christians

Because I'm a guy, I must hold the television remote control in my hand while I watch TV. If the thing has been misplaced, I'll miss a whole show looking for it, though one time I was able to survive by holding a calculator.

Because I'm a guy, when I lock my keys in the car I will fiddle with a wire clothes hanger and ignore your suggestions that we call a road service until long after hypothermia has set in. Oh, and when the car isn't running very well, I will pop the hood and stare at the engine as if I know what I'm looking at. If another guy shows up, one of us will say to the other, "I used to be able to fix these things, but now with all these computers and everything, I wouldn't know where to start."

Because I'm a guy, when I catch a cold I need someone to bring me soup and take care of me while I lie in bed and moan. You never get as sick as I do, so for you this isn't an issue.

Because I'm a guy, I can be relied upon to purchase basic groceries at the store, like milk, or bread. I cannot be expected to find exotic items like "Cumin" or "Tofu." For all I know these are the same thing.

Because I'm a guy, when one of our appliances stops working I will insist on taking it apart, despite evidence that this will just cost me twice as much once the repair person gets here and has to put it back together.

Because I'm a guy, I don't think we're all that lost, and no, I don't think we should stop and ask someone. Why would you listen to a complete stranger -- how in the world could HE know where we're going?

Because I'm a guy, whatever you got your mother for Mother's Day is ok, I don't need to see it. Did you remember to pick up something for my mom, too?

Because I'm a guy, you don't have to ask me if I liked the movie. Chances are, if you're crying at the end of it, I didn't.

Because I'm a guy, I think what you're wearing is fine. I thought what you were wearing five minutes ago was fine, too. Either pair of shoes is fine. With the belt or without it looks fine. Your hair is fine. You look fine. Can we just go now?

Because I'm a guy and this is, after all, the 21st century, I will share equally in the housework. You do the laundry, the cooking, the cleaning, and the dishes. I'll do the rest.

It does seem that a lot of behavior on the part of men can be explained with the simple phrase "it's because I'm a guy -- that says it all". Likewise, a lot of the behavior we as Christians exhibit in the workplace, at home, or at school, should be explainable by the phrase, "it's because I'm a child of God". That says it all -- that's why I do what I do and say what I say.

"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." (1 Peter 2:9-10)

When people wonder about our actions, they should be able to look at our lives and say, "Oh yes, he acts that way because he's a Christian." Whether they appreciate it or not, may they see that Christ truly does make a difference in the way we live.A

defects

The following "true story" speaks a lot about the quality of Japanese products and their quality standards. Supposedly, they're still laughing about this at IBM.

It seems the computer giant decided to have some parts manufactured in Japan as a trial project. In the specifications, they set out that they will accept three defective parts per 10,000.

When the delivery came in, there was an accompanying letter: "We, Japanese people, had a hard time understanding North American business practices. But the three defective parts per 10,000 have been separately manufactured and have been included in the consignment. Hope this pleases you."

I wonder, how many defects are we willing to accept in our spiritual lives? "Yes, I know there's some greed and gossip and lust, but three defects per ten thousand is still acceptable!" Is our goal as Christians to get our "defects" down to an "acceptable" level, or is our goal to get rid of them all? I know, I know, we'll never achieve that level of perfection in this life. But what is our goal? How much sin are we willing to tolerate before it becomes "unacceptable"?

"What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?" (Rom. 6:1-2)

"My little children, these things I write to you that you may not sin." (I John 2:1a)

That's our goal! May you be satisfied in your spiritual life with nothing less than striving to follow the perfect example of Jesus Christ himself.

....broken

The story is told of a water bearer in India who had two large pots. They hung on each end of a pole which he carried across his neck, but one of the pots had a crack in it. While the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water at the end of the long walk from the stream to the master's house, the cracked pot arrived only half full. For two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots of water to his master's house.  

Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect to the end for which it was made. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do.

After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream. "I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you."

"Why?" asked the bearer. "What are you ashamed of?"

"I have been able, for these past two years, to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your master's house. Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work, and you don't get full value from your efforts," the pot said.

In his compassion, the water bearer said, "As we return to the master's house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path."

