deleted

"......and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints." Revelation 5:8

Hurriedly, I was trying to retrieve Email I had deleted by mistake. No such luck. It was gone from that big E- mailbox in the sky. I was reminded of old science fiction movies where a martian, or other outer- space individual, would get zapped. One beam of light and he was deleted. Gone.

This week my husband was sharing how much his spiritual heritage means to him. “Just think,” he said, “of all the prayers that have been said for me by my parents, grandparents, and others. Who knows where I’d be if it weren’t for all those prayers!”

Later, I thought about what Ben had said. None of the prayers offered in his name has ever been deleted. No prayer he has prayed has been erased, either. Nor mine. Nor yours.

It says in the final book of the Bible that all our prayers are stored in huge golden bowls in God’s throne room. All.

What an honor, privilege, and blessing to pray. Each and every prayer is heard by God himself. And not one of them will ever be deleted. Not even by accident.

-sally i. kennedy

encouraging

It was a sunny Saturday morning, and Joe was beginning his pre-shot routine, visualizing his upcoming shot when a voice came over the clubhouse loudspeaker - "Would the gentleman on the woman's tee please back up to the men's tee, please!"

Joe was still deep in his routine, seemingly impervious to the interruption. Again the announcement - "Would the man on the women's tee kindly back up the men's tee!"

Joe had had enough. He shouted, "Would the announcer in the clubhouse kindly shut up and let me play my second shot!"

I am very familiar with not being as far down the golf course as I am expected to be after my first shot! :-) And sometimes, I'm not as far along spiritually as others think I should be. There are some others who are not as far along spiritually as I think they should be.

What is to be our attitude toward these "weak" brethren? Sometimes the situation calls for some words of gentle rebuke (Heb. 5:12-14). Sometimes the situation calls for patient forbearance (Rom. 14:1). In all things, our goal is to encourage and build up.

"We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up." (Rom. 15:1-2, NIV).

May be truly encourage one another as we live our Christian lives, with those who are strong helping those who are weak. We need all the help we can get!

...........son

The following prayer was written by General Douglas MacArthur:

"Build me a son, O Lord, who will be strong enough to know when he is weak, and brave enough to face himself when he is afraid; one who will be proud and unbending in honest defeat, and humble and gentle in victory.

"Build me a son whose wishbone will not be where his backbone should be; a son who will know Thee....Lead him, I pray, not in the path of ease and comfort, but under the stress and spur of difficulties and challenge. Here let him learn to stand up in the storm; here let him learn compassion for those who fail.

"Build me a son whose heart will be clean, whose goal will be high; a son who will master himself before he seeks to master other men; one who will learn to laugh, yet never forget how to weep; one who will reach into the future, yet never forget the past.

"And after all these things are his, add, I pray, enough of a sense of humor, so that he may always be serious, yet never take himself too seriously. Give him humility, so that he may always remember the simplicity of greatness, the open mind of true wisdom, the meekness of true strength.

"Then I, his father, will dare to whisper, 'I have not lived in vain.'"

Though most of us are not nearly so eloquent, I suspect that all Christian parents have uttered a similar prayer. Mindful of the great responsibility that God has given those of us with children, we pray fervently that God would help us as we strive to train our children in the ways of the Lord.

While still childless, Hannah made this vow to God: "O Lord of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your maidservant and remember me, and not forget your maidservant, but will give your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life...." (I Samuel 1:11). It was a vow she kept, and her son Samuel became one of the greatest spiritual leaders Israel ever knew.

May Hannah's prayer and Gen MacArthur's prayer be the prayer of all Christian parents this day.

walking

Josh had heard a family rumor that his father, his grandfather and even his great-grandfather, all "walked on water" on their 21st birthday. Well, today was his 21st birthday and he figured if they could do it, so could he.

So, off he went in a boat with his friend Jake. When he got out in the middle of the lake, he got up and stepped out of the boat....and nearly drowned!

