Author Archives: sdgale

• Confession Prayer is Confessing Prayer

  Posted on January 21, 2013 by sdgale in 'CHOP Talk' Blog.

    Does God forgive our sins if we confess them?  The answer requires some explanation, and some backstory. Sinners Saved By Grace Even our best intentions are infected by sin that remains in the flesh.  All of us can identify with Paul in Romans 7 as he wrestles with that remaining sin.  The line from […]

  Post Tagged with 1 John, Community Houses of Prayer, confessing Christ, confession of sin, justification, prayer, Romans, Stanley Gale
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• The Prayer Life of Recovering Pharisees

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

    We often think it rather rude to lift ourselves up at the expense of others.  We might grimace when our mother compares us to our sibling, telling us to “Look at Johnny. He always keeps his room clean. Why can’t you be more like your brother?” But learning through comparing ourselves with others has […]

  Post Tagged with Community Houses of Prayer, hypocrisy, model prayer, Pharisees, prayer, Stanley Gale, zombie religion
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• Prayer, the Flu and the Fiscal Cliff

  Posted on January 14, 2013 by sdgale in 'CHOP Talk' Blog.

    “When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8) I used to think that was a rhetorical question by our Lord, but now I’m not so sure.  Jesus made that statement at the conclusion of the parable of the persistent widow (or parable of the unjust judge, depending […]

  Post Tagged with cliff, Community Houses of Prayer, faith, flu, Luke 18, persevere, prayer, Stanley Gale, symptom
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• Dear Abba

  Posted on January 11, 2013 by sdgale in 'CHOP Talk' Blog.

    Abby of “Dear Abby” fame was asked a question that piqued my interest.  One, because I wondered how Abby would answer it. Two, because I wondered how I would answer it. Three, because I wondered what God would say about it in His Word (hence the clever “Dear Abba” title—Romans 8:15). Here’s the question.  […]

  Post Tagged with Abba, Community Houses of Prayer, Dear Abby, nonbeliever, prayer, Stanley Gale
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• Using Psalm 143 as a Template for Prayer

  Posted on January 7, 2013 by sdgale in 'CHOP Talk' Blog.

    The psalms are wonderful guides for our prayer. What besetting sin have you fallen into again—overspending, pornography, alcohol, gambling, gluttony? Psalms 51 or Psalm 32 could provide a template for your prayer, leading you in confession of your sin. Another prospect would be to employ Psalm 143 to take you by the hand and […]

  Post Tagged with Community Houses of Prayer, prayer, Psalm 143, psalms, Stanley Gale, template
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• Prayer Changes Things – But What?

  Posted on January 4, 2013 by sdgale in 'CHOP Talk' Blog.

    The end of a calendar year brings a flood of communications and solicitations.   I confess that amidst the avalanche that crosses my desk most go unread, many even unopened. Something in one I did open, however, caught my eye.  It contained a brief article entitled, “Prayer Changes Things.”  The Lord has been working mightily […]

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• God’s Prayer Stimulus

  Posted on December 31, 2012 by sdgale in 'CHOP Talk' Blog.

    I’m leading my congregation in growing as a house of prayer.   What does that look like?  Do we keep our doors open 24-7 so people can drop in to pray?  Perhaps a prayer hotline fits the bill.  What exactly is a house of prayer? That’s the question that piqued my curiosity.  So I did […]

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• Spiritual Warfare in Paul’s Letter to Ephesus (8)

  Posted on December 28, 2012 by sdgale in 'CHOP Talk' Blog.

  (This article is the ninth and final in a series tracing the theme of spiritual opposition in Ephesians.) How do we go about standing in Christ?  How do we wage war with spiritual weapons (cf. 2 Cor. 10:4-5)?  If standing is our strategy, how do we combat Satan’s schemes? Satan has at least three primary […]

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• Born for Battle

  Posted on December 24, 2012 by sdgale in 'CHOP Talk' Blog.

    We’ve been exploring the theme of spiritual warfare in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians.  On this Christmas Eve, with the celebration of the incarnation of our Lord much in mind, we would do well to remind ourselves that Christ’s birth is couched in terms of combat. The following is excerpted from What is Spiritual […]

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• Spiritual Warfare in Paul’s Letter to Ephesus (7)

  Posted on December 21, 2012 by sdgale in 'CHOP Talk' Blog.

  (This article is the eighth in a series tracing the theme of spiritual opposition in Ephesians.) Spiritual Warfare Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not […]

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