Randy sat at his desk staring at the computer screen before him. He was trying to work on next Sunday’s Sunday School lesson, but like the screen before him, his mind was blank. “O,
Lord,” he called out “What should my topic be?” but all he heard in return was someone singing.
“Mama and Papa sitting in a tree. K-I-S-S-I-N-G. First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes Mama and the baby carriage.” Came the words of an old familiar song. How often his little sister would tease him with it when he was dating Daisy but it wasn’t his little sister singing, it was Stella and she was coming down the hall to his office.
“I just learned a secret from Mindy,” She said as she walked through the door, “Or was it Cindy, I’m always mixing them up.” “Is that why your singing that song?” Randy asked as he looked up from his blank screen. “Sort of.” Stella responded and than started singing again. “Well, that’s nice,” Randy told, “Now run along, I’ve got work to do.” But Stella didn’t leave.
“Is something wrong?” Randy asked a few minutes later. “Don’t you want to know what the secret is?” Stella asked . “No” Randy told her. “Aren’t you even curious?” Stella asked in return. “No.” Randy told her again but that didn’t stop her from telling her little secret. “I learned where babies come from!” she blurted out.
“What was that” Randy coughed and sputtered “Cindy told me where babies come from” Stella replied, “So do you want to know too?” she asked. “I already do” Randy quickly told her and started to think of some way to change the subject. “And you do you know what else?” Stella added, “I think the stork made a big mistake.”
“Stork?” Randy said with a puzzled look, “What stork?” “The one that brings the babies, Silly” Stella answered, “And I think he made a big mistake when he brought Harold to our house.” “Oh, that stork” Randy said with a chuckle.
“By the way” Stella started to ask, “So you know the stork’s address?” “No, I don’t think I do” Randy replied, “Why do you need to know” “I want to ask him to bring me a baby sister and see if he’ll take Harold back.” “Knowing Harold, I can see why you would want to send him back.” Randy smiled as he turned back to his blank screen but now he had an idea for his Sunday School lesson.
Psalms 127:3 says Children are a gift from God; they are his reward. (TLB) It may be fun to talk of storks bring us children but we need to remember that each child is a gift from God.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Monday, September 7, 2009
THE BETTER SERMON
In James 3:16 we read that envy can cause problems. It says “For where envy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every kind of evil.” (HCSB) It was a couple of weeks ago as Helen Gray was cleaning the church building that she bumped into a case of dueling envy and as she learned, even preachers can fall to its grasp.
As Helen was pushing the dust mop by Randy’s office door she heard him muttering out loud “Why? Why? Why?” Trying to be humorous she answered “Z” “What?” Randy said surprised to see her at his door. “Z comes after Y” Helen explained, “Isn’t that what you were trying to remember?” “No,” Randy told her, “I just want to know why?”
“Why what?” Helen asked as she shook off her mop. “Why JOE’S are always BETTER than MINE!” Randy started to explain getting louder as he went, “We went to the same school, we use the same computer programs, we use the same topics and use the same Bible version. Everything is the same.” and with clenched fists he let out a loud grunt.
“What are you talking about?” Helen asked, “Are you talking about your Bible lessons?” “Close.” Randy replied, “My sermons. His are always better than mine and I’m tired of it.” He continued and than with a loud shout he yelled out, “I want my sermons to be like his!” than calming down a bit he got an evil grin on his face and said, “Maybe I can sneak over to his office and copy his outline.” and than he took off.
“This can’t be good” Helen said as she turned back to her dusting but when she turned, she bumped into the strangest looking character. “Have you seen Randy Smith around?” He asked in a deep voice. It was Bud or at least that’s who Helen thought he was. “He just left” she told him. “Great!” Bud responded, “I need to pay his office a visit while he’s gone.”
“While he’s gone?” Helen questioned “I need to see his sermon notes.” Bud told her. “Why don’t you just come to church on Sunday and hear the sermon for yourself.” Helen told him. “I don’t care about the sermon,” Bud replied, “I’m just here to get a copy of Randy’s sermon notes for Joe.”
“For Joe!” Helen gasped “Yeah” Bud responded, “For Joe. I guess he’s is tired of Randy’s sermons always being better than his. He thinks he can be as good as Randy if he just gets a copy of his sermon notes” “But, but,” stuttered Helen, “But what?” Bud interrupted. “I just do what I’m paid to do. And if anyone asks, I told you nothing and you never saw me.” and with those words Bud snatched up Randy’s sermon notes and ran off.
