July 5

"Heaven will be the perfection we've always longed for. All the things that made Earth unlovely and tragic will be absent in heaven." -- Billy Graham


How much is a billion? What's the difference between a millionaire and a billionaire?

A million seconds is 13 days.
A billion seconds is 31 years!

A billion minutes ago was just after the time of Christ.
A billion hours ago man had not yet walked on earth.

A billion dollars ago was yesterday at the U.S. Treasury.



Pledge of Allegiance by Red Skelton
As a schoolboy, one of Red Skelton's teachers explained the words and meaning of the Pledge of Allegiance to his class. Skelton later wrote down, and eventually recorded, his recollection of this lecture. It is followed by an observation of his own.

I - Me, an individual, a committee of one.

Pledge - Dedicate all of my worldly good to give without self-pity.

Allegiance - My love and my devotion.

To the Flag - Our standard; Old Glory; a symbol of Courage; and wherever she waves there is respect, because your loyalty has given her a dignity that shouts, Freedom is everybody's job.

of the United - That means that we have all come together.

States - Individual communities that have united into forty-eight great states. Forty-eight individual communities with pride and dignity and purpose. All divided by imaginary boundaries, yet united to a common cause, and that is love of country, of America..

And to the Republic - A Republic - a sovereign state in which power is invested in the representatives chosen by the people to govern. And the government is the people; and it's from the people to the leaders, not from the leaders to the people.

For which it stands

One Nation One Nation - meaning, so blessed by God.

Indivisible - Incapable of being divided.

With Liberty - Which is Freedom; the right of power for one to live his own life, without fears, threats, or any sort of retaliation.

And Justice - The principle, and qualities, of dealing fairly with others.

For All - For All - that means, boys and girls, it's as much your country as it is mine.

Now, let me hear you recite the Pledge of Allegiance:

I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic, for which it stands; one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Since I was a small boy, two states have been added to our country, and two words have been added to the Pledge of Allegiance: Under God.


“When you begin to walk with God, He may permit you to walk by sight more than faith. But after a while, He will begin removing the visible symbols and let you tremble. When that happens, you can be sure that He is about to teach you how to walk by faith.” (Oswald Chambers)

What‘s Wrong in America. “Jesus showed us that the surest road to wisdom is not speculation, reasoning, or reading human books, but by meditating on the Word of God.” (Charles Haddon Spurgeon) [Christian Bookstores have an awful lot of pretty books on the shelves, but too few broken hearts on the altar, too few teary eyes on the Savior.]

Money is never an object; flaunting it is all too frequently the object.

In the end, it's not going to matter how many breaths you took, but how many moments took your breath away...


GOD BLESS AMERICA
"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land" (2 Chron. 7:14).

LAND THAT I LOVE
"Bring them up ... into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey" (Exodus 3:8).

STAND BESIDE HER AND GUIDE HER
"Where can I go from your spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? ... your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast" (Psalm 139:7,10).

THROUGH THE NIGHT WITH A LIGHT FROM ABOVE
"And by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night" (Exodus 13:21). "Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light for my path" (Psalm 119:105).

FROM THE MOUNTAINS, TO THE PRAIRIES,
TO THE OCEANS WHITE WITH FOAM
"When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place" (Psalm 8:3). "The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it" (Psalm 24:1).

GOD BLESS AMERICA, MY HOME SWEET HOME
"And I'll gladly stand up next to you and defend her still today, 'cause there ain't no doubt I love this land. God bless the USA!" ("God Bless the USA" by Lee Greenwood)

You do not have to agree with all that is going on in our country to be proud of your country. Urge your people this weekend to be men and women of prayer, patriotism and great faith ... that is our nation's only hope. God Bless America!


The American Creed By Chuck Colson 7/3/2009
'We Hold These Truths...'
The great British intellectual G. K. Chesterton wrote that “America is the only nation in the world that is founded on [a] creed.”
Think about that for a moment. Other nations were founded on the basis of race, or by the power of kings or emperors who accumulated lands and the peasants who inhabited those lands.
But America was—and is to this day—different. It was founded on a shared belief. Or, as Chesterton said, on a creed.
And what is that creed that sets us apart? It is the eloquent, profound, and simple statement penned by Thomas Jefferson in the Declaration of Independence:
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”
I’ll never forget when I graduated from Brown University during the Korean War. I couldn’t wait to become a Marine officer, to give my life if necessary, to defend that creed. To defend the idea that our rights come from God Himself and are not subject to whims of governments or tyrants. That humans ought to be free to pursue their most treasured hopes and aspirations.
Perhaps some 230 years later, we take these words for granted. But in 1776, they were earth-shaking—indeed, revolutionary.
Yet today, they are in danger of being forgotten altogether. According to Gallup, 66 percent of American adults have no idea that the words, “We hold these truths . . .” come from the Declaration of Independence. Even worse, only 45 percent of college seniors know that the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are proclaimed in the Declaration.
As America grows more and more diverse culturally, religiously, ethnically, it is critical that we re-embrace the American creed.
America has always been a “melting pot.” But what is the pot that holds our multicultural stew together? Chesterton said the pot’s “original shape was traced on the lines of Jeffersonian democracy.” A democracy founded on those self-evident truths expressed in the Declaration of Independence. And as Chesterton remarked, “The pot must not melt.”
Abraham Lincoln understood this so very well. For him, the notion that all men are created equal was “the electric cord in that Declaration that links the hearts of patriotic and liberty-loving men together, that will link those patriotic hearts as long as the love of freedom exists in the minds of men throughout the world.”
So tomorrow, go to the Fourth of July parade. Go to the neighborhood barbecue and enjoy the hot dogs and apple pie.
But here’s an idea for you. Why not take time out at the picnic to read the Declaration of Independence aloud with your friends and your neighbors.
Listen—and thrill—to those words that bind us together as a nation of freedom-loving people: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
These are the words Americans live for and, if necessary, die for.

June 28

I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen.
Not only because I see it, but because I see everything by it. C S Lewis

"The framers of our Constitution meant we were to have freedom of religion, not freedom from religion." -- Billy Graham

"Inch by inch, life's a cinch. Yard by yard, life is hard." -- Robert Schuller

"Success is always temporary. When all is said and done, the only thing you'll have left is your character" -- Vince Gill

"Begin doing what you want to do now. We are not on this earth for eternity. We have only this moment, sparkling like a star in our hand and melting like a snowflake." -- Marie Beynon Ray (Adapted)

The Wounded Healers
With all its imperfections, sins, blemishes, and warts, the Church of Jesus Christ is the intended healer of the world's wounds. Christians are called to be compassionate, wounded healers.

