July 31, 2007
1:24 p.m.
By: Joshuah Ellis
I will be the first to tell you that what you are about to read is more along the lines of a tangent rather than an article. To be quite honest, after being away from the website for a while, I return to the front lines a bit annoyed to say the least. I am simply unaware why, in spite of all that is going on in this country, we as the American people seem to be so obsessed with such idiocy. Most people seem to have no problem complaining about our country or our government, and it is quite irksome that their righteous anger is put on the back burner because a new episode of ''Lost'' comes on. Don't misunderstand me, I like ''Lost'' just as much as the next guy. I just don't understand why the majority of our focus, as a country, seems to be on things that don't matter.
If you were to turn on CNN right now, you would most likely hear a few tidbits about the recent democrat debate and the upcoming republican debate, but that would be short lived because of the breaking news that Paris Hilton was spotted at Starbucks. For sobbing out loud, I just turned on CNN (I felt I might be acting to hastily and I wanted to make sure there is validity to my writing) and the headline was a YouTube contest where the winner gets to be P. Diddy's personal assistant and hold his umbrella for him. COME ON PEOPLE! ARE YOU KIDDING?
I guess my main question about all this is, ''who cares?'' Who cares if Lindsey Lohan is arrested at a club in L.A. with drugs on her person Even I know that's not news! Have we forgotten that there are elections coming up? Have we neglected to realize that our country is on the verge of a turning point with the left pushing abortion and gay marriage and idiots like Michael Moore trying to communize your healthcare? We cannot be so immature to think that these things will not matter for us, can we? Of course, if that is true, I am sure that way of thinking will be changed when we are being herded through the doctors office like cattle after having been on a 6 month waiting list for a flu shot. Please, stop me when I start to sound bitter.
I am sure I will reap plenty of criticism for posting this and I am ready for it, but first, let me say that I am not demanding anything different than that which would be expected in our spiritual lives. I simply demand it under secular circumstances. Paul tells us to keep our mind on things above and not on things of the earth (Colossians 3:1-4). Does this mean that we cannot ever think about things of a secular nature? No, but it does teach us that which we should deem most important. We should put our time and energy into the things that matter most, and let the rest of it fall to the wayside.
I realize that this sounds quite critical, but let me assure you, this is something that I plan to work on as well. I would encourage us all to reprioritize if necessary. Ask yourself, what is most important in your life. Then, ask yourself what should be most important. If they are not the same, make them so. ''{1} Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, {2} looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God'' (Hebrews 12:1-2).
Questions or Comments? Visit the Forum.
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Oh...Daddy, I Forgot.
June 28, 2007
10:23 a.m.
By: Gary W. Holladay Sr.
At sunset I was quite tired from transplanting a cherry tree in the front yard of my corner lot; but I still needed to tie it down to protect it from the wind. As I pounded stakes into the ground I heard the gleeful squeals of small children in the distance. Looking up, I saw a man following two small bicycles heading in my direction. One bike was clad with pink ribbons and a tiny little girl. Big brother, though not much bigger, was riding ahead. I returned to pounding stakes.
Moments later I heard the man say, ''Do not cross the street. Wait for me at the corner.'' Sure enough, when I looked back the boy had peddled farther ahead and was waiting at the corner. ''Which way should we go, Daddy?'' said the little boy raring to cross. ''Let's go this way son, so we can stay on the sidewalk,'' said the man, ''There's not a sidewalk on that side of the street.'' I saw them turn and go up the cul-de-sac away from my house.
I finished pounding in the stakes and was cutting twine when I heard again, ''Do not cross the street. Wait for me at the corner.'' Again, the boy had zipped ahead and was waiting at the street corner. As his dad caught up with him the boy asked, ''Can we cross the street now?'' The man said ''yes'' and the boy zoomed to the sidewalk in front of my house and started down the short cul-de-sac that I live on.
I tied a strip of cloth around the trunk of the tree and began tying twine to the cloth. ''Wait at the corner'' said the man as he rounded the end of the cul-de-sac. A few moments later I heard a shout, ''Son, why did you cross the street? Why didn't you wait for me?'' There was no answer. The man asked again, ''Why did you cross the street?'' After a pause the boy explained, ''Because I wanted to.'' The father was distressed, ''I told you to wait for me!'' After a longer pause the boy replied, ''Oh...Daddy, I forgot.'' ''No, that is not acceptable.'' said the disappointed man, ''Now I can no longer trust you. Our walk is over.''
How familiar those words sounded as I remembered my own children saying, ''because I wanted to'' or ''I forgot.'' And ''I can no longer trust you'' struck deep sorrow. The deed was done, the trust was broken, and the walk was over.
As I finished tying the twine to the stakes, I realized the greater significance of the event I had just witnessed. I remembered when my Father in heaven had told me to ''wait at the corner'' and I did not listen. How that must have disappointed Him! The trust I shattered as I disobeyed His word... and my ''walk'' with God ended.
I don't know what happened after the man took his children home. He seemed to be a loving father. After all, he wanted them to cross the street under his protection and stay on the sidewalk where it was safe. Perhaps he was merciful to his erring son. What I do know is that my Father in heaven has shown mercy to me. And like my cherry tree, I have been transplanted and anchored by His son.
