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A special feature at Peggie’s Place!

Enjoy the first podcast, a sermon by the late Rev. Alfred Coletti, ordained Assemblies of God minister - and my dad. Entitled, “The Blessed Hope of the Church,” this sermon was recorded in 1989, at the Assemblies of God Church, Long Branch, New Jersey.

Today is Dad’s birthday and this tribute is shared with the world. Dad looked forward to the Coming of the Lord - this is one of his classic sermons, preached often over the years. Enjoy - and Happy Birthday, Dad!

(For additional info and inspiration, see Peggie’s Place devotional, “I cried, ‘Daddy, Carry Me,” - and He did!”)

Listen Now:

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A devotional at Peggie’s Place.

So where do I begin? Good question! Certainly not on this roller coaster - I have many more sane things to do! And Mama’s not alone - while the kids rave over the chills and thrills of the ride, I scream through every second of madness, “Dear Jesus, Get me off this thing!” (And that’s a fairly literal quote from THIS Mama, believe it or not!)

Twists and turns, highs and lows - not just on roller coasters, unless you’re on the one called life! Climb aboard the coaster with me as we explore the five questions of life every person - and every writer - soon learns to ask. For behind many a smiling face is a tortured soul, with chilling questions for which there seem to be no reasonable answer to be found anywhere on Planet Earth.

“Why, God, Why?” - Mysteries in My World!

Mystery and madness it is, more times than we might admit. The crises of life can take our breath away - personal brokenness, death, disease, heartache, financial need, family turmoil - hard “stuff” that bring us to our knees crying, “Why, God, Why?”

Sometimes there seems to be no rhyme or reason in the agony we experience. So what to do? Where to go? Go to His Word!! Go to the quiet your heart long enough to hear, “Be still and know that I am God.” That’s your Heavenly Father, bringing peace in the middle of the wild ride. He wants to quiet your screaming heart this day with His love, joy and peace. For when there are no answers, we still have Him - and grace enough to handle the hard bumps of life!

“Who’s at the Controls?” - Security in God’s Hand!

Safe? Are you kidding? “Who in the world is driving this insane ride,” we cry. “Stop the world and let me get off!” Been there/done that? Know that HE, the all-knowing, all-powerful God, is at your side. He will bring you no harm - He is guiding and directing you - even in the middle of the madness - and you are safe in His hands–IF you’ve given Him full control. And why not? A question that needs no answer - He is the great God who has given us His Word; He’s with us “for the long haul” - and that’s to the end of the ride!

“What’s with the Pain??” - Strength in God’s Purpose!

Pain - who likes it? We shy away from the things and the people who hurt us. Hold on; don’t get off the ride - for there are lessons to be learned even through the hurts of life. Hard lessons, yet in the pain of it all, we do learn - to trust our Lord, to find His strength and grace to bear the hurtful burden. God has a purpose far beyond what you can see - He never wastes pain - hear Him say, “I spared you no pain that I might use you to heal!” He is faithful and He will be faithful to you!

“Where ARE You, Lord?” - The Assurance of God’s Presence

Roller coaster rides go through tunnels and dark places, as I well know! It’s frightening when you can’t see your hand in front of you or the person next to you - especially when you’re a chicken like me!! And sometimes, that’s life. The ride is scary and long - our senses are dulled and we can’t see, hear, touch, taste the goodness of God anywhere near us. But He is there, I promise You - no, HE promises you. For in His Word, especially the Psalms, you will find encouragement and the promise of His presence through every dark place of life. He is there - and He will be there for you!

“When Will It End???” - The Eternity of God’s Plan

The questions of life are not forever - GOD is forever, and someday, when life’s ride here is ended, we move to a new track and a new ride - the ride called eternity - where there will be no more questions, heartache, trouble and pain. “All tears are wiped away” and really, the ride is just begun. Love, joy, peace, healing, eternal life - all await us when this life ends and eternity begins. That’s His plan - and it’s a good one - far better than the wild ups and downs of THIS life…..He’s got eternity in mind for you, believe it, and hang in there, seat-belted (!!) for the rest of this rockin’ ride called life!