As Helen was pushing the dust mop by Randy’s office door she heard him muttering out loud “Why? Why? Why?” Trying to be humorous she answered “Z” “What?” Randy said surprised to see her at his door. “Z comes after Y” Helen explained, “Isn’t that what you were trying to remember?” “No,” Randy told her, “I just want to know why?”
“Why what?” Helen asked as she shook off her mop. “Why JOE’S are always BETTER than MINE!” Randy started to explain getting louder as he went, “We went to the same school, we use the same computer programs, we use the same topics and use the same Bible version. Everything is the same.” and with clenched fists he let out a loud grunt.
“What are you talking about?” Helen asked, “Are you talking about your Bible lessons?” “Close.” Randy replied, “My sermons. His are always better than mine and I’m tired of it.” He continued and than with a loud shout he yelled out, “I want my sermons to be like his!” than calming down a bit he got an evil grin on his face and said, “Maybe I can sneak over to his office and copy his outline.” and than he took off.
“This can’t be good” Helen said as she turned back to her dusting but when she turned, she bumped into the strangest looking character. “Have you seen Randy Smith around?” He asked in a deep voice. It was Bud or at least that’s who Helen thought he was. “He just left” she told him. “Great!” Bud responded, “I need to pay his office a visit while he’s gone.”
“While he’s gone?” Helen questioned “I need to see his sermon notes.” Bud told her. “Why don’t you just come to church on Sunday and hear the sermon for yourself.” Helen told him. “I don’t care about the sermon,” Bud replied, “I’m just here to get a copy of Randy’s sermon notes for Joe.”
“For Joe!” Helen gasped “Yeah” Bud responded, “For Joe. I guess he’s is tired of Randy’s sermons always being better than his. He thinks he can be as good as Randy if he just gets a copy of his sermon notes” “But, but,” stuttered Helen, “But what?” Bud interrupted. “I just do what I’m paid to do. And if anyone asks, I told you nothing and you never saw me.” and with those words Bud snatched up Randy’s sermon notes and ran off.
TURNING GREEN
A Look At Envy
INTRO - A little snail that lived by the ocean noticed with envy the big and beautiful shell in which the lobster lived.
"Oh! How this little shell of mine pinches," whined the little snail. "What a grand palace the lobster carries on his back! I wish I lived in his place. Oh! Wouldn't my friends admire me in that shell! Think of a snail living in a mansion like that!" In time a wonderful thing occurred. The watching, envious snail beheld the lobster work right out of his shell to grow up in another, larger one. When the empty, metallic green shell of the lobster lay neglected on the beach, the snail said, "Now I shall have my wish. Hurrah! The little snail is going to live in a lobster shell!" In his pride he cried out to the birds overhead, "Ah, the little snail is going to live in a lobster shell." He cried to the cattle in the field, "Oh, oh! Now you shall see. The little snail is going to live in a palace." So the birds and the cattle in the field were curious and they watched the little snail. The snail pulled himself loose from his own little shell, and cried, "Well, I'm glad to say I'm through with you. Goodbye. You've pinched me and pressed me for the last time. I am going to live in the grand lobster shell." The birds and the animals saw the little snail proudly crawl into the towering lobster shell and he huffed and puffed and blew and gasped in an effort to make himself fit. But with all his efforts he felt very small inside the grand lobster shell. He grew tired, too. That night he died because the great empty shell was so cold. A wise old crow then said, "You see! That's what comes of envy. What you have is enough. Be yourself and save yourself from a lot of trouble. How much better to be a little snail in a comfortable shell than to be a little snail in a big shell and freeze to death!"
(Bible Illustrations)
According to Oxford, envy is defined as a discontented or resentful longing aroused by another's possessions, qualities, or luck. Many times in the Bible envy and jealousy are interchanged.
I. STORIES OF ENVY
A. Philistines of Isaac’s Flocks - Gn 26:14
B. Joseph’s Brothers of His Dreams & Treatment - Gn 37:11
C. Korah of Moses’ Position - Nm 16:3 / Ps 106:13
D. Satraps of Daniel’s Position - Dn 6:3-4
E. Chief Priest of Jesus’ Results - Mk 5:10
II. DANGERS OF ENVY
A. Envy is Comparable to Sheol - Ss 8:6 Put me like a seal over your heart, Like a seal on your arm. For love is as strong as death, Jealousy is as severe as Sheol; Its flashes are flashes of fire, The very flame of the LORD.
