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CHURCH:
LifeChurch.tv is the fifth largerst
church in America. People in the Tulsa
and Oklahoma City region have seen
some unusual billboards concerning
this Evangelical Covenant Church from
Edmond, Oklahoma. The message simply
states, "LifeChurch.tv makes
me sick." What seems like a bizarre
smear campaign is actually the work
of Pastor Craig Groeschel. The above
quote on the large billboards is attributed
to Satan, much like the popular billboard
ads claiming quotes from God. The
idea reflects Groeschel's well-known
creativity, but it also poses a great
question for every church. Does our
church really make Satan sick, or
are we so innocuous that we don't
even upset his stomach? Could we honestly
erect a billboard like that and substitute
the name of our church, or would that
be misleading? A dysfunctional church
certainly doesn't ail Satan, but when
we are truly seeking the dynamics
of Matthew 16:18 it will create a
pandemic in the kingdom of darkness.
Outeach, July/August 2007, p.
132.
COMMUNICATION:
Joy Boyle recently wrote a commentary
for the Washington Post that
told about one of the most amazing
conversational encounters a person
could experience. When she and her
husband boarded the Washington subway,
she noticed a young man with a "University
of Kansas" cap. Since their family
was planning to take her mother to
KU as part of her 80th birthday celebration
(she was a 1948 graduate) Mrs. Boyle
struck up a conversation to ask if
there were any nice restaurants he
recommend in Lawrence. The young man
politely noted he was actually from
Kansas City so he didn't now much
about the college town. Because she
was also from Kansas City she asked,
"What part did you grow up in?"
He mentioned an area called Brookside
so she replied, "Me, too! What
street?" He named the crossroads
of 67th Terrace and Pennsylvania.
She couldn't believe it because that
was right where she lived as a child.
Her voice got a bit louder and more
people started tuning in to their
unusual conversation when she asked,
"What was your address?"
His answer dropped her jaw and left
her in stunned silence. "604
West 67th Terrace." When she
regained her breath, she shouted,
"You grew up at 604 West 67th
Terrace? I grew up at 604 West 67th
Terrace!" The guy began describing
the house and the family that had
lived across the street since Boyle
was a little girl. She moved to Washington
in 1985 and the previously unknown
stranger moved in with his parents
when they bought the house from Boyle's
parents in 1986. Then to make the
experience even more surreal, the
young man stated, "My room was
upstairs in the back, with the green
shag carpeting." Boyle started
bouncing in her seat crying out, "That
was my room! Mine was the room with
the green shag carpeting! YOU GREW
UP IN MY ROOM!" They stared at
each other in disbelief of their seemingly
impossible coincidence. Boyle called
her mother when she got home, and
her mother called the old neighbors,
and none of them could believe it.
It defies logic how two strangers
could discover their common past in
a chance encounter where people don't
typically speak to one another. The
simple initiation of a conversation
helped them realize they lived in
the same earthly house. Through the
same process of initiated communication,
Christians can likewise assist others
in preparing for an eternity together
in God's heavenly home. We can only
fathom what might happen if more people
took the time and energy to initiate
more conversations. Houston Chronicle,
10/8/07
COMPLACENCY:
Our American troops not only face
the relentless hostility of terrorists
in Iraq, but another dangerous enemy
as well: complacency. The persistent
yet inconsistent pattern of these
killers requires perpetual vigilance.
For this reason critical reminders
have been posted at the exits of our
military installations. These signs
have a simple, poignant message: “Complacency
Kills!” Whether fighting in
Iraq or seeking to walk with integrity
down Main Street, U.S.A., every leader
faces the real and constant threat
of complacency. A Pastoral Letter,
Paul Powell, January/February 2006,
p.2
CREATIVITY:
Most Americans have encountered the
cultural phenomenon of a “Wal-Mart
Greeter.” What seems to be a
very polite and hospitable gesture
was actually created to deter shoplifting.
In 1980, Sam Walton visited a store
in Crowley, Louisiana that was attempting
to curtail their problem with shoplifters.
Rather than post a guard and raise
the concerns of honest customers,
the manager positioned a friendly
greeter at the door to visually inform
potential thieves that they were being
watched. As a byproduct it provided
an additional personal touch to the
overall shopping experience at Wal-Mart.
