Wanting Something for Nothing

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Wanting-Something-for-Nothing.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: II Samuel 24:10-25   I.         Have you noticed how many people want something, but are unwilling to put sufficient effort into obtaining what they want?             A.        I keep hearing about the latest lotto figures. Hundreds of millions of dollars are available, for the meager cost of a few bucks.                         1.         Millions of…

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Jamaica Patois Wisdom – Effort

by Jefferson David Tant The Jamaican Patois dialect is colorful, unique, and humorous. It is my desire to share some of the philosophy shown in this mix of colorful phrases that are witty as well as thought-provoking. I hope the readers both profit and enjoy. In my quarter-century plus of teaching there, I have come…

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There is too much to do and too little to do at the same time

Question: My wife and I are both fully retired. We moved to this rural community to help watch our grandkids. Life has been great until moving here. Now things are a little testy. The biggest problem, it seems, is that there is nothing, absolutely nothing, to do outside of babysitting. Our center has been the…

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Put Forth the Effort

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Put-Forth-the-Effort.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Luke 13:23-30   I.         If I asked you to name a famous inventor, the name of Thomas Edison would quickly arise.             A.        Mr. Edison had a strong influence in our society.                         1.         He invented the light bulbs which light our auditorium.                         2.         He invented the method of distributing electricity to homes                         3.         For you…

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Put Forth the Effort

by Bart Campbell Sentry Magazine, June 2000 Thomas Edison has been considered by some to be the “King of Inventors.” He once made this statement. “Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration.” Edison was responsible for the inventions of the incandescent lightbulb, the gramophone, and moving pictures. But Thomas Edison claimed that his achievements were…

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Blooming Where You Are Planted

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/BloomingWhereYourePlanted.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Revelation 3:1-6   I.         I was reading an article by Hiram Kemp titled, “Six Ways to Thrive in a Weak Church”             A.        The points were good, but it also had me thinking about the difficulties we face in this region.                         1.         There are not many faithful churches and most struggle.                         2.         Some are…

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How do I not give up?

Question: Have I become like the church at Ephesus? I liken myself to the rich young ruler. I kept all these things from my youth but I can’t seem to get over some of the other things Christ wants me to do and it’s frightening. Maybe I’ve reached the point where I have allowed the noise…

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When Good Men Do Nothing

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/WhenGoodMenDoNothing.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton I.         Edmund Burke once said, “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.”             A.        In the endless battle between good and evil, it is seldom the numbers that determine the outcome of each skirmish.             B.        Many times, the side for the right has beaten overwhelming odds…

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Maintenance

by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Ecclesiastes 10:16-20   I.         Come the beginning of the year people begin thinking of weight-loss programs and exercise regimens.             A.        It could be that with a new year, people want to get a new start in being healthier, but I suspect that all the overeating from Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years…

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