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SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 14, 2003
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It does not require a
decision to go to hell... |
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Side By Side
They lie on the table side by side
The Holy Bible and the TV guide.
One is well worn and cherished with pride.
No not the Bible, but the TV guide.
One is used daily to help folks decide.
No, not the Bible, but the TV guide.
As the pages are turned, what shall they see.
Oh, what does it matter, turn on the TV.
Then contusion reigns, they can't all agree
On what they should watch on the old TV,
So they open the book in which they confide.
No, not the Bible, but the TV guide.
The Word of God is seldom read.
Maybe a verse as they fall into bed,
Exhausted and sleepy and tired as can be;
Not from reading the Bible, from watching TV
So then back to the table side by side,
Lie the Holy Bible and the TV guide.
No time for prayer, no time for the Word,
The plan of Salvation is seldom heard.
But forgiveness of sin, so full and free,
Is found in the Bible, not on TV
- Unknown
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 By "worry" I mean the
debilitating, nagging sense of doom that (a) goes further than
concern and sympathy, (b) does not involve any remedial activity
to solve a real problem, and (c) is characterized by habitual,
constant churning thoughts of despair. It is often unreasonable
1. Worry is often out of proportion with reality. It
becomes an emotion that is difficult to contain in proper, reasonable
bounds. Illustration: Your teenage son is ten minutes later than
the usual arrival time from school. Your first thoughts may be
well within the range of possibility: traffic, he had some necessary
task at school or someone needed a ride home. But as the clock
ticks your thoughts move away from the probable toward the tragic
or bizarre. A traffic accident ... he wrecked the car and it
was his fault ... there is serious injury ... several are dead
.... A Swedish proverb says, "Worry gives a small thing
a big shadow."
2. Worry is distracting. It is so hard to concentrate
when you are worrying; it is troublesome to deal with people
in a kind and friendly manner. Illustration: You are at a crisis
point in your financial condition; bills are soon due, and the
money isn't in the bank. As the due dates approaches, you are
less productive in your job and it is increasingly harder for
your loved ones to deal with your negative mood. Worry over finances
can lead to less responsibility, therefore, less money and more
worry! Worry robs us of the energy we need to apply to all our
life's responsibilities.
3. Worry keeps us from productive activity. While immersed
in worry, we tend to let distraction introduce neglect of duty.
Worry has never paid a bill, or put a meal on the table. It has
never cured a serious illness, but has caused many. Worry has
never solved a marital problem, or successfully raised a child.
Worry has never united a church, converted a sinner, or brought
back an apostate. It has never repaired a car, fixed the plumbing
or reversed the aging process. It has never added one cubit unto
the measure of a man's life (Matt. 6:27).
4. Worry is a symptom of a lack of trust in God. This
is the worse problem associated with worry. And in the passage
quoted above Jesus not only teaches the futility of worry. He
tells us not to do it: "Do not worry," (Matt. 6:25,31,34).
He wants us to know, our heavenly Father knows what we need and
our role is to put Him first (Matt. 6:32-34). Making God our
first priority is an act of trust. Worry contradicts our claim
of trust in God. The answer is to trust in God as the Psalmist
did: "I sought Jehovah, and He answered me, and from all
my fears did deliver me." (Psa. 34:4). --Warren E. Berkley
ABOUT
"ABBA"
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When asking his Father to spare him death on the cross, Christ
said "Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take
away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what
thou wilt." (Mark 14:35) The Aramaic word "Abba"
is a personal name--a name a child would use with his earthly
father when he was frightened and needed comforting.
According to Vines, "Abba is the word framed by the lips
of infants and conveys absolute trust, while 'Father' expresses
intelligent apprehension of the relationship." As Jesus
prayed his words, then, he expressed both his humanity and his
deity.
Part of Christ did not want to die, but the stronger part of
Him knew that dying would be best for us. Thank you, Father,
Abba, for sending your Son! Think about it!
- Matt Hennecke
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