Category Archives: ‘CHOP Talk’ Blog

• Depravity Unleashed

  Posted on May 7, 2019 by sdgale in 'CHOP Talk' Blog.

  Before Pandora was a personalized radio service, she was a figure of Greek mythology. She was given a box with the instruction not to open it. Curiosity as her key, she lifted the lid and so streamed miseries, maladies, and all sorts of malice into the world to plague mankind. The expression “opening Pandora’s box” […]

  Post Tagged with common grace, depravity, government, Pandora, Psalm 1, society
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• Identifying as a Christian

  Posted on December 5, 2018 by sdgale in 'CHOP Talk' Blog.

  Identifying as a Christian By Stanley D. Gale Many people identify as a Christian. Perhaps they are faced with a medical intake form that lists various religious options and they select Christian by default because of family tradition. In some cases, people will consider themselves Christian because they prayed a prayer at some point in […]

  Post Tagged with Apostles' Creed, assurance, authentic, Christian, conversion, faith, fruit, identifying, profession, weeds, wheat
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• 

  Spoiler Alert

  Posted on August 6, 2018 by sdgale in 'CHOP Talk' Blog.

  Whether it’s movies, mysteries, or matches, we hate it when someone spills the beans about how it ends rather than our discovering it on our own. In respect to that, online postings will sometimes carry the warning: “Spoiler alert!” That warning will let readers know not to read the post if they want to be […]

  Post Tagged with Apostles' Creed, faith, missional, pastor, spoiler, the faith
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• 

  Does the Apostles’ Creed Speak to Today’s Social Issues?

  Posted on July 27, 2018 by sdgale in 'CHOP Talk' Blog.

  By Stanley D. Gale For centuries Christians have joined their voices to declare the glory of God in the face of Christ through reciting the Apostles’ Creed.  The Creed has served to catechize in the Christian faith, to confess that faith through its declarations, to unite in kindred faith for corporate worship, and to call […]

  Post Tagged with abortion, Apostles' Creed, discipleship, marriage, morality, sexuality, social issues
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• 

  No Longer Children

  Posted on July 21, 2018 by sdgale in 'CHOP Talk' Blog.

  By Stanley D. Gale Children display a wonderful naivety to life – trusting, unassuming, authentic. Jesus held up childlike faith as the posture for entrance into the kingdom of God. Challenging worldly conceptions of greatness, Jesus beckoned a child to Himself and said this: “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like […]

  Post Tagged with Apostles' Creed, child, childlike faith, Creed, curriculum, discipleship, shepherding, training
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• 

  Squishy Christianity

  Posted on April 21, 2018 by sdgale in 'CHOP Talk' Blog.

  Christianity seems a bit squishy nowadays. It somehow relates to Jesus but has difficulty finding a place for the cross. It is gospel-flavored like those beverages that contain only 10 percent real fruit juice. Some beliefs are prominently on display; others relegated to a back room, if not discarded altogether as unsavory to the modern […]

  Post Tagged with Apostles' Creed, disciple, discipleship, faith, the faith
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• Developing Healthy Prayer Lives

  Posted on March 20, 2018 by sdgale in 'CHOP Talk' Blog.

  There’s probably not anything more vital to our health than breathing. Breathing draws oxygen into our lungs and expels carbon dioxide. It enables our bodies to function and supports social interaction. A gasp is but an abrupt inhalation of surprise. Our speech rides the winds of exhalation. Breathing is necessary to life’s existence and its […]

  Post Tagged with breathing, COPD, pray, prayer
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• It’s About Time

  Posted on February 10, 2018 by sdgale in 'CHOP Talk' Blog.

    We have all heard the expression, haven’t we? Perhaps used it jokingly or disparagingly, or maybe realistically. “Over the hill.” What might constitute “over”? Is it 40? 45? 50? “Over the hill” suggests decline. Climb and descent. The apex of life has been reached. It is all downhill from that point on, perhaps the […]

  Post Tagged with eternity, life span, middle age, opportunity, time
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• Discerning the Devil

  Posted on October 9, 2017 by sdgale in 'CHOP Talk' Blog.

  The children’s Sunday School class could no longer use the room. The mold was too persistent. It would be cleaned off, even bleached away, and still it would appear. Finally, the paneling and drywall were ripped out. There was the source of the problem. Holes in the outer stone wall of the old church building […]

  Post Tagged with Corinthians, devil, Satan, spiritual warfare
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• If You Had One Wish

  Posted on October 2, 2017 by sdgale in 'CHOP Talk' Blog.

    I try to visit her once a week. Sometimes I have to hunt for her. If she’s not in her room, I try the dining area or maybe the chapel if there’s an event. On one particularly nice day I found her outside, sitting in her wheelchair, a young speech therapist at her side. […]

  Post Tagged with faith, home, nursing home, Old age, pastor, prayer, visit, wish
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