Indeed, as they went up the hill, the old cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path, and this cheered it some. But at the end of the trail, it still felt bad because it had leaked out half its load, and so again it apologized to the bearer for its failure.

The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of your path, but not on the other pot's side? That's because I have always known about your flaw, and I took advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back from the stream, you've watered them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my master's table. Without you being just the way you are, he would not have this beauty to grace his house."

It is an amazing thing (but true) that God is able to accomplish some wonderful things through our efforts, in spite of our imperfections. Paul said of his role as a preacher of the gospel:

"But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us." 2 Cor. 4:7. 

Though we may often feel inadequate and useless, if we will continue about the task that God has given us, we will produce fruit and influence lives in ways we may not even be aware of.

"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord." I Cor. 15:58.

May your life "abound" this day in the work of the Lord! Though you may feel like a "cracked pot", your efforts are not in vain.

fault

Sid and Barney head out for their usual 9 holes. Sid says, "Let's make the time worth the while, at least for one of us, and bet $5 on the lowest score for the day." Barney agrees and they enjoy a great game. After the 8th hole, Barney is ahead by one stroke, but hits his ball into the rough on the 9th.

"Help me find my ball, you look over there," he says to Sid. After five minutes, neither has had any luck, and since a lost ball carries a four-stroke penalty, Barney quietly pulls a ball from his pocket and tosses it to the ground. "I've found my ball!" he announces triumphantly.

Sid looks at him forlornly, "After all the years we've been friends, you'd cheat me in golf for a measly five bucks?!?"

"What do you mean cheat? I found my ball sitting right here!"

"And a liar, too!!!" Sid says with amazement. "I'll have you know I've been standing on your ball for the last five minutes!"

It's so easy to point the finger at others when we're guilty of the same thing! That was the problem with the Pharisees. It wasn't just their judgment (because some judgment is appropriate and necessary). The problem was the kind of judgment, their anxiousness to find fault in others while taking no time to examine their own lives.

"And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me remove the speck from your eye'; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye." (Matthew 7:3-4)

Father, help me not to focus so much on the shortcomings of others that I fail to maintain my own relationship with you. In Jesus' name, amen.

rejection

Some people don't handle rejection well:

A soldier was serving overseas and far from home. He became annoyed and upset when his girl wrote breaking off their engagement and asking for her photograph back.

He went out and collected from his friends all the unwanted photographs of women that he could find, bundled them all together and sent them to her with a note which said:

"I regret that I cannot remember which one is you ... please keep your photo and return the others."

How do you handle rejection? It's not a pleasant thing, but we've all experienced it. Rejection by a loved one. Rejection by a boss. But perhaps most difficult to handle is the rejection that comes as a result of living the Christian life. We want to be accepted. We want to feel like we're "part of the crowd". But, at times, our decision to live a godly life in a godless world will not be appreciated and we will be rejected.

Notice what Peter had to say about this: "Nonbelievers think it is strange that you do not do the many wild and wasteful things they do, so they insult you." (I Peter 4:4, NCV)

The message throughout I Peter is that we should not be surprised at all by such rejection (4:12), but that it should never deter us from our commitment to live holy lives (1:15).

... grading

Someone has come up with this list of the ways that professors grade their final exams:

DEPT OF STATISTICS:

- All grades are plotted along the normal bell curve.

DEPT OF PSYCHOLOGY:

- Students are asked to blot ink in their exam books, close them and turn them in. The professor opens the books and assigns the first grade that comes to mind.

DEPT OF HISTORY:

- All students get the same grade they got last year.

DEPT OF PHILOSOPHY:

- What is a grade?

LAW SCHOOL:

- Students are asked to defend their position of why they should receive an A.

DEPT OF MATHEMATICS:

- Grades are variable.

DEPT OF LOGIC:

- If and only if the student is present for the final and the student has accumulated a passing grade then the student will receive an A else the student will not receive an A.

DEPT OF COMPUTER SCIENCE:

- Random number generator determines grade.

MUSIC DEPARTMENT:

- Each student must figure out his grade by listening to the instructor play the corresponding note (+ and - would be sharp and flat respectively).

