Pastoral Resources

What is temptation? Seduction to evil, solicitation to wrong. It stands distinguished from trial thus: trial tests, seeks to discover the man’s moral qualities or character; but temptation persuades to evil, deludes, that it may ruin. The one means to undeceive, the other to deceive. The one aims at the man’s good, making him conscious of his true moral self; but the other at his evil, leading him more or less unconsciously into sin. God tries; Satan tempts.

Between the atheist who would not dream of financially supporting the church and the Christian who will not financially support the Lord's church?

Between the skeptic who does not believe the Bible and the negligent Christian who never reads it?

Between those who do not believe in Bible classes and those who choose never to attend a class?

Between the atheist who does nothing to build up the Lord's church and the Christian who finds fault with others but does nothing himself?

Between a man of the world and a person in the church who lives like a man in the world?

Between a man of the world who lives for self, and a person in the church building who lives for self, not God?

These are tough questions for Christians who live in a tough world. The fact is that Christians make no difference until they are different.

Again, what's the difference?

"He surnamed ...he surnamed" (Mar 3:16-17).

This is a very suggestive story. To three of His twelve Apostles He gave surnames. Perhaps He did the same for all. We do not know. The action in regard to these three is illustrative. Perhaps He even does the same for His own. If so, one wonders how He is surnaming us. The idea is purely speculative, but it is speculation on a profitable level, especially in the light of these revelations.

"Simon He surnamed Rock." This Simon was impulsive, restless, inconsistent, lacking cohesion. Yet He surnamed him Rock. The name was an indication of his unrealized natural capacities; and of the Lord's ability to realize them. The sons of Zebedee, James and John, He surnamed Sons of Thunder. They were men of gentle, filial nature, quiet men, content to abide at home in the service of their father. Yet He surnamed them Sons of Thunder; men of authority and power. The principle was the same. In James was the capacity to be so loyal to a Master and a cause as to die for them. In John was the mystic power which would make him a seer, and an interpreter of the great things of life. The Lord was able to bring these things to realization, and to employ them for His own glory in cooperation with His service.

And so again we wonder: what is He naming us? The consideration is for the hour of lonely communion with Him. In such an hour we shall discover that His surnaming is ever based upon two things; first, our capacities as the result of our first birth; and secondly, His power to realize those capacities. We shall find, moreover, that His power becomes operative when we are wholly yielded to Him.

Mathematically it is a tenth. "...and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto Thee" (Gen 28:11).

Scripturally it is a law. "Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase" (Deu 14:22).

Morally it is a debt. "...Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings" (Mal 3:8).

Economically it is an investment. "But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven" (Mat 6:20). "Give, and it shall be given unto you" (Luk 6:38).

Spiritually it is a blessing. "I will open the windows of heaven and pour you out a blessing that there shall not be room enough to receive it" (Mal 3:10).

Worship is to feel in your heart and express in some appropriate manner a humbling but delightful sense of admiring awe and astonished wonder and overpowering love in the presence of that most ancient Mystery, that Majesty which philosophers call the First Cause, but which we call Our Father Which Are in Heaven.

A while back on “The Merv Griffin Show,” the guest was a body builder. During the interview, Merv asked “Why do you develop those particular muscles?” The body builder simply stepped forward and flexed a series of well-defined muscles from chest to calf. The audience applauded. “What do you use all those muscles for?” Merv asked. Again, the muscular specimen flexed, and biceps and triceps sprouted to impressive proportions. “But what do you USE those muscles for?” Merv persisted. The body builder was bewildered. He didn’t have an answer other than to display his well-developed frame. I was reminded that our spiritual exercises—Bible study, prayer, reading Christian books, listening to Christian radio and tapes—are also for a purpose. They’re meant to strengthen our ability to build God’s kingdom, not simply to improve our pose before an admiring audience.

A true heart of compassion will let those on the way to destruction know they can escape, but the only escape is through Jesus Christ. We need to tell people they’re in trouble with God and that God alone has provided a way to escape.

But How? Do we all have to share the same way? No, the unbelieving world is made up of a variety of people: young, old, rich, poor, educated, uneducated, urban, rural, with different race, personalities, values, politics, and religious backgrounds.

It’s going to take more than one style of evangelism to reach such a diverse population!

So what is your style?

1. Confrontational? (Acts 2) Repent and be baptized, save yourselves from this corrupt generation.

2. Intellectual? (Acts 17) Paul debated with the philosophers on Mars Hill to convince them.

3. Testimonial? (John 9) One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!

4. Relational? (Mark 5) Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you.

5. Invitational? (John 4) The Samaritan woman at the well begged the people of the city to come and hear Jesus for themselves.

6. Serving? (Acts 9) Dorcas impacted her city by doing deeds of kindness. Don’t ever think you’re a second class Christian because you don’t proclaim Christ like Peter or Paul. Discover your own method. Then get out of your chair and use it, for the Glory of God. Live by faith, not fear!!!

Shortly after the Korean War, a hungry waif wandered the darkened streets trying to find shelter from the bitter cold of winter. A night watchman noticed his plight and said, "GoMa (child), go to yonder house and say to the one who answers the gate, 'John 3:16.'" "But I do not know what John 3:16 is," replied the lad.

Nevertheless, desperation took him to the gate and brought that strange expression to his lips. He did not understand, but he whispered, "John 3:16." The lady smiled and took him into her warm home. The lad was puzzled as he thought, "I do not know what this John 3:16 is, but it sure makes a cold Korean boy warm."

Seeing his gaunt cheeks, the lady soon had him seated before a steaming bowl of soup. As he ate, the lad thought again, "I do not know what this John 3:16 is, but it sure makes a hungry Korean boy full."

After a bath, he lay there on the warm bed with tears flowing down his cheeks, "I do not know what this John 3:16 is," he thought, "but it must be the most wonderful thing in the whole world. It makes a strange lady love a lonely Korean boy."

Some Christians are like wheelbarrows, not good unless pushed.

Some are like canoes, they have to be paddled.

Some are like kites, if you don't keep a string on them, they fly away.

Some are like kittens, they are more contented when petted.

Some are like balloons, full of wind and likely to blow up unless handled carefully.

Some are like trailers, no good unless pulled.

Some are like buzzards, they "get wind" of a foul smell and come quickly.

Some are filled with the Holy Spirit, and thank God for these!

Many people turn denominational adjectives into nouns. Instead of saying, I am a Baptist Christian, a Presbyterian Christian, a Catholic Christian, or an Orthodox Christian, they say, I am a Baptist; I am a Presbyterian; I am a Catholic; I am Orthodox, and so on. This is a distortion of values, for being a Christian is the important thing, and what kind of Christian you call yourself is purely secondary.

Some people say any man can be a father; it is a job that takes little talent. However, the rate for failure in fatherhood is actually higher than in any other occupation. Fathers have a colossal full-time job that most people underestimate. It is the most important task a man can tackle.

