Source:
Tidbits, Guardian Publishing, Jackson, MO, April 24, 2003, p. 1.
Thursday, May 15, 2014
Oddities
Over the course of the next year, you will have about 1,460 dreams.
And if you're an average American, during that year, you will
consume about 12 pounds of cereal and drink 600 sodas. You'll also
laugh more than 4,700 times.
Source:
Tidbits, Guardian Publishing, Jackson, MO, April 24, 2003, p. 1.
Source:
Tidbits, Guardian Publishing, Jackson, MO, April 24, 2003, p. 1.
Out Of Step
By Alan Smith
As he was drilling a batch of recruits, the sergeant saw that one of them was marching out of step. Walking up next to the man as they marched, he said sarcastically: "Do you know they are all out of step except you?"
"What?" asked the recruit innocently.
"I said -- they are all out of step except you!" thundered the sergeant.
The recruit replied, "Well, sarge, you're in charge -- you tell them!"
I understand how that recruit felt because there are times that we as Christians look around at the world and we are out of step with everyone else. As we walk with Christ and live by the Spirit, that causes us to say and do things that are very different from what the world does. Everyone else seems to be agreed on how to walk, but we are out of step.
We may be tempted to think (like the sergeant above) that we are the ones who need to change to get in step with everyone else. But (like the recruit above) we aren't the ones who need to change. And we need to continue to walk in step with the Spirit regardless of how those around us walk.
"For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light." (Eph. 5:8)
"Of course, your former friends are surprised when you no longer plunge into the flood of wild and destructive things they do. So they slander you." (I Peter 4:4, NLT)
"He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked." (I John 2:6)
If you feel like you're out of step with the world, don't let it bother you. Just make sure you're in step with God.
Have a great day!
Source:
- 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
As he was drilling a batch of recruits, the sergeant saw that one of them was marching out of step. Walking up next to the man as they marched, he said sarcastically: "Do you know they are all out of step except you?"
"What?" asked the recruit innocently.
"I said -- they are all out of step except you!" thundered the sergeant.
The recruit replied, "Well, sarge, you're in charge -- you tell them!"
I understand how that recruit felt because there are times that we as Christians look around at the world and we are out of step with everyone else. As we walk with Christ and live by the Spirit, that causes us to say and do things that are very different from what the world does. Everyone else seems to be agreed on how to walk, but we are out of step.
We may be tempted to think (like the sergeant above) that we are the ones who need to change to get in step with everyone else. But (like the recruit above) we aren't the ones who need to change. And we need to continue to walk in step with the Spirit regardless of how those around us walk.
"For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light." (Eph. 5:8)
"Of course, your former friends are surprised when you no longer plunge into the flood of wild and destructive things they do. So they slander you." (I Peter 4:4, NLT)
"He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked." (I John 2:6)
If you feel like you're out of step with the world, don't let it bother you. Just make sure you're in step with God.
Have a great day!
Source:
- 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
Outlive Yourself
By Steve Higginbotham
My wife and I just returned from a visit to Mt. Airy, NC, the home of Andy Griffith. Since we’re fans of the Andy Griffith show, we thought it would be fun to go to Mt. Airy, Andy’s real-life home town, and the model town for the fictional town of Mayberry. We went through the Andy Griffith Museum, took a few pictures, and headed home. Within hours, we learned that Andy Griffith had passed away.
Since hearing the news of his passing, I listened to an interview he gave a couple years ago. The interviewer asked him if he could remember all the episodes of the Andy Griffith Show. Surprisingly to me, he said, “no.” Oh, he remembered many of them, had some favorites, but just didn’t remember all of them. I found that amazing because there are thousands of people across the country who remember every episode, can tell you what’s going to happen next, and even quote lines. But Andy, himself, couldn’t.