The next day, Josh asked his grandmother why he wasn't given the same gift as the others in his family. His grandmother told him that his father, grandfather and great-grandfather had all been born in February... not in August as he was.

(those of you south of the equator may have to be reminded that February is one of our coldest months and August one of our warmest)

Jesus, of course, didn't have the benefit of ice when he walked on water:

"So when [the disciples] had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near the boat; and they were afraid. But He said to them, 'It is I; do not be afraid.' " (John 6:19-20)

Like so many of Jesus' miracles, this one shows us his absolute control over nature. At times, when it seems that all is hopeless and no one has the ability to help in my life, I need to be reminded of the one who has such great power. Though the thought of such power might be a bit frightening, in the end it provides comfort.

"Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us..." (Eph. 3:20)

May that power be a strength to you this day.

last

The following quotes are reported to come from an actual newspaper contest where entrants ages 4 to 15 were asked to imitate "Deep Thoughts by Jack Handey":

Give me the strength to change the things I can, the grace to accept the things I cannot, and a great big bag of money. --Age 13

It sure would be nice if we got a day off for the president's birthday, like they do for the queen's. Of course, then we would have a lot of people voting for a candidate born on July 3 or December 26, just for the long weekends. --Age 8

Democracy is a beautiful thing, except for that part about letting just any old yokel vote. --Age 10

For centuries, people thought the moon was made of green cheese. Then the astronauts found that the moon is really a big hard rock. That's what happens to cheese when you leave it out. --Age 6

As you make your way through this hectic world of ours, set aside a few minutes each day. At the end of the year, you'll have a couple of days saved up. --Age 7

Often, when I am reading a good book, I stop and thank my teacher. That is, I used to, until she got an unlisted number. --Age 15

The only stupid question is the one that is never asked, except maybe "Don't you think it is about time you audited my return?" or "Isn't it morally wrong to give me a warning when, in fact, I was speeding?" --Age 15

If we could just get everyone to close their eyes and visualize world peace for an hour, imagine how serene and quiet it would be until the looting started. --Age 15

I believe you should live each day as if it is your last, which is why I don't have any clean laundry because, come on, who wants to wash clothes on the last day of their life? --Age 15

Who can argue with that last statement? But it raises an interesting question. If you knew (with full certainty) that this would be your last day on this earth, how would you live it? Would you spend the day in Bible study and prayer? Talking with people about Christ? Relaxing with your family? Or would you spend it washing clothes, cleaning the house, going to work and doing all the "mundane" things that you do every day?

We are told to "watch" at all times, knowing that the second coming of Christ will be as unexpected as a "thief in the night" (I Thess 5:1-6). It could be within the next few hours! And since none of us are promised a certain number of years, this may well be our last day of life on this earth. So how should that affect the way we live?

If we really believed that, it would cause us to rearrange our priorities. It would cause us to ask ourselves, "Is what I am doing important from an eternal viewpoint?" Mundane tasks such as washing our clothes remain necessary, but we all find ourselves spending much of our time doing things that seem to be important at the moment (from an earthly perspective), but which have no eternal significance.

"Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober......For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing." (1 Thess. 5:6,9-11)

?listening

The story is told of Franklin Roosevelt, who often endured long receiving lines at the White House. He complained that no one really paid any attention to what was said.

One day, during a reception, he decided to try an experiment. To each person who came down the line and shook his hand, he murmured, "I murdered my grandmother this morning." The guests responded with phrases like, "Marvelous! Keep up the good work. We are proud of you. God bless you, sir."

It was not until the end of the line, while greeting the ambassador from Bolivia, that his words were actually heard. Not quite knowing what to say, the ambassador leaned over and whispered, "I'm sure she had it coming."

Have many times have you ever heard someone say, "Nobody ever listens to me!"? And how many people go through life frustrated because there truly is nobody who will take the time to really listen to what they have to say? Everybody wants to talk, but so few want to listen! Benjamin Franklin once said, "A pair of good ears will drink dry a hundred tongues."