Despite vast changes in America's social fabric in recent years, one thread of tradition shows no sign of unraveling: sons and daughters who follow in their father's footsteps.

A nationwide survey was taken recently to determine how much time fathers were spending with their children. The results were astounding. Fathers with children between the ages of 2 and 12 were spending 12 minutes a day with their children. Twelve-minute dads contribute greatly to 12-year-old delinquents.

But not all dads are 12-minute dads. A busload of dads and sons left a church parking lot for an overnight camping trip. The dads represented various vocations, but they all had one thing in common: they did not want to be 12-minute dads.

You cannot substitute a popsicle for Pop himself, though both may have their places. Whether it be a car or a candy bar, a fishing rod or a hot rod, you cannot substitute these "presents" for the "presence."

America is standing at a crossroads of history; our very survival as a nation may depend on the presence or absence of masculine leadership in millions of homes; leadership in the form of loving authority; leadership in the form of financial management; leadership in the form of spiritual training and leadership in maintaining good marital relationships.

“What kind of flower is that in your buttonhole?” a fellow asked his friend.

“Why, that’s a chrysanthemum,” answered the friend.

“It looks like a rose to me.”

“No, you’re wrong. It’s a chrysanthemum,” insisted the friend.

“Spell it,” the fellow said.

“K-r-i-s-, no it’s K-h-r-y-, no it must be C-r-i-s-...By golly, you’re right. It is a rose.”

Here is a parable of a nail that teaches a great lesson:

A new place of worship had just been completed. People came from near and far to see it. They admired the beauty of its windows, the walls, the carpet on the floors. Preachers were carried away with the handsome pulpit Bible.

On the roof a little two-penny nail held down a shingle. This little nail heard the people praise everything else, but none mentioned the shingle nail or seemed to be conscious of its existence. The little nail became very angry and said, "If I am that insignificant, nobody will miss me if I quit.'So, the little nail pulled out, raced down the steep roof and fell on the soft ground below. That night a big rain came and the shingle nail was buried in the mud. The difference between being buried in the mud and holding down the shingle is this: before the nail was obscure but useful. Furthermore, it was protected under the shingle. Now it will soon be eaten up by rust.

The worst of the story is yet to come. The shingle that the nail held down was now loose, and without the cooperation from the nail, it blew away, leaving a hole in the roof. The same big rain that buried the nail leaked in through the vacant spot where the shingle was, running into the beautiful auditorium. The water ran down the walls, leaving them all marred. It leaked upon the Bible and stained its pages. It leaked upon the carpet and the beautiful rug was stained. All because one little nail failed to do its job.

Paul says in Rom 12:4-5 that we are "many members in one body, and all members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another" (NAS). We have a world to win to the Savior and each of us has a responsibility to that task. What kind of nail are you? One that does his part and is essential to the glory of the Lord or one that fails to do what he is capable of and has the ability to do?

Every nail is important and essential.

"Judge not, that ye be not judged" (Mat 7:1). There was once a wise old man sitting at the gate of an ancient city. A young traveler stopped before entering the city and asked the old man, "What kind of people live in this town?" The wise man answered with a question, "What kind of people were in the town you just came from?"

"Oh, they were liars and cheats and thugs and drunks, terrible people," the young traveler replied. The old man shook his head, "The people in this town are the same way."

Later another stranger paused to ask the same question, and again the wise man questioned his questioner, "What kind of people did you just leave?"

The second traveler answered, "Oh, I left a fine town. The people were good and kind and honest and hardworking." The wise man smiled and said, "The people in this town are the same way."

People who are kind and forgiving toward others usually experience tolerance from others themselves; those who are harsh, censorious and critical toward others find that others exhibit much the same disposition toward them.

Of course, when our Lord warned, "Judge not," He was not talking about exposing the sins of the ungodly-we must do that. Neither was He talking about withdrawing from the immoral, or restoring erring Christians, or resolving civil disputes, or "knowing a tree by its fruits." He was forbidding illegitimate judgments that stem from a self-righteous, haughty, puffed-up, hypocritical spirit (Mat 7:15; Luk 6:37-38; Rom 2:1-3). He was forbidding judgments based on inadequate information (Joh 7:21-24). He was forbidding judgments in which the person assumes the position of God, trying and sentencing brethren in regard to eternal salvation (Jos 4:11-12; Rom 14:3-4, Rom 14:10, Rom 14:13; 1Co 4:5).

What kind of people live in your town?

The mediocre teacher tells.

The good teacher explains.

The superior teacher demonstrates.

The great teacher inspires.

He saw people love each other. He saw friends love friends. He saw mothers love children. He saw husbands love wives. And he saw that all love made strenuous demands on the lovers. He saw love require sacrifice and self-denial. He saw love produce arguments and anguish. He saw it bring disappointment, pain, and even death. And he decided that it cost too much. And he decided not to diminish his life with love. He saw people strive for distant and hazy goals. He saw men strive for success. He saw women strive for high, high ideals. He saw young people strive for attainment. And he saw that the striving was frequently mixed with disappointment. And he saw the strong men fail, maimed, and even killed. He saw it force people into pettiness, grasping at those things they both saw and didn’t see. He saw that those who succeeded were sometimes those who had not earned the success. And he decided that it cost too much. He decided not to soil his life with striving. He saw people serving others. He saw men give money to the poor and helpless. He saw whole groups work to build, cleanse, and heal others. And he saw that the more they served, the faster the need grew. He saw large portions of money freely given line already fat pockets. He saw new schools filled with uncaring teachers. He saw ungrateful receivers turn on their serving friends. And he decided that that cost too much. He decided not to soil his life with serving. And when he died, he walked up to the God and presented him with his life. Undiminished, unmarred, and unsoiled, his life was clean from the filth of the world, and he presented it proudly to the mighty God saying, “This is my life.” And the great God said, “What life?”

What makes people hesitate to share their faith? Here are some of the fears that have been mentioned to me:

1. “I am afraid I might do more harm than good.”

2. “I don’t know what to say.”

3. “I may not be able to give snappy answers to tricky questions.”

4. “I may seem bigoted.”

5. “I may invade someone’s privacy.”

6. “I am afraid I might fail.”

7. “I am afraid I might be a hypocrite.”

Overcome by sin Perhaps the most common fear, however, is that of being rejected. A survey was given to those attending training sessions for the Billy Graham crusade in Detroit. One question asked, “What is your greatest hindrance in witnessing?”

1. 9% said they were too busy to remember to do it.

2. 28% felt the lack of real information to share. None said they didn’t really care.

3. 12% said their own lives were not speaking as they should.