DEPT OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION:

- Everybody gets an A.

How do you suppose God will grade us on our "final exam"? Some people think he will automatically pass everyone ("After all, he's so kind and loving, how could he do otherwise?"). Some people think he'll grade on a curve ("I may be bad, but I'm not as bad as some people I know!"). Some people think he look at the assignments you completed (the "good" deeds) and the assignments you failed (the "bad" deeds), and passes you if the good side outweighs the bad.

However, none of those ideas are accurate. Truth is, God grades on a strict pass/fail basis -- either we pass (heaven) or we fail (hell). And there is only one way to keep from failing:

"There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit." (Romans 8:1).

For those who are "in Christ" and continue to walk "according to the Spirit", the grade is certain. I don't know about you, but I'm anxious for the semester to end! :-)

lucille

I heard recently about someone who works in the customer service call center of a national pager company. He deals with the usual complaints regarding poor pager operation, as well as the occasional crank caller demanding to be paged less often, more often, or by more interesting people.

The best call came from a man who repeatedly complained that he keeps being paged by "Lucille." He was instructed that he would have to call her and tell her to stop paging him.

"She don't never leave no number, so I can't call her back," he said.

After three such calls, someone thought to ask how he knew it was Lucille if she didn't leave a number.

"She leaves her name" was the reply.

After establishing that the customer had a numeric-only pager, the light bulb came on. "How does she spell her name?" the service rep asked.

"L-O-W C-E-L-L"

When things start to bother us, the problem may simply be that we need to get "re-charged". Keeping our schedules overbooked, staying busy "doing things", going here and there -- it takes a toll after a while. Before we get stressed out and burned out, we need to learn to take some time to unwind and recharge. Turn off the radio and the television. Oh, and the computer, too! Unplug the telephone if you need to, or better yet, get away from the house. Spend some quiet time with God in prayer and reflection on His Word.

Notice what Jesus did as he was surrounded by a crowd of people, all demanding a piece of his time:

"Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away. And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there." (Matthew 14:22-23).

Watch out for Lucille! Don't forget to recharge.

lucky

According to news reports, Lucky, a German shepherd guide-dog for the blind, has so far been responsible for the deaths of all four of his previous owners.

``We will not have him put down. Lucky is basically a good guide dog,' Ernst Gerber, a dog trainer from Wuppertal, Germany told reporters. ``He just needs a little brush-up on some elementary skills, that's all.'

``I admit it's not an impressive record on paper. He led his first owner in front of a bus, and the second off the end of a pier. He actually pushed his third owner off a railway platform just as the Cologne to Frankfurt express was approaching and he walked his fourth owner into heavy traffic, before abandoning him and running away to safety. But, apart from epileptic fits, he has a lovely temperament. And guide dogs are difficult to train these days.'

Asked if Lucky's fifth owner would be told about his previous record, Gerber replied: ``No. It would make them nervous, and would make Lucky nervous. And when Lucky gets nervous he's liable to do something silly.'

Jesus spoke about the "blind leading the blind." I think he would have been just as critical of the "dangerous leading the blind." Either way, the point is that we need to take a good look at who (or what) it is that is leading us. Who (or what) have you chosen to follow? The answer is important because many of our choices are just as deadly as trusting Lucky. There is only one truly safe guide:

"He who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.....When he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers." (John 10:2,4,5)

Father, today I seek to hear your voice. In a world full of voices that try to lead me down paths that would harm me spiritually, I trust only you. Thank you for your faithfulness that allows me to trust your leadership. In Jesus' name, amen.

? noah

The following list of "Things I Learned From Noah's Ark" (author unknown) is making the rounds.

