Once again I was reminded that watching Charlie Brown can be a great way to learn some basic truths about life. As it is now the Christmas season, a local channel was running "A Boy Named Charlie Brown" which told the story of Charlie Brown taking part of a spelling bee at his school then going on to the national bee. Charlie Brown was doing really good and it came down to him and one other boy. All his friends were cheering him on and were all excited until the last word. His last word was " beagle" and he missed it. Of all the words for him to miss. He felt depressed and left the building with Linus and Snoopy for the long, lonely bus trip home. He stayed home the next day because he couldn't face his friends. Linus went to Charlie Brown's house and told him something that caught my attention really quick. Linus told him that even though he lost the world didn't come to s stop. His team even won their first game of the season. Charlie Brown thought about it then got up and got dressed. Even though he came in second, life went on for everyone.
I pondered how many times in my own life that when I failed or really messed up I would feel like Charlie Brown. I would often think that life was over and that noone would like me anymore because of it. My emotions would overtake common sense and I would have a good old fashioned pity party for myself. I still do that even today if I don't keep my feelings in check. I think about the times I fail God and that He couldn't love me anymore because I let Him down. But just like Linus, He is always there to remind me that His love is not contingent on my being obedient or always being victorious in an endeavor. He showed His love to me that while I was still a sinner He sent Christ to die for my sins and to give me hope and a restored relationship with Him. I just need to go to Him and ask forgiveness and He gives it to me. His love is like Linus' friendship with Charlie Brown. Linus never cares if Charlie Brown messes up or not. He is just a faithful friend to Charlie Brown. We could all use friends like that in our lives. And we have such a friend in Jesus Christ. Learn what you can from your failures and mistakes and move on with life.
None of us are perfect and will never be until we are with Christ in eternity. But until then let's keep pressing on with life and don't let our shortcomings stop us from living a life that pleases God!When you fail , get up and get dressed and see what lies in store for you!
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Monday, November 15, 2010
You Lose!
The other day I was at the local convenience store getting something for dinner. I was getting some chicken for dinner since my wife was at a woman's conference and I had to fend for myself that night. I went and placed my order and was waiting for the chicken to get cooked. While I was waiting, I noticed a man who had bought some lottery tickets and was scratching them off to see if he had won anything. He saw he didn't win so he bought a couple of more tickets. Once again he scratched those tickets only to find he had no winners. He thought for a minute or so then decided to get a couple of more. He had no more luck with those than the previous tickets. He looked in his wallet but found he had nothing left to purchase any more tickets. The clerk said she couldn't believe he didn't win at least something. I shook my head because I have seen the same scenario time and time again when people played the lottery looking to win big only to find they lost and wasted what they did have.
Unfortunately, people have been doing the same thing with their spiritual existence. All of us have a spiritual existence that we must address because we have been created by God as spiritual beings. The fact is we must all make a decision as to what we do with our spirit in regards to Christ.The problem is that many keep looking to the wrong places and things to fulfill their spiritual needs. They look to the things of the world thinking that will give them what they need and desire. The problem is they never win by doing that. Like the man I watched buying those lottery tickets, they lose. They hope and expect to win but always come up short. I had an uncle who I was told won over $45,000.00 playing the lottery. That would have been great but he played over $60,000 to win the $45,000! That is not my definition of winning but losing. Sadly many people will end up losing what they have spiritually because they are going after the wrong things instead of going after what God has to offer them. We may not be rich here on Earth but those riches are temporary anyway so why should we want them? Why not seek those riches that God has for us that no one can take from us and will never fade? Let me encourage you to seek first God's kingdom and His righteousness and "all these things" will be added to you! Wow! With God you never lose but with the world you will never win! By allowing Christ to be our Lord and Savior we will always be winners!
I am reminded of the casinos that have walls of winners but seem to forget about all those who lose to make winners possible! Playing the lottery may have a few winners but only thanks to all the losers who play! Be smart and invest your money wisely!