4. But by far the largest group were the 51% whose biggest problem was the fear of how the other person would react!

What really makes people satisfied with their lives? Amazingly, the secret may lie in a person’s ability to handlelife’s blows without blame or bitterness. These are the conclusions of a study of 173 men who have been followed since they graduated from Harvard University in the early 1940s. The study, reported in the American Journal of Psychiatry, noted that one potent predictor of well-being was the ability to handle emotional crisis maturely.

What makes sin sinful? I remember when I was in the army I was brought before my commanding officer because while I was on night duty I had opened a telegram I wasn't supposed to. Nobody had told me this. I thought it was part of my duty to open it and to communicate its contents to the officer on duty. I ended my defense with the words of Paul, "Sin is not imputed when there is no law" (Rom 5:13). I was not punished. They saw the reasonableness of my contention that one cannot break a law that does not exist.

What mistakes do all good managers avoid? James K. Van Fleet, a consultant on managerial motivation techniques, suggests the most common mistakes:

1. Trying to be liked rather than respected.

2. Not asking your subordinates for their advice and help.

3. Not developing a sense of responsibility in your subordinates, and not expecting it from your peers.

4. Emphasizing rules rather than skills among your employees, and thwarting personal talent.

5. Not keeping criticism constructive.

6. Ignoring employee complaints.

7. Keeping people uninformed—not respecting their right to know.

- James K. Van Fleet

A minister was speaking to the Sunday school about the things money can’t buy. “It can’t buy laughter and it can’t buy love” he told them. Driving his point home he said, “What would you do if I offered you $1,000 not to love your mother and father?” Stunned silence ensued. Finally a small voice queried, “How much would you give me not to love my big sister?”

Rate each of the following statements:

Strongly disagree = 1

Disagree = 2

Uncertain = 3

Agree = 4

Strongly agree = 5

1. It is important to me to maintain a lifestyle similar to or better than that of my peers.

2. In making a major purchase, an important consideration is what others will think of my choice.

3. Since money equals power, I am willing to work hard for money in order to have more power.

4. I really enjoy shopping and having nice things.

5. Saving money for a rainy day is an important principle to live by.

6. If I had a moderate amount of money to invest, I would be more likely to put it into multiple resources that are relatively safe than into one fairly risky source that has the potential to make a lot of money.

7. Being “flat broke” is one of the worst things that could happen to me.

8. Saving for retirement is an important financial goal for me.

9. If I suddenly came into a windfall of $1,000 for something I have always wanted to do or have.

10. Since “You can’t take it with you,” you might as well spend it.

11. Money can’t buy happiness, but it sure helps.

12. Few things in life give me greater pleasure than making a great buy.

13. I like/would like having my own business because I can/could control my own financial destiny.

14. I like being able to make decisions about how to spend the money I earn.

15. It bothers me to be dependent on someone else for money.

16. I feel uncomfortable if someone offers to “pick up the tab” because I feel indebted to them.

Now, add your scores for the four questions in each category. The higher your score, the stronger you identify with that approach.

Category

Questions

Your Score

Your Partner’s Score

Money as Status

1-4

__________

_________

Money as Security

5-8

__________

_________

Money as Enjoyment

9-12

__________

_________

Money as a Control over Life

13-16

__________

_________

Interpretation of Scores

4 - 8 = low

9 - 12 = Moderate

13 - 16 = High

17 - 20 = Very high

Understanding what it means:

Money as status. People who identify with money as a status symbol are interested in money as power—as a means of keeping ahead of one’s peers.

Money as security. People who use money as a means of security spend conservatively and focus on saving.

Money as enjoyment. People who view money as a means to enjoyment get satisfaction from buying things for themselves and others.

Money as control. People who see money as a source of control, use it to maintain control of their lives, and to remain independent from their partner or other family members.

Now, compare your scores with each other. The closer your scores in each category are, the easier it will be to meet mutual financial goals and needs. The further apart they are, the more negotiating and compromising you’ll have to do.

When I was in London I went into a wax work there--Tassands--and I went into the chamber of Horror. There were wax figures of all kinds of murderers in that room. There was Booth who killed Lincoln, and many of that class: but there was one figure I got interested in, who killed his wife because he loved another woman, and the law didn't find him out. He married this woman and had a family of seven children. And twenty years passed away. Then his conscience began to trouble him. He had no rest; he would hear his murdered wife pleading continually for her life. His friends began to think that that he was going out of his mind; he became haggard and his conscience haunted him till, at last he went to the officers of the law and told them that he was guilty of murder. He wanted to die, life was so much of an agony to him. His conscience turned against him. My friends if you have done wrong, may your conscience be woke up, and may you testify against yourself. It is a great deal better to judge our own acts and confess them, than go through this world with the curse upon you.

A teacher gave her class of second graders a lesson on the magnet and what it does. The next day in a written test, she included this question: “My full name has six letters. The first one is M. I pick up things. What am I?” When the test papers were turned in, the teacher was astonished to find that almost 50 percent of the students answered the question with the word Mother.

At a banquet, the mother of George Washington was sitting beside a distinguished French officer. Turning to Washington's mother, the officer asked, "How have you managed to rear such a splendid son?"

She replied, "I taught him to obey."

Too many people have a strong "will" and a weak "won't."

Significant contributions. People get excited when they can be involved in a purpose or cause that has lasting impact. They must see that their efforts and time are making a difference in the lives of others.

Goal Participation. People support what they create. They must have ownership! Nothing creates better ownership than giving input into common goals.

Positive Dissatisfaction. People will not shift paradigms (and then values) until they get angry! Dissatisfied people are highly motivated; they see the need for immediate change. The key is giving the individual a vision for how they can make a positive impact. Dissatisfaction breeds apathy when change does not follow quickly.

Recognition. Give people credit for their personal achievements and show appreciation for contributions. This will give them a boost of energy. Recognition is a great way of “living out a life of thanksgiving.” Insincere flattery is not the same as recognition, and the recipient typically sees it as manipulation.

Clear Expectations. People are motivated when they know as much information as possible in accomplishing a new task. When I passed out a job description detailing the specific responsibilities of a cell leader, one young man said, “I have been waiting my whole Christian life for someone to show me how I could effectively live this out.”

“What must I forsake?” a young man asked.

“Colored clothes for one thing. Get rid of everything in your wardrobe that is not white. Stop sleeping on a soft pillow. Sell your musical instruments and don’t eat any more white bread. You cannot, if you are sincere about obeying Christ, take warm baths or shave your beard. To shave is to lie against him who created us, to attempt to improve on his work.”

Quaint, isn’t it—this example of extrabiblical scruples? And perhaps amusing. The list has constantly shifted over the 1,800 years since this one was actually recorded.