The Bible has much to say about the value of listening. Take to heart this instruction: "Let every man be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath." (James 1:19).

May I encourage you today to put down the newspaper, turn off the television set, and take the time and effort to listen to those around you. It will show that you care, and who knows, you might even learn something in the process!

Are you listening?

rumors

The story is told of a colonel who issued the following statement

to his executive secretary: "Tomorrow evening at approximately 2000

hours Haley's Comet will be visible in this area, an event that occurs

only once every 75 years. Have the men fall out in fatigues, and I will

explain this rare phenomenon to them. In case of rain, we will not be

able to see anything, so assemble the men in the theater and I will show

them films of it."

The executive secretary passed the order on to the company

commander: "By order of the Colonel, tomorrow at 2000 hours, Haley's

Comet will appear above the battalion area. If it rains, fall the men

out in fatigues, then march to the theater where the rare phenomenon

will take place, something which happens only once every 75 years."

The company commander passed the order on to the lieutenant: "By

order of the Colonel in fatigues at 2000 hours tomorrow evening, the

phenomenal Haley's Comet will appear in the theater. In case of rain in

the battalion area, the Colonel will give another order, something which

happens once every 75 years."

The lieutenant told the sergeant: "Tomorrow at 2000 hours, the

Colonel in fatigues will appear in the theater with the phenomenal

Haley's Comet, something that happens every 75 years. If it rains, the

Colonel will order the comet into the battalion area."

The sergeant gave the following order to the squad: "When it rains

tomorrow at 2000 hours, the phenomenal 75-year-old General Haley,

accompanied by the Colonel, will drive his Comet through the battalion

area theater in fatigues."

Unfortunately, many rumors get started in much the same way. What

begins as an innocent statement can quickly transform into an ugly lie

after being passed along by several "well-meaning" people. That's why

the scriptures warn so strongly about the sin of gossip.

"Without wood, a fire will go out, and without gossip, quarreling

will stop. Just as charcoal and wood keep a fire going, a quarrelsome

person keeps an argument going. The words of a gossip are like tasty

bits of food; people like to gobble them up." (Proverbs 26:20-22, NCV)

Father, please forgive me of those times when I have been so eager

to "gobble up" negative information about others. May I not be so quick

to listen to gossip. Keep me from the sin of spreading gossip, even in

the name of "good intentions." In Jesus' name, amen.

ride

Three engineers and three managers went to a conference and had to

travel by train to get there. At the station, the three managers bought

their three tickets and watched as the three engineers bought only a

single ticket. "How are three people going to travel on only one

ticket?" asked a manager. "Just watch and you'll see," answered an

engineer.

They all boarded the train and the managers took their seats and

watched as all three engineers crammed into a restroom and closed the

door behind them. The train departed and shortly afterward, the

conductor came around collecting tickets. He knocked on the restroom

door and said, "Ticket, please." The door opened just a crack and a

single arm emerged with a ticket in hand. The conductor took it and

moved on.

The managers saw all this and agreed it was quite a clever idea.

So after the conference, the managers decided to copy the engineers on

the return trip and save some money. When they got to the station, they

bought a single ticket for the return trip. But to their astonishment,

the engineers didn't buy a ticket at all.

"How are you going to travel without a single ticket?" asked one

manager. "Just watch and you'll see," answered an engineer.

They boarded the train. The three managers crammed into a restroom

compartment and the three engineers crammed into an another one nearby.

The train departed. Shortly afterward, one of the engineers left his

restroom, walked over to the managers' stall, knocked on the door and

said, "Ticket, please."

We get excited at the prospect of getting something for free. If

we have received something without paying anything at all, we "feel the

rush" (that's why your heart beats faster as you open that envelope

saying, "You may have won....").

