The Blazing Center

David’s First Order Of Business

28 October 2009

33734 CommentsDavid%27s+First+Order+Of+Business2009-10-28+10%3A00%3A28Mark+Altrogge

1 CH 16.7 Then on that day David first appointed that thanksgiving be sung to the Lord by Asaph and his brothers. David’s first order of business after bringing the ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem, was to get the worship team singing thanks. This agrees with Psalm 100: Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give [...]

Thanks Mr. Car Repair Man

19 February 2009

19179 CommentsThanks+Mr.+Car+Repair+Man2009-02-19+10%3A00%3A22Stephen+Altrogge

Most of you are probably not aware of this, but today is “I Sure Am Grateful For…” day. On this holiday (which is celebrated in rural Pennsylvania and Central Mexico) we honor those who make our lives livable – those people that regularly spare us from death and/or homelessness. Today I’m honoring Karl. Karl is my [...]

What’s Your Guilty Pleasure?

25 July 2008

61410 CommentsWhat%27s+Your+Guilty+Pleasure%3F2008-07-25+10%3A00%3A37Stephen+Altrogge

One of the glories of the gospel is that it transforms ‘guilty pleasures’ into grateful pleasures. In other words, things that you once did without gratefulness to God or self-control (e.g. eat ice cream, go cycling, watch movies), you can now do with joy in your heart and in a way that pleases God. So I’m [...]

Do You Love Nasal Spray?

11 July 2008

58320 CommentsDo+You+Love+Nasal+Spray%3F2008-07-11+10%3A00%3A44Stephen+Altrogge

I must confess, I absolutely love nasal spray. Before you abandon this blog as the ravings of a congested madman, let me explain. I’ve had a cold for the last week, and during this time my nose has been jammed to the rafters. Breathing through my nose has been difficult if not impossible. I’m sure [...]

The Easiest Way To Glorify God

10 July 2008

5819 CommentsThe+Easiest+Way+To+Glorify+God2008-07-10+10%3A00%3A52Mark+Altrogge

Fanny Crosby wrote over 8,000 hymns, including “Praise Him, Praise Him” and “To God be the Glory”. Before he was 20, Charles Spurgeon had preached over 600 times. He read 6 books per week and could recall what he had read and locate it, even years later. He started a pastors’ college [...]

Official Gratefulness Day

13 June 2008

5199 CommentsOfficial+Gratefulness+Day2008-06-13+10%3A00%3A50Stephen+Altrogge

Sometimes blogging can be like passing a kidney stone. Not really. I’ve never had a kidney stone, but from what I hear, they’re pretty high on the pain spectrum. So blogging is nothing like passing a kidney stone. I just wanted to throw that line out there. But blogging does have its challenges. For example, today [...]

What to Do With a Crust of Bread

3 March 2008

2864 CommentsWhat+to+Do+With+a+Crust+of+Bread2008-03-03+13%3A00%3A00Mark+Altrogge

It doesn’t take much to expose my wicked heart. God doesn’t need to toss me into prison or break my fibula to reveal the discontentment that lurks in my inner recesses. Sometimes all it takes is my wife Kristi telling me what’s for dinner when I get home from work. “I thought we’d have leftovers [...]

Taking A Blessings Inventory

20 December 2007

2184 CommentsTaking+A+Blessings+Inventory2007-12-20+12%3A59%3A00Stephen+Altrogge

When was the last time you took a blessings inventory? I recently found myself sitting in my living room, feeling sorry for myself because of some unexpected expenses which were going to cramp my Christmas style. In other words, I wasn’t going to be able to buy and get as much stuff this [...]

Thanksgiving: A Cup of Coffee Would Save my Life

22 November 2007

1931 Comment2007-11-22+13%3A00%3A00Mark+Altrogge

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits – Psalm 103:2Thanksgiving is a day to remember all God’s benefits and blessings. In Christ believers receive innumerable spiritual blessings and benefits. Who can calculate all God’s kindnesses and mercies to us in Jesus? Forgiveness, justification, fellowship with God, joy inexpressible and full [...]

Thankful For Double Work Shifts

19 October 2007

1550 CommentsThankful+For+Double+Work+Shifts2007-10-19+12%3A00%3A00Stephen+Altrogge

I recently watched a inspiring/sad documentary called “God Grew Tired Of Us” (watch the trailer here), which follows the lives of several young men from Sudan. These men had been separated from their families by violence, and some of the boys had even seen their families executed before their very eyes. They had [...]