Titus 3:3-7 ''For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures... But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.''
Questions or Comments? Visit the Forum.
10:23 a.m.
By: Gary W. Holladay Sr.
At sunset I was quite tired from transplanting a cherry tree in the front yard of my corner lot; but I still needed to tie it down to protect it from the wind. As I pounded stakes into the ground I heard the gleeful squeals of small children in the distance. Looking up, I saw a man following two small bicycles heading in my direction. One bike was clad with pink ribbons and a tiny little girl. Big brother, though not much bigger, was riding ahead. I returned to pounding stakes.
Moments later I heard the man say, ''Do not cross the street. Wait for me at the corner.'' Sure enough, when I looked back the boy had peddled farther ahead and was waiting at the corner. ''Which way should we go, Daddy?'' said the little boy raring to cross. ''Let's go this way son, so we can stay on the sidewalk,'' said the man, ''There's not a sidewalk on that side of the street.'' I saw them turn and go up the cul-de-sac away from my house.
I finished pounding in the stakes and was cutting twine when I heard again, ''Do not cross the street. Wait for me at the corner.'' Again, the boy had zipped ahead and was waiting at the street corner. As his dad caught up with him the boy asked, ''Can we cross the street now?'' The man said ''yes'' and the boy zoomed to the sidewalk in front of my house and started down the short cul-de-sac that I live on.
I tied a strip of cloth around the trunk of the tree and began tying twine to the cloth. ''Wait at the corner'' said the man as he rounded the end of the cul-de-sac. A few moments later I heard a shout, ''Son, why did you cross the street? Why didn't you wait for me?'' There was no answer. The man asked again, ''Why did you cross the street?'' After a pause the boy explained, ''Because I wanted to.'' The father was distressed, ''I told you to wait for me!'' After a longer pause the boy replied, ''Oh...Daddy, I forgot.'' ''No, that is not acceptable.'' said the disappointed man, ''Now I can no longer trust you. Our walk is over.''
How familiar those words sounded as I remembered my own children saying, ''because I wanted to'' or ''I forgot.'' And ''I can no longer trust you'' struck deep sorrow. The deed was done, the trust was broken, and the walk was over.
As I finished tying the twine to the stakes, I realized the greater significance of the event I had just witnessed. I remembered when my Father in heaven had told me to ''wait at the corner'' and I did not listen. How that must have disappointed Him! The trust I shattered as I disobeyed His word... and my ''walk'' with God ended.
I don't know what happened after the man took his children home. He seemed to be a loving father. After all, he wanted them to cross the street under his protection and stay on the sidewalk where it was safe. Perhaps he was merciful to his erring son. What I do know is that my Father in heaven has shown mercy to me. And like my cherry tree, I have been transplanted and anchored by His son.
Titus 3:3-7 ''For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures... But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.''
Questions or Comments? Visit the Forum.
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
'Cause My Cup Has Overflowed
June 12, 2007
11:07 a.m.
By: Anonymous via Whit Sasser
I've never made a fortune,
and it's probably too late now.
But I don't worry about that much,
I'm happy anyhow.
And as I go along life's way,
I'm reaping better than I sowed.
I'm drinking from my saucer,
'Cause my cup has overflowed..
Haven't got a lot of riches,
and sometimes the going's tough.
But I've got loving ones all around me,
and that makes me rich enough.
I thank God for his blessings,
and the mercies He's bestowed.
I'm drinking from my saucer,
'Cause my cup has overflowed.
I remember times when things went wrong,
My faith wore somewhat thin.
But all at once the dark clouds broke,
and the sun peeped through again.
So Lord, help me not to gripe,
about the tough rows I have hoed..
I'm drinking from my saucer,
'Cause my cup has overflowed..
If God gives me strength and courage,
When the way grows steep and rough.
I'll not ask for other blessings,
I'm already blessed enough.
And may I never be too busy,
to help others bear their loads.
Then I'll keep drinking from my saucer,
'Cause my cup has overflowed.
Questions or Comments? Visit the forum.
11:07 a.m.
By: Anonymous via Whit Sasser
I've never made a fortune,
and it's probably too late now.
But I don't worry about that much,
I'm happy anyhow.
And as I go along life's way,
I'm reaping better than I sowed.
I'm drinking from my saucer,
'Cause my cup has overflowed..
Haven't got a lot of riches,
and sometimes the going's tough.
But I've got loving ones all around me,
and that makes me rich enough.
I thank God for his blessings,
and the mercies He's bestowed.
I'm drinking from my saucer,
'Cause my cup has overflowed.
I remember times when things went wrong,
My faith wore somewhat thin.
But all at once the dark clouds broke,
and the sun peeped through again.
So Lord, help me not to gripe,
about the tough rows I have hoed..
I'm drinking from my saucer,
'Cause my cup has overflowed..
If God gives me strength and courage,
When the way grows steep and rough.
I'll not ask for other blessings,
I'm already blessed enough.
And may I never be too busy,
to help others bear their loads.
Then I'll keep drinking from my saucer,
'Cause my cup has overflowed.
Questions or Comments? Visit the forum.
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