Likewise, we get excited at the thought of Jesus' sacrifice being a

"free gift" (and it was indeed -- Rom. 5:18). Our excitement may wane,

however, when we hear Jesus talk about "counting the cost" of

commitment. If it's a free gift, how can it cost anything? But Jesus

tells us that there is a high cost indeed.

"Then Jesus said to his disciples, 'If anyone desires to come after

Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.'" (Matt.

16:24).

Those not willing to "pay the price" may find themselves

disappointed when they don't get the "free ride" that they expect.

easy

Pete and Gladys were looking at a new living room suite in the furniture store. Pete said to the salesman, "We really like it, but I don't think we can afford it."

The salesman said, "You just make a small down payment ..... then you don't make another payment for six months."

Gladys wheeled around with her hands on her hips and said, "Who told you about us?"

Like Pete and Gladys, we all find it much easier to start a task than to see it through to completion, especially a difficult task. If school gets tough, we're tempted to drop out. And we've all started diets and programs of regular Bible reading; starting is the easy part, sticking with them is the hard part.

It shouldn't be surprising that what we find so difficult in so many areas of our lives should also be difficult in our Christian walk. We're tempted to simply quit. That's why there are so many words of encouragement to hang in there when things get tough.

"For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end." (Hebrews 3:14).

Don't just "make the first payment." Remain steadfast to the very end!

sleep

The following excuses have been suggested if you get caught sleeping on the job:

"They told me at the blood bank this might happen."

"This is just a 15-minute power nap like they raved about in that time-management course you sent me to."

"Whew! I must have left the top off the liquid paper."

"I wasn't sleeping! I was meditating on the mission statement and envisioning a new paradigm!"

"This is in exchange for the six hours last night when I dreamed about work!"

"Just pacing myself for the all-nighter tonight!"

"Someone must have put decaf in the wrong pot."

"Boy, that cold medicine I took last night just won't wear off!"

"Ah, the unique and unpredictable circadian rhythms of the workaholic!"

"I'm sorry, I thought you (the boss) were gone for the day."

"Oh, man! Come in at 6 in the morning and look what happens!"

"...and I especially thank you for my excellent boss, Amen!"

There's nothing wrong with sleeping. It's just that there's a proper time to do it and an improper time. The term "sleep" is sometimes used in the New Testament as a euphemism for death, but it is also used at times to describe our inactivity, our failure to live for the Lord. Listen to this admonition from Paul:

"....It is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light." (Romans 13:11-12).

Have a great day (and try to stay awake)!

revenge

Junior had just received his brand new drivers license. To celebrate, the whole family trooped out to the driveway and climbed into the car for his inaugural drive. Dad immediately headed to the back seat, directly behind the newly minted driver.

"I'll bet you're back there to get a change of scenery after all those months of sitting in the front passenger seat teaching me how to drive," said the beaming boy to his father.

"Nope," came dad's reply, "I'm gonna sit here and kick the back of your seat as you drive, just like you've been doing to me for sixteen years!"

We relish the opportunity to "get back" at someone who has done us wrong. As Christians, we are aware, however, that such an attitude is wrong. We are familiar with the passage in Romans 12 where we are told "Do not avenge yourselves." Perhaps you may have always believed that to be one of the "new commands" in the New Testament. But, vengeance has never been pleasing to the Lord. Listen to these words from Solomon:

"Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles....Do not say, 'I will do to him just as he has done to me; I will render to the man according to his work.'" (Proverbs 24:17,29)

Though we often say that "revenge is sweet," the truth is that it ends up leaving a bitter taste in the mouth. May God give us the strength to resist the temptation to pay back all those who have wronged us.

lower

A Compaq technician received a call from a man complaining that the system wouldn't read word processing files from his old diskettes. After trouble-shooting for magnets and heat failure to diagnose the problem, it was found that the customer labeled the diskettes then rolled them into the typewriter to type the labels. 