B. Envy Is Of The Flesh - 1 Co 3:3 for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men?
C. Envy Rots Away At Us - Pv 14:30b But passion is rottenness to the bones.
D. Envy Drives People Away - Pv 27:4 Wrath is fierce and anger is a flood, But who can stand before jealousy?
E. Envy Enrages - Pv 6:34 For jealousy enrages a man, And he will not spare in the day of vengeance.
F. Envy Brings Disorder And Evil - Jm 3:16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing.
G. Envy Kills - Jb 5:2 For anger slays the foolish man, And jealousy kills the simple.
CONCL - Envy demonstrates a lack of trust in God. We are not to set our desires on anything that belongs to someone else. Not only can such desires make us miserable, they can also lead us to many other sins. Envying others is a useless exercise because God is able to provide everything we really need, even if he does not always give us everything we want. - 1 Tm 6:7-8 For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content.
INTRO - A little snail that lived by the ocean noticed with envy the big and beautiful shell in which the lobster lived.
"Oh! How this little shell of mine pinches," whined the little snail. "What a grand palace the lobster carries on his back! I wish I lived in his place. Oh! Wouldn't my friends admire me in that shell! Think of a snail living in a mansion like that!" In time a wonderful thing occurred. The watching, envious snail beheld the lobster work right out of his shell to grow up in another, larger one. When the empty, metallic green shell of the lobster lay neglected on the beach, the snail said, "Now I shall have my wish. Hurrah! The little snail is going to live in a lobster shell!" In his pride he cried out to the birds overhead, "Ah, the little snail is going to live in a lobster shell." He cried to the cattle in the field, "Oh, oh! Now you shall see. The little snail is going to live in a palace." So the birds and the cattle in the field were curious and they watched the little snail. The snail pulled himself loose from his own little shell, and cried, "Well, I'm glad to say I'm through with you. Goodbye. You've pinched me and pressed me for the last time. I am going to live in the grand lobster shell." The birds and the animals saw the little snail proudly crawl into the towering lobster shell and he huffed and puffed and blew and gasped in an effort to make himself fit. But with all his efforts he felt very small inside the grand lobster shell. He grew tired, too. That night he died because the great empty shell was so cold. A wise old crow then said, "You see! That's what comes of envy. What you have is enough. Be yourself and save yourself from a lot of trouble. How much better to be a little snail in a comfortable shell than to be a little snail in a big shell and freeze to death!"
(Bible Illustrations)
According to Oxford, envy is defined as a discontented or resentful longing aroused by another's possessions, qualities, or luck. Many times in the Bible envy and jealousy are interchanged.
I. STORIES OF ENVY
A. Philistines of Isaac’s Flocks - Gn 26:14
B. Joseph’s Brothers of His Dreams & Treatment - Gn 37:11
C. Korah of Moses’ Position - Nm 16:3 / Ps 106:13
D. Satraps of Daniel’s Position - Dn 6:3-4
E. Chief Priest of Jesus’ Results - Mk 5:10
II. DANGERS OF ENVY
A. Envy is Comparable to Sheol - Ss 8:6 Put me like a seal over your heart, Like a seal on your arm. For love is as strong as death, Jealousy is as severe as Sheol; Its flashes are flashes of fire, The very flame of the LORD.
B. Envy Is Of The Flesh - 1 Co 3:3 for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men?
C. Envy Rots Away At Us - Pv 14:30b But passion is rottenness to the bones.
D. Envy Drives People Away - Pv 27:4 Wrath is fierce and anger is a flood, But who can stand before jealousy?
E. Envy Enrages - Pv 6:34 For jealousy enrages a man, And he will not spare in the day of vengeance.
F. Envy Brings Disorder And Evil - Jm 3:16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing.
G. Envy Kills - Jb 5:2 For anger slays the foolish man, And jealousy kills the simple.
CONCL - Envy demonstrates a lack of trust in God. We are not to set our desires on anything that belongs to someone else. Not only can such desires make us miserable, they can also lead us to many other sins. Envying others is a useless exercise because God is able to provide everything we really need, even if he does not always give us everything we want. - 1 Tm 6:7-8 For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
TOO MUCH WORK.
Proverbs 21:25 Despite their desires, the lazy will come to ruin, for their hands refuse to work. (NLT) When it comes to being lazy, most people in Pupperville think of boy named Harold Peterson but Daisy Smith found out girls can be lazy too.
