Paul O'Rear -- Monday, January 4, 2010, 2:11 AM (No Comments)
Categories: Hope, Loneliness, Struggles
Tags: God, Job, Prayer
Have you ever wondered if God is really there; if He is really listening to you when you pour out your heart to Him in prayer?
Has it ever gotten to the point that it seemed like He wasn’t there, or like He just didn’t even care?
Have you ever found yourself asking that question – “Where are you, God?” – desperately wanting to hear His gentle voice whisper, “Don’t worry; I’m right here”?
If you have ever experienced the loneliness of not feeling God’s presence – of not being able to find Him, or feel Him, or sense His closeness – you are not alone.
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Paul O'Rear -- Saturday, December 12, 2009, 10:41 PM (1 Comment)
Categories: Adventure, Make a Difference, Music, My Purpose
Tags: Africa, Amsterdam Netherlands, Ashley O'Rear, Barcelona Spain, Bein' Green, Big Bird, Big Lots, Billboard, C is for Cookie, Caracas Venezuela, Cesar Pope, Clarence Bekker, Cookie Monster, David Dunn, Devotions Upon Emergent Occasions, Dimitri Dolganov, Django Degen, Francois Viguié, Geraldo & Dionisio, God, Grandpa Elliott, Guguletu South Africa, Joe Raposo, John Donne, Junior Kissangwa Mbouta, Kermit the Frog, Mamelodi South Africa, Mighty Joe Young, Moscow Russia, Muppets, National Junior Honor Society, New Orleans Louisiana, Paris France, Pisa Italy, Pokei Klaas, Rio de Janeiro Brazil, Robbie Howard Eighth Grade Center, Roberto Luti, Roger Ridley, Santa Monica California, Sesame Street, Sinamuva, Sing, Stand By Me, Stefano Tomaselli, Swahili, The Carpenters, The Congo, Toulouse France, Try Giving Yourself Away, Twin Eagle Drum Group, Umlazi South Africa, United States of America, Vusi Mahlasela, Walt Disney Pictures, Washboard Chaz, Waxahachie High School, Waxahachie ISD, Windsong, Winston Churchill, Zuni New Mexico
In 1998, Walt Disney Pictures released a movie called “Mighty Joe Young”. The movie was about a huge gorilla named Joe living in the jungles of Africa. Joe is brought to the United States to save him from being killed by poachers, and he eventually ends up back in Africa on a wildlife refuge created especially for him.
It was a pretty good movie. But the best thing about the movie was an enchanting lullaby that kept appearing in the soundtrack throughout the entire movie. The song is entitled “Windsong”, and it was written and sung in the Swahili language.
Listen to “Windsong”.
I was captivated by this incredibly beautiful, soul-stirring composition the first time I heard it. But not knowing Swahili, I had no idea what the song was saying. So I did some research.
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Paul O'Rear -- Tuesday, November 24, 2009, 2:04 AM (2 Comments)
Categories: Ashley O'Rear, Death, Grief, Memories
Tags: 4H, Ashley O'Rear, Children's Cancer Fund, FFA, God, Justin O'Rear, Kidd Kraddick, KISS-FM, Olympics, Susan O'Rear
It’s hard to believe it has been eight years: November 24, 2001. Sometimes it seems as though it was only yesterday that you left us, Ashley. Then there are moments when it seems that a lifetime has passed since that awful day.
I still miss you like crazy. We’re doing OK, though. You taught us to cherish every day. Most days we remember to do that. You taught us to live life to the fullest, to squeeze every drop of adventure out of every day that God gives us. You showed us that the real beauty of life is living with a complete trust in God. It’s funny how I’ve been a minister most of my adult life, but you figured that out so much better and lived it so much more completely than I ever have.
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Paul O'Rear -- Monday, November 16, 2009, 7:55 AM (No Comments)
Categories: Hope, Parables, Rebellion
Tags: Crisis, Deuteronomy, God, Graduation, Inheritance, Israelites, James, Jesus, Las Vegas, Luke, Parables, Prodigal Son, Repentance, Sin
[PART 3 OF 4]
In the previous article, we looked at the Parable of the Prodigal Son from the perspective of the father in the parable. In this article, we will re-examine the parable from the perspective of the prodigal son himself.
