"Christian Voices" (1-22-04)

June 3, 2010

HUMOR

So we were lying on our backs on the grass in the park next to our hamburger wrappers, my 14-year-old son and I, watching the clouds loiter overhead, when he asked me, "Dad, why are we here?"

And this is what I said: "I've thought a lot about it, son, and I don't think it's all that complicated. I think maybe we're here just to teach a kid how to bunt or eat sunflower seeds without using his hands. We're here to pound the steering wheel and scream as we listen to the game on the radio, 20 minutes after we pulled into the garage. We're here to look all over, give up, and then find the ball in the hole.”

"We're here to wear our favorite sweat-soaked Boston Red Sox cap, torn Slippery Rock sweatshirt, and the Converse sneakers we lettered in on a Saturday morning with nowhere we have to go and no one special we have to be. We're here to tie the perfect fly, make the perfect cast, catch absolutely nothing, and still call it a perfect morning. We're here to nail a yield sign with an apple core from half a block away. We're here to win the stuffed bear or go broke trying.”

"I don't think the meaning of life is gnashing our teeth over what comes after death but tasting all the tiny moments that come before it. We’re here to be there when our kid has three goals and an assist. And especially when he doesn’t. “I don’t think we’re here to make Sports Center. The really good stuff never does. Like finding ourselves with a free afternoon, a little red 327 fuel-injected 1962 Corvette convertible, and an unopened map of Vermont’s back roads.”

“None of us will find ourselves on our deathbeds saying, ‘I wish I’d spent more time on the Hibbings account.’ We’re going to say, ‘That scar? I got that scar stealing a home run from Consolidated Plumbers!’ “See, grown-ups spend so much time doggedly slaving toward the better car, the perfect house, the big day that will finally make them happy, when happy just walked by wearing a bicycle helmet two sizes too big for him. We’re not here to find a way to heaven. The way is heaven.

“Does that answer your question, son?”

And he said, “Not really, Dad.”

And I said, “No?”

And he said, “No, what I meant is, why are we here when Mom said to pick her up 40 minutes ago?”

.....Laughter for a Saturday by way of Chaplain's Notes (http://www.chapnotes.org) and "Christian Voices" (www.ChristianVoicesWorldwide.net)

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THOUGHT PROVOKING – INSPIRATIONAL

STARVE SIN

Do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful

nature. - Romans 13:14

A critical strategy when trying to eliminate sin from our lives is to recognize our vulnerability, accept it and avoid situations and places that set us up for failure. Have you ever noticed the consistency of sinning Christians? Same time, same place, same companions, same circumstances, over and over again. If we ever hope to win the battle against those persistent sins we must learn to cut off the enemy’s supply routes. We must learn to starve sin. This may mean completely avoiding certain people, places and things because of the magnetic pull their influence exerts over us. If we are serious in our resolve to eliminate sin from our life, we must stop gravitating to places that allow us to gratify the desires of our sinful nature. If we find that certain situations continually undermine our resolve and contribute to our drinking, overeating, impulse buying, gossiping or whatever else gratifies our sinful nature, then those are situations we must eliminate if we are going to stand strong against the wiles of the evil one. Only when we learn to identify the areas where we are the most vulnerable to temptation we can then find ways to cut the enemy’s supply line. Satan knows our weaknesses, and uses all the tools at his command to keep us constantly in spiritual jeopardy. That’s why we also need to be aware of our weaknesses; not so that we can berate and belittle ourselves, but so that we can avoid those people, places and things that cause us to fall back into old behavior. If we hope to starve sin, we must eliminate the things that allow it to flourish.