1. Plan ahead. It wasn't raining when Noah built the ark.

2. Stay fit. When you're 600 years old, someone might ask you to do something REALLY big.

3. Don't listen to critics -- do what has to be done.

4. Build on high ground.

5. For safety's sake, travel in pairs.

6. Speed isn't always an advantage. The cheetahs were on board, but so were the snails.

7. Don't forget that we're all in the same boat.

8. Stay below deck during the storm.

9. Remember that the ark was built by amateurs and the Titanic was built by professionals.

10. If you have to start over, have a friend by your side.

11. Remember that the woodpeckers INSIDE are often a bigger threat than the storm outside.

12. Don't miss the boat.

13. No matter how bleak it looks, there's always a rainbow on the other side.

The writer of Hebrews would add one more thing to that list -- the importance of having a faith in God strong enough to lead us to obey his commands. For having that trait, Noah was included in God's "Hall of Faith" in Hebrews 11:

"By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith." (Hebrews 11:7).

What is your faith leading you to do in response to God?

? eve

TOP TEN REASONS GOD CREATED EVE (written by Eve of course):

10. God worried that Adam would always be lost in the garden because men hate to ask for directions.

9. God knew that Adam would one day need someone to hand him the TV remote. (Men don't want to see what's ON television, they want to see WHAT ELSE is on!)

8. God knew that Adam would never buy a new fig leaf when his seat wore out and would therefore need Eve to get one for him.

7. God knew that Adam would never make a doctor's appointment for himself.

6. God knew that Adam would never remember which day was garbage day.

5. God knew that if the world was to be populated, men would never be able to handle childbearing.

4. As "Keeper of the Garden," Adam would never remember where he put his tools.

3. The scripture account of creation indicates Adam needed someone to blame his troubles on when God caught him hiding in the garden.

2. As the Bible says, "It is not good for man to be alone!"

1. When God finished the creation of Adam, He stepped back, scratched His head and said, "I can do better than that."

It's interesting that the only time that God said, "It is not good" during His creation was when man was alone. I thank God for his wisdom in creating such a perfect complement to man (despite everything they do to irritate us! :-)

"Then the rib which the LORD God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man. And Adam said: 'This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.' Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh." (Genesis 2:22-24).

If you're married, I encourage you to take a moment today to remind your wife (or husband) how much she/he means to you. They never get tired of hearing it!

faithfulness

Rules and Regulations for Teachers in 1872

1. Teachers each day will fill lamps, clean chimneys, and trim wicks.

2. Each teacher will bring a bucket of water and scuttle of coal for the day's sessions.

3. Make your pens carefully: you may whittle nibs to the individual taste of pupils.

4. Men teachers may take one evening each week for courting purposes, or two evenings a week if they go to church regularly.

5. After 10 hours in school, the teachers spend the remaining time reading the Bible or other good books.

6. Women teachers who marry or engage in unseemly conduct will be dismissed.

7. Each teacher should lay aside from each pay a goodly sum of his earnings for his benefit during his declining years so that he will not become a burden on society.

8. Any teacher who smokes, uses liquor in any form, frequents pool or public halls, or get shaved in a barber shop will give good reason to suspect his worth, intentions, integrity and honesty.

9. The teacher who performs his labors faithfully and without fault for five years will be given an increase of 25 cents per week in his pay, providing the Board of Education approves.

I thought about several directions to go with today's message. I thought about writing about our frequent desire for the "good old days". Like the Israelites in the wilderness, we look back to Egypt thinking things were so much better then, forgetting the difficulties.

But I was intrigued by the wording of #9 above. It sounded somehow familiar to me. It dawned on me that there is a similarity to what Jesus had to say to the seven churches of Asia Minor in Revelation 2 and

3. The biggest difference, though, is that the reward Jesus promises is a little better than 25 cents for every five years of service (and oh, how I'm thankful for that! :-)

"Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life." (Rev. 2:10b)

"You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot

out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels." (Rev. 3:4-5)

May God bless you in your efforts to "live faithfully" for Him. The reward will be more than worth any hardship involved.

word

A businessman was interviewing applicants for the position of divisional manager. He devised a simple test to select the most suitable person for the job. He asked each applicant the question, "What is two and two?"

The first interviewee was a journalist. His answer was "twenty-two."

The second applicant was an engineer. He pulled out a calculator and showed the answer to be between 3.999 and 4.001.

The next person was a lawyer. He stated that in the case of Jenkins v. Commr. of Stamp Duties, two and two was proven to be four.