Perhaps, Henri Nouwen, the Roman Catholic theologian, has said this better than anyone else. The author of many books, Nouwen speaks of Christians as "wounded healers" who have compassion.

Compassion is not pity. Pity lets us stay at a distance. It is condescending.
Compassion is not sympathy. Sympathy is for superiors over inferiors.
Compassion is not charity. Charity is for the rich to continue in their status over the poor.
Compassion is born of God. It means entering into the other person's problems. It means taking on the burdens of the other. It means standing in the other person's shoes. It is the opposite of professionalism. It is the humanizing way to deal with people. "Just as bread without love can bring war instead of peace, professionalism without compassion will turn forgiveness into a gimmick."

Since you cannot do good to all, you are to pay special regard to those who, by the accidents of time, or place, or circumstances, are brought into closer connection with you. --Augustine


Flesh Become Word
The word must become flesh, but the flesh also must become word. It is not enough for us, as human beings, just to live. We also must give words to what we are living. If we do not speak what we are living, our lives lose their vitality and creativity. When we see a beautiful view, we search for words to express what we are seeing. When we meet a caring person, we want to speak about that meeting. When we are sorrowful or in great pain, we need to talk about it. When we are surprised by joy, we want to announce it! Through the word, we appropriate and internalize what we are living. The word makes our experience truly human.

Food for Thought...
I am your constant companion.
I am your greatest asset or heaviest burden.
I will push you up to success or down to disappointment.
I am at your command.
Half the things you do might just as well be turned over to me,
For I can do them quickly, correctly, and profitably.
I am easily managed; just be firm with me.
Those who are great, I have made great.
Those who are failures, I have made failures.
I am not a machine, though I work with the precision of a
machine and the intelligence of a person.
You can run me for profit, or you can run me for ruin.
Show me how you want it done. Educate me. Train me.
Lead me. Reward me.
And I will then...do it automatically.
I am your servant.
Who am I?
I am a habit.

"It is a fundamental principle in the life and walk of faith that we must always be prepared for the unexpected when we are dealing with God." - D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Qualification for the Gift of the Gospel
Jesus came to raise the dead. The only qualification for the gift of the Gospel is to be dead. You don't have to be smart. You don't have to be good. You don't have to be wise. You don't have to be wonderful. You don't have to be anything...you just have to be dead. That's it. Robert Farrar Capon

Despite the "Do Not Touch" signs, a museum was having no success in keeping patrons from touching--and soiling--priceless furniture and art. But the problem evaporated overnight when a clever museum employee replaced the signs with ones that read: "Caution: Wash Hands After Touching!"

"Change is inevitable except from a vending machine."

"The shin bone is a device for finding furniture in a dark room."


"The 50-50-90 rule: Any time you have a 50-50 chance of getting something right, there's a 90% probability you'll get it wrong."

A young lady was soaking up the sun's rays on a Florida beach when a little boy in his swimming trunks, carrying a towel, came up to her and asked her, "Do you believe in God?" She was surprised by the question but she replied, "Why, yes, I do." Then he asked her: "Do you go to church every Sunday?" Again, her answer was "Yes!" He then asked: "Do you read your Bible and pray everyday?" Again she said, "Yes!" By now her curiosity was very much aroused. The little lad sighed with relief and said, "Will you hold my quarter while I go in swimming?" Are we who claim to be followers of Christ always trustworthy?

"He who shall introduce into public affairs the principles of primitive Christianity will change the face of the world." Benjamin Franklin

By Voltaire: Common sense is not so common.
"A fine is a tax for doing wrong. A tax is a fine for doing well."
Silence is more eloquent than words. Thomas Carlyle

** When Bishop Booth, the Episcopal bishop up in Vermont, died--he was a young man, but he led a beautiful Christian life--the nurse said, "I know where the bishop is tonight. His soul is in hell." A woman who heard those remarks was absolutely stunned into silence. She stood there quiet, and the nurse went on, "That's the only place that the bishop would be happy--where there were so many people who needed help." The bishop was Jesus' man, for Jesus sought hell, and Jesus still hungers for sinners. -- Bruce W. Thielemann, "Telltale Tears"

** The purpose of the church, financially, is not to accumulate as much money as possible but to give away as much as possible. -- Jerry Hayner

June 21

Jesus doesn’t promise calm seas. But He does promise to calm us in every sea.

“Insanity is doing the same thing over and over, and expecting a different result."-- Albert Einstein

The Boat Is a Symbol for the Church
The boat is a symbol for the church. It has been that way from the beginning. The ship has always been a symbol for the church. The logo for the ecumenical movement in our day is the symbol of a ship upon the sea. The Roman Catholic Church refers to itself as "the bark of Peter" which means "the ship of Peter." Architecturally, that part of the sanctuary in which all of you sit is called the "nave." Up front we have the chancel. Out back we have the narthex. That's "churchspeak." But where you are is the nave. The word "nave" is obviously linked, linguistically, to the word "naval." Literally, "nave" is the Latin word for "ship." Even as we sit here in church, we are in the boat with the disciples. And, as Al Gurley is fond of pointing out, if you look up at the ceiling, you can see the ship's prow, albeit upside down.

The father of a daughter is nothing but a high-class hostage. A father turns a stony face to his sons, berates them, shakes his antlers, paws the ground, snorts, runs them off into the underbrush, but when his daughter puts her arm over his shoulder and says, “Daddy, I need to ask you something,” he is a pat of butter in a hot frying pan.
-- Garrison Keillor

Four Things You Cannot Recover
The stone ... after it is thrown.
The word ... after it is said.
The occasion ... after the loss.
The time ... after it is gone.

Remember ... "Only one life, 'twill soon be past. Only what's done for Christ will last."

Have you ever tried to accomplish a task using the wrong tool? It’s like trying to turn a slotted screw with a Phillips’ screwdriver! They don’t fit, the screw doesn’t turn. You need the right tool to match the requirements of the job. Building a household of faith is much the same way. Our Scripture lessons for today tell us God needs willing hearts, attitudes of reconciliation, and “just the right person with the right gifts for the right job.” You may wonder if you possess the right tools/skills for “faith-building” - you do, God has already given them to you. So stop hitting that nail with the handle of the screwdriver!


My Dad's Hands
Bedtime came, we were settling down,
I was holding one of my lads.
As I grasped him so tight, I saw a strange sight:
My hands. . .they looked like my dad's!

