey, a Methodist camp meeting town, where he
died in 1960.</SPAN><BR></FONT></FONT></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
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<DIV style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><BR> </DIV><FONT
style="FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman,Times,serif; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><BR><A
style="COLOR: blue; TEXT-DECORATION: underline"
href="http://www.sermonwriter.com/" shape=rect target=_blank linktype="link"
track="on">www.sermonwriter.com</A><BR><BR><A
style="COLOR: blue; TEXT-DECORATION: underline"
href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1103485363300&s=1956&e=001WM2E_T0fA2zjJFQOBa5TPrbleywXtE0CcrSq2N1Robfu4yUYUhro-J-1hx9pbDM33rTNx-1yxejFywec-pQQ-UHFW3-YP5eqgjSB42TqjnMBPgknbr2Ovg=="
shape=rect target=_blank linktype="link"
track="on">www.lectionary.org</A><BR><BR>Richard Niell Donovan<BR></FONT></DIV>
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