The last applicant was an accountant. The businessman asked him, "How much is two and two?"

The accountant got up from his chair, went over to the door, closed it then came back and sat down. He leaned across the desk and said in a low voice, "How much do you want it to be?"

While we see numerous attempts to "bend the truth", "hedge the truth", or "fudge a bit", the truth is that truth can't be changed. Two plus two will always equal four no matter how many people say otherwise. The same can be said of any truth, including the truth of God's Word. No matter how many people disagree with what God has said, His truth will not be changed.

"I see the treacherous, and am disgusted, because they do not keep Your word. Consider how I love Your precepts; Revive me, O LORD, according to Your lovingkindness. The entirety of Your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever." (Psalm 119:158-160)

How comforting to know that we can live our lives founded what we can know to be truth!

...duty

Early one morning, a mother went in to wake up her son. "Wake up, son. It's time to go to school!"

"But why, Mom? I don't want to go."

"Give me two reasons why you don't want to go."

"Well, the kids hate me for one, and the teachers hate me, too!"

"Oh, that's no reason not to go to school. Come on now and get ready."

"Give me two reasons why I should go to school."

"Well, for one, you're 52 years old. And for another, you're the principal!"

Sometimes we have to do things, even when we don't feel like doing them! It's called having a sense of duty. I think perhaps the concept of duty has taken some abuse in the church. We sometimes talk about the importance of doing things for God because we want to, not because we have to. And I would wholeheartedly agree with that. But if we only serve God when we really "feel" like it, our service would be minimal indeed. Sometimes the feelings aren't there, and we need to continue to serve knowing that it is the "right" thing to do.

"And which of you, having a servant plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, 'Come at once and sit down to eat'? But will he not rather say to him, 'Prepare something for my supper, and gird yourself and serve me till I have eaten and drunk, and afterward you will eat and drink'? Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not. So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, 'We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.' " (Luke 17:7-10).

.....disgusting

The story is told of a principal of a small middle school who had a problem with a few of the older girls starting to use lipstick. When applying it in the bathroom they would then press their lips to the mirror and leave lip prints.

Before it got out of hand he thought of a way to stop it. He gathered all the girls together that wore lipstick and told them he wanted to meet with them in the ladies' room at 2 pm. They gathered at 2 pm and found the principal and the school custodian waiting for them.

The principal explained that it was becoming a problem for the custodian to clean the mirror every night. He said he felt the ladies did not fully understand just how much of a problem it was and he wanted them to witness just how hard it was to clean.

The custodian then demonstrated. He took a long brush on a handle out of a box. He then dipped the brush in the nearest toilet, moved to the mirror and proceeded to remove the lipstick.

That was the last day the girls pressed their lips on the mirror!!!

I know......that's disgusting!!!! But sometimes it takes something disgusting for us to recognize the seriousness of what we have done. Like my sins, for example. I'm often tempted to take them lightly ("they're not really so bad"). Sometimes I need to be shocked by the realization of what happened on the cross because of my sin. The spit running down Jesus' face, the blood gushing out, the excruciating agony of spikes being driven into his flesh. It's not a pretty sight. In fact, it's disgusting! But it is in that disgusting sight that I find the strength to turn from the sin I may be contemplating.

"Then they struck him on the head with a reed and spat on him; and bowing the knee they worshiped him. And when they had mocked him, they took the purple off him, put his own clothes on him, and led him out to crucify him." (Mark 15:19-20).

planning

The story is told of Morris, a Russian man, who saves his rubles for twenty years to buy a new car. After choosing the model and options he wants, he's not the least bit surprised or even concerned to learn that it will take two years for the new car to be delivered. He thanks the salesman and starts to leave, but as he reaches the door he pauses and turns back to the salesman. "Do you know which week two years from now the new car will arrive?"

The salesman checks his notes and tells the man that it will be two years to the exact week. The man thanks the salesman and starts out again, but upon reaching the door, he turns back again.

"Could you possibly tell me what day of the week two years from now the car will arrive?"

The salesman, mildly annoyed, checks his notes again and says that it will be exactly two years from this week, on Thursday.