Go ahead and read through the parable again by clicking on the picture of the Bible to the right. Then come back here and continue reading.
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Paul O'Rear -- Wednesday, November 11, 2009, 6:51 AM (No Comments)
Categories: Parables
Tags: God, Jesus, Jewish, Luke, Nicodemus, Parables, Pharisees, Prodigal Son, Repentance, Sanhedrin, Sinners, Tax Collectors
[PART 1 OF 4]
The Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32) is one of Jesus’ most well-known parables. It is actually the third in a series of parables that Jesus told, one after the other, in Luke chapter 15. All three parables have a common theme.
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Paul O'Rear -- Sunday, November 8, 2009, 7:00 AM (1 Comment)
Categories: Campus Ministry, College Ministry, Evangelism, Prayer, Sharing Your Faith
Tags: Chris Blair, Christian Chronicle, Church, Churches of Christ, God, Huntsville Church of Christ, Huntsville Texas, Jesus, John, Kats for Christ, Life, Luke, Religion, Sam Houston State University
The following article appeared in the November 2009 print issue of the “Christian Chronicle”, an “international newspaper for Churches of Christ” whose mission is “to inform, inspire and unite”. The article was written by Chris Blair, who ministers to students on the campus of Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas, while serving as the Campus Minister for the Huntsville Church of Christ. This article is reprinted with the gracious permission of Chris Blair and the Christian Chronicle.
I think you will be inspired.
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Paul O'Rear -- Friday, November 6, 2009, 7:51 AM (No Comments)
Categories: Christmas, Salvation, Santa Claus
Tags: 2 Peter, Choices, Church, Community, Family, God, Isaiah, Jerusalem, Jesus, Luke, Parables, Prodigal Son, Repentance, Santa Claus
[PART 5 OF 5]
I believe that the story of Santa Claus is the story of God!
As I’ve stated in my previous “Santa Claus Factor” articles, I believe the story of Santa Claus can be viewed as a parable that teaches us some important lessons about God. This will be my last article in this series.
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Paul O'Rear -- Wednesday, November 4, 2009, 7:53 AM (No Comments)
Categories: Christmas, Salvation, Santa Claus
Tags: 2 Corinthians, Apostle Paul, Choices, Eternity, Gifts, Goats, God, Heaven, Hebrews, Hell, Jesus, Judgment Day, Matthew, Parables, Revelation, Robert Frost, Santa Claus, Sheep, The Road Less Traveled
[PART 4 OF 5]
I believe that the story of Santa Claus is the story of God!
In the last article, we discussed Santa’s list. We noticed the similarities between Santa’s “nice” and “naughty” lists, and God’s. In this article, we will continue to explore the parable-like nature of the Santa Claus story, and its ability to help us understand God a little better.
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Paul O'Rear -- Monday, November 2, 2009, 6:49 AM (No Comments)
Categories: Christmas, Salvation, Santa Claus
Tags: 1 John, 2 Corinthians, Acts, Ephesians, God, Good Deeds, Grace, Judgment Day, Matthew, Parables, Revelation, Romans, Santa Claus, Works
[PART 3 OF 5]
From last time:
“I believe that the story of Santa Claus is the story of God!”
Let’s continue looking at the parable-like nature of the Santa Claus story, and discover more of the things that Santa Claus can help us understand better about God.
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Paul O'Rear -- Thursday, October 29, 2009, 12:38 PM (1 Comment)
Categories: Christmas, Santa Claus
Tags: FaceBook, God, Jesus, MySpace, Parables, Santa Claus
[PART 2 OF 5]
In my previous article, I told you that I believe in Santa Claus, and I briefly explained my reasoning. If you haven’t read that article yet, you can catch it here.
In this next series of articles, I want to dig a little deeper and explain why the Santa Claus story is important, and then provide a more substantive explanation as to why “I believe in Santa Claus”.
Are you ready?
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