By Alan Smith
The following article was in the news a few years ago:
HANOI, Vietnam - After nearly two decades of ridicule, a father has
agreed to change his son's name from "Fined Six Thousand and Five
Hundred" -- the amount he was forced to pay in local currency for
ignoring Vietnam's two-child policy.
Angry he was being fined for having a fifth child, Mai Xuan Can
named his son Mai Phat Sau Nghin Ruoi after the amount he was forced to
pay -- 6,500 dong (50 cents). In 1999, local government officials tried
to persuade Can to change the name because the boy was constantly being
teased by classmates at school. But Can, a former People's Committee
official, refused to back down, Thuong said. They appealed to him again
recently, and this time it worked.
"I told him that as his son is growing up, he should have another
name -- not that weird name -- and he finally agreed," Thuong said.
The son, now 19, finally got a new name: Mai Hoang Long, which means golden dragon.
Choosing a name is an important responsibility. Those of us who are
parents can remember spending hours and hours reading books filled with
baby names, discussing this name and that before deciding on just the
right name. Even after much forethought, one of my children was named
at birth and re-named a couple of hours later because the first name
just didn't seem to fit her.
Not surprisingly, names in the Bible are regarded as important.
Names that were chosen may tell us something about the child or his
birth (Isaac -- "laughter", Benjamin -- "son of the right hand", Esau --
"hairy"). Some names were changed to signal a drastic change in one's
life (Abram to Abraham, Jacob to Israel, Saul to Paul).
A name is important because it's not just a word -- it's who you
are. Your name is your character, the essence of who you are and what
you stand for.
You may not be able to change your given name (at least, not without
a lot of expense and trouble), but you can change what people think
about when they hear that name. That's why Solomon wrote:
"A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches." (Prov. 22:1a)
You are choosing your name by how you live. Choose wisely.
- Alan Smith, author of the popular "Thought For Today," and minister
for the Fayetteville Church of Christ in Fayetteville, NC, may be
contacted at alansmith.servant@gmail.com
By Alan Smith
In 1992, there was a high-school teacher outside of Chicago who
found an unusual way to punish students when they did something wrong.
They had to stay after school for detention, but not just your normal
detention. That didn't seem to have much effect. No, the guilty
students were being forced to stay after in the Frank Sinatra Detention
Club. There, for 30 minutes, they had to sit utterly still – no
talking, no homework, no snoozing – and listen to Frank Sinatra sing old
songs.
I think it's brilliant – here was a teacher who found a way to make
detention more fun for him, but less so for the kids. One senior said,
"It got to where I couldn't stand it. It was so boring." Now, please
understand, this teacher wasn't totally heartless. He let the students
sing along if they wanted to, but nobody ever did.
And the students learned that if they do something wrong, there is a consequence -- a very negative consequence.
It is especially important for young people to learn at an early age
that choices have consequences. In terms of their later success, it is
one of the most important lessons they will ever learn. All too often
we make decisions without seriously thinking about the long-range
consequences.
Someone once said, "Most of our big mistakes are due to lack of
forethought rather than intentional misdoings." In other words, most of
the time that we do something wrong, it's because we haven't given
enough thought about what will happen as a direct result of our actions.
Which of us isn't able to look back at something we've done in our
lives, something really stupid? And we can see what's happened in our
lives over the years because of that stupid action. If we had only
realized how it would affect our lives and our family and our friends
and the church, and how destructive it would be, then we never would
have done it. And we would do anything to erase the damage, but we
can't, because we committed the act and like it or not, we have had to
suffer the consequences that resulted.
"Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows,
that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh
reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap
everlasting life." (Galatians 6:7-8)
May we seek to make decisions that will bless our lives for years to come.
Have a great day!
- Alan Smith, author of the popular "Thought For Today," and minister
for the Fayetteville Church of Christ in Fayetteville, NC, may be
contacted at alansmith.servant@gmail.com
One day a couple of young boys went into a dentist's office. One of
them told the receptionist that he wanted to have tooth pulled but
didn't want to have any Novocain, gas, or any other medication. They
were in a hurry and couldn't afford expensive medication.
The dentist agreed. He turned to the little boy and asked, "OK, which tooth is it that is bothering you?"
At that the little boy turned to his younger companion and order,
"Open your mouth, Billy, and show the doc which tooth hurts!"
