Monday, November 24, 2008

Two Ways of Thinking

Is the proverbial glass half full (or) half empty? Do we hate doing the dishes (or) are we glad to have food to eat? Do you despise your job (or) are you glad to provide for your family? Do we hate changing diapers (or) are we blessed with healthy children? Am I worthless because I’ve made some bad decisions (or) could my story help others? Do I get irritated because people always want something from me (or) am I in a position to help people? It’s true that our way of thinking really sets the tone for our way of living. *How we think is often what we become. *Where we keep our minds will determine our level of spiritual growth. *What we do is a result of what we think. How do you choose to think about things? Are you hopeful or hopeless?

Monday, November 17, 2008

The Carpenter

An elderly carpenter was ready to retire. His boss was sorry to see him go and asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favor. The carpenter said yes, but in time it was easy to see that his heart wasn’t into it. He resorted to shoddy workmanship and used cheap materials. It was an unfortunate way to end his career. When the carpenter was finished, his boss handed the front-door key to him and said, "This is your house. It’s my gift to you." What a shock! What a shame! If he had only known he was building his own house, he would have done it all so differently. So it is with us. We build our lives in a distracted way, then with a shock we look at the situation we have created and find that we are now living in the house we’ve built. Think of yourself as the carpenter. Think about your house. Each day you hammer a nail, place a board, or erect a wall. Build wisely. It’s the only life you will ever build.

“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught and overflowing with thankfulness.” (Colossians 2:6-7)

Monday, November 10, 2008

Closed Lips

An iron factory worker accidently fell onto a red-hot iron plate. As he was rolled off by his fellow workmen things looked bleak and they cried out to send for a doctor. The suffering man pleaded, “Never mind the doctor, I’m dying without God, who can help me?” Although many men surrounded him, not one spoke up. One of these men was an inactive member of his church whose witness at work simply wasn’t there. Later, when asked about the accident, he said, “I’ve heard those cries ever since and I wish I could’ve spoken up and pointed him to Jesus, but my life closed my lips.” What would’ve we said?

Monday, November 3, 2008

Ridiculous Requests

Real responses from comment cards at the Bridger Wilderness Center:

-Trails need to be reconstructed. Please avoid building trails that go uphill.
-Too many bugs and spider webs. Please spray the woods to avoid these pests.
-Please pave the trails so they can be snow-plowed during the winter.
-Install chair lifts so we can get to the wonderful views without hiking there.
-The coyotes make too much noise. Please eradicate these annoying animals.
-A deer stole a jar of my pickles. Can I please get reimbursed?
-A McDonalds would be nice at the trailhead.
-The places where trails do not exist are not well marked.
-There are too many rocks in the mountains.

What ridiculous requests do we make to God?