An age-old riddle that every generation has pondered is: "Why did the chicken cross the road?"
There are probably as many speculative and catchy answers to that riddle as there are years that it's been around.
The riddle's first known appearance in print, was in 1847 in The Knickerbocker, a monthly literary magazine published in New York.
The riddle's original (and logical) answer is: "To get to the other side!"
I was just thinkin'.....................doesn't the church also need to get to the other side of the road??
Don't we need to be doing more---or at least as much---"across the road" as we are inside the walls of our buildings?
The "Great Commission" says that we are to "GO" and teach and preach the gospel.
St. Francis of Assisi is credited with saying, "Preach the Gospel everywhere you go....and if necessary, use words!"
I know of a number of churches who are involved in their community. They are ministering outside their walls in very unique ways. Several years ago, one church I know of distributed cookbooks to every home in their town. The cookbooks were more than just delicious recipes by their church members.......within the pages were testimonies of the recipe contributors---sharing what Christ meant in their life.
On that particular Saturday, a large number of folks from that church..."crossed to the other side of the road."
Somehow...we as God's people need to find ways to "get to the other side!" And, when we get there, whether we use words or not, we should be compelled to share the Gospel of Christ.
*Jesus told us about the Samaritan who "crossed the road".
* Jesus Himself "crossed the road" and ate supper with Zacchaeus.
* Paul "crossed the road" and ministered to a young lady with an evil spirit.
The real question should be: "Why does the church need to cross the road"
The answer is: "to REACH the other side!"
Tommy (Proverbs 16:3)
Our granddaughter played volleyball when she was in junior high. We went to several of her games during those couple of years.
As I was watching one of the action-charged games (I didn't know eighth grade girls were so aggressive) I observed a few things:
1. The team had to work together to get the ball over the net.
2. Certain players had certain positions where they excelled. (There is a "setter" near the front row and one near the back. Their job, primarily, is to make the second hit and put the ball in position for the "final blow").
3. If any one player is not where she needs to be to make a shot, (for whatever reason) someone else jumps in and tries to save the play.
4. Since no one is really for sure what a volleyball is going to do when it's hit, everyone must be ready and prepared to jump-in wherever they can--to make a play.
I was just thinkin'..........that the church is a lot like a game of volleyball!
I thought about Philippians 2:2 where Paul tells us to be....."like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind."
I also thought about 1 Corinthians 12:4: "There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit."
As God's church, to have a successful "team", we must work together to "get the win". When someone is unable to do their specific joy, someone else must be ready to "jump into the play" and make a point!
Tommy (Proverbs 16:3)
Black Gold! Texas Tea!
Right now I'm sitting above a pocket of oil that they say will be producing for the next twenty years. Gonzales county, and counties south are busting with people, trucks and all kinds of machinery----trying to "suck out" all the oil they can find.
But, this frenzy for oil has caused me to think about another kind of oil. I thought about a little chorus that some of us used to sing in Sunday School and summer church camps: "Give me oil in my lamp, keep me burning.
Give me oil in my lamp I pray.
Give me oil in my lamp keep me burning.
Keep me burning til the break of day."
I was reading in a commentary the other day about the parable of the 10 wise and foolish virgins (Matt. 25:1-13). If you know the story, you'll remember that oil (and the lack of it) played a major part in the story that Jesus told.
Warren Wiersbe, in his commentary on the gospel of Matthew (1) , made this comment on that passage:
"Oil is usually a symbol of the Spirit of God, but I wonder if this particular oil is not also a symbol of the Word of God. The church should be 'holding forth the Word of life' in this dark and wicked world."
Referring to the foolish virgins, who failed to "be prepared", Wiersbe said this:
"The church has known for two thousand years that Jesus is coming again, and yet, most believers have become lethargic and drowsy. They are no longer excited about the soon-coming of the Lord." He concludes: "As a result, there is little effective witness given that the Lord is returning."
I was just thinkin'.......................are we prepared with the Word of God in our "lamps"....to the point that we are an effective witness in the world? (and I'm not talking about THE world--as in the planet that orbits the Sun). I'm talking about OUR world---the place where we live--where we "orbit around" friends, family and acquaintances everyday!