A Dell customer called to say he couldn't get his computer to fax anything. After 40 minutes of trouble-shooting, the technician discovered the man was trying to fax a piece of paper by holding it in front of the monitor screen and hitting the "send" key. 

Another customer called in to complain that he gets an "Access Denied" message every time he logs in. It turned out he was typing his user name and password in capital letters. Tech Support: "OK, let's try once more, but use lower case letters." Customer: "Uh, I only have capital letters on my keyboard."

Have you ever known someone who could only use "capital letters" because there were no "lower case letters" in their heart (I'm speaking spiritually here)? It is significant to me that the one known as LORD GOD and I AM knew how to use the lower case letters, to the point of washing the dirty feet of his followers. No, further than that, Jesus was willing to give up his life to offer each us life. He was the ultimate example of humility and selflessness.

"Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross." (Philippians 2:3-8)

....weather

The following piece came to me (author unknown) with Texas mentioned, but after moving from the mountains of Boone to middle Tennessee and temperatures in August much higher than I'm used to, I'm tempted to change the state!

You know you're in Texas when:

-- You no longer associate bridges (or rivers) with water.

-- You can say 110 degrees without fainting.

-- You can make instant sun tea.

-- You learn that a seat belt makes a pretty good branding iron.

-- The temperature drops below 95, you feel a bit chilly.

-- You discover that in July, it takes only two fingers to drive your car.

-- You discover that you can get a sunburn through your car window.

-- You notice the best parking place is determined by shade instead of

distance.

-- Hot water now comes out of both taps.

-- It's noon in July, kids are on summer vacation, and not one person is

out on the streets.

-- You actually burn your hand opening the car door.

-- You break a sweat the instant you step outside...at 7:30 a.m. before

work.

-- Your biggest bicycle wreck fear is, "What if I get knocked out and end

up lying on the pavement and cook to death?"

-- You realize that asphalt has a liquid state.

Now that's hot! I found interesting the similarity between the first line above and Job's description of an unfaithful friend (and he spoke from experience):

"But my brothers are as undependable as intermittent streams, as the streams that overflow when darkened by thawing ice and swollen with melting snow, but that cease to flow in the dry season, and in the heat vanish from their channels." (Job 6:15-17, NIV)

"Fair-weather friends" are like those dry rivers in Texas. Sometimes they're there, and sometimes they're not. In fact, they're not there during the times when they are most needed.

None of us like to have fair-weather friends, and we need to make sure that we aren't that kind of friend. May God help us to be true friends to those around us, especially in their times of need. Is there anyone around you who especially needs a friend today?

anniversary

It was their second anniversary, and the husband sent his wife flowers at the office. He told the florist to write "Happy Anniversary, Year Number 2" on the card. She was thrilled with the flowers, but not so pleased about the card. It read "Happy Anniversary. You're Number 2." 

*******

An aged farmer and his wife were leaning against the edge of their pig-pen when the old woman wistfully recalled that the next week would mark their golden wedding anniversary. "Let's have a party, Homer," she suggested. "Let's kill a pig."

The farmer scratched his grizzled head. "Ethel," he finally answered, "I don't see why the pig should take the blame for the terrible mistake that happened fifty years ago..."

*******

A man walked over to the perfume counter and told the clerk he'd like a bottle of Chanel #5 for his wife for their anniversary.

"A little surprise, eh?" smiled the clerk.

"You bet," answered the customer. "She's expecting a cruise."

*******

I hope that you will all forgive me for sending out a message today that is more personal than usual. I know that many of you are going through (or have gone through) a divorce, and my heart breaks for you. There are many others of you who are single -- some content with the blessing of singleness, and others crushed with feelings of loneliness.