That caused me to reflect on how our influence can long outlive our lives. Some of the episodes that Andy Griffith actually participated in were not remembered by him, but thousands of people who simply “looked on” remember every detail. What that tells me is that I had better be cautious about my words, attitudes, and actions. What I might say or do today, and forget about tomorrow, may never be forgotten by an “onlooker,” even long after I am dead and gone.
The passing of Andy Griffith reminded of a truth spoken by the apostle Paul, “For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself” (Romans 14:7). Make sure that the influence you have on others is the kind that you want to outlive you.
Source:
- Steve Higginbotham preaches for the Karns Church of Christ in Knoxville, TN. He may be contacted through the congregation's website at http://www.karnschurch.org
My wife and I just returned from a visit to Mt. Airy, NC, the home of Andy Griffith. Since we’re fans of the Andy Griffith show, we thought it would be fun to go to Mt. Airy, Andy’s real-life home town, and the model town for the fictional town of Mayberry. We went through the Andy Griffith Museum, took a few pictures, and headed home. Within hours, we learned that Andy Griffith had passed away.
Since hearing the news of his passing, I listened to an interview he gave a couple years ago. The interviewer asked him if he could remember all the episodes of the Andy Griffith Show. Surprisingly to me, he said, “no.” Oh, he remembered many of them, had some favorites, but just didn’t remember all of them. I found that amazing because there are thousands of people across the country who remember every episode, can tell you what’s going to happen next, and even quote lines. But Andy, himself, couldn’t.
That caused me to reflect on how our influence can long outlive our lives. Some of the episodes that Andy Griffith actually participated in were not remembered by him, but thousands of people who simply “looked on” remember every detail. What that tells me is that I had better be cautious about my words, attitudes, and actions. What I might say or do today, and forget about tomorrow, may never be forgotten by an “onlooker,” even long after I am dead and gone.
The passing of Andy Griffith reminded of a truth spoken by the apostle Paul, “For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself” (Romans 14:7). Make sure that the influence you have on others is the kind that you want to outlive you.
Source:
- Steve Higginbotham preaches for the Karns Church of Christ in Knoxville, TN. He may be contacted through the congregation's website at http://www.karnschurch.org
Problems With Riches
By Kippy Meyers
Herbert Chun of New South Wales in Australia learned a hard lesson about some of the many hardships that can be associated with riches. He won $70,000 in the lottery. Upon learning of his winnings, he was so excited that he fell dead of a heart attack. The same thing happened to William Lane after he won $250,000 in the lottery. The same thing happened to Harold Richards. I suspect that there are other examples of this. I don't suppose that anyone would say, "Winning the lottery was the best thing that ever happened to them."
There are other, even more significant problems associated with having a lot of this world's goods (1 Timothy 3:10). One problem is that those who are "minded to be rich fall into a temptation and a snare and many foolish and hurtful lusts, such as drown men in destruction and perdition" (1 Timothy 3:9).
If Herbert, William, and Harold could rewrite history, do you think that they would buy the lottery ticket that brought their doom?
In times when cast becomes sparse, let us make sure that our attitudes regarding riches are noble (Luke 12:15). The best and most important things in life cannot be bought with cash.
Source:
Illustrations That Illustrate, The World Evangelist, Feb. 2002, p. 17.
Herbert Chun of New South Wales in Australia learned a hard lesson about some of the many hardships that can be associated with riches. He won $70,000 in the lottery. Upon learning of his winnings, he was so excited that he fell dead of a heart attack. The same thing happened to William Lane after he won $250,000 in the lottery. The same thing happened to Harold Richards. I suspect that there are other examples of this. I don't suppose that anyone would say, "Winning the lottery was the best thing that ever happened to them."
There are other, even more significant problems associated with having a lot of this world's goods (1 Timothy 3:10). One problem is that those who are "minded to be rich fall into a temptation and a snare and many foolish and hurtful lusts, such as drown men in destruction and perdition" (1 Timothy 3:9).
If Herbert, William, and Harold could rewrite history, do you think that they would buy the lottery ticket that brought their doom?