Obviously, all ten virgins were invited to the wedding. But, because the "Foolish Five" were ill-equipped....and ill-prepared, they were denied entrance into the wedding reception.
Are you keeping your lamp full of oil?? (empty lamps don't give out much light!)
I think God's people need to become as busy as these oil field workers that have recently invaded South Central Texas......and start drilling for OIL!!!
Tommy (Proverbs 16:3)
(1) BE Loyal: Following the King of Kings, David C. Cook Publishers, Colorado Springs, CO, 1980.
I was listening to Chuck Swindoll on his "Insight for Living" radio program the other day, and he told this little story:
"A baby camel said to its mother and said, "Why do we have such big, thick feet, Momma?" The mother replied, "So we can walk over the hot desert sand."
The young camel then asked, "But, why do we have such big eyelashes?" She said, "because we have to be able to see our way through blowing sand storms."
The baby's third question was: "Well, then why do we have such big humps on our backs?" To which the mother responded, "So we can walk for days over vast deserts and not need water."
Then the young camel said, "Since that's true.......why are we in a zoo!"
Swindoll's central theme through that message was---that the church....like the camel---was not created to live an isolated life. By being restricted to the confines of a zoo, a camel cannot fulfill the purpose for which it was created. Everything about the camel's makeup is designed for it to live in the desert---not a zoo!
You've probably heard of healthy animals from the wild that have died in captivity, or who live very lethargic lives.....because they are not in the place they were designed to be.
I was just thinkin'..........how the church was NOT designed to be isolated in the confines of a sanctuary, a fellowship hall, or a Bible study classroom. It was designed and created to be in the world....imitating Christ. Some of the most successful ministries happening today, are taking place outside the confines of a church building.
In Romans 12:9-21, Paul lays down a list of characteristics of a Christian. In verse 13---right after stating the need to take care of the saints, he says that we are to be "given to be hospitality". In the Greek, the word "hospitality" carries the idea of "strangers".
Swindoll said that the church (Christians) are to "be engaged with those who don't know Christ". That would most likely take place outside the church............where we were created to function.
I wonder......because we isolate ourselves in our buildings, and most everything we do takes place inside the church.....have we lost our purpose...have we become irrelavant??
Let's escape from the "zoo", and get our there in the "desert" where we belong......given to hospitality....and be the presence of Christ!
Tommy (Proverbs 16:3)
A number of years ago, when we lived near a lake, we decided to take up sailing as a "hobby". We saved some money and bought a small used sailboat ( like the one in the photo). We took a few lessons from the boat shop owner.....then took off on the "winds and the waves"!
I recently read a book titled, Leaders Who Last (1) by Dave Kraft, where he quotes John Ortberg (2) concerning "spiritual disciplines" and the difference between motorboats, rafts, and sailboats.
Ortberg says, "In a motorboat, 'I'm in charge. I determine how fast I go, and in what direction. Some people approach spiritual disciplines that way. If I'm aggressive enough...if I have enough quiet times, I can make transformation happen on my own."
He adds, "Some people have been burned by that approach...and go in the opposite extreme and will say, 'I'm into grace'. It's like they're floating on a raft. If you ask them to do anything to further their growth, they'll say, 'I'm not into works, I'm into grace. Your getting legalistic with me.' So, they drift."
He concludes, "On a sailboat however, I don't move if it's not for the wind. I can't control the wind. I don't manufacture the wind. Jesus talks about the Spirit blowing like a wind. A good sailor will discern, 'Where's the wind at work? How should I set my sails?' Practicing spiritual disciplines is like sailing."
As I read that, I immediately thought of the words of my favorite Clifton Jansky song, "Wind of God". The chorus says:
"Wind of God.....blow through me.
Wind of God.....set my spirit free.
I set my sail.....and I won't move until....
The wind of God......blows through me."
In Henry Blackaby's Experiencing God materials, he says that we are to look for where God is moving.....and then join HIM in what He's doing.!
In my very limited experiences (and even more limited expertise) in sailing, I know that if the wind isn't blowing.....you don't go anywhere!
If the wind is blowing...you have to maneuver your sails into a position so that the wind moves you along it its power and direction.
Reaching your destination is not totally dependent on you. But, it's as you work in harmony with the wind (the power source) that you accomplish something on your journey.
