autopsy

The following collection of quotes comes from actual medical records dictated by physicians:

"Patient has chest pain if she lies on her left side for over a year."

"On the second day the knee was better and on the third day it had completely disappeared."

"The patient has been depressed ever since she began seeing me in 1983."

"The patient is tearful and crying constantly. She also appears to be depressed."

"Healthy-appearing decrepit 69-year-old male, mentally alert but forgetful."

"The patient has no past history of suicides."

"The patient's past medical history has been remarkably insignificant with only a 40 pound weight gain in the past three days."

"She slipped on the ice and apparently her legs went in separate directions in early December."

"The patient left the hospital feeling much better except for her original complaints."

"Discharge status: Alive but without permission. The patient will need disposition, and therefore we will get Dr. Blank to dispose of him."

"The patient refused an autopsy."

I can see why the patient would want to refuse an autopsy! But, spiritually speaking, I dare not refuse. In fact, an autopsy has already been performed on me (by the Great Physician) and the cause of death was found to be sin.

"But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus." (Ephesians 2:4-6)

-alan smith

Fortunately, death was not the end (nor will it be!). Those of us who are Christians are alive, not only with God's permission, but by His grace!

understood

According to the Knight-Ridder News Service, the inscription on the metal bands used by the U.S. Department of the Interior to tag migratory birds has been changed. The bands used to bear the address of the Washington Biological Survey, abbreviated

Wash. Biol. Surv.

until the agency received the following letter from an Arkansas camper:

"Dear Sirs:

While camping last week I shot one of your birds. I think it was a crow. I followed the cooking instructions on the leg tag and I want to tell you it was horrible."

The bands are now marked Fish and Wildlife Service.

It's frustrating to be misunderstood. We go to great lengths to keep from being misunderstood. And we want to be understood, not only when we speak or try to communicate with others, but also as a person. A common complaint is, "Nobody understands me!" which may simply be another way of saying, "Nobody cares enough about me to get to know me!" But there is someone who understands us.

David said, "O LORD, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways." (Psalm 139:1-3)

Father, we take such comfort in knowing that you understand us, even better than we understand ourselves. There is no chance of putting up a front to hide from you because you are not only our Creator, but also our constant companion. Thank you for understanding us when no else does. In Jesus' name, Amen.

-alan smith

bagpipes

Despite having a love for Scotland and for Scottish music, I felt these had to be shared with you:

Q. Why do pipers always walk when they play?

A. Moving targets are harder to hit.

Q. How do you get two bagpipes to play in perfect unison?

A. Shoot one.

Q. What's the difference between a bagpipe and an onion?

A. No one cries when you chop up a bagpipe.

Q. What's the difference between a bagpipe and a trampoline?

A. You take off your shoes when you jump on a trampoline.

Q. How can you tell a piper with perfect pitch?

A. He can throw a set of bagpipes into the middle of a pond and not hit any of the ducks.

Q. How is playing a bagpipe like throwing a javelin blindfolded? A. You don't have to be very good to get people's attention.

Q. What's the difference between a lawn mower and a bagpipe?

A. You can tune the lawn mower; and the owner's neighbors are upset if you borrow the lawn mower and don't return it.

Q. What's the difference between a dead piper in the road and a dead country singer in the road? A. The country singer may have been on the way to a recording session.

Q. What's the range of a bagpipe?

A. Twenty yards if you have a good arm.

Q. How can you tell if a bagpipe is out of tune?

A. Someone is blowing into it.

Q. What's one thing you never hear people say?

A. "Oh, that's the pipe player's Porsche."

Q. What's the definition of "optimism''?

A. A piper with a pager.

Bagpipes get a lot of abuse. They are so different from most other musical instruments (when is the last time you saw a bagpipe included in a symphony orchestra?). Most people complain about the noise they make, but I have to say that I like bagpipes. I don't know whether it's because I really like their music or (more likely) because they make me think of Scotland, which is one of my favorite places in all the world.

In a way, Christians are like bagpipes. We are "different" from the world around us. We are often looked down upon because we don't "fit in" with everybody else. And any attractiveness that we may have is not due to anything that we may do, but because of our relationship to Jesus Christ and his kingdom.

"But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy. Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul." (I Peter 2:9-11)

Through the "music" of our lives today, may people be reminded of the kingdom we represent.