Walton loved what he saw and immediately
implemented the strategy in every
store. Great leaders are known for
creatively resolving problems in a
positive and winsome way. The
Meaning of A Man, Ronnie Floyd, 1996,
p.42
DEATH:
Hollywood Memorial Park is the cemetery
behind Paramount Studios. It contains
the remains of many well-known people
from the entertainment industry. Among
the interred is Mel Blanc. He was
the actor who gave creative voices
and sounds to many cartoon characters
like Daffy Duck, Foghorn Leghorn,
Tasmanian Devil, Barney Rubble, Bugs
Bunny, the "Meep Meep" of
The Road Runner, the laugh of Woody
Woodpecker, and the memorable stuttering
of Porky Pig. His grave marker has
one simple epitaph, "That's all,
folks." Although the line speaks
volumes about Mr. Blanc's life and
causes one to smile, it is not the
true summation of death. Indeed the
opportunity for life on earth is forever
finished, but each of us will enter
into eternity and realize "That's
NOT all, folks." Thankfully,
as Anne Lamont has noted, "For
the Christian... death is simply a
change in address." Ultimate
Hope, John Ortberg, Menlo Park Presbyterian
Church, 3/27/5; Toonopedia.com
EVANGELISM:
The tsunami of December 26, 2004 will
be a lifelong memory for anyone old
enough to understand what happened.
One bright spot of that tragic day
was recently highlighted on the cover
of the French children’s magazine,
Mon Quotidien. Tilly Smith, age 11,
was featured as the publication’s
selection for “Child of the
Year” in 2005. The British schoolgirl
saved about one hundred tourists because
she acted upon what she knew. While
walking along a Thailand beach during
her family’s vacation, she recognized
the warning signs that a tsunami was
coming because her geography class
had studied tsunamis just two weeks
before. Because of her actions, the
beach was evacuated and it was one
of the few places on Phuket where
no one was killed or seriously hurt.
Tilly Smith’s heroics model
what Christians are called to do each
day - take the knowledge of the gospel
and implement it into our routine,
wherever that may be, so that lives
can be saved for both now and eternity.
Houston Chronicle, 12/27/5, p.A2
MARRIAGES:
Sometimes we can find great strength
and solace from the knowledge that
others have faced and overcome very
significant marital struggles. This
is especially true when we know and
respect the couple. That's why this
story about a well-known Christian
couple is so powerful. Before they
married, the young man was known to
be somewhat harsh and tactless. That
may explain why he firmly told his
young bride-to-be, "I'll do the
leading and you do the following."
Right after their honeymoon, she got
sick and required hospitalization.
Instead of canceling his speaking
engagements to care for her, he simply
got her admitted then left on his
trip. He sent her a box of candy and
a telegram. She came from a family
that was accustomed to respecting
the advice of women,but she soon learned
her husband didn't want to hear her
in out. He told her, " I have
never taken your advice, and I don't
intend to begin now." On another
occasion, the husband and some of
his bachelor friends decided to take
a trip to Chicago. When she learned
of the plans, she ran to get her coat
so she could go with them. Her husband
firmly responded, "No, we guys
just want to be alone. No women today."
As she watched them drive off, Mrs.
Billy (Ruth) Graham tearfully prayed,
"God, if you'll forgive me for
marrying him, I'll never do it again."
God's Hall of Fame, Ellyn Sanna,
1996, p.40
MISSIONS:
It's important to know how much money
is spent on international mission
work in comparison to other industries.
Americans spend #3billion per year
supporting all international mission
work. In contrast, we spend $9 billion
at the box office for movies, and
$13 billion on chocolate. Understandably
not all Americans are Christians who
have vested interest in missions,
but does the Church really believe
movies and chocolate are three and
four times more valuable than the
gospel? Empowering Kingdom Growth,
Ken Hemphill, 2004, p.291
PRIORITIES:
On January 4, 2006, Mack Brown won
the biggest football game of his 33-year
coaching career. His Texas Longhorns
rallied from a 12-point deficit against
the University of Southern California
to win both the Rose Bowl and the
National Championship. The win erased
that perpetual criticism, “He
can’t win the big one.”
