Solomon is widely considered to be the wisest man to ever live. In Proverbs 10:23 he said, "A fool finds pleasure in evil conduct, but a man of understanding delights in wisdom."
With that in mind I once again pass these nuggets of wisdom along...
* To the world you might be one person; but to one person you might be the world.
*Going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than going to McDonald's makes you a cheeseburger.
*Real friends are those who, when you feel you've made a fool of yourself, don't feel you've done a permanent job.
*A coincidence is when God performs a miracle and decides to remain anonymous.
*Sometimes the majority only means that all the fools are on the same side.
*I don't have to attend every argument I'm invited to.
*Lead your life so you won't be ashamed to sell the family parrot to the town gossip.
*Did it ever occur to you that nothing occurs to God?
*Life is like an onion; you peel off one layer at a time and sometimes you weep.
*There are two things I have learned; there is a God. And I'm not Him.
*Following the path of least resistance is what makes rivers and men crooked.
*Your worst days are never so bad that you are beyond the reach of God's grace. And your best days are never so good that you're beyond the need of God's grace.
Have a blessed week!
Monday, January 30, 2012
Monday, January 23, 2012
The Next Level
This past Sunday I brought a message entitled The Next Level that concentrates on Christians raising their level of committment to Jesus Christ and the Christian life. Part of that committment is living a life of obedience.
Obedience is a central theme throughout Scripture. From the opening pages of creation all the way to the closing verses of Revelation, it's hard not to find the subject of obedience on every other page of the Bible. Christ not only said "Believe in Me" but He also said "Follow Me." If we follow Him then we will be obedient as He was.
Unfortunately, many today totally ignore or dismiss obeying God's commands. I think this is because obedience confronts our sins.
I beleive that the reason so many people bash Denver Bronco quarterback Tim Tebow is because he actually lives his faith. They hate him for that because it forces them to examine their own lives and they realize they are not living as they know they should. They would rather Tebow to come down to their level rather than rise to the level he lives.
Adam Wainwright, a pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals and a devout Christian said he admires Tebow's open faith and said if more Christian athletes were living the lives they should, Tebow's life would not receive the scrutiny it does.
God commands us to live a certain way - His way. And we'll do it even when it's hard to do so.
Obedience is a central theme throughout Scripture. From the opening pages of creation all the way to the closing verses of Revelation, it's hard not to find the subject of obedience on every other page of the Bible. Christ not only said "Believe in Me" but He also said "Follow Me." If we follow Him then we will be obedient as He was.
Unfortunately, many today totally ignore or dismiss obeying God's commands. I think this is because obedience confronts our sins.
I beleive that the reason so many people bash Denver Bronco quarterback Tim Tebow is because he actually lives his faith. They hate him for that because it forces them to examine their own lives and they realize they are not living as they know they should. They would rather Tebow to come down to their level rather than rise to the level he lives.
Adam Wainwright, a pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals and a devout Christian said he admires Tebow's open faith and said if more Christian athletes were living the lives they should, Tebow's life would not receive the scrutiny it does.
God commands us to live a certain way - His way. And we'll do it even when it's hard to do so.
Friday, January 13, 2012
What It Takes
Professional golfer Tiger Woods was once asked why he was so hard to beat on the final day of a tournament. His response was, "I know what it takes to play in a final round of any tournament. You can't let yourself look ahead to the final outcome, because if you don't take care of the present, the final outcome may not be what you want."
Now I know that Tiger may not be the best source of advice in light of his recent personal problems, but I think this is good advice not only for golf, but for life as well. If we don't focus on the present, the future may not turn out the way we hoped. As I get older, the more important taking care of the present dominates my thoughts.
Now, a couple of weeks into the new year, many are probably already lamenting that they've broken their resolutions. Today, however, is a great day to set new goals in order to take care of the now. Here are some ideas I came across recently.
* If you want good health in your 60's and 70's, pay attention to things like diet, smoking, and exercise right now.
* If you want friends tomorrow, think about how you are treating people today.
* If you want to pass along a good name to your children, pay attention to what your conscience is telling you today.
* If you want a stable, intact home, honor your family committment today.
* If you want to live with self-respect, a clear conscience, and confidence about eternity, be sure about your relationship with God right now.
These are but a few things we can do that will make us wiser. Then we can enjoy life more and trust God with the future.
Now I know that Tiger may not be the best source of advice in light of his recent personal problems, but I think this is good advice not only for golf, but for life as well. If we don't focus on the present, the future may not turn out the way we hoped. As I get older, the more important taking care of the present dominates my thoughts.
Now, a couple of weeks into the new year, many are probably already lamenting that they've broken their resolutions. Today, however, is a great day to set new goals in order to take care of the now. Here are some ideas I came across recently.
* If you want good health in your 60's and 70's, pay attention to things like diet, smoking, and exercise right now.
* If you want friends tomorrow, think about how you are treating people today.
* If you want to pass along a good name to your children, pay attention to what your conscience is telling you today.
* If you want a stable, intact home, honor your family committment today.
* If you want to live with self-respect, a clear conscience, and confidence about eternity, be sure about your relationship with God right now.
These are but a few things we can do that will make us wiser. Then we can enjoy life more and trust God with the future.
Monday, January 2, 2012
New Year, New Life
We have begun a new teaching series at Lawson Baptist entitled New Life, New Year. I know many people make resolutions at the beginning of a new year. Or, maybe you are like me and prefer to set goals. One of my goals is to be more frequent with this medium to encourage and inform others.
With that in mind, I want to pass along some goals that I came across several years ago that are still very pertinent today. By engaging in these suggestions, your family life is sure to get stronger.
*Eat dinner as a family for seven days in a row.
*Give each family member a hug for twenty-one days in a row (that's how long the experts say it takes to develop a habit).
*Pray for your spouse and children every day.
*Take a walk as a family.
*Encourage each child to submit to you his most perplexing question, and promise him that you'll either answer it or discuss it with him.
*Ask you children each day what they did at school (what they learned, who they ate lunch with, etc.).
*Call your spouse from work just to see how they are doing.
*Compile a family tree and teach your children the history of their ancestors.
*Spend an evening going through old pictures from family vacations.
*Place with your will a letter to each family member telling why you were glad you got to share life with them.
*Give regularly and faithfully to your church, not only money but time.
*If your car has a Christian bumper sticker on it - drive like it!
With that in mind, I want to pass along some goals that I came across several years ago that are still very pertinent today. By engaging in these suggestions, your family life is sure to get stronger.
*Eat dinner as a family for seven days in a row.
*Give each family member a hug for twenty-one days in a row (that's how long the experts say it takes to develop a habit).
*Pray for your spouse and children every day.
*Take a walk as a family.
*Encourage each child to submit to you his most perplexing question, and promise him that you'll either answer it or discuss it with him.
*Ask you children each day what they did at school (what they learned, who they ate lunch with, etc.).
*Call your spouse from work just to see how they are doing.
*Compile a family tree and teach your children the history of their ancestors.
*Spend an evening going through old pictures from family vacations.
*Place with your will a letter to each family member telling why you were glad you got to share life with them.
*Give regularly and faithfully to your church, not only money but time.
*If your car has a Christian bumper sticker on it - drive like it!
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