Author Archives: sdgale

• When Tornadoes Twist Our View of God

  Posted on May 27, 2013 by sdgale in 'CHOP Talk' Blog.

    Natural catastrophes like the F-5 tornado outside Oklahoma City and human atrocities such as the murder of the British soldier in London or shootings of school children in Connecticut shake us to the core.  We reel at the pain and horror of it all.  Our hearts break at the suffering shown us by the […]

  Post Tagged with comfort, Community Houses of Prayer, prayer, sovereignty, Stanley Gale, suffering, tornado
  Continue Reading...
  Comments Off on When Tornadoes Twist Our View of God

• I Am Prayer

  Posted on May 20, 2013 by sdgale in 'CHOP Talk' Blog.

    The English Standard Version includes a footnote to its translation of Psalm 109:4.  The text reads: “In return for my love they accuse me, but I give myself to prayer.”  The psalmist cries out to God, whom He calls “O God of my praise” (v. 1), for relief and retribution against the wicked who […]

  Post Tagged with Community Houses of Prayer, hate speech, imprecatory, prayer, psalm 109, Stanley Gale
  Continue Reading...
  Comments Off on I Am Prayer

• The Luther I Can Relate To

  Posted on May 13, 2013 by sdgale in 'CHOP Talk' Blog.

    I am reading a book manuscript on spiritual warfare.  The authors quote me on the subject and asked if I would read the book and provide a comment for publication.  After hearing their perspective on the topic, I readily agreed.  I believe the area of spiritual warfare is greatly neglected in discipleship today, despite […]

  Post Tagged with Community Houses of Prayer, Luther, pastor, prayer, Stanley Gale
  Continue Reading...
  Comments Off on The Luther I Can Relate To

• Lesson at the Lake

  Posted on May 10, 2013 by sdgale in 'CHOP Talk' Blog.

    Twice a year I get away for a two-day personal pastoral retreat.   I use the time for projects or planning, but always for prayer.  The place I go to is wooded, with several hiking trails.  These paths are ideal for reflection and prayer. A few of the trails are well worn by me. I […]

  Post Tagged with Community Houses of Prayer, lake, prayer, retreat, Stanley Gale
  Continue Reading...
  Comments Off on Lesson at the Lake

• Discovering the Fountain of Life: the gospel for the ages (5)

  Posted on May 6, 2013 by sdgale in 'CHOP Talk' Blog.

    Adapted from Chapter Nine, “The Vanity of Strength and Beauty” from Making Sanity Out of Vanity: Christian realism in the book of Ecclesiastes by Stanley D. Gale (EP Books, 2011) We can note another way God presents this contrast of sources of life.  Most of us are familiar with the shepherd of the twenty-third […]

  Post Tagged with Community Houses of Prayer, Ecclesiastes, evangelism, gospel for the aged, making sanity out of vanity, Stanley Gale
  Continue Reading...
  Comments Off on Discovering the Fountain of Life: the gospel for the ages (5)

• Discovering the Fountain of Life: the gospel for the ages (4)

  Posted on May 3, 2013 by sdgale in 'CHOP Talk' Blog.

    Adapted from Chapter Nine, “The Vanity of Strength and Beauty” from Making Sanity Out of Vanity: Christian realism in the book of Ecclesiastes by Stanley D. Gale (EP Books, 2011) A passage I often share with those whose bodies are failing and racked with infirmity carries this same perspective. “So we do not lose […]

  Post Tagged with Community Houses of Prayer, Ecclesiastes, evangelism, gospel for the aged, making sanity out of vanity, Stanley Gale
  Continue Reading...
  Comments Off on Discovering the Fountain of Life: the gospel for the ages (4)

• Discovering the Fountain of Life: the gospel for the ages (3)

  Posted on April 29, 2013 by sdgale in 'CHOP Talk' Blog.

    Adapted from Chapter Nine, “The Vanity of Strength and Beauty” from Making Sanity Out of Vanity: Christian realism in the book of Ecclesiastes by Stanley D. Gale (EP Books, 2011) Pursuing the Fountain of Life Finding our pursuit of the fountain of youth a dead end, we now turn our attention to another fountain.  […]

  Post Tagged with Community Houses of Prayer, Ecclesiastes, evangelism, gospel for the aged, making sanity out of vanity, Stanley Gale
  Continue Reading...
  Comments Off on Discovering the Fountain of Life: the gospel for the ages (3)

• Discovering the Fountain of Life: the gospel for the ages (2)

  Posted on April 26, 2013 by sdgale in 'CHOP Talk' Blog.

    Adapted from Chapter Nine, “The Vanity of Strength and Beauty” from Making Sanity Out of Vanity: Christian realism in the book of Ecclesiastes by Stanley D. Gale (EP Books, 2011) Pursuing the Fountain of Youth Youth is a good thing, the picture of strength and vitality.  Often, young people cannot imagine death.  They believe […]

  Post Tagged with Community Houses of Prayer, Ecclesiastes, evangelism, gospel for the aged, making sanity out of vanity, Stanley Gale
  Continue Reading...
  Comments Off on Discovering the Fountain of Life: the gospel for the ages (2)

• Discovering the Fountain of Life: the gospel for the ages (1)

  Posted on April 22, 2013 by sdgale in 'CHOP Talk' Blog.

    Adapted from Chapter Nine, “The Vanity of Strength and Beauty” from Making Sanity Out of Vanity: Christian realism in the book of Ecclesiastes by Stanley D. Gale (EP Books, 2011) Introduction There is something special about the older generation.  Before I entered the pastorate, I served as a hospital chaplain.  One of my greatest […]

  Post Tagged with Community Houses of Prayer, Ecclesiastes, evangelism, gospel for the aged, making sanity out of vanity, Stanley Gale
  Continue Reading...
  Comments Off on Discovering the Fountain of Life: the gospel for the ages (1)

• Pray It, Not Say It: maximizing corporate prayer

  Posted on April 19, 2013 by sdgale in 'CHOP Talk' Blog.

    As part of an effort to lay a foundation for building my congregation as a house of prayer, I’ve launched my first Prayer Training Module (PTM).  The purpose of the PTM is to disciple those involved in prayer through instruction and practice. Ten men and women gathered with me in a room off the […]

  Post Tagged with Community Houses of Prayer, corporate prayer, prayer, Prayer Training Module, Psalm, sermon, sharing
  Continue Reading...
  Comments Off on Pray It, Not Say It: maximizing corporate prayer