Although the only person a man usually shops for is his wife, the whole experience is a stressful one. Many a man has felt extreme frigid temperatures for a long period based on a poor present decision. As a veteran of these wars, I’m still not sure what to buy my wife, but I’ll pass on what not to buy her:

1. Don’t buy anything that plugs in. Anything that requires electricity is seen as utilitarian.

2. Don’t buy clothing that involves sizes. The chances are one in seven thousand that you will get her size right, and your wife will be offended the other 6999 times. “Do I look like a size 16?” she’ll say. Too small a size doesn’t cut it either: “I haven’t worn a size 8 in 20 years!”

3. Avoid all things useful. The new silver polish advertised to save hundreds of hours is not going to win you any brownie points.

4. Don’t buy anything that involves weight loss or self-improvement. She’ll perceive a six-month membership to a diet center as a suggestion that’s she’s overweight.

5. Don’t buy jewelry. The jewelry your wife wants, you can’t afford. And the jewelry you can afford, she doesn’t want.

6. And, guys, do not fall into the traditional trap of buying her frilly underwear. Your idea of the kind your wife should wear and what she actually wears are light years apart.

7. Finally, don’t spend too much. “How do you think we’re going to afford that?” she’ll ask. But don’t spend too little. She won’t say anything, but she’ll think, “Is that all I’m worth?”

CINCINNATI—Thirty-five years ago, Vic Mills decided to try to find a way to avoid the mess of his granddaughter’s cloth diapers.

The chemical engineer from Procter & Gamble Co. came up with Pampers, the country’s first mass-marketed disposable diaper that helped create a multibillion-dollar industry.

P&G currently is celebrating Pampers’ 35th anniversary.

“Pampers has become a tradition in parenting,” said P&G Vice President Jeff Ansell.

Mills, now 99, long-retired and living in Tucson, Ariz., helped to develop such products as Jif peanut butter, Duncan Hines cake mixers and Pringles chips.

But none stood out as much as Pampers.

At first, disposable diapers were considered so unique they were used mainly for travel, by baby sitters and on special occasions. Today, 81 percent of the hospitals in the United States use disposable diapers, and 94 percent of all parents rely solely on disposable diapers, according to P&G’s research.

There’s always something you wish your kids would do, such as not tossing clothes inside out into the hamper. Here’s my wish list of phrases I’d like to hear my kids say. Not all the time—just once would be nice.

1. “You’re so cool, Dad.”

2. “Who cares if the TV is broken?”

3. “Pass the broccoli, please.”

4. “What! No kiss?”

5. “No, thanks. It’s too expensive.”

6. “It’s a hard choice. Everything sounds great.”

7. “Bored? How could I be bored?”

8. “I’ve already made my bed.”

9. “It was my fault.”

10. “That’s okay. None of my friends are allowed to do it either”.

The banter of the operating room may have to be toned down, if new research on unconscious awareness in patients under total anesthesia is borne out. Surgeons have taken their patients’ oblivion as license for talking as though the patient were not there—even making remarks that patients would find frightening if they heard. But two research groups report that what anesthetized patients hear can affect them.

“What the patient hears—say a remark like, ‘He’s a goner’ —could conceivably have an adverse effect on his recovery,” says Henry Bennett, one of the researchers. In one study, anesthetized patients heard a taped voice tell them during surgery they should signify having heard the message by touching their ears in a postoperative interview. Later, in the interview, the patients tugged at their ears, although none could recall having heard the message, nor were they particularly aware of touching their ears.

Dr. Bennett, a psychologist now at the Univ. of California Medical school at Davis, reports that when patients were given the suggestion during surgery that one hand was becoming warmer and the other cooler, the hands’ temperature did so. This suggests, says Bennett, inadvertent negative remarks—such as, “Holy Moses, this is a terrible bone graft” —could interfere with recovery.

Under anesthesia, “Patients may be more vulnerable to upsetting remarks they might hear,” Bennett says. “Their normal coping techniques aren’t available, since they are drugged.” Other research involving patients undergoing back surgery suggests possible beneficial applications. Because a common postoperative complication of back surgery is difficulty is urinating, most patients require a catheter. During surgery, the researchers suggested to the anesthetized patients that they would be able to relax their pelvic muscles afterward, and so need no catheter. None of the patients who received the suggestion subsequently needed a catheter.

Today, just 25 percent of adults say “a lot of money” signifies success and accomplishment, down from 33 percent in 1996. What people most associate with success and accomplishment:

Satisfied with your life: 83

In control of your life: 80

Have a good marriage: 78

Really good at your job : 69

Can afford what’s important: 66

Have successful children: 63

While 88% in a recent Barna poll believe Jesus Christ was a real person, what they believe about him differs sharply from scriptural teaching. 42% (even 1/4th of the “born again” Christians) believe that while on earth Jesus sinned just like other people. 61% believe the devil is just a symbol of evil, not a living being. And 54% think that if people are good enough, they will earn a place in heaven regardless of their religious beliefs.

The only thing most people do better than anyone else is read their own handwriting. - John Adams

I was relieved to find out that I’m not the only one who forgets things. Everyone does at one time or another, according to Karen Bolla, A Johns Hopkins researcher. These are the things people most often forget:

1. names

83%

1. where something is

60%

2. telephone numbers

57%

3. words.

53%

4. what was said

49%

5. faces

42%

And if you can’t remember whether you’ve just done something, you join 38 percent of the population.

1. Produces character and hope

2. Shows the power of Christ

3. Shows the glory of God

4. Shows what faith can do

5. Teaches dependence on God

6. Enables us to comfort those in trouble

7. Shows the proof of faith

8. Sometimes God allows us to suffer for the cause of Christ

9. Keeps down pride

10. Suffering can come because of another’s sin

11. Suffering can come because we are part of a fallen race, living in a cursed world

12. Because of our own sin, to discipline and chastise us, teach us; cf. Psalm 32

13. Because of the sovereignty of God

14. Because our enemy wants us to suffer

15. For reasons known only to God

16. Because of our own stupidity—we reap what we sow

1. John Bacon, eminent 18th-century English sculptor, said on his deathbed, “What I was as an artist seemed to be of some importance while I lived, but what I really am as a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ is the only thing of importance to me now.”

2. English physicist and chemist Michael Faraday (1791-1867) was asked, “Have you ever pondered by yourself what will be your occupation in the next world?” Faraday hesitated awhile and then responded, “I shall be with Christ, and that is enough.”

3. The 17th century Scottish theologian Samuel Rutherford gave this triumphant testimony before he stepped into eternity: “Mine eye shall see my Redeemer. He has pardoned, loved, and washed me, and given me joy unspeakable and full of glory. Glory shines in Immanuel’s land!”

In a 6-year survey at a West Coast university, it was found that self-confident, successful people had three things in common: They were loved and valued at home; their homes were democratic; their parents were not permissive.