-alan smith

moderation

While driving down the road the motorist saw a roadside stand which had a fortuneteller sitting under an umbrella. She was just sitting there smiling and laughing.

The motorist passed on by and went a couple of miles on down the road. All of a sudden he spun his car around and sped back toward the fortune teller.

As he got closer to the still laughing fortune teller he began to slow down. He pulled up next to the woman and jumped out of his car and suddenly began slapping and beating her. A policeman passing by screeched to a stop and wrestled the man to the ground. After cuffing the man, he stood him up and asked him, "What do you think you're doing?"

After a moment the man replied, ... "Well, I've always wanted to strike a happy medium."

One of keys to successful Christian living is learning to strike a happy medium -- no, not hitting a fortuneteller, but moderation. Too much of one thing can leave us unbalanced. Too much work results in stress; too much rest results in laziness. Too much laughter leads to not taking life seriously; too many tears lead to depression. Too much time with "the world" causes us to lose our spirituality; too much time on the "mountaintop" with God causes us to lose sight of our mission in the world. We struggle with maintaining a proper balance in our lives, seeking to be like Jesus Christ who had it "all together".

"To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven." (Eccl. 3:1)

Have a great day!

dead

You may have received an e-mail about a newspaper article which was printed on December 17, 2000 by the "Sunday Mercury" in Birmingham,

England:

"Bosses of a publishing firm are trying to find out why no one noticed that one of their employees had been sitting dead at his desk for FIVE DAYS before anyone asked if he was feeling okay.

"George Turklebaum, 51, who had been employed as a proofreader at a New York firm for 30 years, had a heart attack in the open-plan office he shared with 23 other workers. He quietly passed away on Monday, but nobody noticed until Saturday morning when an office cleaner asked why he was still working during the weekend.

"His boss, Elliot Wachiaski, said: 'George was always the first guy in each morning and the last to leave at night, so no one found it unusual that he was in the same position all that time and didn't say anything. He was always absorbed in his work and kept pretty much to himself.'

"A post mortem examination revealed that he had been dead for five days after suffering a coronary. Ironically, George was proofreading manuscripts of medical textbooks when he died."

It's a disturbing article. How could anyone die and go unnoticed for five days??? However, like so many "unbelievable" stories that are circulated, this one is merely another "urban legend." It's not true (for further info on this story, you can visit this site: http://www.snopes2.com/horrors/gruesome/fivedays.htm).

The truth is, though, we all live and work around people who have died -- and no one seems to have noticed. Like the boy in the movie, "The Sixth Sense", we can honestly say, "I see dead people." People who have died in their trespasses and sins, people who have died to the things of God, people have died to a sense of doing what is good and right.

"As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts." (Eph. 2:1-3a)

But this death does not have to be the end. There is hope for true life (read on in Ephesians 2). The question is, do we care enough to notice that people around us are dead and in need of the life that God provides? Or do we go on about our business, with no sense of the spiritual condition of others?

Just to be on the safe side, you may want to give your co-workers a nudge occasionally.

anniversary

Two older gentleman were talking and one said to the other, "You're having an anniversary soon, right?"

The other replied, "Yup, a big one... 20 years."

"Wow," said the other, "what are you going to get your wife for your anniversary?"

The other replied, "I'm giving her a trip to Australia."

"Wow, Australia, that's some gift!" said the other man. "That's going to be hard to beat. What are you going to do for your 25th anniversary?"

"Go back and get her."

My 20th anniversary has already passed, but maybe I can keep this mind as I

celebrate my 28th in a few months. :-) Truly, those of us who are

married

know that God has given us such a beautiful blessing. My wife has been by my side through good times and bad. She has been my confidante, my sounding board, my support, my closest friend for over two decades. She deserves a medal of some sort for all that I have put her through, despite the fact that I often fail to live up to the standard that has been set forth for me. What is that standard?

"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for it." (Eph. 5:25)

What a lofty goal for those of us who are husbands!

Christ, thank you for the love you have shown those of us who are a part of your church, and please help me to show that same level of love and sacrifice to the one who is so dear to my heart.

Have a great day! (by the way, husbands, I think the florist is still open if you hurry)

envelope

A fellow had just been hired as the new CEO of a large high tech corporation. The CEO who was stepping down met with him privately and presented him with three numbered envelopes.

"Open these if you run up against a problem you don't think you can solve," he said.