I remember them well, those old gnarled hooks,
there was always a cracked nail or two.
And thanks to a hammer that strayed from its mark,
his thumb was a beautiful blue!

They were rough, I remember, incredibly tough,
as strong as a carpenter's vice.
But holding a scared little boy at night,
they seemed to me awfully nice!

The sight of those hands - how impressive it was
in the eyes of his little boy.
Other dads' hands were cleaner, it seemed
(the effects of their office employ).

I gave little thought in my formative years
of the reason for Dad's raspy mitts:
The love in the toil, the dirt and the oil,
rusty plumbing that gave those hands fits!

Thinking back, misty-eyed, and thinking ahead,
when one day my time is done.
The torch of love in my own wrinkled hands
will pass on to the hands of my son.

I don't mind the bruises, the scars here and there
or the hammer that just seemed to slip.
I want most of all when my son takes my hand,
to feel that love lies in the grip.

June 14

Do not ask the Lord to guide your footsteps, if you are not willing to move your feet!!

In 1990, 86% of Americans claimed to be Christian and in 2009 the percentage of the faithful had dropped to 75%. Christianity is losing.

It is easier to preach ten sermons than it is to live one.

"I am beginning to learn that it is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all." -- Laura Ingalls Wilder

"True repentance is to cease from sin." -- Ambrose of Milan

"They may forget what you said, but they will never forget how you made them feel." -- Carl. W. Buechner

"You cannot reason with a hungry belly; it has no ears." -- Greek proverb

"Kindness makes a fellow feel good, whether it's being done to him or by him." -- Frank A. Clark

"Others can stop you at times--however, no one can stop you permanently--only you can do that." -- Ray Lammie

"One of life's most painful moments comes when we must admit that we didn't do our homework, that we are not prepared." -- Merlin Olsen

"It is far easier to leave angry words unspoken than to mend the heart those words have broken." -- Author Unknown

So far I've done alright, God. I haven't gossiped, haven't lost my temper, haven't been greedy, grumpy, nasty, selfish, or overindulgent. I'm very happy about this. But in a few minutes, Lord, I'm going to get out of bed. And from then on, I'm going to need a lot more help.

The reason most people never reach their goals is that they don't define them, or even seriously consider them as believable or achievable. Winners can tell you where they are going, what they plan to do along the way, and who will be sharing the adventure with them. - Denis Waitley

"Leadership is based on inspiration, not domination; on cooperation, not intimidation."-William Arthur Wood, author

"I have to have a raise," the man said to his boss. "There are three other companies after me."
"Is that so?" asked the manager. "What other companies are after you?"
"The electric company, the telephone company, and the gas company."

We never know what a tiny seed, planted at the right time (a word of encouragement, a deed of kindness), might become. "If you cannot pray like Peter, if you cannot preach like Paul, you can tell the love of Jesus, and say he died for all." On Father's Day next Sunday, if we are lucky, we remember our own fathers' love and support. Chances are it's not the big things that come to mind, but the everyday expressions of love which grew in us (like seeds) as we matured. Little things cast long shadows in the Kingdom of God.

I was getting to the point of my conversation when suddenly my train of thought pulled out of the station, leaving me on the platform.

My bathroom scales are also beginning to show signs of inflation.

It is so like our flesh to want to enjoy all the blessings and the benefits of our inheritance in Christ but not want to have to deny ourselves, make sacrifices, practice spiritual disciplines, or wage spiritual warfare.
If you’re not content with what God has already provided for you, you won’t be content with the things you think you want.
Don’t expect God to give you more if you haven’t taken possession of what He’s already given you.

Suspicious Delivery - There was an unexpected knock on my door, and like I always do I first opened the peephole and asked, "Who's there?"
"Parcel post, ma'am. I have a package that needs a signature."
"Where's the package?" I asked suspiciously. The deliveryman held it up. "Could I see some ID?" I said, still not convinced.
"Lady," he replied wearily, "if I wanted to break into your house, I'd probably just use these." And he pulled out the keys I had left in the door.

People grow and mature at different rates.
Thomas Edison's teacher said he could never amount to anything and advised his mother to take him out of school.
Winston Churchill was admitted to school in the lowest level classes and never moved out of the lowest group in all the years he attended Harrow.
Albert Einstein seemed so slow and dull that his parents feared that he was mentally deficient. One observer has said, "Great minds and high talent, in most cases, cannot be hurried and, like healthy plants, grow slowly."

A pastor was giving a lesson to a group of children on the 23rd Psalm. He noticed that one of the little boys seemed disquieted by the phrase "Surely, goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life..."
"What's wrong with that, Johnny?" the pastor asked.
"Well," answered Johnny, "I understand about having goodness and mercy, for God is good. But I'm not sure I'd like Shirley following me around all the time."

"When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us." -- Helen Keller

"Before you begin a thing, remind yourself that difficulties and delays quite impossible to foresee are ahead. You can only see one thing clearly, and that is your goal. Form a mental vision of that and cling to it through thick and thin." -- Kathleen Norris

"Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out." -- Art Linkletter

"Courage is fear holding on a minute longer." -- Unknown

"While your children are growing up, they might forget some of the sermons you've preached or act like they're not interested in the things of God. But they'll never forget your example. Live above reproach and let the light of Jesus shine brightly through you." -- Gloria Copeland

"True repentance hates the sin, and not merely the penalty; and it hates the sin most of all because it has discovered and felt God's love." -- W.M. Taylor


A Salvation Army lassie was informed by a policeman that a local ordinance would prevent her from ringing her bells to invite contributions. But such a crude law could not stop such an inventive woman. The next day she did a brisker business than ever as she waved one sign and then another in the air. The signs said "ding" and "dong."

Once Upon a Time Once upon a time there was a bunch of tiny frogs who arranged a running competition. The goal was to reach the top of a very high tower.
A big crowd had gathered around the tower to see the race and cheer on the contestants. The race began. No one in the crowd really believed that the tiny frogs would reach the top of the tower. You heard statements such as:
"Oh, WAY too difficult!" "They will NEVER make it to the top." "Not a chance that they will succeed. The tower is too high!"
The tiny frogs began collapsing one by one, except for those, who in a fresh tempo, were climbing higher and higher. The crowd continued to yell, "It is too difficult! No one will make it!" More tiny frogs got tired and gave up. But ONE continued higher and higher and higher. This one wouldn't give up!
At the end everyone else had given up climbing the tower, except for the one tiny frog who, after a big effort, was the only one who reached the top!
Then all of the other tiny frogs naturally wanted to know how this one frog managed to do it. A contestant asked the tiny frog how he had found the strength to succeed and reach the goal.
It turned out that the winner was DEAF!
The wisdom of this story is: Never listen to other people's tendencies to be negative or pessimistic, because they take your most wonderful dreams and wishes away from you -- the ones you have in your heart!
Always think of the power words have. "There's life and death in the power of the tongue" (Proverbs 18:21). Because everything you hear and read will affect your actions! Therefore: ALWAYS be.... POSITIVE! And above all: Be DEAF when people tell YOU that you cannot fulfill your dreams! Always think: God and I can do this! If you fall down 10 times, stand up 10 times.