It was a cloudy day and it was threatening to rain as Daisy prepared the picnic shelter at the park for the church’s summer picnic. As she rounded one of the corners of the shelter she ran smack dab into one of the Miller twins. “Mindy? Is that you” She asked, “I haven’t seen you around for a long time.” “That’s because I’m grounded for the summer.” Mindy replied
“Grounded!” Daisy exclaimed, “Let me guess. You and your twin sister were swapping places again.” “We quit doing that a long time ago.” Mindy replied, “It kept getting us in to BIG trouble. I’m grounded because I got a “D” on my report card.” “You got a ‘D?’” Daisy said in astonishment. “Actually” Mindy continued, “I got 4 ‘D’s’ and 2 ‘F’s’”
“I thought you liked going to school.” Daisy commented. “Only because it got me out of doing work at home.” replied Mindy. “Don’t you have to do work at school?” Daisy asked. “Sort of,” Mindy answered, “but I just bring it home.” “And than you do it?” Daisy finished. “No way!” Mindy told her, “Besides I can’t find it once I get it in my room.”
“You make it sound like your room is as bad as Harold’s used to be.” Daisy said as she stretched out a tablecloth. “Why don’t you clean it up?” “Are you crazy?!” Mindy shouted out in disbelief, “That would be work.”
“So, what are you going to do now?” Daisy asked as she spread out another table cloth.
“I think I’ll go watch some Tv.” Mindy answered, “There should be something on worth watching.” “Huh?” Daisy questioned, “I thought you were grounded?” “Oh, yeah.” Mindy said sadly, “No Tv, no computer, no going out, no this, no that,. I can’t do anything.”
“Can’t do anything?” Daisy commented, “I think it’s more like won’t do anything!” “I guess I could always go and take a nap.” Mindy responded totally ignoring Daisy’s comment. “How about cleaning your room or studying? Or maybe even helping me set up for the church picnic tomorrow?” “What!” Mindy gasped, “You mean actually work? You must be crazy. I’d rather, rather.....” “Rather what?” Daisy asked. “Oh, never mind.” Mindy answered, “ It would be too much work.”
It was a cloudy day and it was threatening to rain as Daisy prepared the picnic shelter at the park for the church’s summer picnic. As she rounded one of the corners of the shelter she ran smack dab into one of the Miller twins. “Mindy? Is that you” She asked, “I haven’t seen you around for a long time.” “That’s because I’m grounded for the summer.” Mindy replied
“Grounded!” Daisy exclaimed, “Let me guess. You and your twin sister were swapping places again.” “We quit doing that a long time ago.” Mindy replied, “It kept getting us in to BIG trouble. I’m grounded because I got a “D” on my report card.” “You got a ‘D?’” Daisy said in astonishment. “Actually” Mindy continued, “I got 4 ‘D’s’ and 2 ‘F’s’”
“I thought you liked going to school.” Daisy commented. “Only because it got me out of doing work at home.” replied Mindy. “Don’t you have to do work at school?” Daisy asked. “Sort of,” Mindy answered, “but I just bring it home.” “And than you do it?” Daisy finished. “No way!” Mindy told her, “Besides I can’t find it once I get it in my room.”
“You make it sound like your room is as bad as Harold’s used to be.” Daisy said as she stretched out a tablecloth. “Why don’t you clean it up?” “Are you crazy?!” Mindy shouted out in disbelief, “That would be work.”
“So, what are you going to do now?” Daisy asked as she spread out another table cloth.
“I think I’ll go watch some Tv.” Mindy answered, “There should be something on worth watching.” “Huh?” Daisy questioned, “I thought you were grounded?” “Oh, yeah.” Mindy said sadly, “No Tv, no computer, no going out, no this, no that,. I can’t do anything.”
“Can’t do anything?” Daisy commented, “I think it’s more like won’t do anything!” “I guess I could always go and take a nap.” Mindy responded totally ignoring Daisy’s comment. “How about cleaning your room or studying? Or maybe even helping me set up for the church picnic tomorrow?” “What!” Mindy gasped, “You mean actually work? You must be crazy. I’d rather, rather.....” “Rather what?” Daisy asked. “Oh, never mind.” Mindy answered, “ It would be too much work.”
MAYBE TOMORROW
A Look At Slothfulness
INTRO -Sloths are very slow in their movements, when undisturbed. Reaching a tree limb, the creature advanced along it, body hanging underneath, suspended by the long claws of all four feet. So slowly did it take each step, so deliberately did it place each set of claws over the limb, that one would have thought it was stalking something rather than traveling. Because of their legendary slowness, writers have indulged in exaggerations: before they could come down from one tree and climb another, they were skin and bones, though they were fat when they started; and it took eight or nine minutes for them to move one leg forward three inches; and even in action, the second hand of watch often covers more distance! (Encyclopedia of 15,000 Illustrations)
According to the Oxford dictionary, slothfulness is:
reluctance to work or make an effort; or just plain laziness. This is the third of the seven deadly sins and the focus for today.