Well, things went along pretty smoothly, but six months later, sales took a downturn and he was really catching a lot of heat. About at his wit's end, he remembered the envelopes. He went to his drawer and took out the first envelope. The message read, "Blame your predecessor."

The new CEO called a press conference and tactfully laid the blame at the feet of the previous CEO. Satisfied with his comments, the press and Wall Street responded positively, sales began to pick up and the problem was soon behind him.

About a year later, the company was again experiencing a slight dip in sales, combined with serious product problems. Having learned from his previous experience, the CEO quickly opened the second envelope. The message read, "Reorganize."

This he did, and the company quickly rebounded. After several consecutive profitable quarters, the company once again fell on difficult times. The CEO went to his office, closed the door and opened the third envelope. The message said, "Prepare three envelopes."

What do you do when things go wrong? Who do you blame? How do you react? Imagine for a moment that the apostle Paul has prepared three envelopes for you when life gets tough.

The first envelope contains 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (make sure you don't read it until you really need it!)

The second envelope contains Philippians 1:19-21 (only read it if things are getting worse!)

And the third envelope contains 2 Corinthians 12:8-10 (save this one for extreme situations!)

May God's Word give you the strength you need to meet the struggles of life this day and every day.

...news

Good news/bad news for a preacher:

Good News: You baptized seven people today in the river.

Bad News: You lost two of them in the swift current.

Good News: The Ladies Bible Class voted to send you a get-well card.

Bad News: The vote passed by 31-30.

Good News: The elders accepted your job description the way you wrote it.

Bad News: They were so inspired by it, they also formed a search

committee to find somebody capable of filling the

position.

Good News: Mrs. Jones is wild about your sermons.

Bad News: Mrs. Jones is also wild about "The Gong Show," "The Jerry

Springer Show" and "Texas Chain Saw Massacre."

Good News: The building committee finally voted to add more church

parking.

Bad News: They are going to blacktop your front lawn.

Good News: Church attendance rose dramatically the last three weeks.

Bad News: You were on vacation.

Good News: Your elders want to send you to the "Holy Land".

Bad News: They are stalling until the next war.

Good News: The youth in your church come to your house for a surprise

visit.

Bad News: It's in the middle of the night and they are armed with

toilet paper and shaving cream to "decorate" your

house.

Life is filled with good news and bad news. So is the Bible. The good news

is: Christ took our place on the cross and died for our sins. The bad news

is: not everyone has chosen to respond to that act of love in an obedient faith.

"As it is written: 'How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!' But they have not all obeyed the gospel." (Romans 10:15b-16a)

Father, thank you for the good news that you have shared with us. As excited as we are about your love and grace, it grieves us when those we share it with are sometimes not even interested. We pray for open doors and open hearts as we exercise our "beautiful feet". In Jesus name, amen.

mind

One night a wife found her husband standing over their baby's crib. Silently she watched him. As he stood looking down at the sleeping infant, she saw on his face a mixture of emotions: disbelief, doubt, delight, amazement, enchantment, skepticism.

Touched by this unusual display and the deep emotions it aroused, with eyes glistening she slipped her arm around her husband.

"A penny for your thoughts," she said.

"It's amazing!" he replied. "I just can't see how anybody can make a crib like that for only $46.50."

Sometimes our thoughts are not as grand as they might be. We partake of the Lord's Supper and ought to have our thoughts centered on the sacrifice of our Savior. Instead, we think about what we're going to eat for dinner. We see a spectacular sunset and ought to be led to reflect on the glory and grandeur of God the Creator. Instead, we wonder who's winning the ball game.

You get the idea. As difficult as it is to keep our lives and our tongues under control, it seems so much more difficult to bring our "every thought into captivity" (2 Cor. 10:5). If we're not careful, our thoughts tend to wander into forbidden territory. Allow these words of Paul to call us back:

"Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy -- meditate on these things." (Philippians 4:8)

tradition

During the wedding rehearsal, the groom approached the preacher with an unusual offer.

"Look, I'll give you $100 if you'll change the wedding vows. When you get to me and the part where I'm to promise to "love, honor and cherish" and "forsaking all others, be faithful to her forever," I'd appreciate it if you'd just leave that part out." He passed the minister a $100 bill and walked away satisfied.