An artist can paint the physical hands and feet of our Lord, but he cannot paint the healing power of those hands and the godly walk of those feet. He can paint the outward suffering, but not the inward cause; the cursed tree, but not the curse of the law; the bearing of the cross, but not the bearing of the sins of His people; the cup of vinegar, but not the cup of wrath-the derision of His enemies and the forsaking of the Father.

Where is the artist who can paint one hand of Christ nailed to the cross and the other hand claiming an inheritance of believers?

Or who can paint our Lord bruising the serpent's head, conquering sin, death and the grave?

The artist can only portray blood and water flowing from Christ's side, but he cannot paint what the eye of faith sees in that blood: salvation and pardon.

1. Parents must teach God’s truth (Dt. 4:9; 32:46).

2. Parents must lovingly discipline children because they are immature and need guidance (Prov. 22:15; 29:15).

3. Parents should not exasperate their children (Eph. 6:4).

4. Parents’ wise decisions bring blessing to their children (Dt. 30:19-20).

5. Parents who are godly teach their children to obey (Eph. 6:1; 1 Tim. 3:4).

6. Parents who faithfully train their children can be confident that their efforts are not in vain (Prov. 22:6).

If you are an adult of average weight, here is what you accomplish in 24 hours:

your heart beats 103689 times

your blood travels 168,000,000 miles

you breathe 23040 times

you inhale 438 cubic feet of air

you eat 3. 25 pounds of food

you drink 2. 9 quarts of liquids

you lose 7/8 pounds of waste

you speak 4800 words, including some unnecessary ones

you move 750 muscles

your nails grow . 000046 inch

your hair grows . 01714 inch

you exercise 7,000,000 brain cells

A missionary returned to the little village which had been destroyed by the enemies of the gospel. He found the people weeping over the ashes which were previously their thatched roofs. One of the natives said to him, "They even burned my Bible and my hymn book!" And then in the ruins he saw a little white paper not totally burned. He picked it up and read it. The only thing that remained was "Joy to the World, the Lord is come." He stopped for a moment and then he said, "That's enough for me."

Belonging to Christ should create in us a sense of responsibility. His glory should be our concern. We are His image in the world. An American chaplain in the Civil War asked a wounded soldier, "Would you like me to read you something from the Bible?" The soldier said, "I'm so thirsty, I'd rather have a drink of water." After he had drunk it he said, "Could you put something under my head?" The chaplain took off his overcoat, rolled it up, and placed it under the man's head as a pillow. "Now," said the soldier, "if I had something over me. I'm so cold." The chaplain took off his jacket and covered the man. Then the wounded man said, "For God's sake, man, if there's anything in that Book that makes a man do for another what you've done for me, let me hear it!" Isn't that what the world needs today-Christians who exemplify Christ?

"Make it the first morning business of your life to understand some part of the Bible clearly, and make it your daily business to obey it in all that you do understand"-John Ruskin.

"I cannot too greatly emphasize the importance and value of Bible study-more important than ever before in these days of uncertainties, when men and women are apt to decide questions from the standpoint of expediency rather than on the eternal principles laid down by God Himself"-John Wanamaker.

"It is impossible to mentally or socially enslave a Bible reading people. The principles of the Bible are the groundwork of human freedom"-Horace Greeley.

"If I am asked what is the remedy for deeper sorrows of the human heart, I must point to something which in the well-known hymn is called "The old, old, story," told of an old, old Book and taught with the old, old teaching which is the greatest and best guide ever given to mankind"-William Ewart Gladstone.

1. Oswald Chambers: “The thing that makes a missionary is the sight of what Jesus did on the cross and to have heard Him say, ‘Go.’”

2. Daniel T. Niles: Evangelism is witness. It is one beggar telling another beggar where to get food.”

3. Robert Wiler, a missionary volunteer connected with the Student Volunteer Movement, from a speech he gave at a conference in 1891: “Let us come to the churches having as our theme the highwayman’s motto, ‘Your money or your life,’ saying the needs are so great, the command so urgent, we have given our lives—will you not give your money?”

4. C. T. Studd wrote from Cambridge in 1883: “I had known about Jesus dying for me, but I had never understood that, if He had died for me, then I didn’t belong to myself. Redemption means buying back, so that if I belong to Him, either I had to be a thief, and keep what wasn’t mine, or else I had to give up everything to God. When I came to see that Jesus had died for me, it didn’t seem hard to give up all for Him.” Studd also said, “If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him.”

5. March 19th, 1872, was David Livingstone’s 59th birthday. In his diary we read these words: “My Jesus, my King, my Life, My All. I again dedicate my whole self to Thee.” A year later he was found dead on his knees by his bedside, a candle burning, his Bible open, himself in the presence of his King.

6. Student commitment made at a Frontiers Missionary Conference in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1980: “By the grace of God and for His glory, I commit my entire life to obeying His commission of Matt. 28:18-20, wherever and however He leads me, giving priority to the peoples currently beyond the reach of the Gospel (Rom. 15:20-21). I will also endeavor to impart this vision to others.”

7. Words spoken by Rev. Festo Kivengere in a communications convention: “It is the Holy Spirit who puts jet engines on the word bombs of the Bible so they fly into the needy places in people’s hearts and explode at the right time.”

8. A. T. Pierson: “There is enough jewelry, gold, and silver plate buried in Christian homes to build a fleet of 50,000 vessels, ballast them with Bibles, crowd them with missionaries, and supply every living soul with the gospel in a score of years. Only let God take possession and the gospel will wing its way like the beams of the morning.”

9. Robertson McQuilken in his book The Great Omission: “in a world in which nine out of every ten people is lost, three or four have never heard the way out, and one of every two cannot hear, the church sleeps on. How come? Could it be we think there must be some other way? Or perhaps we don’t really care that much?

10. George Murray, director of the Bible Christian Union, tells us that for years he was “willing to go, but planning to stay.” Not until he became “willing to stay, but planning to go” did God move him to Italy.

11. Dr. A. B. Simpson: “Press on our heart the woe, and put in our feet the go.”

12. Dr. Bob Pierce: “When considering the needs of missions, don’t fail to do something just because you can’t do everything. “Others have done so much with so little, while we have done so little with so much.”

13. A South Sea Islander proudly displayed his Bible to a World War II G.I. “We’ve outgrown that sort of thing,” the soldier said. the native smiled back. “It’s a good thing we haven’t. If it wasn’t for the Book, you’d have been a meal by now.”

14. Hudson Taylor: “I used to ask God to help me. Then I asked if I might help Him. I ended up asking Him to do His work through me.”

15. Dr. Ralph Winter: “For the gospel to ‘go where it isn’t,’ someone has to go from where it is among his own people and go where he/she will no longer be ‘native.’ Natives become foreigners when they become true missionaries. It is one thing to be concerned that the church grow where it is. It is something else to make sure the church goes where it isn’t.”