Morris thanks the salesman and once again starts to leave. Halfway though the door, he hesitates, turns back, and walks up to the salesman.

"I'm sorry to be so much trouble, but do you know if that will be two years from now on Thursday in the morning, or in the afternoon?"

Visibly irritated, the salesman flips through his papers yet another time and says sharply that it will be in the afternoon, two years from now on Thursday.

"That's a relief !" says Morris. "The plumber is coming that morning!"

We often have to make plans far in advance so as to avoid any conflicts. Before making any commitments -- you know the routine -- we have to pull out the date book. "The kids have got a soccer game that night at 7:00, but the next night is free." Planning ahead isn't wrong; in fact, it's a scriptural principle. What makes it wrong, though, is planning ahead without any thought of God.

"Come now, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit'; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, 'If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.' " (James 4:13-15).

Go ahead! Make your plans! Fill in that date book! Just make sure that God hasn't been left out.

summed

Ole and Lena's bull took sick and died, so they needed to go to the auction to buy a new one. Ole had to get the crops in and couldn't leave the farm, so Lena took the train to the city to buy a bull. If she was successful, she would take the train back to the farm, then she and Ole would go to town with the truck to pick up their newly purchased bull.

The bidding was furious at the livestock auction, and Lena found herself bidding on the last remaining bull. It took everything she had but ten cents, but she was finally the successful bidder.

Unfortunately, the train home was fifty cents. "Please, Mr. Conductor, couldn't you make an exception just once?" pleaded Lena. "Sorry lady," he replied, "but you can send your husband a telegram to tell him your problem. The office is just down the street."

At the telegraph office, Lena asked, "Mister, how many words can I send to my husband for a dime?" "It's ten cents a word," the clerk answered. Lena pondered her dilemma, then finally said, "OK, here's the message: COMFORTABLE." (Got it? No? Read it again, s-l-o-w-l-y.)

Condensing a lengthy message into one word can be quite a challenge. How would you condense the message of the gospel into one word? Love? Grace? When the New Testament summarizes the preaching of the gospel, it does it in this way:

"Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this scripture, preached Jesus to him." (Acts 8:35).

Philip's message to the Ethiopian eunuch, summed up in one word, was Jesus. No doubt, Philip had much to say on the subject. I'm sure he spoke of why Jesus came, what Jesus did for us, and what our response to Jesus needs to be. His message obviously even included a mention of baptism, since the eunuch was led to ask further about that.

But, if the essence of our teaching ever becomes anything other than a focus on Jesus, it is no longer the gospel. All that we say and do is of significance only as it relates to our Lord and our Savior.

that.....

There is a story about a bride and groom long ago who were leaving on their honeymoon in a buggy pulled by a horse. As they traveled, a piece of paper fluttered across the road and the horse bolted. When the man regained control of the horse he said, "That's one!"

Later in the day, a rabbit jumped from the side of the road and ran in front of the horse. Again the horse bolted. When the man regained control of the horse this time he said, "That's two!"

Something similar happened later in the day and the groom said, "That's three!" He then pulled out his gun and killed the horse.

His startled and bewildered wife said, "Why John, that's terrible; you can't do that!" Her new husband looked at her with expressionless eyes and said, "That's one!"

We have limits on how much we're willing to tolerate from others. Peter thought a generous limit was "seven times" of being sinned against (Matt. 18:21). Jesus said, though, that we are to forgive up to "seventy times seven" (Matt. 18:22), without limit.

I think one of the most difficult Christian traits for us to develop is forbearance, which is the ability to "put up with others". We expect others to tolerate and overlook our shortcomings, but we are often slow to do the same for others. Let us be reminded of these words from Paul:

"Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do." (Col. 3:12-13).

...maybe

Samuel Goldwyn, the movie producer who founded Goldwyn Productions and Metro-Goldwyn-Meyer was known for his misuse of the English language. Here are some of my favorite Goldwynisms:

"An oral contract isn't worth the paper it's written on."

"Any man who goes to a psychiatrist ought to have his head examined."

"In two words, impossible."

When Goldwyn's secretary asked him if she should destroy files that were more than ten years old, he answered, "Yes, but keep copies."