It was the day of the wedding, and the bride and groom moved to that part of the ceremony where the vows are exchanged. When it came time for the groom's vows, the preacher looked the young man in the eye and said:

"Will you promise to prostrate yourself before her, obey her every command and wish, serve her breakfast in bed every morning of your life and vow eternally before God and your lovely wife that you will not ever even look at another woman, as long as you both shall live?"

The groom gulped and looked around, and said in a tiny voice, "Yes."

The groom leaned toward the preacher and hissed: "I thought we had a deal."

The preacher put the $100 bill into his hand and whispered back: "She made me a much better offer."

From day to day, we receive many offers from Satan (we call them "temptations"). Sometimes we're offered financial reward, sometimes pleasure or self-gratification. And the offer may seem appealing unless we realize that God has made us a much better offer.

"Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life....He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death." (Revelation 2:10b-11)

If temptation makes you an offer today, I recommend you hold out for a better offer from God.

? age

During the wedding rehearsal, the groom approached the preacher with an unusual offer.

"Look, I'll give you $100 if you'll change the wedding vows. When you get to me and the part where I'm to promise to "love, honor and cherish" and "forsaking all others, be faithful to her forever," I'd appreciate it if you'd just leave that part out." He passed the minister a $100 bill and walked away satisfied.

It was the day of the wedding, and the bride and groom moved to that part of the ceremony where the vows are exchanged. When it came time for the groom's vows, the preacher looked the young man in the eye and said:

"Will you promise to prostrate yourself before her, obey her every command and wish, serve her breakfast in bed every morning of your life and vow eternally before God and your lovely wife that you will not ever even look at another woman, as long as you both shall live?"

The groom gulped and looked around, and said in a tiny voice, "Yes."

The groom leaned toward the preacher and hissed: "I thought we had a deal."

The preacher put the $100 bill into his hand and whispered back: "She made me a much better offer."

From day to day, we receive many offers from Satan (we call them "temptations"). Sometimes we're offered financial reward, sometimes pleasure or self-gratification. And the offer may seem appealing unless we realize that God has made us a much better offer.

"Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life....He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death." (Revelation 2:10b-11)

If temptation makes you an offer today, I recommend you hold out for a better offer from God.

offer

During the wedding rehearsal, the groom approached the preacher with an unusual offer.

"Look, I'll give you $100 if you'll change the wedding vows. When you get to me and the part where I'm to promise to "love, honor and cherish" and "forsaking all others, be faithful to her forever," I'd appreciate it if you'd just leave that part out." He passed the minister a $100 bill and walked away satisfied.

It was the day of the wedding, and the bride and groom moved to that part of the ceremony where the vows are exchanged. When it came time for the groom's vows, the preacher looked the young man in the eye and said:

"Will you promise to prostrate yourself before her, obey her every command and wish, serve her breakfast in bed every morning of your life and vow eternally before God and your lovely wife that you will not ever even look at another woman, as long as you both shall live?"

The groom gulped and looked around, and said in a tiny voice, "Yes."

The groom leaned toward the preacher and hissed: "I thought we had a deal."

The preacher put the $100 bill into his hand and whispered back: "She made me a much better offer."

From day to day, we receive many offers from Satan (we call them "temptations"). Sometimes we're offered financial reward, sometimes pleasure or self-gratification. And the offer may seem appealing unless we realize that God has made us a much better offer.

"Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life....He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death." (Revelation 2:10b-11)

If temptation makes you an offer today, I recommend you hold out for a better offer from God.

know

A lady was walking down the street to work and saw a parrot in a pet store. She stopped to admire the bird. The parrot said to her, "Hey lady, you are really ugly." Well, the lady was furious! She stormed past the store and went to work.

On the way home she saw the same parrot in the window and the parrot upon seeing her said, "Hey lady, you are really ugly." She was incredibly angry now. The next day on the way to work she saw the same parrot and once again it said, "Hey lady, you are really ugly." The lady was so furious that she stormed into the store and threatened to sue the store and have the bird killed. The store manager apologized profusely and promised the bird wouldn't say it again.

When the lady walked past the store on the way home from work, the parrot said to her, "Hey, lady!" She paused and said, "Yes?" The bird said, "You know."

In his first epistle, the apostle John placed a great deal of emphasis on things that "you know". Just a few examples:

"Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments." (I John

2:3)

"And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin." (3:5)

"And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us." (3:24b)

"And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him." (5:15)

"We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one." (5:19)

"And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true." (5:20a)

one

Every year, MLAW (Michigan Lawsuit Abuse Watch) holds a contest to find some of the wackiest product labels. Here are some of their favorite labels from the past eight years:

A popular scooter for children warns: "This product moves when used."