I. STORIES OF SLOTHFULNESS
A. The One Talent Man - Mt 25 - from Jesus parable comes a lesson on laziness
B. The Athenians - Ac 17:21 at Mars hill Paul found these men.
C. Some Thessalonians - 2 Th 3:11- Instead of working the busybodied
D. The Unmarried Widows - 1 Tm 5:13 - Became busybodies.
II. DANGERS OF SLOTHFULNESS
A. Slothfulness Leads To Poverty
1. Pv 10:4a Poor is he who works with a negligent hand,
2. Pv 20:4 The sluggard does not plow after the autumn, So he begs during the harvest and has nothing.
3. Pv 20:13a Do not love sleep, or you will become poor;
B. Slothfulness Leads To Deterioration
1. Pv 24:30-31 I passed by the field of the sluggard And by the vineyard of the man lacking sense, And behold, it was completely overgrown with thistles; Its surface was covered with nettles, And its stone wall was broken down.
2. Ec 10:18 Through indolence the rafters sag, and through slackness the house leaks.
C. Slothfulness leads to hunger
1. Pv 19:15 Laziness casts into a deep sleep, And an idle man will suffer hunger.
2. Pv 13:4 The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, But the soul of the diligent is made fat.
D. Slothfulness Creates Busybodies - 2 Th3:10-11 For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either. For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies.
E. Slothfulness Is No Good For All
1. Pv 10:26 Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, So is the lazy one to those who send him.
2. Pv 15:19 The way of the lazy is as a hedge of thorns, But the path of the upright is a highway.
3. Pv 18:9 He also who is slack in his work Is brother to him who destroys.
CONCL. - Pv 6:6-8 Go to the ant, O sluggard, Observe her ways and be wise, Which, having no chief, Officer or ruler, Prepares her food in the summer And gathers her provision in the harvest.
INTRO -Sloths are very slow in their movements, when undisturbed. Reaching a tree limb, the creature advanced along it, body hanging underneath, suspended by the long claws of all four feet. So slowly did it take each step, so deliberately did it place each set of claws over the limb, that one would have thought it was stalking something rather than traveling. Because of their legendary slowness, writers have indulged in exaggerations: before they could come down from one tree and climb another, they were skin and bones, though they were fat when they started; and it took eight or nine minutes for them to move one leg forward three inches; and even in action, the second hand of watch often covers more distance! (Encyclopedia of 15,000 Illustrations)
According to the Oxford dictionary, slothfulness is:
reluctance to work or make an effort; or just plain laziness. This is the third of the seven deadly sins and the focus for today.
I. STORIES OF SLOTHFULNESS
A. The One Talent Man - Mt 25 - from Jesus parable comes a lesson on laziness
B. The Athenians - Ac 17:21 at Mars hill Paul found these men.
C. Some Thessalonians - 2 Th 3:11- Instead of working the busybodied
D. The Unmarried Widows - 1 Tm 5:13 - Became busybodies.
II. DANGERS OF SLOTHFULNESS
A. Slothfulness Leads To Poverty
1. Pv 10:4a Poor is he who works with a negligent hand,
2. Pv 20:4 The sluggard does not plow after the autumn, So he begs during the harvest and has nothing.
3. Pv 20:13a Do not love sleep, or you will become poor;
B. Slothfulness Leads To Deterioration
1. Pv 24:30-31 I passed by the field of the sluggard And by the vineyard of the man lacking sense, And behold, it was completely overgrown with thistles; Its surface was covered with nettles, And its stone wall was broken down.
2. Ec 10:18 Through indolence the rafters sag, and through slackness the house leaks.
C. Slothfulness leads to hunger
1. Pv 19:15 Laziness casts into a deep sleep, And an idle man will suffer hunger.
2. Pv 13:4 The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, But the soul of the diligent is made fat.
D. Slothfulness Creates Busybodies - 2 Th3:10-11 For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either. For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies.
E. Slothfulness Is No Good For All
1. Pv 10:26 Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, So is the lazy one to those who send him.
2. Pv 15:19 The way of the lazy is as a hedge of thorns, But the path of the upright is a highway.
3. Pv 18:9 He also who is slack in his work Is brother to him who destroys.
CONCL. - Pv 6:6-8 Go to the ant, O sluggard, Observe her ways and be wise, Which, having no chief, Officer or ruler, Prepares her food in the summer And gathers her provision in the harvest.
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