Although at times we feel like we are the ones being deprived, the real purpose of living a self-disciplined life is to starve sin. We must cut off the supply routes that allow our sinful nature to grow and flourish. And, if we are serious about practicing the spiritual discipline of self care, we will quickly learn to identify those people, places and things that keep us from realizing health and wholeness goals. Often what seems to lure us away from our resolve is not the thing we are trying to moderate. Over indulgence is usually just a symptom of an even greater malady—the refusal to surrender our stubborn will to God’s will for our lives. Instead of focusing on the presenting problem, look for the root cause; look for consistency in the way Satan tempts you. What you will find is it is usually the same time, same place, same companions, same circumstances, over and over again. Those are the things you must eliminate. Remember, practicing the spiritual discipline of self care is not synonymous with being called to live in self deprivation. We are loving the body God created and called good when we learn to starve sin by cutting off the enemy’s supply route because until we learn to starve sin we will continue to gratify our sinful nature.

Today I pray you will identify the things that put continually put yourself care commitment in jeopardy so that you can cut off the enemy’s supply route. Today is the day to starve sin!

Let us not look back in anger nor forward in fear, but around in awareness.

--James Thurber

.....as seen in Winning Words by way of Cup O'Cheer (cheer316@sc.rr.com) (Cupocheer316@yahoo.com) and "Christian Voices" (www.ChristianVoicesWorldwide.net)

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RENEWAL THROUGH ENCOURAGEMENT

Easter has come and gone and a new season is here. God’s urban renewal program is taking place before our eyes. It seems as though God has given the command and all the trees have brought forth leaves that reflect the tender yellow-green shade of color that denotes newness of life and shouts that another season is at its beginning.

Something seems to happen inside of me at this time of year. The season brings with it new hope and renewal. Excessive energy seems to flow in my veins. I want to work. I am motivated to clean the house and yard, plant a garden, start new flower beds, and hang more bird houses and feeders to encourage birds to take up residence in my yard.

I’ve always loved little humming birds. I plant red flowers and fill the feeders with red nectar to encourage them to stop in my yard instead of the neighbor’s yard.

Encouraging birds reminds me that Christians and others around me need encouragement too. Do I try as hard to encourage others to come to my church as I do the birds to come to my yard?

What about people around me that are experiencing defeat, discouragement, bad health and emotional problems? Spring has come to the world of nature, but for some it is still winter in their hearts. As I plant flower seeds in my garden, I need to be planting seeds of encouragement in these winter hearts that have not yet found spring’s renewal.

My thoughts turn to a man many of us know little about in scripture. He is a man from the island of Cyprus, called Barnabas. His name means “Son of Encouragement.” He appears only briefly in the Bible, but it is always in an encouraging role.

In Acts Chapter 11, verse 25, we find him taking a chance with Saul of Tarsus, an outcast. He brings him to Antioch and introduces him to the church and works with him. This “Son of Encouragement” gives his new friend a push and makes him a leader. The relationship that started out as Barnabas and Paul soon reverses roles as the Young Saul, now Paul, becomes a dynamic leader. The two broke-up later over another loser – John Mark. Barnabas insists to Paul that Mark could succeed with encouragement. We all know that Mark succeeded by being given a second chance.

Who do we know that might succeed if we offer them our encouragement?

Jesus suffered and died on the cross to give us a second chance. Do we support him with our time and followship? Do we encourage others to follow him?

A word of encouragement to the lady down the street who planted daisies this year lets her know her efforts to beautify the community were noticed. It may encourage her to plant more next year or to work harder keeping this year’s crop beautiful.

No one likes for their efforts to be ignored. Sometimes we can show encouragement just by acknowledging another’s efforts. Their efforts may not be perfect, but our encouragement can inspire them to continue and improve.

The lady who planted daisies will likely not plant them next year if no one acknowledges her efforts. The entire neighborhood will lose because the beautiful daisies are not there to enhance the area.

Spring is the time of year for renewals of all kinds. My flower beds should be beautiful in a few weeks. If I am successful in encouraging the “little hummers” to come to my yard, I should be able to enjoy them all summer. If someone shares this experience with me, I shall enjoy it even more.

A greater joy than the beauty of the flowers or the birds or the fellowship, will be the encouragement I plant in someone’s mind and heart that needs renewal. The seeds of encouragement can be planted in any season of the year. Let’s practice sowing a few seeds today.

.....Ivie Bozeman (Ivie@rose.net) by way "Christian Voices"(www.ChristianVoicesWorldwide.net)

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