16. Mr. Bernie May (U.S. Division Director of Wycliffe): “The question is not, ‘Can I afford to take on the needs of the world when I’m so troubled by other things?’ The question is, ‘Can I afford not to?’”

17. International Missionary Council, Jerusalem, 1928: “herein lies the Christian motive: it is simple. We cannot bear to think of men living without Him. We believe in a Christlike world. We know nothing better; we can be content with nothing less.”

18. William Booth once had an audience with King Edward VII of England. His Majesty highly commended the Salvationist for his unflagging zeal and wonderful work among the poor. How revealing was Booth’s reply to the king’s glowing words! He said, “Your Majesty, some men’s passion is for art. Some men’s passion is for fame. My passion is for souls.”

19. Theodore Williams of India said: “We face a humanity that is too precious to neglect. We know a remedy for the ills of the world too wonderful to withhold. We have a Christ too glorious to hide. We have an adventure that is too thrilling to miss.”

20. Andrew Murray said at World Missionary Conference in 1910, “We shall need three times more men, four times more money, and seven times more prayer.”

21. Dr. Samuel Zwemer, in a convention of the Student Volunteer Movement, hung a great map of Islam before the delegates, and with a sweep of his hand across all those darkened areas said: “Thou, O Christ, art all I want, and Thou, O Christ, art all they want. What Christ can do for any man, He can do for every man.”

22. Henry Martyn, at 23 years of age: “I feel that my heart is wholly for heaven, and the world mainly behind my back.” On his way to India: “I do not know that anything would be a heaven to me, but the service of Christ and the enjoyment of His presence. Oh how sweet is life when spent in His service.”

23. Betty Stam’s covenant made as a high school student: “Lord, I give up all my own plans and purposes, all my own desires and hopes, and accept Thy will for my life. I give myself, my life, my all utterly to Thee to be Thine forever. Fill me with Thy Holy Spirit. Use me as Thou wilt; send me where Thou wilt; work out Thy whole will in my life at any cost, now and forever.”

24. Nate Saint—in a Christmas meditation letter written just a short while before he and four other young men gave their lives in seeking to reach the Auca Indians in Ecuador, South America, December, 1955: “If God would grant us the vision, the word ‘sacrifice’ would disappear from our lips and thoughts; we would hate the things that seem now so dear to us; our lives would suddenly be too short; we would despise time-robbing distractions and charge the enemy with all our energies in the name of Christ. May God help us to judge ourselves by the eternities that separate the Aucas from a comprehension of Christmas, and Him, who, though He was rich, yet for our sakes became poor so that we might, through His poverty, be made rich. Lord God, speak to my own heart and give me to know Thy holy will and the joy of walking in it. Amen.”

What they say: “It could be one of several things.”

What they mean: “I haven’t the foggiest idea what’s wrong with you.”

What they say: “Are you sure you haven’t had this before?”

What they mean: “Because you’ve got it again.”

What they say: “I’d like to run that test again.”

What they mean: “The lab lost your blood sample.”

What they say: “Insurance should cover most of this.”

What they mean: “You’ll have to sell your house to cover the rest.”

What they say: “These pills have very few side effects.”

What they mean: “You may experience sudden hair growth on your palms.”

What they say: “Why don’t you go over your symptoms with me one more time.”

What they mean: “I don’t remember who you are.”

What they say: “There’s a lot of this going around.”

What they mean: “And we’ll give it a name as soon as we figure out what it is.”

What they say: “It could be one of several things.”

What they mean: “I haven’t the foggiest idea what’s wrong with you.”

What they say: “Are you sure you haven’t had this before?”

What they mean: “Because you’ve got it again.”

What they say: “I’d like to run that test again.”

What they mean: “The lab lost your blood sample.”

What they say: “Insurance should cover most of this.”

What they mean: “You’ll have to sell your house to cover the rest.”

What they say: “These pills have very few side effects.”

What they mean: “You may experience sudden hair growth on your palms.”

What they say: “Why don’t you go over your symptoms with me one more time.”

What they mean: “I don’t remember who you are.”

What they say: “There’s a lot of this going around.”

What they mean: “And we’ll give it a name as soon as we figure out what it is.”

A farm boy got a white football for Christmas. He played with it awhile and then kicked it over into the neighbor’s yard. The old rooster ran out, looked at it, and called the hens to see it. “Now look here,” the rooster said, “I don’t want you girls to think I’m complaining, but I just want you to see what they are doing next door.”

Carl Rogers, the U.S. psychologist, was 22 years old when he entered Union Theological Seminary in New York in 1924. While there, he participated in a seminar organized to explore religious doubts. Rogers later said of the group, “The majority of members...in thinking their way through questions they had raised, thought themselves right out of religious work. I was one.”

An airline pilot flying over the southeastern U.S. called the local tower and said, “We are passing over at 35,000—give us a time check.” The tower said, “What airline are you?” “What difference does it make? I just want the time.” replied the pilot. The tower responded, “Oh, it makes a lot of difference. If you are TransWorld Airline or Pan Am, it is 1600. If you are United or Delta, it is 4 o’clock. If you are Southern Airways, the little hand is on the 4 and the big hand is on the 12. If you are Skyway Airlines—it’s Thursday.”

Before British actor Robert Morley died two weeks ago, he asked that his credit cards be buried with him. Since his funeral, the London Times’s letters pages have been filled with the thoughts of readers pondering their perpetual needs.

Wrote .M.L. Evans of Chester: “In the unfortunate event of the miscarriage of justice and several thousand years ensuing before my sentence is quashed, I will take a fire extinguisher.”

Heather Tanner of Woodbridge specified a good map. “I have immense trouble finding my way in this life,” she said, “so am extremely worried about the next.”

A pair of earplugs would accompany Sir David Wilcocks of Cambridge “in case the heavenly choirs, singing everlastingly, are not in tune.”

Maurice Godbold of Hindhead would take a crowbar, “in case the affair proved premature.” Even in the hereafter, there will always be an England.

1. Recognize aggravating aspects of your job and accept them rather than fight them. Wisdom to discern what can and cannot be changed, attempt to change the first and accept the second.

2. Identify your emotional needs and find ways to meet them.

3. Practice listening—it is more relaxing than talking

4. Be sensitive to change—sense it coming and make adjustments. This makes change manageable rather than insurmountable.

1. A full-time effort (if your pastor is engaged full time). It seems unlikely to me that any pastor could do justice to the position in less than 50 hours a week. For me it took longer; for some, it might take less. But to cover the long list of a minister’s duties takes time, and lots of it (1 Thessalonians 2:10-12).

2. Your pastor need not be the best preacher in the world, but he or she should never step before an audience unprepared. That takes reading, Bible study, prayer and practice (2 Timothy 4:2).

3. A shepherd should know the sheep and their needs. In other words, the pastor should care for you, be a good listener, full of compassion, and a seeker after wisdom (John 10:14).