June 7

~Commentator Paul Harvey aired this prayer on his radio program, 'The Rest of the Story,' and received a larger response to this program than any other he has ever aired.
'Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask your forgiveness and to seek your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, 'Woe to those who call evil good,' but that is exactly what we have done. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values. We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery. We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare. We have killed our unborn and called it choice. We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable. We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self esteem. We have abused power and called it politics. We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called it ambition. We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression. We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment. Search us, Oh God, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from every sin and set us free. Amen!'

Did you know that a glass of hippopotamus milk contains eighty calories, or that only five percent of people are able to dream in color?

- I got a check marked "Insufficient Funds" back from my bank ... in these uncertain economic times, I had to call and ask if they were talking about themselves or me.
- If I melted a whole lot of dry ice, could I swim in it and not get wet?
- One of my favorite bookstores went out of business. The owner posted a sign on his door that read, "Words failed me."
- Somebody once asked me how many books I've read in my lifetime. I don't know. I'm not dead, yet.
- My Dad once bought me a really cheap dictionary. I couldn't find the words to thank him.
- Knowledge is power, but it still won't run my appliances.
- There are three types of furniture: Antique, modern, and comfortable.
- I think I know why cows always look so sad. They've finally figured out they are actually TWO of the four food groups.
- I walked three miles this morning. But only because I forgot where I parked.
- An apple a day may keep the doctor away, but an onion a day keeps *everybody* away.

A Texas rancher and his wife were arguing while touring Paris. They were hardly speaking to each other after being seated in a fancy French restaurant for dinner.
When the waiter arrived, the rancher said," I'll have a BIG THICK PORTERHOUSE STEAK." The waiter replied,"Monsieur, what about Ze Mad Cow?" He said, "She'll
have a salad."

The secret of happiness is not in doing what one likes to do, but in liking what one has to do.

I think I began learning long ago that those who are happiest are those who do the most for others. Booker T. Washington (1856-1915)

To avoid criticism do nothing, say nothing, be nothing. - Elbert Hubbard

I am reading a very interesting book about anti-gravity. I just can't put it down.


"Insanity is doing the same thing over and over, and expecting a different result."-- Albert Einstein

DO YOU FEEL TIRED?
If you're an adult of average weight here is what you accomplish in 24 hours:
Your heart beats 103,689 times,
Your blood travels 168,000,000 miles,
You breathe 23,040 times,
You inhale 438 cubic feet of air,
You eat 3/4 pounds of food,
You drink 2.9 quarts of liquids,
You speak 4,800 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.... Do you feel tired?

"People often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing--that's why we recommend it daily." -- Zig Ziglar

"A skeptic won't take KNOW for an answer." -- Unknown

How come it takes so little time for a child who is afraid of the dark to become a teenager who wants to stay out all night?


" I've read the last page of the Bible. It's all going to turn out all right."

God has two thrones - one in the highest heavens; the other is in the lowliest heart.

"What lies behind us and what lies between us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us." --Oliver Wendell Holmes

"Never let the fear of striking out get in your way." -- Babe Ruth, baseball player

"The greatest thing in the world is not where we stand but in which direction we are going." -- Unknown

"You are 100% emotional in everything you think, feel and decide. You decide emotionally and justify logically." -- Brian Tracy

"If you don't have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over?" -- John Wooden, basketball coach

"Leadership is based on inspiration, not domination; on cooperation, not intimidation." -- William Arthur Wood, author

"God is a busy worker, but he loves help." — Basque Proverb

I am reading a very interesting book about anti-gravity. I just can't put it down.

May 31

Charles Schultz, the artist who provides us with the Peanuts cartoons, is one of my favorite theologians. That ought to tell you something about the kind of seminary president I am. In one of his cartoon series, he has Snoopy, that hound of heaven, saying of Woodstock, that would-be bird of paradise; "Someday, Woodstock is going to be a great eagle." Then in the next frame he says, "He is going to soar thousands of feet above the ground." Woodstock takes off into the air and as Snoopy looks on he sees the bird upside down whirling around crazily. So he has second thoughts. In the third frame Snoopy says, "Well, maybe hundreds of feet above the ground " But hardly had the words gotten out of his mouth when Woodstock plummets to the ground and lies there, on his back looking dazed, and Snoopy has to conclude, "Maybe he will be one of those eagles who just walks around."
Isn't it amazing - how quickly we settle for less than is promised, and for far less than is possible? Charles Schultz,


The Fruit of the Spirit Do we have the fruit of the Spirit? Can someone coming into our door to visit for the first time recognize these traits in us?

Love: - Do we love each other, and do we love those who are different from us? Do we love and welcome visitors, no matter who they are? Do we try to make their acquaintance, so that we can love them? Do we put their comfort above our own?

Goodness: Peter tells us (2 Peter 1:5) to support our faith with goodness, and goodness with knowledge. Our salvation is the result of God's goodness. Likewise, other persons should benefit as a result of our goodness. Our mission work should clearly show our faith in God's goodness.

Peace: Is there peace between us, and peace within us? Can someone tell by being with us, that we have a peaceful soul, based upon God as the source of all that we have?

Faithfulness: - Is our steadfastness to Christ's church based upon an enduring loyalty that is true to God, no matter how we feel about the pastor, the district, the conference, the women's group, the organist, or any other facet of our organization?

Gentleness: - Do we exhibit care and protection for all of God's creation? Are we gentle with the environment, with each other, and with ourselves?

Joy: Do we look joyous to the outsider? Do we feel joy inside? True joy in being a child of God should be able to override all unhappiness and bitterness we feel, and should be reflected in our total involvement in our worship.

Kindness: - This action word can be directed outwardly or inwardly. Do we show compassion and generosity to others and ourselves?

Patience: - How many of us are willing to let others (and ourselves) come along at each one's own pace? How many of us can forgive seven times seventy?

