Illustrations Archives

• Choices  (July 24, 2007)
  A farmer was driving along the road with a load of fertilizer. A little boy, playing in front of his house, saw him and called, "What've you got in your truck?" "Fertilizer," the farmer replied.
• Children, Priorities, Memories  (July 24, 2007)
  A family in Colorado tried unsuccessfully for years to save enough money to replace their ancient bathroom fixtures with new modern sleek ones. But each year as skiing time rolled around, the bathroom money went for a family skiing trip. The children are now grown.
• Children's Thoughts on Love and Marriage  (July 24, 2007)
  What exactly is Marriage? "Marriage is when you get to keep your girl and don't have to give her back to her parents." (Eric, 6) "When somebody's been dating for a while, the boy might propose to the girl. He says to her, 'I'll take you for a whole life, or at least until we have kids and get divorced, but you got to do one particular thing for me.' Then she says yes, but she's wondering what the thing is and whether it's naughty or not. She can't wait to find out." (Anita, 9)
• Character, Reputation  (July 24, 2007)
  "A good character is the best tombstone. Those who loved you, and were helped by you, will remember you when forget-me-nots are withered. Carve your name on hearts, and not on marble." (Charles Haddon Spurgeon)
• Change  (July 24, 2007)
• Call To Ministry  (July 24, 2007)
  "Those who are truly sent by God . . . are marked by the fact that they are faithful to the message of the Gospel, exalting the Lord Jesus Christ, proclaiming to men the good news of salvation through Him, and bidding men to turn from their sins and come to Christ as Savior and Lord.
• Burden, Preparation  (July 24, 2007)
  In their book The Sacred Romance (Thomas Nelson), John Eldredge and Brent Curtis write: "A 19th-century Scottish discus thrower lived in the days before professional trainers and developed his skills alone in the highlands of his native village, making his own discus from the description he read in a book.
• Burden, Preparation  (July 24, 2007)
  In their book The Sacred Romance (Thomas Nelson), John Eldredge and Brent Curtis write: "A 19th-century Scottish discus thrower lived in the days before professional trainers and developed his skills alone in the highlands of his native village, making his own discus from the description he read in a book.
• Born Again  (July 24, 2007)
  There is a new pseudo-science that says the birth event can affect you whole life. If it was a rapid delivery, they say, you'll rush into things.
• Bible, Truth  (July 24, 2007)
• Attitude  (July 24, 2007)
  A man named Roy described the trip his family made last summer to Disney World. The weather was hot and the crowds were enormous. It seemed that they had to wait in line 45 minutes for everything. Roy and his family began to complain and grumble.
• Anniversary, Marriage  (July 24, 2007)
  Two gentlemen were talking and one said to the other, "You're having an anniversary soon, right?" The other replied, "Yes, a big one. 20 years." "Wow," said the other, "what are you going to get your wife for your anniversary?"
• Ancestry, Ego  (July 24, 2007)
  One socialite said to another, "My ancestry goes back all the way to Alexander the Great. How far back does your family go?" "I don't know," replied the other. "All of our records were lost in the flood."
• Almost Understood  (July 24, 2007)
  One Sunday during the evening service someone noticed their child entering zestfully into the singing of the chorus, "Soon and very soon / we are going to see the King?"
• Age Happens  (July 24, 2007)
  A man has reached middle age when he is cautioned to slow down by his doctor instead of by the police. Middle age is having a choice of two temptations and choosing the one that will get you home earlier.
• Acceptance, Compassion  (July 24, 2007)
  A number of years ago, Newsweek magazine carried the story of the memorial service held for Hubert Humphrey, former vice-president of the United States. Hundreds of people came from all over the world to say good-bye to their old friend and colleague.
• A Knock at the Door  (July 24, 2007)
  A pastor visited his church members one Saturday. At one house it was obvious that someone was home, but nobody came to the door, even though the pastor knocked several times.
• Marriage  (July 24, 2007)
  When Barbara Schwartz was about 29-years-old, she visited her parents one weekend. They questioned her about her current boyfriend. Her mother asked, 'Just what kind of man are you interested in?' Barbara pointed to her father and said, 'I want one like him, but with a few minor modifications.'
• Marriage, Forgiveness  (July 24, 2007)
  On her golden wedding anniversary, a grandmother revealed the secret of her long and happy marriage. "On my wedding day, I decided to choose ten of my husband's faults which, for the sake of our marriage, I would overlook," she explained. A guest asked her to name some of the faults.
• Peace  (July 24, 2007)
  He is an active member of a congregation in Queensland, Australia, and his name is Pax Young. We often encounter the surname Young, but his first name is not one you hear every day. How did he get the name Pax? The answer is that he was born on the very day World War I ended.