But, this day, I rejoice in the fact that God has blessed me with a beautiful wife. Yesterday, Sueanne and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary. I could not ask for more in a wife. She is my greatest fan, my strength when I feel like giving up, the one who loves me more than I could ever hope to be loved. She knows my every fault and weakness, yet she continues to love me. She has been my best friend for more than 25 years. She is the one I most enjoy talking to, and the one I most enjoy doing things with. When I hear good things, she is the first person I want to share them with. I trust her completely and take comfort in knowing that she trusts me as well. My elders have told me that without her, I would have stood no chance of being hired. They joke, but deep down, I know there is some truth to it, for she completes me; she makes me who I am. And today, I give thanks to God for blessing me far more than I deserve with the most wonderful wife in the world.

"Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice with the wife of your youth." (Prov. 5:18)

"An excellent wife is the crown of her husband...." (Prov. 12:4)

standards

Conductor to orchestra at the beginning of a rehearsal:

"Please get your pencils out . . . we have some marking to do on this score:

The first two bars are in 3/4, not 4/4 as written.

Next, in the 5th bar, change it to 7/8 and this remains to the end.

Now, in bar 7 we lower the pitch 1/2 step.

In bar 13, lower the pitch one whole step and this will remain to the end.

Thank you. Now, let us begin."

Soprano soloist: "Excuse me, Maestro. What would you like for me to change?"

Conductor: "Nothing, madam. Just sing it exactly as you did yesterday."

When we vary from the standard, there are two things we can do. We can alter our lives to meet the standard, or (as in the story above) we can alter the standard and expect everyone else to meet this new flawed standard.

The spiritual application should be readily apparent. What should we do when someone is teaching that which is not according to the Word of God, our spiritual standard? Do we hold to the standard and require them to comply, or do we attempt to change the standard?

There can be no choice -- the standard cannot change. Breaking the scale won't fix our weight problem, breaking the mirror won't change the way we look, and changing (or ignoring) God's Word won't make our sinful behavior acceptable.

"Sanctify them by your truth. Your word is truth." (John 17:17)

"The word of the Lord endures forever." (I Peter 1:25)

....experience

"Sir, What is the secret of your success?" a reporter asked a bank president.

"Two words."

"And, sir, what are they?"

"Right decisions."

"And how do you make right decisions?"

"One word."

"And, sir, what is that?"

"Experience."

"And how do you get experience?"

"Two words."

"And, sir, what are they?"

"Wrong decisions."

There's a measure of truth in that. Though we can (and should) learn from the mistakes of others, experience truly does seem to be "the best teacher." The experience of making wrong decisions in the past should help us to learn so that we make better decisions in the future. But are we willing to learn?

"And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man...." (I Timothy 1:12-13)

Paul is a great example of someone who learned from his past mistakes and, as a result of that experience, made better decisions in his effort to serve God.

Father, once again I come asking forgiveness for the many times I've let you down. As I confess to you my transgressions, I pray that you will help me to learn from my mistakes -- to recognize the consequences of following my stubborn will, to realize the heartache you feel when I turn a deaf ear to you, to learn from my error the need to follow your word more closely. I have made wrong decisions, but I pray that the experience of doing so will help me to develop the wisdom necessary to make better decisions in the future, as I strive to draw closer to you. In Jesus' name, amen.

....mud

A husband and wife were driving down a country lane on their way to visit some friends. They came to a muddy patch in the road and the car became bogged. After a few minutes of trying to get the car out by themselves, they saw a young farmer coming down the lane, driving some oxen before him. He stopped when he saw the couple in trouble and offered to pull the car out of the mud for $50.

The couple accepted and minutes later the car was free. The farmer turned to the husband and said, "You know, you're the tenth car I've helped out of the mud today." The husband looks around at the fields incredulously and asks the farmer, "When do you have time to plow your land? At night?"

"No," the young farmer replied seriously, "Night is when I put the water in the hole."

There are some people who are always available to help solve problems, and there are others who spend their time making life more difficult for others (and sometimes the same person can do both!). The New Testament is filled with warnings, though, about being a "stumbling block" to others, especially to children and young Christians.

"But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!" (Matthew 18:6-7)

May your day be filled with opportunities to help others in need. But don't be adding any water to the mud hole!