Self-Control: - This is one of the hardest, and may include all of the others. This requires an inner discipline only manageable with the grace of God's Spirit to sustain us in our trials. Do we constantly pray for help in this area, and constantly call on God to help us? If not, we should.


On a 95 degree day, the interior of a parked car can reach:
Dashboard 181 degrees (temperature to cook poultry)
Seats 159 degrees (temperature to cook ground beef)
Steering wheel 159 degrees (temperature to cook medium rare beef)

"Lots of people think they're charitable if they give away their old clothes and things they don't want. It isn't charity to give away things you want to get rid of and it isn't a sacrifice to do things you don't mind doing." -Myrtle Reed, author (1874-1911)

The Purpose of Coffee Hour Coffee was always served at our church after the sermon. One Sunday our minister asked one of the smaller members of the congregation if he knew why we had coffee hour. Without hesitating, the youngster replied, "To wake people up before they have to drive home."


“Cars the Disciples Would Drive”
1. Simon Peter ("Bubba, the Rock"): Chevy truck, most likely an S-10 Extended Cab, 4x4 with lots of extras.
2. Andrew: Dodge Grand Caravan
3. James, son of Zebedee: Porsche
4. John: 1965 Mustang
5. Philip: Ford Taurus
6. Bartholomew or Nathaniel: Toyota Camry
7. Thomas Didymus: VW Beetle
8. Matthew: Lexus
9. Simon the Zealot: pre-owned Jeep Wrangler
10. James, son of Alphaeus: used Chevy Impala, neutral colored.
11. Thaddaeus: Buick LeSabre or Honda Accord
12. Judas Iscariot: DeLorean

Each moment is a moment God has given us, and it is there, in that place, and no place else, that we will at that moment find him. --Ronald Wilson

As you know, the show Touched By An Angel always ended with a white dove and when I see that, it gives ME hope--hope completely divorced from what the program was just about. I see the dove and I am reminded of WHO lives in me! Why does this happen? I think it is part of the heritage of my faith, being brought up in church where a white dove was the symbol of the Holy Spirit--a visual link to an invisible God. I am convinced also that I probably am not alone in this kind of response. Even to the unchurched and non-believer, there is a gentleness in the white bird, and a strength when we see her soar on the winds. There is comfort in such a sight! In the words of Paul Hovey, “The word Comforter as applied to the Holy Spirit needs to be translated by some vigorous term. Literally, it means "with strength." Jesus promised his followers that "The Strengthener" would be with them. This promise is no lullaby for the fainthearted. It is a blood transfusion for courageous living.” No wonder the ancient church released hundreds of white doves [or pigeons] when they gathered to celebrate the Feast of the Pentecost every year.

I drive way too fast to worry about cholesterol.

Money talks.......but things have been reeeeeeal quiet around our house lately.

In my kid's American History class, they are studying the 50's. She's taking me for show and tell tomorrow.

A young father tried to hush an exuberant young daughter who stomped around a church sanctuary on a weekday afternoon. "Please be quiet. This is God's house." With that, the curious girl pushed open the sanctuary door, peered around, and then announced, "Don't worry. God's not home today."


Robert Schuller tells of a winter at home, when his dad needed firewood. He found a dead tree and sawed it down. In the spring, to his dismay, he found new shoots had sprouted from the trunk. He said to his son, "I thought sure it was dead; the leaves had dropped, the twigs snapped, it seemed as if there was no life there. But now I see there is still life at the taproot of the old tree." He looked at his boy and said, "Bob, don't forget this important lesson. Never cut down a tree in the wintertime. Never make a negative decision in a low time. Never make your most important decisions when you are in your worst mood. Wait. Be patient. The spring will come." And so, the disciples waited 24 hours, then another day, then a week, and now it has been 10 days, but still they waited - waited and prayed!

Thought For The Day: ©¿©¬
"Vision without action is a daydream. Action without vision is a nightmare."

"Pile your troubles on God's shoulders – he'll carry your load and help you out." - Ps. 55:22 (MSG)

Those who love in the Lord never see each other for the last time. - German Proverb


Whoever enjoys his life is doing the Creator's will. -- Jewish Proverb

"Behind every sin is a lie of unbelieving. When you sin, at that moment, you think you're doing what is best for you. You think you're doing the right thing, but you've been deceived. When your kids do something dumb, at that moment, they think what they're doing is smart, but it's dumb. The Bible tells us that Satan deceives us."

Definition: Marriage is the process of finding out what kind of man your wife would have preferred.
Marriage is a relationship in which one person is always right, and the other is a husband.

"We always have time for the things we put first." – Paul Johnson

"Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds you plant." -- Robert Louis Stevenson

Of all the things that matter, that really and truly matter, working more efficiently and getting more done, is not one of them." -- Mike Dooley


"The task ahead of us is never as great as the Power behind us." -- Unknown

Pun of the Day My rechargeable batteries are revolting.

"Your thinking is simply a reflection...of your heart." -- Doug Firebaugh

"When you give someone a book, you don't give him just paper, ink, and glue. You give him the possibility of a whole new life." -- Christopher Morley, 1890-1957, Novelist, Journalist and Poet

"A man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still." -- Unknown

"Out of clutter, find Simplicity. From discord, find Harmony. In the middle of difficulty lies Opportunity." -- Albert Einstein

It's one thing for Muhammad Ali to float like a butterfly in a boxing ring, but on airplanes, seat belts are required. Regarding one particular flight he took, Ali says in his book, "When the flight attendant asked me to put a seat belt on, I told her that Superman didn't need a seat belt. "She smiled at me and said, 'Superman don't need no plane, either.'"

Instead of seeing co-incidences, we need to see God-incidences in order to benefit from God's presence and help.

Pebble in the Water
Drop a pebble in the water, just a splash, and it is gone,
But there's half a hundred ripples circling on and on and on;
Spreading, spreading from the center, flowing out into the sea,
But there isn't any way of telling where the end is going to be.
Drop a pebble in the water; in a minute you forget,
But there's little waves a-flowing, and there's ripples circling yet,
And there's little ripples flowing, to a great big wave have grown.
And you've disturbed a mighty river just by dropping in a stone.

Drop an unkind word or gesture; in a minute it is gone,
But there's half a hundred ripples circling on and on and on;
They keep spreading, spreading, spreading from the center as they go,
And there isn't any way to stop them once you start them on to flow.
Drop an unkind word or gesture, in a minute you forget,
But there's little waves a-flowing, and there's ripples circling yet,
And perhaps in some sad heart a mighty wave of tears you've stirred,
And disturbed a life that's happy when you dropped that unkind word.

