'Twas A Sheep, Not A Lamb

I will be the first to tell you that I am not a poet. Poetry can be an effective teaching tool. I sometimes wish I had such a talent, but I have always been convinced it is wise to recognize one's own limitations.

Nonetheless, when I come across an especially outstanding poem, I like to share it with others. The following is from the pen of a man named James Smith, whom I know nothing about other than the fact that he wrote this thought-provoking poem:

'Twas A Sheep, Not A Lamb

It was a sheep, not a lamb that strayed away,

In the parable we are told;

A grown-up sheep that had gone astray...

From the ninety and nine in the fold.

Out in the meadows, out in the cold,

'Twas a sheep the Good Shepherd sought:

Back to the flock and into the fold,

'Twas a sheep the Good Shepherd brought.

And why for the sheep should we earnestly long

And so earnestly hope and pray?

Because there is danger, if they go wrong,

They will lead the young lambs astray!

For the lambs follow the sheep, you know,

Wherever the sheep may stray;

If the sheep go wrong, it will not be long

Till the lambs are as wrong as they.

So, with the sheep we earnestly plead,

For the sake of the lambs today,

If the lambs are lost, what a terrible cost

Some sheep may have to pay.

Paul's God-breathed admonition to Timothy was to, "be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity" (1 Timothy 4:12, NKJV). Never underestimate the impact your faithful service to the King of Kings (or lack thereof) has on those around you.

r2

A Fourfold Folly

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.
Galatians 6:7-8, NKJV

The fourfold folly here is...

1. The folly of trying to deceive God
2. The folly of expecting something different from what we sow
3. The folly of sowing to the flesh and and expecting to reap of the Spirit
4. The folly of expecting more or less than we sow

God is not deceived, but I truly believe many of us are! Our actions have consequences. If we live spiritually grounded lives, the consequence is spiritual reward. If my life is dominated by fleshly pursuits, my inner man follows the same course as the outer.......it passes away (2 Corinthians 4:16).

r2

Ezra's Example Of Success

Ezra descended from the lineage of Hilkiah, the high priest (Ezra 7:1). However, Ezra was not able to serve in such a capacity himself during the time of captivity. Still, he gave his time in study of the Scriptures (Ezra 7:6).

Ezra became one of Israel's great restoration leaders. He led the reconstruction of the temple as well as the effort to restore the religious life and institutions of the people. Ezra was very successful in accomplishing these tasks. The following statement is most revealing as we consider the source of his success:

For Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the Lord, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel.
Ezra 7:10, ESV

Notice Ezra's focus in these three areas:

1. He set his heart on the study of the Scriptures
2. He set his heart on the doing of the Scriptures
3. He set his heart on the teaching of the Scriptures
   

In can neither do nor teach something with which I am unfamiliar. Personally speaking, I cannot repair a radiator on a car, nor could I teach anyone else how to do so. Why? Simply because I have not applied my mind to study the discipline of auto mechanics.

God requires study of his word for the purpose of our own obedience as well as the transmission of his divine truths from one man to another, from one generation to the next.

Your success and mine is a direct result of how well we know the Bible.

r2

Coming Clean

You may have heard the news that broke yesterday about track and field legend, Marion Jones. Ms. Jones has finally admitted to using performance enhancing drugs prior to her truly golden performance (three gold medals, five medals in all) at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.

For several years, Jones has adamantly denied using such substances. In 2004, she held a public press conference in which she strongly urged her fans and the public to trust her word.

The news of her admission yesterday makes every one of her denials and appeals to the public for trust seem exceedingly shallow and blatantly dishonest. To make matters worse, Marion is now claiming she must have been given these substances against her will and without her knowledge. She claims the drugs must have been contained within what she thought was merely flax seed oil.

But this is hardly a new song. Over the past few years with the increasing steroids in sports scandals, several athletes have used the same unlikely, and quite frankly, unbelievable excuse. For an elite athlete to claim that he or she does not meticulously monitor what goes into the body that provides their livelihood is simply inexplicable.

My family lived in Southern California during the early 1990's during part of my middle and high school years. During that time, my dad and I attended a high school girls' basketball game in which Marion Jones was playing. She was one of the most gifted and dominant athletes I have seen in any sport at any level. Marion went on to star as the University of North Carolina's point guard, leading that team to a National Championship during her freshman season. Of course, her track and field accomplishments at the highest level speak for themselves.

The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and snare of death.

Proverbs 21:6, ESV

What is most sad about this story is Jones' lack of honesty. For her fans (like me) and those who admired her talent and work ethic, the tainted shadow she now casts on the sports world is bad enough; but to add to that blatant dishonesty and outright lack of regard for the justice system merely pour salt in the "open wound."

