Browsing Archive: September, 2013

The Myth Of Someone Else

Posted by Michael La Framboise on Sunday, September 29, 2013,
    Long ago in his own church bulletin my grandfather wrote of a man who had a frightening dream. I recently came across this story and imagined how he might have told it. How I loved when Grandpa would tell a story! He recounted how a man dreamed that God used his passion, his service, and his giving as a standard for the whole church. Everyone loved, served, and gave the way he did.

    In his dream the man entered the church on Sunday morning, and he was treated the way he treated others....

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You Can't Hear If You're Not Here!

Posted by Michael La Framboise on Saturday, September 21, 2013,
My grandfather strongly believed that faithfulness to church was vital to a healthy and vibrant faith. He was ever asserting “It takes three to thrive: Sunday morning, Sunday night, Wednesday night!” He knew the importance of preaching to the Christian life. He knew that believers need to hear God’s word and hear it often, that the Holy Spirit might have ample opportunity to bring conviction to the heart of God’s people.

In the Bible hearing carries with it the notion of rece...

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The Posture Of My Heart

Posted by Michael La Framboise on Sunday, September 15, 2013,
    My grandfather had occasion once or twice to call for my attention directly from his pulpit. I would be giggling or talking with someone and my grandfather would call down from his pulpit for me to be quiet. I remember him once asking my mother to round us up and keep us quiet. It was a fearful thing to disrupt the service.   

    And so I learned a thing or two about church etiquette. I learned to be reverent during the service, and quiet during the message, and above all else I learned ...

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Take The Phone Off The Hook!

Posted by Michael La Framboise on Sunday, September 8, 2013,
    As a child I once encountered the strangest thing. As I passed through grandma’s kitchen, I noticed her long phone cord winding across the room leading to the closet. When I opened the door I found the cord leading to a drawer. I opened it and discovered someone had hidden grandma’s phone there. I quickly went to grandma and informed her of what I had found. But to my surprise grandma told me she had put it there...on purpose! When I asked her why, she simply said that she wanted some...
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The True Disciple of Christ

Posted by Michael La Framboise on Sunday, September 1, 2013,
    The Apostle John was not one to mince words. In fact, Jesus had occasion to rebuke him when his temper would flare like lightening and he would thunder condemnation upon those who dishonored the Lord. For this reason Jesus nicknamed him Son of Thunder.

    In his gospel account John methodically presents Jesus own definition of a true and genuine disciple, dismantling the self-deceiving excuses of the carnal Christian. Through his account of Christ’s teaching John is faithful to remind ...

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