......newness.....

With the start of school, I thought you might enjoy the following list showing the difference between freshmen and seniors:

Freshmen: Are never in bed past noon.

Seniors: Are never out of bed before noon.

Freshmen: Read the syllabus to find out what classes they can cut.

Seniors: Read the syllabus to find out what classes they need to

attend.

Freshman: Brings a can of soda into a lecture hall.

Senior: Brings a jumbo hoagie and six-pack of Mountain Dew into

a recitation class.

Freshman: Calls the professor "Professor."

Senior: Calls the professor "Bob."

Freshmen: Would walk ten miles to get to class.

Seniors: Drive to class if it's further than three blocks away.

Freshmen: Memorize the course material to get a good grade.

Seniors: Memorize the professor's habits to get a good grade.

Freshman: Roller skates to class.

Senior: Roller skates instead of going to class.

Freshman: Knows a ton of useless trivia about the university.

Senior: Knows where the next class is. Maybe...

Freshman: Shows up at a morning exam clean, perky, and fed.

Senior: Shows up at a morning exam in sweats with a cap on and a

box of pop tarts in hand.

Freshmen: Have to ask where the computer labs are.

Senior: Has "own" personal workstation.

Freshmen: Worry about the last freshman composition essay.

Seniors: Worry about the last GRE essay.

Freshman: Lines up for an hour to buy his textbooks in the first week.

Senior: Starts to think about buying textbooks in October...

maybe.

Freshman: Is proud of his A+ on Calculus I mid-term.

Senior: Is proud of not ~quite~ failing Complex Analysis mid-term.

Freshman: Calls his girlfriend back home every other night.

Senior: Calls Domino's every other night.

Freshman: Is appalled at the class size and callousness of profs.

Senior: Is appalled that the campus deli closed down.

Freshman: Is excited about the world of possibilities that awaits

him, the unlimited vista of educational opportunities,

the chance to expand one's horizons and really 

make a contribution to society.

Senior: Is excited about the new dryers in the laundry room.

Freshman: Takes meticulous four-color notes in class.

Senior: Meticulously quotes professor when he says something funny

in class (when awake in class and not skating).

Let's face it. Something begins to happen after the first semester when everything is new and exciting (even a little bit frightening). After a while, the newness wears off, the excitement is gone, and everything becomes rather mundane. The same thing can happen in the workplace, in a marriage or.......even in our Christianity.

Can you remember that exhilarating feeling when you first came up out of the waters of baptism, a new creation? The start to your Christian life was new and exciting (even a little frightening). But after a while, Christian living can become mundane if we're not careful. It can even develop into a ritual of going through the motions, just trying to get by until we "graduate" to something better.

"Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works...." (Rev. 2:4-5a)

It is important that we remember and recapture that excitement of being a child of God -- the feeling of being cleansed of sin, the desire to share our excitement with everyone else we know, the intention to do everything we can to serve the One we love with all our hearts.

church

A man was stranded on a deserted Pacific island for years. Finally one day a boat comes sailing into view, and the man frantically waves and draws the skipper's attention. The boat comes near the island and the sailor gets out and greets the stranded man.

After a while the sailor asks, "What are those three huts you have here?"

"Well, that's my house there."

"What's that next hut?" asks the sailor.

"I built that hut to be my church."

"What about the other hut?"

"Oh, that's where I used to go to church."

(By the way, please don't write to remind me that the church is a group of people, not a building -- I'm aware of that, but I think there's another lesson to learn here). There are some legitimate reasons for "changing churches," but there are also some people who change congregations every couple of years simply because they have trouble getting along with other folks. Someone at church said something that made them mad, or one of the songleaders doesn't pick out songs they like, or the elders decided to change the time of services, etc. etc. The reasons go on and on, and you just about mark on the calendar when they'll leave to go to the next church. It makes you wonder if they would be happy in a church by themselves; perhaps, like the man in the story above, they would move somewhere else after a while just out of habit.