Why? Who? What? Where? When? Five major questions you’ll not find answers to in the Encyclopedia of THIS Life, for sure. But there’s a place and there’s a Person where, someday, it will all be made plain. When the ride is long and rough, when there are no answers to the madness raging in your heart, take a moment to be still in the Presence of the King - in His quiet majesty is all the strength, love, grace and answers you need.

–Copyright 2008 by Peggie Bohanon, Springfield, MO.

Related Links to Enjoy!
The Emergency Room at Peggie’s Place! - when you’re “bruised” from the ride!
Life Challenges - All about God
Answers to Tough Questions . . . GlobalReach - Global University
Answers to Life’s Greatest Questions - NeedHim.org . . . JourneyAnswers.com
Questions of Life . . . The Great Questions of Life

Rollercoasters ‘n Righteousness!

Six Flags St. Louis . . . Thrill Rides (Six Flags St. Louis)
Roller Coasters - Wikipedia encyclopedia . . . Roller Coaster Database
The World’s Best Theme Parks …
The Top Ten Roller Coasters

A Ride on the Belmont Park “Giant Dipper” Roller Coaster
Discovery Channel: Chills, Thrills and Spills
Six Flags Great Adventure

CrazyThoughts.com - Life’s Unanswered Questions

Tags: life, questions, roller coasters, devotional. Christian, Christian family, family, Jesus, Bible, religion, Christianity, faith, spirituality, Christian faith, answers.

One of the first Bible verses a Christian child learns is John 3:16–it’s called the “Gospel in a Nutshell” - and it’s about to crack WIDE OPEN in the heathen land of CHINA, as GOD breaks through with His Word! (See “China Sets Out to Make an Impression on the World before 2008 Olympics in Beijing”). While it may bring protest from around the globe, to the Christian heart, it’s bringing “GOOD NEWS!” Why?

Because the GOOD NEWS of the Gospel of Jesus Christ now has a wide, open door, through the Olympics, into the land of China. Think about it! Millions of internationals will fill the city of Beijing–and you KNOW there is sure to be a strong Christian witness, as there’s been in previous Olympics worldwide. THE GOSPEL IS GOING TO CHINA…praise the Lord!

And WHY China? Because God loves His world so much that He would not have one person ANYWHERE perish that is seeking Him. Millions upon millions in that heathen nation need the Lord. It’s not just about the Olympics–it’s about God’s LOVE!

And…if GOD loves millions of persons who’ve never heard–some who’ve rejected the Gospel and some who have strongly persecuted the bearers of the Gospel, how much does He love YOU today - WHEREVER on Planet Earth you live–and WHATEVER your need….Reach out to Him, for the God who loves CHINA…LOVES YOU!! Now believe it and have a wonderful day!

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16, KJV).”

“Lord, You love your world and YOU are in control. You love the Chinese people as much as You love us–and that’s A LOT! Give us a burden to pray that Your love will break through the Bamboo Curtain and fill that dark land with Your Light - use believers to bring the Word to Beijing and may it spread through the land. And Lord, overwhelm each of us with Your love personally–for You not only love the millions…You love ME, In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

–Copyright 2008 by Peggie Bohanon, Springfield, MO. All rights reserved.
–Visit Peggie’s Place for more.

FEATURED LINKS
The Official Website of the Beijing 2008 Olympics
International Olympic Committee - Olympic Games

Multilingual Christian Resources at Peggie’s Place–includes Chinese links.

China - Wikipedia Encyclopedia
China Travel Dot Com
China Photo Gallery
China photos and pictures

“China: Focus on concerted prayer in Olympics year”
“Christian Groups Plan for Olympic Harvest in Beijing”
“Despite China’s ban on missionaries, Christians to evangelize at 2008 Beijing Olympics”

A Special Feature for Chinese-speaking individuals: Chinese Christian Online Education Network

Olympic Glory for Beijing!