After this incredible victory, Brown
put the game into perspective for
the young men on that team. In the
locker-room that night, Brown told
his players, “Don’t let
this be the best thing that ever happens
in your life. Maybe it’ll be
the best sports event, but don’t
let it be the best thing. Make sure
you’re a better father than
this today. Make sure you’re
a better husband than this today,
because this goes away. It’s
a game.” Some have contended
Brown’s comments were poorly
timed following such an incredible
win. To the contrary, it should stand
as one of the greatest speeches ever
given by a coach. Associated Press,
“Mack Brown Can Relax”
1/11/6
RELATIONSHIPS:
Donald Trump isn't the easiest guy
to work with or for. His reality show
demonstrates the ease with which he
can fire people who don't meet his
standards. Ironically, he seems to
have a healthy understanding of how
demanding and abrasive he can be.
Rick Reilly is a writer who uses unique
angles to visit with celebrities.
A strategy he used with Trump, and
a number of others, was to volunteer
as their caddy. When he showed up
for his appointment with Trump, the
real estate mogul insisted Reilly
play golf instead of caddy. Trump
had his own caddy and didn't want
to play golf alone. Knowing his desire
to see Trump from the vantage point
of his caddy rather than a golfing
partner, Reilly asked, "Any chance
maybe you'd have a game tomorrow I
could caddy for?" Trump's reply
was priceless. He said, "Believe
me, one day of me is enough."
We’d all do well to evaluate
our interactions with other people
and determine whether or not "one
day of me is enough." Who’s
Your Caddy, Rick Reilly, 2003, p.62
SUCCESS:Tom
hanks has experienced monumental success
as an actor. He is one of
the most dominant leading men in Hollywood
and the recipient of two Academy Awards.
When talking about his career, Hanks
gave some tremendous insight about
success. He said, "I've made
over twenty movies and five of them
are good." Too often we equate
success with perfection rather than
accepting the reality that significant
failure accompanies every successful
person. Get Motivated Workbook,
Get Motivated Seminars, Inc., 2003,
p.32
EVERYDAY HUMOR
COMPLAINING:
Walter Welsh made an interesting
observation about gas prices. He mused,
" People whine about the price
of a gallon of gas while drinking
a $3 cup of Starbucks coffee.
Houston Chronicle, 8/10/5, p.E2
COMPUTERS:
After spending an
inordinate amount of his time giving
tech support to a frustrated and incompetent
client, the technician turned in his
report of the call. His comments read,
"The problem resides between
the keyboard and the chair."
Reader's Digest, July 2003, p.49
ENCOURAGEMENT:
In May of 2005, President George
Bush was awarded an honorary degree
from his alma mater. During his commencement
address to the Yale graduates, he
said, "To those who have received
honors, awards, and distinctions,
I say well done. And to the C students,
I say, You too can be president of
the United States." Beaumont
Enterprise, 5/23/5 p.9A
HOLINESS:
The teacher of first-graders
in a Lutheran school took great pains
to explain the special significance
of Holy Week. She talked about Palm
Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday,
and Easter. After finishing her very
thorough explanation, she invited
the children to ask questions. One
curious little boy spoke for everyone
when he asked, "What happens
if you don't want to be holy ALL week?"
More Holy Humor, Cal and Rose
Samra, 1997, p.88
MARRIAGE:
The judge was baffled to see
an 80-year-old woman in his court
for shoplifting at a grocery store.
When he asked about her offense, she
confessed to stealing one can of peaches.
Upon learning this was the full extent
of her crime, the judge asked how
many peaches were in the can. She
replied, "Six." He then
ordered her to spend one day in jail
for each of the six stolen peaches.
When her husband heard the verdict,
he jumped up and yelled, "Your
Honor, she also stole two cans of
peas!" Adapted from Houston
Chronicle, 2/14/6, p.E2
STAFF
RELATIONS: Upon leaving
a very frustrating staff meeting,
the senior pastor was overheard muttering
to his assistant: "Frankly, I
just don't believe Psalm 23 anymore
because I've never had a staff that
comforted me!" When God Builds
A Church, Bob Russell, 2000, p.91
In
Other Words
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