In times when cast becomes sparse, let us make sure that our attitudes regarding riches are noble (Luke 12:15). The best and most important things in life cannot be bought with cash.
Source:
Illustrations That Illustrate, The World Evangelist, Feb. 2002, p. 17.
Scent Dog
Michel Raviol sells fragrances for dogs. "Pooch du Noel" is a
dog perfume prices at $250 for 3.4 ounces. Mr. Raviol commented,
"People think we're whacked. But they buy it."
Source:
Firm Foundation, April 2003, p. 29.
Source:
Firm Foundation, April 2003, p. 29.
Monday, April 14, 2014
911 Operator
A couple of Alabama hunters are out int he wood when one of them falls to the ground. He doesn't seem to be breathing, his eyes are rolled back in his head.
The other guy whips out his cell phone and calls 911. He gasps to the operator, "My friend is dead! What can I do?"
The operator, in a calm, soothing voice says, "Just take it easy. I can help. First, let's make sure he's dead."
There is a silence, then a shot is heard.
The guy's voice come back on the line. He says, "OK, now what?"
Source:
Unknown
The other guy whips out his cell phone and calls 911. He gasps to the operator, "My friend is dead! What can I do?"
The operator, in a calm, soothing voice says, "Just take it easy. I can help. First, let's make sure he's dead."
There is a silence, then a shot is heard.
The guy's voice come back on the line. He says, "OK, now what?"
Source:
Unknown
A Father's Love
Phil Littleford took his son on an Alaskan fishing trip with two other men. In a quest to find some running salmon, they flew their seaplane to a secluded bay. The fishing was every thing they had dreamed. When they finished for the day, their plane was on dry ground. The fluctuating tide left their plane twenty-three feet from the water so they cooked some of their fish for dinner and slept in the plane.
When they awoke, the tide had come in and their plane was drifting in the water. They cranked the engine and took off. Unknown to them, one of the pontoons had been punctured and was filled with water. The extra weight caused the seaplane to crash within moments. Everyone survived, but they had no safety equipment on board. They used their waders as floating devices but the frigid water was a deadly threat. The current was too strong for Dr. Littleford’s twelve-year-old son to swim against. The other two men fought their way against the tide and barely made it to shore. The two survivors looked back from shore to see Dr. Littleford and his son Mark being swept out to sea, arm-in-arm.
The Coast Guard reported that they probably lasted no more than an hour in the freezing waters. The hypothermia would chill the body functions and put them to sleep. Mark, with a smaller body mass would fall asleep first and die in his father’s arms. Dr. Littleford could have made it to shore, but that would have meant abandoning his son. He chose to die with his boy.—Patrick Morely, The Man in the Mirror
“Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him”—Psalm 103:13
Source:
House To House, http://www.housetohouse.com/HTHPubPage.aspx?cid=13321
When they awoke, the tide had come in and their plane was drifting in the water. They cranked the engine and took off. Unknown to them, one of the pontoons had been punctured and was filled with water. The extra weight caused the seaplane to crash within moments. Everyone survived, but they had no safety equipment on board. They used their waders as floating devices but the frigid water was a deadly threat. The current was too strong for Dr. Littleford’s twelve-year-old son to swim against. The other two men fought their way against the tide and barely made it to shore. The two survivors looked back from shore to see Dr. Littleford and his son Mark being swept out to sea, arm-in-arm.
The Coast Guard reported that they probably lasted no more than an hour in the freezing waters. The hypothermia would chill the body functions and put them to sleep. Mark, with a smaller body mass would fall asleep first and die in his father’s arms. Dr. Littleford could have made it to shore, but that would have meant abandoning his son. He chose to die with his boy.—Patrick Morely, The Man in the Mirror
“Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him”—Psalm 103:13
Source:
House To House, http://www.housetohouse.com/HTHPubPage.aspx?cid=13321
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