Could you estimate the number of lies that have been told by human beings throughout the history of the world? Do we even have a number that goes so high? Now, how many situations and lives have been improved by all those lies? Not a single one. Lives are ruined and trust vanishes when lies are told.My friend, be resolved to always tell the truth, no matter what!

Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are his delight.

Proverbs 21:6, ESV

Gambling With Eternity

The "gaming" industry in the had gross revenues of almost $85-billion in 2005 in the United States alone. Of course, one's imagination can run wild as to what that figure would look like if every segment of the gambling world reported all income. The "bookie" who is taking wagers on this week's ballgames does not report the money he takes from his clients who call in looking to make an easy "buck."

Simply stated, the gambling universe is HUGE business. Savvy and often seedy businessmen and women are all too eager to break into an industry that capitalizes on the greed and materialistic outlook of a warped nation. Anyone who thinks gambling is a viable source of income is woefully deceived, and sadly mistaken. Simply put, the "house" ALWAYS wins. How else can we account for the palatial casinos and hotels in the aptly dubbed "Sin City?"

Countless families and individuals have been ruined by the deceptive world of gaming. Gambling addiction has been on the rise since gaming has expanded from the casino floor. Among other methods, you can now play poker online, play the lottery by holding a slip of paper, and wager thousands on a football game with a single phone call.

Personally speaking, the most disturbing and outright annoying development over the past five years is gambling's transition from shady and risky to national past time. As a regular viewer of ESPN, I have been amazed at the amount of airtime their national poker tournaments have been receiving. These out-of-shape, middle-aged men have garnered a following larger than most athletes and rock stars! Teenagers know these guys by name and model their own poker-playing "skills" thereafter. Yes, poker has become sport.

Let's be frank here -- gambling is like diving into an empty swimming pool. The chances that you will hit bottom are about the same. We are a nation deceived. Las Vegas' official slogan may be, "What Happens Here Stays Here," but I submit to you there is only one way in which that is true -- that is, in regard to your money. If you go to Vegas, 'tis true......your money will stay behind when you leave. Everything else (regret, shame, anger, compulsion, lies) you most certainly take with you!

People who can afford to gamble do not need money, and those who need money cannot afford to gamble. Listen to the word of God...

Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty. A faithful man will abound with blessings, but whoever hastens to be rich will not go unpunished
Proverbs 28:19-20, ESV

My friend, gambling is most certainly a "worthless pursuit." To the extent that we engage therein, we will be impoverished. If you are involved with gambling on any level, may I exhort you to cease from this un-Godly practice at once. I realize there can be a certain level of compulsion with some people, but I wholly reject the notion that gambling is a "disease." After all, if gambling is a disease, as some contend, can you deduct your losses as a medical expense? Renounce this sinful activity and seek the forgiveness of a loving God who is anxious to forgive, as well as the forgiveness of anyone else who may have been affected.

For those who have never tried gambling, may I encourage you to stay as far away from the practice as you possibly can.

r2

Remember Lot's Wife

In Luke 17:32, Jesus made this very simple statement: "Remember Lot's wife."

When we go back and look at the example of Lot's wife in the divine record (Genesis 19:1-26), here is what Jesus is telling us to remember:

Remember Her Privileges

• She was faithfully instructed
• She was a relative to one of God's chosen -- Abraham
• She was warned of danger

Remember Her Fate

• It was merited
• It was sudden
• It was final

Practical Reflections

• Beware of earthly entanglements
• Beware of questioning God's commands
• Beware of disobedience

May our memory of this woman's fate, recorded for time immemorial, be an admonition to trust and obey the word of our God.

r2

20 Ways To Simplify

Most of us think we are pretty busy. Most of us are right. While busy can mean productivity, busy can also mean a life that is “out-of-whack” in terms of priority.

Yes, work begets more work, hobbies beget more hobbies, stuff begets more stuff until the point where we step back in the one free moment we might have during a week and realize…. “It’s time to simplify!!"

Jesus said, “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other” (Matthew 6:24). The more “stuff” we have crowding our lives, the more danger we put ourselves in of dividing our loyalty that rightly belongs to the Lord.

Here is an excellent list of 20 ways to simplify, compiled by Dr. Steve Stephens:

1. Eliminate ten things from your life.
2. Cut back on T.V.
3. Escape to a quiet spot.
4. Set your own pace.
5. Get rid of clutter.
6. When you bring in something new, throw out something old.
7. Do only one thing at a time.
8. Say “no” at least once a day.
9. Enjoy the little things.
10. Take at least four breaks per day.
11. Determine what really matters.

12. Make peace with all people.
13. Tell the truth.
14. Appreciate beauty.
15. If you don’t need it, don’t buy it.
16. If you don’t have time, don’t do it.
17. Have a plan for everything and put everything in its place.
18. Share your thoughts, feelings, and opinions with a friend every day.
19. Allow time to pray.
20. Thank God for what you have.

r2