4. Your pastor need not “know it all” but must be secure enough to search for answers, even if the answers lie with another pastor (Proverbs 4:10-12).

5. Your pastor needs to be a person of faith and prayer. A prayerless pastor is a powerless pastor (Matthew 17:20-22).

6. Your pastor should be a person of courage, willing to confront evil and injustice. A cowardly pastor is not in close fellowship with the Lord. Pastoring is not for the faint of heart (2 Timothy 1:7; Joshua 1:9).

7. Your pastor and family should be an example to the congregation. No, they do not need to be perfect! The kids need not be the best behaved in the church. The spouse need not head every committee. But they do need to be a family, totally committed to the principles of the Word of God regarding the family unit (Ephesians 5:22-6:4; 1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:6-9).

8. Your pastor should spend time training and equipping others to assist in the ministry of pastoral care. We are not all called to be evangelists, but we all are expected to know how to share our faith. Your pastor must prepare you for the responsibilities of lay ministry by helping you find your gifts (2 Timothy 2:2).

9. Your pastor should teach the value of Christian stewardship. If you grasp the significance of tithing your time, talent and treasure, it will not only open up God’s special resources for you and your family, but it will also ensure the blessing of God upon your congregation. He promised to pour His blessings upon you (Malachi 3:110; 1 Corinthians 9:6-8) in response to your stewardship.

10. Your pastor must be a person of integrity. There should be no hint of immorality (Ephesians 5:3-5).

11. You should expect your pastor to be vulnerable and transparent, willing to admit when mistakes have been made, and committed to continued growth in every aspect (Psalms 139:23, 24).

12. Most important of all, your pastor must be committed to personal holiness. So many clergy are successful by the world’s standards but woefully lacking when it comes to a relationship with God (Psalms 51:10-12; Romans 3:22).

Uncovering, making plain what was not known before. The word may be used of something God makes known during a church service (1Cor. 14:26), but more usually it has to do with something on a larger scale, like God’s righteousness, wrath (Rom. 1:17-18), or righteous judgment (Rom. 2:5). It may be used to describe a book (Rev. 1:1). God reveals things through the Spirit (1 Cor. 2:10). The gospel is not something people have made up but has been revealed by Christ (Gal. 1:11-12). The fullness of revelation awaits the return of Christ (2 Thess. 1:7; 1 Peter 1:13).

What was the curse that God put on creation (Rom. 8:20)? One of the most stubborn myths in Western culture is that God imposed work as a curse to punish Adam and Eve’s sin (Gen. 3:1-19). As a result, some people view work as something evil. Scripture does not support that idea:

1. God Himself is a worker. The fact that God works shows that work is not evil, since by definition God cannot do evil. On the contrary, work is an activity that God carries out. See “God: The Original Worker,” John 5:17.

2. God created people in His image to be His coworkers. He gives us ability and authority to manage His creation. See “People At Work,” Heb. 2:7.

3. God established work before the fall. Genesis 1-2 record how God created the world. The account tells how He placed the first humans in a garden “to tend and keep it” (2:15). This work assignment was given before sin entered the world and God pronounced the curse (Gen. 3). Obviously, then, work cannot be a result of the fall since people were working before the fall.

4. God commends work even after the fall. If work were evil in and of itself, God would never encourage people to engage in it. But He does. For example, He told Noah and his family the same thing He told Adam and Eve—to have dominion over the earth (Gen. 9:1-7). In the New Testament, Christians are commanded to work (Col. 3:23; 1 Thess. 4:11).

5. Work itself was not cursed in the fall. A careful reading of Genesis 3:17-29 shows that God cursed the ground as a result of Adam’s sin—but not work:

“Cursed is the ground for your sake;

In toil you shall eat of it

All the days of your life.

Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you,

And you shall eat the herb of the field.

In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread

Till you return to the ground,

For out of it you were taken;

For dust you are,

And to dust you shall return.”

Notice three ways that this curse affected work:

1. Work had been a joy, but now it would be “toil.” People would feel burdened down by it, and even come to hate it.

2. “Thorns and thistles” would hamper people’s efforts to exercise dominion. In other words, the earth would not be as cooperative as it had been.

3. People would have to “sweat” to accomplish their tasks. Work would require enormous effort and energy.

Most of us know all too well how burdensome work can be. Workplace stresses and pressures, occupational hazards, the daily grind, office politics, crushing boredom, endless routine, disappointments, setbacks, catastrophes, frustration, cutthroat competition, fraud, deception, injustice—there is no end of evils connected with work. But work itself is not evil. Far from naming it a curse, the Bible calls work and its fruit a gift from God (Eccl. 3:13; 5:18-19).

Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.

Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy.

When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.

When it’s in your best interest, practice obedience.

Let others know when they’ve invaded your territory.

Take naps and stretch before rising.

Run, romp, and play daily.

Eat with gusto and enthusiasm.

Be loyal.

Never pretend to be something you’re not.

If what you need lies buried, dig until you find it.

When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently.

Thrive on attention and let people touch you.

Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.

On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.

When you’re happy, dance around and wag your entire body.

No matter how often you’re scolded, don’t buy into the guilt thing and pout . . .run right back and make friends.

Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.

Shiloh Ranch, Calder, ID

1. Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.

2. Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy.

3. When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.

4. When it’s in your best interest, practice obedience.

5. Let others know when they’ve invaded your territory.

6. Take naps and stretch before rising.

7. Run, romp, and play daily.

8. Eat with gusto and enthusiasm.

9. Be loyal.

10. Never pretend to be something you’re not.

11. If what you need lies buried, dig until you find it.

12. When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently.

13. Thrive on attention and let people touch you.

14. Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.

15. On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.

16. When you’re happy, dance around and wag your entire body.

17. No matter how often you’re scolded, don’t buy into the guilt thing and pout . . .run right back and make friends.

18. Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.

We have nothing to do with how much ability we’ve got, or how little, but with what we do with what we have. The man with great talent is apt to be puffed up, and the man with little (talent) to belittle the little. Poor fools! God gives it, much or little. Our part is to be faithful, doing the level best with every bit and scrap. And we will be if Jesus’ spirit controls.

It is strange that, while praying, we seldom ask for change of character, but always a change in circumstance.

Keep the sayings of Christ John 8:51-2

Keep the commandments of Christ John 14:15

Keep the unity of the spirit Ephesians 4:3

Keep unspotted from the world James 1:27

Keep in the love of God Jude 21

Keep the faith 2 Timothy 4:7

Keep pure 1 Timothy 5:22

Keep yourself from idols 1 John 5:21

Keep the body under 1 Corinthians 9:27

Keep the heart diligently Proverbs 4:23

Keep from the paths of the destroyer Psalm 17:4

Our Thinking:

"It's impossible."

"I am too tired."

"Nobody really loves me."

"Nobody really cares for me."

