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Noel Francisco

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Stories

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How About Humor? -- Noel Francisco -- 1999
When the Japanese were bombing Pearl Harbor, the story is told that when American soldiers were runn
What Limits? -- Noel Francisco -- 1999
We humans possess an aggressive instinct. We are killer apes. Man is a promiscuous creature.
Some Guideline Questions -- Noel Francisco -- 1999
Unbridled, unrestrained, blind ethnocentrism frightens me, Leon.
Flawed Humans? -- Noel Francisco -- 1999
I'm a far more suggestible individual, Leon, than I would like to admit.
Sabbath Made For Man -- Noel Francisco -- 1999
A conscientious young couple is trying to provide janitorial services for their church, and they are
Questioning -- Noel Francisco -- 1999
A plaque showing a young boy curiously, questioningly bent over examining an object on a beach with
Frustrated Spiritual Hunger -- Noel Francisco -- 1999
While I know that it was an erroneous impression, when I used to travel on the old highways through
A Tragic Species? -- Noel Francisco -- 1999
Financial advisors caution people about putting all their investments in one source and many individ
Out Of Control? -- Noel Francisco -- 1999
What would our world be like, Leon, if every human experienced during his lifetime a profoundly movi
Whistling In The Dark -- Noel Francisco -- 1999
There have been some humorous eye-catching drawings made of boys walking past a cemetery after dark,
Until -- -- Noel Francisco -- 1999
As long as there is one hungry person, Leon, I will not be comfortable when I eat.
Insights -- Noel Francisco -- 1999
The classes never did turn out as I would have liked.
"... But For The Grace Of God" -- Noel Francisco -- 1999
"Don't criticize another until you have walked a mile in his moccasins" is attributed to an old Indi
Glory Be: The Personal In Life! -- Noel Francisco -- 1999
Several times recently I have remarked to friends that I would find teaching now much more difficult
Vulnerable -- Noel Francisco -- 1999
The small boy had hit his head sharply on the corner of a table and he fought back the tears.
A Die Hard? -- Noel Francisco -- 1999
Why are there people turned off by religion, Leon?
So Thankful -- Noel Francisco -- 1999
I looked over at her sitting on the car seat beside me.
Slow Learner -- Noel Francisco -- 1999
"Will you ever learn?" says one's spouse as one again engages in non-productive behavior.
Communication -- Noel Francisco -- 1999
Many of us fathers, Leon, when we have young sons and daughters, expect our communication with our s
I'm Right! -- Noel Francisco -- 1999
Leon, for how many individuals might the following soliloquy represent their thoughts and feelings?
A Salute -- Noel Francisco -- 1999
There she walks carefree into the store.
Provincial Revelry -- Noel Francisco -- 1999
Leon, when I meet individuals who have traveled widely, people who have met and known others of many
An Autonomous Person -- Noel Francisco -- 1999
On the inside cover of a Sigurd Olson book which she gave me for my sixtieth birthday, she wrote, "A
Innocence Regained? -- Noel Francisco -- 1999
Sometimes, Leon, my thoughts wander back to my childhood days when our family lived in a northern Il
Adoption -- Noel Francisco -- 1999
Why did we do it, Leon? There is no easy answer. Maybe it was not the thing to do.
UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Easter 2
20 – Sermons
170+ – Illustrations / Stories
26 – Children's Sermons / Resources
24 – Worship Resources
20 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Easter 3
34 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
32 – Children's Sermons / Resources
26 – Worship Resources
31 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Easter 4
30 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
33 – Children's Sermons / Resources
24 – Worship Resources
33 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...

New & Featured This Week

The Immediate Word

Katy Stenta
Mary Austin
Dean Feldmeyer
George Reed
Tom Willadsen
For May 25, 2025:

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: A mat, like an exercise mat, or a blanket.

Note: You can do this all by yourself, but if you want to have more fun, help your children role-play the story. Select one child to be the sick man, and a few children to be the crowd. I usually play the role of Jesus so I can easily guide things. As you tell the story, have the sick man try to crawl, and have a group of children be the crowd blocking him, and then after Jesus helps him, have the man stand up, roll the mat up under his arm, and walk away smiling. Have fun with it!

StoryShare

Frank Ramirez
(This particular installment of StoryShare is adapted from a review of “Seven Psalms” that I wrote for Messenger, our denominational magazine.)

During the night, Paul had a vision: there stood a man of Macedonia pleading with him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” (v. 9)

It all began with a dream.

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Frank Ramirez
The church is a work in progress — and we are expected to be a critical part of that church’s work. In the absence of synagogue worship, Lydia and her fellow believers meet anyway at the riverside. Their faithfulness leads to Paul’s dream which helps create something where there was nothing. The passage from Revelation creates a target for us to aim for, and to work for, even as we wait for its perfect fulfillment.
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Mark Ellingsen
Bonnie Bates
Acts 16:9-15
John Calvin claimed that this is a text to stir up our commitments to reach out to those in need, especially in this time of intolerance towards immigrants and the poor. A 2024 Gallup poll indicates that 56% of Americans favor mass deportation. And in the most recent poll on the subject of the poor, (a 2002 NPR/Kaiser poll), 52% of Americans found the poor not to have a proper work ethic. It is unlikely we have outgrown that prejudice. In response, the reformer of Geneva wrote:

SermonStudio

Wayne Brouwer
During World War II, many members of the Lutheran church in Germany lost their faith because Hitler seduced them into ways of living that kept them from practicing their faith. But there was one man whom Hitler could not compromise. His name was Martin Niemöller. During World War I, Niemöller had been a great hero in the German military but when the Second World War came, he refused to bow to the authorities. He was marching to a different drumbeat. And march he did.
Forrest E. Chaffee
After this there was a festival of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
Stephen P. McCutchan
May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us....
-- Psalm 67:1

Steven E. Albertin
(Sing the first verse and chorus of "The Battle Hymn Of The Republic.")

Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord;
He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored;
He has loosed the fateful lightning of his terrible swift sword;
His truth is marching on.

Glory, glory! Hallelujah!
Glory, glory! Hallelujah!
Glory, glory! Hallelujah!
His truth is marching on.
1

Charles D. Reeb
Life has a way of presenting us with defining moments. I remember facing a defining moment in my ministry. I went to see a man in the hospital who was dying. He was not active in the church I pastored, but I knew who he was. When I entered his hospital room, his whole family was standing in a semi-circle around his bed. They greeted me, and then the man told his family that he wanted a moment alone with me. So they left us alone.

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to Worship:

Jesus said to the paralysed man, "Stand up, take your mat and walk." In our worship today let us explore all that paralyses us, then let us respond to Jesus' command to stand up and walk.


Invitation to Confession:

Jesus, sometimes I'm so afraid of ridicule that I keep my head down.
Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, sometimes I'm so afraid of doing the wrong thing that I do nothing at all.
Christ, have mercy.

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