Unfortunately, people have been doing the same thing with their spiritual existence. All of us have a spiritual existence that we must address because we have been created by God as spiritual beings. The fact is we must all make a decision as to what we do with our spirit in regards to Christ.The problem is that many keep looking to the wrong places and things to fulfill their spiritual needs. They look to the things of the world thinking that will give them what they need and desire. The problem is they never win by doing that. Like the man I watched buying those lottery tickets, they lose. They hope and expect to win but always come up short. I had an uncle who I was told won over $45,000.00 playing the lottery. That would have been great but he played over $60,000 to win the $45,000! That is not my definition of winning but losing. Sadly many people will end up losing what they have spiritually because they are going after the wrong things instead of going after what God has to offer them. We may not be rich here on Earth but those riches are temporary anyway so why should we want them? Why not seek those riches that God has for us that no one can take from us and will never fade? Let me encourage you to seek first God's kingdom and His righteousness and "all these things" will be added to you! Wow! With God you never lose but with the world you will never win! By allowing Christ to be our Lord and Savior we will always be winners!
I am reminded of the casinos that have walls of winners but seem to forget about all those who lose to make winners possible! Playing the lottery may have a few winners but only thanks to all the losers who play! Be smart and invest your money wisely!
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
A Rushed Diagnosis
Yesterday I received a call from my sister Kathie that a friend of hers that has been coming to our church was told to get to Hershey Medical Center emergency because of a problem she was having. She had gone to see a neurologist abut her condition. The doctor checked her out and told her that she either had a tumor or a brain aneurysm. She was of course shocked to hear that and of course experienced the fear that comes along with hearing that kind of news. She had an MRI done and went to the hospital as she was told. She was taken to an exam room and was checked out by a resident. After she checked her out and did some extensive testing, the resident took the information and went to check some of the facts. She had come back and told the patient that the motion sickness patch was the culprit. She deals with motion sickness so she tried using the patch and it worked but unfortunately it had it's side effects. So instead of a tumor or bleeding in the brain, she simply had a drug reaction in her body. She was definitely relieved!
Misdiagnoses in other areas of life happen to people as well. Some folks struggle with something and look for answers in all different places and in different people. The problem is that you have to be careful where you turn for help. There are a lot of people who claim to have the answers to problems but really don't. The problem really lies in that most of our struggles have a root in either our spiritual life or the lack of it. If it sounds good like some of the garbage being spewed out, people buy into it without thinking. What people really need to hear is the truth. The real truth is that we can find the answers in God because He knows the problem and He knows the cure. An alcoholic never finds deliverance from his or her problem until he or she acknowledges the fact that they have a problem. Once they admit it, the freedom can then start for them. We all need God's help to overcome any problem we have because we are fallen and we cannot save ourselves. God has diagnosed our problem as sin. Today a lot of folks are misdiagnosed when it comes to their problem. When people are misdiagnosed with medical conditions, they can suffer numerous consequences including death. When someone isn't diagnosed properly when addressing their sin, it leads to eternal death. We need to make sure of the diagnosis and be honest with folks when they ask us how to deal with their condition
I gave her some comforting words as she was told it was a drug interaction. I told her what a wise man (Arnold Schwarzenegger) once said "It's not a tumor"! Let's tell folks they're sinners but don't forget to do it in love and give them the remedy too!
Misdiagnoses in other areas of life happen to people as well. Some folks struggle with something and look for answers in all different places and in different people. The problem is that you have to be careful where you turn for help. There are a lot of people who claim to have the answers to problems but really don't. The problem really lies in that most of our struggles have a root in either our spiritual life or the lack of it. If it sounds good like some of the garbage being spewed out, people buy into it without thinking. What people really need to hear is the truth. The real truth is that we can find the answers in God because He knows the problem and He knows the cure. An alcoholic never finds deliverance from his or her problem until he or she acknowledges the fact that they have a problem. Once they admit it, the freedom can then start for them. We all need God's help to overcome any problem we have because we are fallen and we cannot save ourselves. God has diagnosed our problem as sin. Today a lot of folks are misdiagnosed when it comes to their problem. When people are misdiagnosed with medical conditions, they can suffer numerous consequences including death. When someone isn't diagnosed properly when addressing their sin, it leads to eternal death. We need to make sure of the diagnosis and be honest with folks when they ask us how to deal with their condition
I gave her some comforting words as she was told it was a drug interaction. I told her what a wise man (Arnold Schwarzenegger) once said "It's not a tumor"! Let's tell folks they're sinners but don't forget to do it in love and give them the remedy too!
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