Spiritual disciplines and leadership qualities in our lives work the same way.
I was just thinkin'........are you a "motorboat" Christian/leader? Are you a "raft" person? Or, are you a "sailboat saint"?
Let's get out there and "set our sails"......and wait for the "wind" of God's Spirit to move us in the direction He wants us to go.!
Tommy (Prov. 16:3)
(1) Leaders Who Last, Dave Kraft, Crossway, Wheaton, Ill, 2010.
(2) John Ortberg interview in Leadership Journal, Winter 2004
The first week in September (2012) , a number of folks from our Area were involved in Disaster Relief work in the New Orleans area, following the devastation from Hurricane Issac.
Blenda had the opportunity to join a wonderful group of volunteers from Alice, Deer Park, and Kenedy, who were deployed on September 2nd to set up the Gambrell Association's temporary child care ministry in a building occupied by FEMA representatives---who were helping people get assistance for storm related needs.
Because of a committment Blenda had, she needed to return earlier than the rest of the group....so I made a quick trip to the New Orleans-----to be a "D.R. Volunteer" for a day, and to bring her back home for her appointment.
My first night there was spent going off to sleep on a cot in the middle of a church sanctuary----listening to 30 men snore "in harmony"!
After breakfast the next morning---and before heading off to serve, one of the Disaster Relief chaplains brought the devotional before dismissing us to our responsibilities.
In his prayer at the end of his devotional thought, he said something like: "....and help us as we punch holes in the clouds of those we meet today."
I'd never heard that expression before, but it caught my attention.
I was just thinkin'.........isn't that part of our "job description" as Christians??
Most of the people around us.....even some of our church friends...are living with some type of "dark cloud" around them.
As God's people, we have the light of God's love in us. (Matt.5:14). But, sometimes, they have such a "cloud" around them (for whatever reason) they can't see that Light.
So..........it's our job to "punch holes" in those clouds so they can see the True Light. And we "punch holes' by setting up child care trailers.....by doing disaster relief clean-out......by going to nursing homes..... by helping a needy person.....or by just saying an encouraging word!
When was the last time you punched some holes in the clouds??
Tommy (Prov.16:3)
My wife is a "Kindle Fanatic". For three reasons: 1) she's an avid reader, 2) she can get tons of free books, and 3) she can change the font size to accomodate her failing eyesight!
She recently downloaded a free book titled: "Encourage-Mints", by Carol Freed.
Obviously, it's about being an encourager.....as she relates experiences in her life where she was able to encourage others---or was, herself, encouraged by someone.
The sub-title is: "Give a mint--Refresh a life". She says......."just like the mints you swallow, encourage-mints come in endless forms and provide a mixture of effects and influence on those who receive them. Through these mints, you become a touch from God that He uses to show His love to people......".
The last chapter is titled: "Enjoying 4th Quarter Living"....and it relates our lives to a football game. With football season coming to a close, I thought it appropriate to relate some of her thoughts.
The chapter begins with a quote from C.S. Lewis that expresses the chapter's theme: "You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream."
The author divides our lives into four "quarters":
Ages 1-20..........1st Quarter
21 -40................2nd Quarter
41-60.................3rd Quarter
61-80.................4th Quarter
80 +....................Overtime!
That life-breakdown "hit home" for me, since I'm about "3 minutes" into my "fourth quarter"!
But, the chapter talks about a "fourth quarter comeback". Some who have reached the 4th quarter may have regrets about how they've "played the game"......some may feel they haven't "scored enough points".....others may feel that there's not much hope in being a winner!
But, it's never too late to be an "encourage-mint" to someone else!
I thought of some admonitions in the scriptures: .....like Hebrews 10:24-25: "and let us consider one another in order to stir up (encourage) love and good works...exhorting one another" (NKJV).
And Ephesians 4:29: "Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them." (NLT)
Freed says, "The more you encourage, the more it will become a natural part of who you are and how you live..."
A quote from Mother Teresa puts the "flavoring in the mint": "Let no one come to you without leaving happier and better."
I was just thinkin'.........regardless of what "quarter" you're playing.....you can alway pass out "mints" along the way!
Serving with you in HIS name,
Tommy