Drop a word of cheer and kindness; just a flash and it is gone,
But there's half a hundred ripples, circling on and on and on,
Bearing hope and joy and comfort on each splashing, dashing wave,
'Til you wouldn't believe the volume of the one kind word you gave.
Drop a word of cheer and kindness; in a minute you forget,
But there's gladness still a-swelling and there's joy a-circling yet,
And you've rolled a wave of comfort, whose sweet music can be heard
Over miles and miles of water, just by dropping a kind word.
-- Author Unknown.

"Your life is a reflection of your thoughts. If you change your thinking, you change your life." -- Brian Tracy


A Polish immigrant went to the DMV to apply for a driver's license. First, of course, he had to take an eyesight test. The optician showed him a card with the letters:
'C Z W I X N O S T A C Z.'
"Can you read this?" the optician asked. "Read it?" the Polish guy replied, "I know the guy."

The church is the place where people from all diverse tribes and nations are affirmed in their magnificent variety. The church is a community where people can be what they are, and do what they do best.

Nowadays people can be divided into three classes - the Haves, the Have-Nots, and the Have-Not-Paid-For-What-They Haves.

May 24

“We all have dreams. But in order to make dreams into reality, it takes an awful lot of determination, dedication, self-discipline, and effort.” – Jesse Owens

Do you want your eternity with or without God?

"Somebody just gave me a shower radio. Thanks a lot. Do you really want music in the shower? I guess there's no better place to dance than a slick surface next to a glass door." - Jerry Seinfeld

"Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger men. Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers. Pray for powers equal to your tasks." -- Phillips Brooks

There's only one way to succeed in anything, and that is to give it everything.
Vince Lombardi (1913-1970) Football coach

“Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls, and looks like work." -- Thomas Alva Edison

"Every man is the architect of his own fortune." -- Appius Claudius

"Your own resolution to success is more important than any other one thing." -- Abraham Lincoln

"Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be." -- Abraham Lincoln

"What counts is not necessarily the size of the dog, but the size of the fight in the dog." -- Unknown

"Knowledge is power, but enthusiasm pulls the switch." -- Ivern Ball

"Perseverance is a great element of success. If you only knock long enough and loud enough at the gate, you are sure to wake up somebody." -- Henry Wadsworth

"The best way to find a helping hand is at the end of your own arm. If our community doesn’t help itself, who will?" -- Rena Hull


Our culture puts a premium on speed, deifying this notion that faster is better, that you must fill every single moment with activity. There's a powerful taboo that makes "slow" a dirty word. In this hyped-up world, we need to keep an eye on our personal speedometers- it's very easy to do things fast just because everything else around you is going fast, without even considering whether or not it makes sense.
Americans' natural tendency is to go fast, perhaps because the U.S. is a young country with a dynamic frontier history. That restlessness informs the American psyche, on the work front in particular: Working hours have come down everywhere except in the United States, where they keep going up! But working such long hours puts a squeeze on everything else.


Knock the "t" off the "can't." George Reeves (1914-1959) Actor

"There are three kinds of givers -- the flint, the sponge and the honeycomb. To get anything out of a flint you must hammer it. And then you get only chips and sparks. To get water out of a sponge you must squeeze it, and the more you use pressure, the more you will get. But the honeycomb just overflows with its own sweetness. Which kind of giver are you?" - Unknown

A Church Is a Family Charles E. Jefferson once described the difference between an audience and a church. He said, "An audience is a crowd. A church is a family. An audience is a gathering. A church is a fellowship. An audience is a collection. A church is an organism. An audience is a heap of stones. A church is a temple." And he concludes, "Preachers are ordained not to attract an audience, but to build a church." I hope that everyone in this room understands that critical difference. If the Lion's club or the Kiwanis club is torn with dissension, it is a shame. But when the church of Jesus Christ is in turmoil, it is a tragedy. Christ depends on us.

To clasp the hands in prayer is the beginning of an uprising against the disorder of the world. Karl Barth

"Be My Witnesses." The first command Jesus gave us was "Follow me!" The greatest commandment Jesus gave us was "Love the Lord your God and love your neighbor and love each other, too." The last commandment Jesus gave before he was taken from our sight was, "Be my witnesses."

"When written in Chinese the word 'crisis' is composed of two characters. One represents danger, and the other represents opportunity."



EACH DAY I CHOOSE - BY MAX LUCADO

It's quiet. It's early. My coffee is hot.
The sky is still black. The world is still asleep.
The day is coming.
In a few moments, the day will arrive.

It will roar down the track with the rising of the sun. The stillness of the dawn will be exchanged for the noise of the day. The calm of solitude will be replaced by the pounding of the human race. The refuge of the early morning will be invaded by decisions to be made and deadlines to be met.

For the next twelve hours I will be exposed to
the day's demands. It is now I must make a choice.

Because of Calvary, I'm free to choose.
And so I choose.

I CHOOSE LOVE…
No occasion justifies hatred;
no injustice warrants bitterness. I choose love.
Today I will love God and what God loves.

I CHOOSE JOY…
I will invite my God to be the God of circumstance.
I will refuse the temptation to be cynical…
the tool of the lazy thinker. I will refuse to see
people as anything less than human beings,
created by God. I will refuse to see any problem as anything less than an opportunity to see God.

I CHOOSE PEACE…
I will live forgiven. I will forgive so that I may live.

I CHOOSE PATIENCE…
I will overlook the inconveniences of the world.
Instead of cursing the one who takes my place, I'll invite him to do so. Rather than complain that the wait is too long, I will thank God for a moment to pray. Instead of clenching my fist at new assignments, I will face them with joy and courage.

I CHOOSE KINDNESS…
I will be kind to the poor, for they are alone.
I will be kind to the rich, for they are afraid.
And kind to the unkind, for such is how God
has treated me.

I CHOOSE GOODNESS…
I will go without a dollar before I take a dishonest one. I will be overlooked before I will boast. I will confess before I will accuse. I choose goodness.

I CHOOSE FAITHFULNESS…
Today I will keep my promises.
My debtors will not regret their trust. My associates will not question my word. My wife will not question my love. And my children will never fear that their father will not come home.

I CHOOSE GENTLENESS…
Nothing is won by force. I choose to be gentle.
If I raise my voice, may it be only in praise.
If I clench my fist, may it only be in prayer.
If I make a demand, may it only be of myself.
I am a spiritual being…

After this body is dead, my spirit will soar.
I refuse to let what will rot rule the eternal.
I choose self-control. I will be drunk only by joy.
I will be impassioned only by my faith.
I will be influenced only by God.
I will be taught only by Christ.
I CHOOSE SELF-CONTROL.

Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
To these I commit my day.
If I succeed, I will give thanks.
If I fail, I will seek His grace.
And then, when this day is done, I will place my head on my pillow and rest.

Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23 NIV
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Prayer: Lord, help me each day to choose the attitudes that are pleasing to you. Amen

May 17, 2009

Bibles that are falling apart usually belong to people who are not.

A weak faith is weakened by predicaments and catastrophes,
whereas a strong faith is strengthened by them. Victor Frankl (1905 - 1997)

On Conscience: There's no pillow as soft as a clear conscience.

Your conscience is a little triangle in your heart. It acts like a pinwheel. When you're good it does not rotate. When you're bad, it turns around and the corners hurt a lot. If you keep on being bad, the corners eventually wear off, and when the little triangle spins around it doesn't hurt anymore.

If you try to imitate Christ the world will praise you;
if you become Christlike it will hate you.

A husband is someone who takes out the trash and gives the impression he just cleaned the whole house.

90% of being smart is knowing what you're dumb at.

A yer ago I kudnt spel jeanyus now I are won.

Plant a word in the mind, and you will reap an act.
Plant the act and you will reap a habit.
Plant a habit and you will reap a character.
Plant a character and you will reap a nature.
Plant a nature and you will reap a destiny. Unknown

The average Christian is so cold and contented with his wretched condition that there is no vacuum of desire into which the blessed Spirit can rush in satisfying fullness. A.W. Tozer

• Men Want More Hymns, Less Hugging in Church
Sixty percent of men do not like flowers and embroidered banners in church, according to a survey of 400 readers of United Kingdom's Sorted, a Christian magazine for men. The new survey implied that men are uncomfortable with physical contact, such as holding hands, and with activities such as sitting in circles to share their feelings. It also suggested that men who go to church would like less hugging and holding hands and more singing of hymns and "proclamational" songs. Some hymns likely to prove a hit with male worshippers are: Onward Christian Soldiers, And Can It Be, Guide Me O Thy Great Redeemer, Amazing Grace and Be Thou My Vision. [ChristianPost.com]

"People almost invariably arrive at their beliefs, not on the basis of proof but on the basis of what they find attractive." -- Blaise Pascal

Definitions of Friendship
A Middle School English teacher asked her class one day to write imaginative definitions of a friend. One student said, "A friend is a pair of open arms in a society of armless people." Another said, "A friend is a warm bedroll on a cold and frosty night." Others said: "A friend is a lively polka in the midst of a dreary musical concert." (What? No rock 'n' roll?) "A friend is a mug of hot coffee on a damp, cloudy day." "A friend is a beautiful orchard in the middle of the desert." "A friend is a stiff drink when you've just had a terrible shock." (How does a middle schooler know that?) "A friend is a hot bath after you have walked 20 miles on a dusty road." Lovely thoughts. Mark Twain said, "The holy passion of friendship is of so sweet and steady and loyal and enduring a nature that it will last through a whole lifetime if not asked to lend money!"

"What is beautiful is not always good, but what is good is always beautiful." -- Unknown

"I don't know what your destiny will be, but one thing I know: The only ones among you who will be really happy are those who sought and found out how to serve." -- Albert Schweitzer

"All the flowers of all the tomorrows are in the seeds of today." -- Indian Proverb

"How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving, and tolerant with the weak…because in your life you will have been all of these." -- George Washington Carver

“The greatest discovery of this generation is that a human being can alter their life by altering their attitude.” -- William James

The literal translation of the word, 'religion'. Latin ... re ligios... meaning ... return to bondage."
This is another reason why I hate religion ... but am totally sold on real Christianity. Religion, as another has said, is man's search for God, but true Christianity is God's search for man in giving his Son, Jesus Christ, to come to earth dressed in a garment of human flesh to die on the cross to save us from our sins.

A British publication once offered a prize for the best definition of a friend. Among the thousands of answers received were the following:
"One who multiplies joys, divides grief, and whose honesty is inviolable."
"One who understands our silence."
"A volume of sympathy bound in cloth."
"A watch that beats true for all time and never runs down."
The winning definition read: "A friend is the one who comes in when the whole world has gone out."

The Give Away Eagle
In Native American cultures the Turkey is a highly honored bird; it is referred to as the give away Eagle. In the turkey's death is found food for life, feathers for decorating, and quills for various uses. The turkey symbolized the sacrifice of self for others; and tribal members participated in dances where they would be prepared to give away all they had to benefit the whole of the People. The notion of real friendship-of self-sacrifice for other is a value of highest esteem in most cultures and religions.


INTERESTING QUIZ
1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.
2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.
3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America contest.
4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer prize.
5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor and actress.
6. Name the last decade's worth of World Series winners.
How did you do?

The point is, none of us remember the headliners of yesterday. These are no second-rate achievers. They are the best in their fields. But the applause dies.
Awards tarnish. Achievements are forgotten. Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.

Here's another quiz. See how you do on this one:
1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.
2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.
3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.
4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special.
5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.
6. Name half a dozen heroes whose stories have inspired you.
Easier? The lesson?
The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards. They are the ones who care.

**You can choose to be a bag of marbles ... independent, hard, loud, unmarked, and unaffected by others. Or you can be a bag of grapes ... fragrant, soft, blending, mingling, flowing into one another's lives. Marbles are made to be counted and kept. Grapes are made to be bruised and used. Marbles scar and clank. Grapes yield and cling. --Charles R. Swindoll

"The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a man’s determination." -- Tommy Lasorda

May 10

When you're too busy for family, friends or most importantly, God, you really are too busy.

God gives every bird its food, but He does not throw it in the nest.

'We are all beggars who have found bread, and we merely want to tell another beggar where we found it,'

Take the Bible Literally? 36% of Americans believe the Bible is the "actual Word of God" and is to be taken literally, while 40% say it is the Word of God although not everything in it should be taken literally. (Pew Research Center 4/4/09)

The Mosaic That Shows Us the Face of God
A mosaic consists of thousands of little stones. Some are blue, some are green, some are yellow, some are gold. When we bring our faces close to the mosaic, we can admire the beauty of each stone. But as we step back from it, we can see that all these little stones reveal to us a beautiful picture, telling a story none of these stones can tell by itself.
That is what our life in community is about. Each of us is like a little stone, but together we reveal the face of God to the world. Nobody can say: "I make God visible." But others who see us together can say: "They make God visible." Community is where humility and glory touch.