"I cannot go on."

"I cannot figure things out."

"I cannot do it."

"I am not worth it."

"I cannot forgive myself."

"I cannot afford to."

His Thinking:

"All things are possible" Luk 18:27.

"I will give you rest" Mat 11:20-30.

"I love you" Joh 3:16.

"I care for you" 1Pe 5:7.

"My grace is sufficient" 2Co 12:9.

"I will direct your steps" Pro 20:24; Pro 3:6.

"You can do all things" Phi 4:13.

"I am able" 2Co 9:8.

"It will be worth it" Rom 8:28.

"I forgive you" Psa 103:12; 1Jo 1:9.

"I will supply all your needs" Phi 4:19.

There was an old Scotch preacher who was passing a glass factory just before going to church to preach. As a door was ajar, and it was some time till the service, he stepped inside. One of the large furnaces had just been opened. He gazed into the white, blue, and purple mass of liquid flame until it nearly seared his face. As he turned away unaware of anyone being present, he exclaimed, "Oh, man, what will hell be like!" A stoker standing in the shadow heard him. Several nights later at the church a man came up to him. "You don't know me, but the other night when you stepped into the furnace room I heard what you said. Every time I have opened that furnace since then, the words have rung in my mind, 'What will hell be like!' I have come tonight to find out the way of salvation so that I will not have to find out what hell is like." God grant that our witness may lead many others to do the same.

In 1979, a study was done among teenagers in Sweden, who were asked to respond to the statement, “I think the following could give my life more meaning...” Of those surveyed, eighty-seven percent thought that meaning could be found in a good job, eighty-five percent thought it could be found in a marriage partner, and eighty-four percent thought it could be found in sports and recreation. Only fifteen percent thought that reading the Bible and prayer could help, and another fifteen percent indicated that they thought alcohol could help.

About eight percent considered the question of the meaning of life important, yet eighty percent considered it unimportant whether Jesus existed as a man on earth or not. Also, eighty-five percent considered it unimportant whether Jesus is the Son of God or not. A full seventy-five percent concluded that the question of God’s existence is unimportant.

If He should come today

And find my hands so full

Of future plans, however fair,

In which my Saviour has no share,

What would He say?

If He should come today

And find my love so cold,

My faith so very weak and dim

I had not even looked for Him.

What would He say?

If He should come today

And find that I had not told

One soul about my Heavenly Friend

Whose blessings all my way attend,

What would He say?

If He should come today

Would I be glad, quite glad?

Remembering that He died for all

And none through me had heard His call,

What would He say?

H. Luccock asks this stimulating question: “What would it be like to see life as Jesus saw it?” He goes on to say, “Suppose after almost a lifetime of low vision and dull perception, we were given the gift of His vision. Wouldn’t it be something like what happens when a person who is nearly blind, has sight restored? This has happened to people with only 10% vision or less through low-vision rehabilitation clinics.”

He continues, “One day a 35 year-old insurance salesman came to the Vision Rehabilitation Clinic in Providence, Rhode Island. He had only 1% vision since age ten. He had gone through life in a gray shadow. When a pair of magnifier glasses was slipped into place, his jaw dropped in amazement. Then he exploded, ‘Oh praise God, look at what I can see!” After all these years, it’s a miracle, the greatest thing that ever happened!’ Minutes later he phoned his wife and said, ‘Honey, I’m coming home to see what you really look like!”

When asked what we would change about ourselves, more than half of us want to alter our tonnage. Another 32 percent want to doctor our bodies, age, or intelligence. A fifth of us would love to change our height or hair. More than half of us admitted we would rather get run over by a truck than gain 150 pounds.

What are you willing to do for $10,000,000? Two-thirds of Americans polled would agree to at least one, some to several of the following:

Would abandon their entire family (25%)

Would abandon their church (25%)

Would become prostitutes for a week or more (23%)

Would give up their American citizenships (16%)

Would leave their spouses (16%)

Would withhold testimony and let a murderer go free (10%)

Would kill a stranger (7%)

Would put their children up for adoption (3%)

What are you willing to do for $10,000,000? Two-thirds of Americans polled would agree to at least one, some to several of the following:

Would abandon their entire family (25%)

Would abandon their church (25%)

Would become prostitutes for a week or more (23%)

Would give up their American citizenship (16%)

Would leave their spouses (16%)

Would withhold testimony and let a murderer go free (10%)

Would kill a stranger (7%)

Would put their children up for adoption (3%)

You cannot control the length of you life-but you can control its width and depth.

You cannot control the contour of your face-but you can control its expression.

You cannot control the weather -but you can control the atmosphere of your mind.

Why worry about things you cannot control when you can keep yourself busy controlling the things that depend on you?

Tonto and the Lone Ranger were riding through a canyon together when all of a sudden both sides were filled with Indian warriors on horses, dressed for battle. The Lone Ranger turned to Tonto and asked, “What are we going to do?” Tonto replied, “What you mean ‘we,’ Whiteman?”

Be more concerned with your character than with your reputation. Your character is what you really are while your reputation is merely what others think you are.

No phone service for 15 minutes each day.

1.7 million pieces of first class mail lost each day.

35,000 newborn babies dropped by doctors or nurses each year

200,000 people getting the wrong drug prescriptions each year

Unsafe drinking water three days a year.

Three misspelled words on the average page of type.

2 million people would die from food poisoning each year.

In one of his books, A.M. Hunter, the New Testament scholar, relates the story of a dying man who asked his Christian doctor to tell him something about the place to which he was going. As the doctor fumbled for a reply, he heard a scratching at the door, and he had his answer. “Do you hear that?” he asked his patient. “It’s my dog. I left him downstairs, but he has grown impatient, and has come up and hears my voice. He has no notion what is inside this door, but he knows that I am here. Isn’t it the same with you? You don’t know what lies beyond the Door, but you know that your Master is there.”

Imagine a wick that is placed in oil, and then lit. If the oil runs out, the wick burns. As long as there is oil, the wick doesn’t burn. As long as we are living in dependence on the power of the Holy Spirit, we don’t burn out. The question to ask: what’s burning?

Forgive and forget. Easier said than done, right? Well, now studies are showing forgiveness is not only good theology, but good medicine as sell. According to the latest medical and psychological research, forgiving is good for our souls—and our bodies. People who forgive:

benefit from better immune functioning and lower blood pressure.

have better mental health than people who do not forgive.

feel better physically.

have lower amounts of anger and fewer symptoms of anxiety and depression.

maintain more satisfying and long-lasting relationships.

“When we allow ourselves to feel like victims or sit around dreaming up how to retaliate against people who have hurt us, these thought patterns take a toll on our minds and bodies,’ says Michael McCullough, director of research for the National Institute for Healthcare Research and a co-author of To Forgive is Human: How to Put Your Past in the Past (IVP, 1997).