A label on an electric hand blender using for "blending, whipping, chopping and dicing," warns: "Never remove food or other items from the blades while the product is operating."

A label on a baby stroller warns: "Remove child before folding."

A brass fishing lure with a three-pronged hook on the end warns: "Harmful if swallowed."

A household iron warns users: "Never iron clothes while they are being worn." 

A label on a hair dryer reads, "Never use hair dryer while sleeping." 

A warning on an electric drill made for carpenters cautions: "This product not intended for use as a dental drill." 

The label on a bottle of drain cleaner warns: "If you do not understand, or cannot read, all directions, cautions and warnings, do not use this product."

A can of self-defense pepper spray warns users: "May irritate eyes."

A cardboard car sunshield that keeps sun off the dashboard warns, "Do not drive with sunshield in place."

On a hotel-provided shower cap in a box: fits one head.

Some of those warning labels conjure up some humorous images. Like the last one -- can you imagine trying to fit a shower cap onto two heads at once? Ridiculous, huh?

Almost as ridiculous as taking the body of Christ and suggesting it has more than one head. There is one body (Eph. 4:4), and it has only one head. Fortunately, that head is no earthly person or group of people. It is none other than the Son of God himself.

"And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence." (Colossians 1:18)

This day, give preeminence and praise to the one who is our head!

measure

I love the following "urban legend" which involves a question in a physics degree exam: "Describe how to determine the height of a skyscraper with a barometer."

One student replied: "Tie a long piece of string to the neck of the barometer, then lower the barometer from the roof of the skyscraper to the ground. The length of the string plus the length of the barometer will equal the height of the building."

This highly original answer so incensed the examiner that the student was failed immediately.

He appealed on the grounds that his answer was indisputably correct, and the university appointed an independent arbiter to decide the case. The arbiter judged that the answer was indeed correct, but did not display any noticeable knowledge of physics.

To resolve the problem it was decided to call the student in and allow him six minutes in which to provide a verbal answer which showed at least a minimal familiarity with the basic principles of physics.

For five minutes the student sat in silence, forehead creased in thought. The arbiter reminded him that time was running out, to which the student replied that he had several extremely relevant answers, but couldn't make up his mind which to use.

On being advised to hurry up the student replied as follows:

"Firstly, you could take the barometer up to the roof of the skyscraper, drop it over the edge, and measure the time it takes to reach the ground. The height of the building can then be worked out from the formula H = 0.5g x t squared. But bad luck on the barometer.

"Or if the sun is shining you could measure the height of the barometer, then set it on end and measure the length of its shadow. Then you measure the length of the skyscraper's shadow, and thereafter it is simple matter of proportional arithmetic to work out the height of the skyscraper.

"But if you wanted to be highly scientific about it, you could tie a short piece of string to the barometer and swing it like a pendulum, first at ground level and then on the roof of the skyscraper. The height is worked out by the difference in the gravitational restoring force T = 2 pi sq root(l / g).

"Or if the skyscraper has an outside emergency staircase, it would be easier to walk up it and mark off the height of the skyscraper in barometer lengths, then add them up.

"If you merely wanted to be boring and orthodox about it, of course, you could use the barometer to measure the air pressure on the roof of the skyscraper and on the ground, and convert the difference in millibars into feet to give the height of the building.

"But since we are constantly being exhorted to exercise independence of mind and apply scientific methods, undoubtedly the best way would be to knock on the janitor's door and say to him 'If you would like a nice new barometer, I will give you this one if you tell me the height of this building'."

It Just goes to show that there are lots of different ways to measure the height of a building. But suppose you wanted to measure something a little more abstract -- your Christianity, for example. How would you go about doing that?

Some folks simply look around at everyone else and see how their lives compare. "Well, I'm not as immoral as most of the people I know." "I'm certainly better than the hypocrites that go to church down there."

Paul said, though, "For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise." (2 Cor. 10:12)

They're not wise because we have to measure ourselves using a higher standard. The standard we must use is nothing less than the life of Jesus Christ.