"Tell them (the actors) to stand closer apart."

"For your information, just answer me one question!'

"Go see that turkey for yourself, and see for yourself why you shouldn't see it."

"Can she sing? She's practically a Florence Nightingale."

"Give me a couple of years and I'll make that actress an overnight success."

"True, I've been a long time making up my mind, but now I'm giving you a definite answer. I won't say yes and I won't say no -- but I'm giving you a definite maybe."

Sounds like he was giving someone the runaround! Some folks accused the apostle Paul of doing the same thing. He said he was planning to come to Corinth, but those plans changed, so some of the Corinthians accused Paul of being fickle, saying one thing and meaning another.

Paul assured the Corinthians that his intent was never to deceive, that his message was founded in Jesus Christ, in whom there is no deceit.

"Therefore, when I was planning this, did I do it lightly? Or the things I plan, do I plan according to the flesh, that with me there should be Yes, Yes, and No, No? But as God is faithful, our word to you was not Yes and No. For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us -- by me, Silvanus, and Timothy -- was not Yes and No, but in Him was Yes. For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us." (2 Cor. 1:17-20).

Praise be to God who keeps every one of His promises, and not with a "definite maybe". Yes, yes, yes!

delayed

A customer sent an order to a book club for the one they were offering that month. The distributor noticed that the bill for a previous book hadn't been paid. The collections manager then sent their form letter saying, "We can't ship your new order until you pay for the last one."

The collections manager received a note a few days later, "Please cancel the order. I can't wait that long."

We live in a society where people expect to receive things without paying for them -- at least for a long, long time. That's why credit cards are so popular. You don't have to have any money. Just hand them that little piece of plastic. The bill will come later? You can worry about it then. A popular form of advertising says, "Buy now -- no payments for six months!" or "No payments until January 2000!" Companies know that we are more likely to buy something if the payment can be delayed because if it is far enough away, we won't think about the hardship it may cause.

Satan operates in much the same way. If he can convince us that the consequences of sin will not be experienced for a long, long time (if at all), then we will be more likely to give in. Listen to how Solomon put it:

"Because the sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil." (Eccl. 8:11)

But credit card bills eventually arrive in the mail, merchants eventually expect us to pay for any merchandise that we carry home with us, and sin will eventually have its consequences.

"Though a sinner does evil a hundred times, and his days are prolonged, yet I surely know that it will be well with those who fear God, who fear before Him. But it will not be well with the wicked; nor will he prolong his days, which are as a shadow, because he does not fear before God." (Eccl. 8:12-13).

silver

About a year ago, I shared with you the story below entitled "Refiner of Silver" (by an unknown author). In view of the trials that so many are going through right now (both as individuals and as a nation), I thought it would be appropriate to share it with you again. It serves as a reminder that while we may not fully understand why terrible things happen, we can know what God hopes to accomplish with even the worst of tragedies.

Some time ago, a few ladies met to read the scriptures. While reading the third chapter of Malachi they came upon a remarkable expression in the third verse: "And He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver."

One lady's opinion was that it was intended to convey the view of the sanctifying influence of the grace of Christ. Then she proposed to visit a silversmith and report to her friends what he said on the subject. She went accordingly and without telling the objective of her errand, begged to know the process of refining silver, which he fully described to her.

"But, sir," she said, "Do you sit while the work of refining is going on?"

"Oh, yes, madam," replied the silversmith, "I must sit with my eye steadily fixed on the furnace, for if the time necessary for refining is exceeded in the slightest degree, the silver will be injured."

The lady at once saw the beauty, and comfort too, of the expression, "He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver." Christ sees it needful to put His children into a furnace. His eye is steadily intent on the work of purifying, and His wisdom and love are both engaged in the best manner for them.....

As the lady was leaving the shop, the silversmith called her back, and said that he had one more thing further to mention, that he only knows when the process of purifying is complete, by seeing his own image reflected in the silver.

"And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." (2 Cor. 3:18, NIV).

May the events of this past week (and all the other trials that we face) serve to draw us closer to the image of the One who made us and sustains us.