Each of the New Testament epistles is filled with instructions on how to get along with others in the church. There are a couple of reasons for that. It is important and it is difficult for all of us at times.

"Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another....Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.....If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men." (Rom.

12:9-10,15-16,18)

worthy

One Sabbath morning, a preacher cut his face while shaving, and he placed a band-aid on the cut. After a longer-than-usual sermon, he explained, "In case you are wondering what happened to my face, while shaving I was concentrating on my sermon and I cut my face." Afterwards, a woman said to him, "Next time, concentrate on your face and CUT THE SERMON."

The minister selected a fifty-cent item at a convenience store, but discovered he didn't have any money with him. "I could invite you to hear me preach in return," he said jokingly to the owner, "but I'm afraid I don't have any fifty-cent sermons." "Perhaps," suggested the owner, "I could attend twice."

That raises an interesting question -- how much are sermons worth? I can honestly say that some of mine have not been worth nearly as much as others. But if a sermon has effectively communicated the truth of God's Word in such a way that we are led to understand better and to make application in our lives, then it is worth a great deal.

"How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: 'How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!' " (Rom. 10:14-15)

Have you told your preacher lately what good-looking feet he has?

appreciations

Two old friends bumped into one another on the street one day. One of them looked forlorn, almost on the verge of tears. His friend asked, "What has the world done to you, my old friend?"

The sad fellow said, "Let me tell you. Three weeks ago, an uncle died and left me forty thousand dollars."

"That's a lot of money."

"But you see, two weeks ago, a cousin I never even knew died, and left me eighty-five thousand free and clear."

"Sounds like you've been blessed...."

"You don't understand!" he interrupted. "Last week my great-aunt passed away. I inherited almost a quarter of a million."

Now he was really confused. "Then, why do you look so glum?"

"This week... nothing!"

That's the trouble with receiving something on a regular basis. Even if it is a gift, we eventually come to expect it. Someone once suggested to me a way to test someone's character. Give him (or her) $5 a day for a month. Then stop, and see what his reaction is. The natural tendency is that if we receive a gift long enough, we come to view it as an entitlement. We feel hurt, even angry, if we don't receive it any longer.

It's the same way with the blessings God gives us every day. I don't deserve the comfortable home I live in, the beautiful scenery around me, the clean water that I drink. But after receiving these gifts (and a multitude of others) for years, I sometimes fail to be grateful. I've come to expect these good things. And when one of them is removed for a short while (like the water being cut off), I get upset.

Make an effort today to recognize the blessings you've come to take for granted. Focus on what you have rather than on what you don't have, and see if it doesn't improve your attitude.

"Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!" (Psalm 107:8)

theme

Someone has suggested the following theme songs for Bible characters (Warning: some of these are real oldies!):

Noah: "Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head"

Adam and Eve: "Strangers in Paradise"

Lazarus: "The Second Time Around"

Esther: "I Feel Pretty"

Job: "I've Got a Right to Sing the Blues"

Moses: "The Wanderer"

Jezebel: "The Lady is a Tramp"

Samson: "Hair"

Salome: "I Could Have Danced All Night"

Daniel: "The Lion Sleeps Tonight"

Joshua: "Good Vibrations"

Peter: "I'm Sorry"

Esau: "Born To Be Wild"

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: "Great Balls of Fire!"

The Wise Men: "When You Wish Upon a Star"

Elijah: "Up, Up, and Away"

Methuselah: "Stayin' Alive"

Nebuchadnezzar: "Crazy"

There was no theme song suggested for Jesus Christ. May I suggest the following song, entitled "A New Song," first sung by those two famous groups, "The Four Living Creatures" and "The Twenty-Four Elders":

"You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; For you were slain, and have redeemed us to God by your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.....Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!" (Rev. 5:9-10,12)

I look forward to joining them someday in this great song of praise. Worthy is the Lamb!