"....till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ." (Eph. 4:11-13)

Using God's Word as our guide, we all see just how far we have yet to grow. I encourage you to take measure of your life today as you strive to grow in Christ.

you

A mother was preparing pancakes for her sons, Kevin, age 5, and Ryan, age 3. The boys began to argue over who would get the first pancake. Their mother saw the opportunity for a moral lesson. "If Jesus were sitting here, He would say, 'Let my brother have the first pancake. I can wait.' Kevin turned to his younger brother and said, "Ryan, you be Jesus!"

I think it's safe to say that we're all a little bit like Kevin. We want everyone else to act like Jesus. We want everyone else to be kind and giving. We want everyone else to make the sacrifices and be tolerant and forgiving of us.

Unfortunately, the only person I have control over is myself. And it is only when I see God's Word as a guide for my life that it begins to do me any good.

"For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps." (I Peter 2:21)

Today, YOU be Jesus. Have a great day!

perspective

It is reported that the German controllers at Frankfurt Airport expect pilots to know their gate location and how to get there without any assistance from them. This conversation is said to have taken place between the control tower in Frankfurt and a British Airways 747 (radio call Speedbird 206) after landing:

Speedbird 206: "Good morning Frankfurt, Speedbird 206 clear of the runway."

Ground: "Guten morgan, taxi to your gate."

The British Airways 747 pulls onto the main taxiway and stops.

Ground: "Speedbird, do you not know where you are going?"

Speedbird 206: "Stand by, ground, I'm looking up the gate location now."

Ground (with impatience): "Speedbird 206, have you never flown to Frankfurt before?"

Speedbird 206 (coolly): "Yes, in 1944. But I didn't stop".

Things look different from the ground than they do in the air! (especially when the view from the air has crosshairs that get in the way :-) Our perspective makes all the difference in the world.

Which raises an interesting question -- do we tend to look at things from an earthly point of view or from a heavenly point of view?

"If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth." (Colossians 3:1-2)

If things in your life aren't looking so good from "ground level", perhaps it will help to take a look at things from a heavenly perspective.

both

he following was reported by WESTERN MORNING NEWS in 1994:

Ian Lewis, 43, of Standish, Lancashire, England, was interested in finding out about his family. He spent 30 years tracing his family tree back to the seventeenth century. He traveled all over Britain, talked to 2,000 relatives and planned to write a book about how his great-grandfather left to seek his fortune in Russia and how his grandfather was expelled after the Revolution. Then he found out he had been adopted when he was a month old and his real name was David Thornton. He resolved to start his family research all over again.

How frustrating! However, it reminds me that, for a Christian, it makes no difference whether we trace our spiritual lineage by way of birth or adoption because both images are used to express our relationship to God our Father.

"Jesus answered, 'Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.' " (John

3:5)

"...having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will..." (Ephesians 1:5)

God is our Father by (re)birth and by adoption (we are chosen!). What a privilege to be a part of His family!

think

One of my favorite quiz shows of all time is "Family Feud". One of the joys of watching it is seeing what people will say when they don't have very long to think. These are some actual answers from contestants who have appeared on the quiz show "Family Feud":

Name something a blind person might use -- A sword

Name a song with "moon" in the title -- Blue suede moon

Name an item of clothing worn by the 3 musketeers -- A horse 

Name something that floats in the bath -- Water 

Name something you wear on the beach -- A deck chair 

Name something red -- My cardigan 

Name a famous cowboy -- Buck Rogers 

Name a number you have to memorize -- 7 

Name something you do before going to bed -- Sleep 

Name something you put on walls -- Roofs 

Name something in the garden that's green -- Shed 

Name something that flies that doesn't have an engine -- A bicycle with wings 

Name something you might be allergic to -- Skiing 

Name a famous bridge -- The bridge over troubled waters 

Name an animal you might see at the zoo -- A dog 

Name a sign of the zodiac -- April 

Name a non-living object with legs -- Plant 

Name a domestic animal -- Leopard 

Name a part of the body beginning with 'N' -- Knee 

Name a dangerous race -- The Arabs 

Name a way of cooking fish -- Cod

The answers sound ridiculous, but you know what the problem is. It's the pressure of the moment, trying to be the first one to blurt out an answer. And so, sometimes the mouth begins to speak before the brain has had time to completely process the question and the answer.

When you speak without taking time to think, the things that come out of your mouth can be pretty funny. They can also be quite damaging. That's why James warned us:

"So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath." (James 1:19)

Just a reminder to pause for a moment before you speak today. You just might save yourself some embarrassment.

wisdom

A college student in a philosophy class was taking his first examination. On the paper there was a single line which simply said: "Is this a question? -- Discuss."

