Category Archives: ‘CHOP Talk’ Blog

• “Prayer Doesn’t Work”

  Posted on November 2, 2012 by sdgale in 'CHOP Talk' Blog.

    “Prayer doesn’t work.”  That’s not what those involved really thought, but that’s pretty much what it amounted to. I have a ministry that trains Christ’s disciples in evangelistic prayer.  It’s called Community Houses of Prayer, CHOP for short.  I’ve noticed something odd but consistent among those involved in this prayer outreach ministry. The heart […]

  Post Tagged with Community Houses of Prayer, life-sphere, prayer, Stanley Gale, Theology of prayer, training
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• 

  Riding the Storm

  Posted on October 29, 2012 by sdgale in 'CHOP Talk' Blog.

    As I write this, hurricane Sandy is morphing into a powerful nor’easter about to land a potentially devastating right hook to the east coast of the United States.  Ordinarily, the hurricane would move out into the Atlantic, but a strong high pressure ridge of air off Greenland is blocking it, turning it eastward. The […]

  Post Tagged with Community Houses of Prayer, prayer, prayer of Jehoshaphat, Stanley Gale, storms
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• Reality Prayer

  Posted on October 27, 2012 by sdgale in 'CHOP Talk' Blog.

    Prayer seems to take on an alien character to many people.  I remember a guy many years ago whose whole demeanor changed when he prayed.  He would morph from his man’s man persona into someone syrupy all sunshine and sweetness.  Even his voice would change, becoming almost sing-songy. A woman at a Bible study […]

  Post Tagged with Community Houses of Prayer, prayer, praying in faith, Psalm 88, psalms, reality shows, Stanley Gale
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• The Sign of the Sabbath (part 2 of 2)

  Posted on October 23, 2012 by sdgale in 'CHOP Talk' Blog.

    As a moral obligation, the command endures to remember the Sabbath and rest on it.  For Christians, the day of Sabbath observance is Sunday.  Not only are we to try to avoid secular vocation on that day, we are to join with the people of God assembled for worship. We see that illustrated in the […]

  Post Tagged with Community Houses of Prayer, Lord's Day, prayer, sabbath, Stanley Gale
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• The Sign of the Sabbath (part 1 of 2)

  Posted on October 20, 2012 by sdgale in 'CHOP Talk' Blog.

    I saw a graphic recently.  It was a bar graph of sorts addressing various indicators of spirituality. It charted topics ranging from belief in the deity of Christ to belief in the wrath of God for personal sins.  Being compared on this graph were the Christian beliefs and practices of men and women.  In […]

  Post Tagged with Community Houses of Prayer, Lord's Day, prayer, sabbath, Stanley Gale
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• Sin, Salvation and the Holy Spirit

  Posted on October 15, 2012 by sdgale in 'CHOP Talk' Blog.

    A pastor I knew insisted he had found the only error in the Bible.  Of course, my antennae went up because I believe the Bible to be without error.  It is the Word of God.  What was the mistake he had discovered?  He found it buried in Paul’s first letter to Timothy. “Here is […]

  Post Tagged with chief of sinners, Community Houses of Prayer, confession, forgivenes, grace, Holy Spirit, love, Romans 8, salvation, sin, worst of sinners, wretched
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• An Elephant is Only So Big

  Posted on October 12, 2012 by sdgale in 'CHOP Talk' Blog.

    So many people I know are going through great distress.  Some are dealing with severe health issues.  Others are buckling under the weight of unrelenting relationship conflict.  Others are seemingly trapped in thankless jobs. As I have been praying for these dear brothers and sisters in Christ, reflecting on how oppressive their situations are […]

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• Praying in Jesus’ Names

  Posted on October 9, 2012 by sdgale in 'CHOP Talk' Blog.

    “Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.” (John 14:13–14, ESV) Five times in His Upper Room discourse Jesus speaks of praying in His name.  It seems that the sky is […]

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• God’s House of Prayer–XME (part 5 of 5 continued)

  Posted on October 6, 2012 by sdgale in 'CHOP Talk' Blog.

    A Local Church as a House of Prayer The congregation I serve as pastor can illustrate some possible ways to go about the call of being a house of prayer.  As a sort of prayer push I conducted a Saturday morning Prayer Seminar.  My goal is to expand their horizons to marvel at what […]

  Post Tagged with Community Houses of Prayer, Extreme Makeover Edition, house of prayer, local church, prayer, Stanley Gale, XME
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• Superstitious Prayer

  Posted on October 2, 2012 by sdgale in 'CHOP Talk' Blog.

    The college student at the foul line dribbled once. He caught the ball on the bounce and dribbled again.  The announcer pointed out that he had made his last 39 shots, spanning six games.  The game clock had expired.  This point would win it. The young man raised the ball to his chest.  His […]

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