Persecuted church links
Featured devotional: A Saving Place…A SAFE Place!?!

Featured site: International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church

Christian Monitor
COMPASS Direct
Connections: Persecution and the Church
International Christian Concern

The Bible Site–Donate Bibles–FREE!

Voice of the Martyrs
Voice of the Martyrs/Canada

World Serve Ministries

Listen to Christian songs (Chinese)
Lamb Music - Chinese Christian songs . . . Chinese Christian Music Association

YouTube Christian Church Music Institute for Worship . . . “Lord, My Dearest Friend” . . . GodTube.com - Chinese Christian resources

Internet Chinese Music Archive - Children’s Songs . . . Chinese Traditional: National Geographic World Music

Tags:2008 Olympics,missions, Christian evangelism, Bible, Christian, Beijing, China, Jesus, God, religion, Christianity, faith, spirituality, Christian faith.

A Treatise on Baseball Rules, Revelations - and God’s Righteousness!

Daily Manna’s Bible reading: John 1:1-9 (NIV)

Now I’m not a theologian but I guess it would help as I attempt to TACKLE a big BASKET full of dark BASEBALL secrets in the light of God’s Word. Let me try!

To a Sovereign God, Who knows all, sees all, and IS all, there are no secrets. Perhaps our sports heroes should have realized that - before, not after, the steroids scandal, now exposed to the whole world…….but…….

Before we cast stones at the Mister Baseballs of our world, sad and disappointed as we are, perhaps we should look within and recognize some personal secrets and sins of our own. Shame on ALL of us - yesterday, today and forever - right??

NO, NO, a thousand times NO…Why? Because the Son has become flesh and bore our shame - all of it! He knows the inabilities of humanity to keep the rules - to ever meet the standards of a holy God….and that’s why He came. That’s why there’s Christmas……you see, there is HOPE - for you, for me, for all the Mister Baseballs, Basketballs and Footballs in our world……He became one of us that we might be forgiven and become one with Him. It’s ours for the asking!

We’re talking about more than major sports and deception…we’re talking major grace and truth - that He, the Blessed Son of God, made flesh for US, would love us, redeem us and bring us HOME to the God who made us! What a Savior…..What a Lord…….He “who came from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14 NIV), is here to meet us, not at the manger, but at the foot of the Cross. There we exchange our dark secrets and sinful selves for His own life and righteousness…..what forgiveness, what grace and truth is ours - all of us - this day. Accept it, believe it and have a wonderful day on the baseball diamond of your life, wherever in this redemptive world you live!

“God’s Sovereignty” - TopC.com
“The Word Was Made Flesh” - by John Piper

The Official Site of Major League Baseball

Sports Resources at Peggie’s Place!

Copyright 2007 by Peggie C. Bohanon, Springfield, MO. All rights reserved.

Baseball photo: Christianet.com

Tags: sports,steroidslbaseball scandal,baseball,Bible,Christmas, Christmas devotionals, Christian, Christian living, Scripture, Jesus, God, religion, Christianity, faith, spirituality, Christian faith.

Enjoy a series of Christmas devotionals from Peggie’s Place during this Christmas season. You might want to bookmark this page to read one each day (December 1 to December 26) and then “take your pick” from a devotional buffet with a New Year’s devo for good measure. It’s all during the month of December–it IS His birthday on our calendars, remember? “Lord, help us all to remember and to rejoice in the Good News of Your coming to this world–and to our hearts!”

“A Devo-a-Day: Celebrating Christmas with Christ!.”

You’ll also want to check out a popular section of Peggie’s Place for the Christmas season: “A Top Ten Christmas at Peggie’s Place!”.

Enjoy -and a Merry Christmas to all!

Tags: Christ,holiday,Bible,Christmas, Christmas devotionals, Christian, Christian living, Scripture, Jesus, God, religion, Christianity, faith, spirituality, Christian faith.