After a short time he wrote: "If that is a question, then this is an answer."

The student received an "A" in the class

Philosophy. We sometimes think of it as a class where everyone sits around asking ridiculous questions ("If a tree falls in the forest, and no one is around to hear it......."). But the word "philosophy comes from a Greek word meaning "love of wisdom" and that is something the Bible speaks positively about.

"Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gains understanding." (Proverbs 3:13)

It's important to understand what the Bible means by "wisdom". The best definition I've ever heard is "the ability to make right decisions", and to do that we must listen to God.

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction." (Proverbs 1:7)

May God bless you in your pursuit of wisdom this day!

you

I would like to share with you a memorable story that I was once told which demonstrates God's unfailing love for His children.

There was a little girl, very young, who was on a flight back to her home where her father was to meet her. I forget why she had gone away. The stewards were giving out free sweets to all the young children and the girl, for the whole flight home, ate sweet after sweet after sweet.

When they had almost got home the girl was sick all over her seat and her dress. The stewardess who had given her all the sweets was so disgusted she refused to clean up the mess.

As the plane landed the father was waiting patiently for his little princess who he hadn't seen for such a long time. He had just come from work and was wearing his newest, smartest suit. A suit he loved so much to wear.

As the plane door opened the little girl, wanting her daddy, ran out in the terminal. Excited at the sight of her daddy she runs straight for him. The father immediately notices the horrible mess that covers his daughter's dress as she runs straight for him but as she reaches him he snatches her up in his arms and hugs her tightly to his chest, ruining the clothes he wore. He loved his new suit. But the love he had for his daughter was unbeatable, and even though she was a mess, and would ruin his suit, he cared much more about her and just wanted to hold her in his arms.

Jesus Christ, too, wants that relationship with us. Our lives are in a mess. But He does not care. He loves us - every single one of us. And, He waits with open arms for us to run to Him and embrace Him, where He will clean us up and never turn us away. Run into His arms today and, if you are already there, help others reach this wonderful goal!

will

During the late 50's and early 60's, a man by the name of Bobby Richardson played second base for the NY Yankees. Bobby Richardson was nominated as MVP of the American League nine times. He played in seven All-Star Games. He won five Gold Glove Awards. And he was the only man in baseball history to ever win the World Series MVP Award while playing for the losing team.

In the later years of Bobby Richardson's career, he coached the baseball team at Liberty University. The reason such a great player was willing to coach at a Christian university was because Bobby Richardson was himself a committed follower of Jesus Christ.

During a speech at a meeting of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Bobby Richardson was called upon to pray and here is his prayer:  "Dear God, Your will.  Nothing more, nothing less, nothing else. Amen."

May that be your prayer today.  "Dear God, Your will.  Nothing more, nothing less, nothing else.  Amen."

around

"But Israel will be saved by the LORD with an everlasting salvation; you will never be put to shame or disgraced, to ages everlasting." (Isaiah 45:17)

The Baseball Major League playoffs begin this week.  The World Series is not far away.   

Jackie Robinson was the first African American to play major league baseball.  Breaking baseball’s color barrier, he faced jeering crowds in every stadium. Other players would yell at him, stomp on his feet and kick him.

While playing one day in his home stadium in Brooklyn, he made an error.  The fans began to ridicule him.  He stood at second base, humiliated, while the fans jeered.  Then, shortstop Pee Wee Reese came over and stood next to him.  He put his arm around Jackie Robinson and faced the crowd.  The fans grew quiet.  Robinson later said that arm around his shoulder saved his career.

We are sometimes like Jackie Robinson, full of shame. Sometimes, like Jackie, our shame is from nothing we've done. Sometimes, our shame is from our own sin and guilt - and just like Pee Wee Reese, Jesus comes and slips his arm around us, and bears our shame for us.

"Therefore, there is now no comdemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." (Romans 8:1)

"My hand will always be with him, and My arm will strengthen him." (Psalm 89:21)

-brett blair

indeed

"Where can I go from your Spirit?  Where can I flee from your presence?  If I go up to the heavens, you are there;  if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.  If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. (Psalm 139:7-10)

In those times I can't seem to find God,

I rest in the assurance that

He knows how to find me.

-neva coyle