Source:
Unknown
The Roman Cicero, who lived before Christ, was a very respected orator
and politician. Without the insight of Christ's revelation, he said
something very important concerning life and death: "I am sure that my
friends who died before me did not cease to live. In reality, only their
present state can be called life. I believe this because I am duty
bound to do so by my logic and because of my respect for the greatest
philosopher of the past. I consider this world as a place which was
never meant to be our abode forever. I never considered my departure
form this world as being chased out of my permanent residence, but
rather as a checking out from a temporary abode such as a hotel or an
ill."
Source:
Pulpit Helps, date unknown.
By C. Bruce White
A physician was vacationing in the Cumberland Mountains and while
hiking, stopped at a mountain home for a drink of water. A little girl
gave him a glass of milk. The physician drank it and offered to pay her
for it. "On, no," said the girl, "we like to share."
A year or so later the girl was taken to John Hopkins to have
serious surgery. The parents, very poor, worried over the bill. When the
recovery was completed and the family was given the bill, it was
marked, "Paid in full by a glass of gold milk - we like to share too."
We realize that every case of sharing does not bring such a
connected or obvious blessing, but each case of giving has it's
blessing. It is with the belief that God blesses those who give, that we
offer the opportunity on such a regular basis. It is, indeed, more
blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35).
Source:
The Challenger, the weekly bulletin of the Church of Christ, Carbondale, IL, date unknown.
In 1776 Thomas Paine, an American Revolution patriot and writer,
noted the price of freedom: "What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too
lightly."
Today, each Fourth of July is a time to remember those who not only
framed our Constitution, but realize the price they paid as individuals.
Five of the men were captured by the British, charged as traitors,
tortured and executed. Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two
of them lost sons in the Revolutionary War. Two more had sons captured.
Five of the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence fought and
died in that war.
One of the signers, Carlton Braxton, was a wealthy planter and
trader. He saw his ships sunk by the British Navy. He had to sell his
home and all his possessions to pay off his debts. He died in poverty.
The British also descended on the home of John Hart. All of his property
was destroyed and his invalid wife was killed. Even though he was 70
years old he joined Washington's army and soon died of physical and
emotional exhaustion.
Lewis Morris was about to sign the Declaration when he received word
that the British were at the gates of his home. He was told his
property would be spared if he would withhold his signature. He thought
only a moment before he said, "There are many homes, but there is only
one country." His pen went quickly to the page.
It is true, the freedom we celebrate was not actually free. It came with a price.
Source:
Friendly Visitor, weekly bulletin of the Auburn Church of Christ in Auburn, AL. Date unknown.
By Alan Smith
Sam, an old man, was a witness in a burglary case. The defense
lawyer asked Sam, "Did you see my client commit this burglary?"
"Yes," said Sam , "I saw him plainly take the goods."
The lawyer asked Sam again, "Sam, this happened at night. Are you sure you saw my client commit this crime?"
"Yes" said Sam, "I saw him do it."
Then the lawyer asked Sam, "Sam listen, you are 80 years old and
your eyesight probably is bad. Just how far can you see at night?"
Sam said, "I can see the moon, how far is that?"
Now I'm not prepared to discuss the validity of such a statement in
court. But this story does serve as a reminder that some people are
content to be concerned with what they can see up close and forget what
they can see from afar. For example, it is a common sight to see
someone walking along with their eyes focused only on the ground a few
feet in front of them. They end up seeing all sorts of things -- coins,
buttons, pieces of trash. But they miss out on all the beauty of the
world around them.
And yet we all tend to do the same thing spiritually. We keep our
eyes on television ads, store displays and our next door neighbors and
focus on all the "things" we think we need, and fail to see the
spiritual things that really matter. I challenge you to walk through a
shopping mall and look not in the store windows, but at the number of
souls you pass by who need Jesus. I challenge you to drive through a
busy part of town without focusing on the Lexuses in front of you and
behind you, but on the physical and spiritual needs of the people to
your right and your left. I challenge you to look beyond the things of
this world to those things on a higher plane.
"Since you were brought back to life with Christ, focus on the
things that are above -- where Christ holds the highest position. Keep
your mind on things above, not on worldly things." (Colossians 3:1-2)
How far can YOU see?
Have a great day!
- Alan Smith, author of the popular "Thought For Today," and minister
for the Fayetteville Church of Christ in Fayetteville, NC, may be
contacted at alansmith.servant@gmail.com