Mothers
If I live in a house of spotless beauty with everything in its place, but have not love, I am a housekeeper--not a homemaker. If I have time for waxing, polishing, and decorative achievements, but have not love, my children learn cleanliness - not godliness. Love leaves the dust in search of a child's laugh. Love smiles at the tiny fingerprints on a newly cleaned window. Love wipes away the tears before it wipes up the spilled milk. Love picks up the child before it picks up the toys. Love is present through the trials. Love reprimands, reproves, and is responsive. Love crawls with the baby, walks with the toddler, runs with the child, then stands aside to let the youth walk into adulthood. Love is the key that opens salvation's message to a child's heart. Before I became a mother I took glory in my house of perfection. Now I glory in God's perfection of my child.
As a mother, there is much I must teach my child, but the greatest of all is love.
Author Unknown

Abraham Lincoln: No man is poor who has had a godly mother.

In an old Peanuts strip, Peppermint Patty and Violet are reflecting on being a grandmother. After Patty declares that she would like to be a grandmother, Violet agrees and says it would be nice because all they have to do is “sit and rock” (not quite the case, is it?) The girls then decide that the trouble with being a grandmother is that first you have to be a wife and then a mother…and Violet sighs, “I know it…it’s all those preliminaries that get me!”

William Ross Wallace: The hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world.

Worldwide network: A brief history of the internet
1969 The internet is created by the US Department of Defense with the networking of computers at UCLA and the Stanford Research Institute.
1979 The British Post Office uses the technology to create the first international computer networks.
1980 Bill Gates's deal to put a Microsoft Operating System on IBM's computers paves the way for almost universal computer ownership.
1984 Apple launches the first successful 'modern' computer interface using graphics to represent files and folders, drop-down menus and, crucially, mouse control.
1989 Tim Berners-Lee creates the world wide web – using browsers, pages and links to make communication on the internet simple.
1996 Google begins as a research project at Stanford University. The company is formally founded two years later by Sergey Brin and Larry Page.
2009 Dr Stephen Wolfram launches Wolfram Alpha.

One idea relates to praying before a meal in a restaurant. you can tell the server, "We're going to pray for our meal in just a few minutes. Is there anything that we can pray for you about?"

The Orchard of Your Life
A grapevine is a most productive plant. Spreading out its branches, each is intended to bring forth fruit. No vine grower is foolish enough to invest his time and effort in cultivating vines merely for the foliage on its branches. He looks for results. Fruits! As the branches of Christ in the Kingdom of God, we are expected to produce the fruits of spiritual life. And no, we're not speaking of spiritual apples, grapes, pears, or peaches this morning. We're talking of what's going on in the orchard of your life. What are you producing?
Saint Paul once enumerated in his writings what those fruits of the spirit were. He said, "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control." How's that for a fruit basket? A good list for the cultivation of life's orchard. With these fruits in mind, what's going on in your orchard?

C.S. Lewis wrote, "God has designed the human machine to run on Himself. He Himself is the fuel our spirits were designed to burn, or the food our spirits were designed to feed on. There is no other. That is why it is just no good asking God to make us happy without bothering about religion. God cannot give us happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing."

You and I live in the period of history where we have access to more information than ever before. We have so much information that it produces what has been called the "Paralysis of Analysis." It was the poet T. S. Eliot who wrote:
Where is the wisdom--we have lost in knowledge.
Where is the knowledge--we have lost in information.

Man, despite his artistic pretensions, his sophistication, and many accomplishments, owes the fact of his existence to a six-inch layer of topsoil and the fact that it rains.


The beauty of our faith is that God gave us more than information--he gave us Himself. He gave us more than rules and outward appearances. He gave us a relationship with him. Colossians 2:10, "In Him you have been made complete." Only he can satisfy your deepest longing and bring order to your innermost being. In Jesus Christ, God’s word became flesh. He is alive!

Knowing the entire Bible by heart, and understanding it so well that you can explain every single verse, is of little use to you, unless the biblical Word penetrates your inmost being, as the rain penetrates the tiniest roots of a tree in order in order to rise and to fill the whole tree and to bring forth leaves and fruit.

Source of Our Power
The story is told of a native from a remote mountain village who had the opportunity to visit a large modern city for the first time. He could not bring much home with him, and he had little money. But he was amazed at the electric lights which he saw everywhere.
So he bought a sack full of electric lights bulbs and sockets with switches so he could turn them off and on.
Arriving home he hung the light bulbs in front of his home and on his and his neighbor's trees. Everyone watched him with curiosity and asked him what he was doing, but he just smiled and said, "Just wait until dark--you'll see."
When night came he turned on the switches, but nothing happened.
No one had told him about electricity. He did not know the light bulbs were useless unless connected to the source of their power.
Jesus said, "Apart from me you can do nothing." There are many people who do not know that the way they are living their lives is useless. They got the education; they got the job; they made the family; and bought the home but when the sunsets and night comes and they reach for the switch nothing happens. They do not know that there is a source, which makes all these things light up!

Mother Teresa of Calcutta once was asked, "How do you measure the success of your work?" She looked puzzled for a moment and then replied, "I don't remember that the Lord ever spoke of success. He spoke only of faithfulness in Love. This is the only success that counts."

Well, it is "cool" when we stay connected to Christ's Servant Mentality when we get up in the morning and go through the day looking constantly (natural as breathing) for ways we can be Christ-like servants.

Instead of ending your prayers 'in Jesus' name', try using an expanded version of this phrase, like "I am asking this Lord, because your Son authorized me to do so and because I am certain it is what He wants me to ask. Grant it not because of any worth in me, but because Your Son had earned it."

God sends no one away empty except those who are full of themselves. D. L. Moody

"Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no help at all." -- Dale Carnegie

"There is a sense of exhilaration that comes from facing head-on the hard truths and saying, 'We will never give up. We will never capitulate. It might take a long time, but we will find a way to prevail.'" -- Jim Collins

"You cannot see faith, but you can see the footprints of the faithful. We must leave behind "faithful footprints" for others to follow." -- Dr. Dennis Anderson

"A good plan is like a road map: It shows the final destination and usually the best way to get there" -- H. Stanley Judd

“The greatest discovery of this generation is that a human being can alter their life by altering their attitude.” -- William James

Karl Barth was lecturing to a group of students at Princeton. One student asked the renowned German theologian, "Sir, don't you think that God has revealed himself in other religions and not only in Christianity?" Barth's answer stunned the crowd. With a modest thunder he answered, "No, God has not revealed himself in any religion, including Christianity. He has revealed himself in his Son Jesus."