MY THOUGHTS [April 2011]

Thoughts In My Head:

4.14.11

Mark chapter 6: 17-27 King Herod was favorable toward John but yet when he was finagled out of a promise, he felt obligated to pay it. As I was reading this, I thought of the old saying. “Loyalty Above All Else Except Dishonor”…This would have applied, but due to his promise and his feeling it was more obligatory to pay it than what he KNEW was right, he gave into his desire for peoples outlook on him instead of his own feelings of honor.

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4.15.11

An immigrant man walked into a car dealership and wished to buy a car but his English was not so good. He struggled in his conversation with the salesman. When the salesman asked some buying questions, the elderly man simply said “neo.” The salesman just thought he could keep working on him and he would say yes. After 45 minutes the elderly man had said neo 8 different times. Finally, out of frustration, he reached for a pen and paper and wrote K~N~O~W. The elderly immigrant man wasn’t saying  he didn’t want the vehicle, he was saying he wanted more information to make a buying decision.

   Many times when we are talking to someone, we think they are saying NO to our point of view, when what they are trying to tell us is KNOW, please explain in a little better detail why I should believe your way of thinking.

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“When Good Just Aint GOOD Enough”

     I have heard the word good used in many different  ways in my life. Many people have tried to match me up with women who were good (then they said with hesitation) but, well, they were a little different. They were “cute” but the tone of their voice told a different story. This one is good. She goes to church on occasion but maybe you can change that. This one is good, she doesn’t believe “quite” like we do but maybe you can talk to her. She is a good one but she just needs a little help.

     Then people are always talking of other people who are their friends who they don’t want to confront with doctrinal differences so they just say they are good people. Others have family that don’t live what is expected or maybe closely resembling holiness. They shun the thought of their family not making it to Heaven so they speak of them being Good and they “feel like they are ok. With all these different scenarios, they ALL lack the conviction when telling their stories to be believed, why? Because they truthfully don’t believe it themselves but yet they feel obligated to say kind words.

     Speaking kind words is one thing but believing these people are more than that is simply a lie! God help us not to believe the lies we try to tell ourselves. If we are not careful, we will be caught up WITH them in their “not-so-holy” living and become one of those GOOD people. Acquaintance is one thing but fellowship is a totally different ball game.

     “Knife is edged by stone, steel is tempered by fire, and man is sharpened by man… If you want to be strong you have to keep strong company”

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Many are called, FEW are chosen -

What is it that makes a man chosen? Why some, and not others? Many of the ones you look at in the bible were sinners who did many bad things but God CHOSE them and then they went about doing many good things. Look at some of the others who didn’t do such bad things and yet they were left alone… why? Was it their desire deep down to truly strive for greatness for others and not self? Was it their desire deeply seeded to live out their lives (although temporarily sinful) for their soon coming king? What makes a man “chosen”

    Oh Lord, help us not to be just another Christian. Or just another witness. Help us to wish not for earthly fame, fortune, or recognition. Our name in lights we shall never glee. But a strong hand of God is the life to see.

     We all leave behind a legacy for the next to follow and study. When people look back on our life,  pray that a people, without number, will know who we are. Let it not be for recognition of the man. Oh LORD, let it never be for the recognition of the container,… but always, always  for the contents in which we share!

- JW 7.26.11