Be an Original You
In 1964, a group of scientists studied the schooling instinct of fish as to what makes them swim in shoals. Painstakingly they removed from one fish the portion of the brain they believed controlled its social instinct. Did he play hooky from school? He tried, but amazingly all the other fish followed this witless-wonder around! It is hard, even for people, to break the conformity instinct. It is everywhere. We speak of …
- a flock of sheep
- a pack of wolves
- a swarm of bees
- a covey of quail
- a pride of lions
- a gaggle of geese
- a bevy of girls
- a gang of boys
We are born original and die a copy. Who we copy determines our destiny. That is why it is so important that we believe so strongly in Jesus Christ that we resolve to conform in Him, and not the world. No matter how ugly your sin may be He will forgive you. Even if you feel terribly unworthy and sinful, Jesus is willing to forgive you and await you in heaven.
Why not be yourself with a new self that is alive in Jesus Christ, a new, fresh, and excitingly different you? If you have done this rejoice! If not, break with the pack now and …
“Don’t copy the fashions and customs of this world, but be a new and different person with a fresh newness in all you do and think. Then you will see from your own experiences how His way really satisfies you!” Romans 12:2
Play Ball!
There was an old baseball coach at Pepperdine University named John Scolinos who when he addressed an audience of baseball coaches had a standard size home plate hung around his neck. He began by asking in succession if there were any Little League, Babe Ruth, high school, college, Minor League, and finally Major League coaches present. Pausing between each, he asked what was the size of your home plate. Reservedly, thinking it was a trick question, each slowly answered, “17 inches.”
“SEV-EN-TEEN INCHES,” he confirmed.
Then he questioned, “What do they do with a Big League pitcher who can’t throw the ball over seventeen inches?”
Someone shouted, “They send him to Pocatello!”
Coach Scolinos remarked, “They don’t say, ‘That is OK. If you can’t hit a seventeen inch target we will make it eighteen or nineteen inches. We’ll make it twenty inches so you will have a better chance of hitting it. If you can’t hit that, let us know so we can make it wider still, say twenty-five inches.’”
Then he asked, “What do we do if the best player consistently shows up late for practice? Or, when the rules forbid facial hair and he shows up unshaven? Do we change the rules for him?”
Next he drove home his point noting that is the problem in our country. “We have changed the rules in government, in marriage, in church, and in education.”
Regarding each of these disciplines, he made his point as he did in this way regarding government: “Our so called representatives make rules for us that don’t apply to themselves. They take bribes from lobbyists and foreign countries. They no longer serve us. And we allow them to widen home plate! We see our country falling into a dark abyss and we just watch.”
(Author’s Note: I want to interject that though this is true in general, there are some very good leaders who serve us well.)
In a discipline dear to me there have been dramatic changes of standards.
There is a new theological school of thought going around in some churches known as Liberation Theology. Proponents say the church has alienated society by holding standards no longer acceptable by the world. The church must change to be more acceptable by the world. It must become more compatible with the world.
You fill in the blanks noting where standards have been changed by the church.
Historically the objective has been to love the world, but not the things of the world and endeavor to lead the world to upgrade its standards. That is now being reversed in the name of popularity.
Scolinos made his final point. “If we fail to hold ourselves to a higher standard, a standard of what we know to be right; if we fail to hold our spouses and our children to the same standard, if we are unwilling and unable to provide a consequence when they do not meet the standard; and if our schools & churches and our government fail to hold themselves accountable to those they serve, there is but one thing to look forward to…”
At that point he turns over the home plate he has around his neck to show the reverse side. Showing it to be black he warns, “We have dark days ahead!” Then this appeal, to keep “Your own children, your churches, your government, and most of all, keep yourself at seventeen inches.” Use the Bible as your ruler.
Time Out
Traveling in Switzerland I saw one of those large ornate clocks with animated figures. It was striking! (Get it? Clock striking?) The words inscribed on it were even more so:
“When as a child I laughed and wept,
Time crept.
When as a youth, I dreamed and talked,
Time walked.
When I became a full grown man,
Time ran.
When older still I grew,
Time flew.
Soon I shall find in traveling on,
Time gone.”
The author is unknown, but the truth expressed isn’t. Each of us is in one of those groups.
Don’t rush by today to get to tomorrow. Don’t spoil today by pulling tomorrow’s clouds over today’s sunshine. Likewise don’t be like a peacock whose glory is behind it.
You have never lived this day before. There will be no instant replay, no rerun. Live it up in such a way you won’t long to live it down.
“Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.”
Proverbs 27:1 NIV
While relating to time it is a good time to acknowledge it is running out on each of us.
Settle the issue of where you will spend eternity by giving your life to Jesus Christ and asking His forgiveness, and acknowledging your willful commitment to Him as your Savior.
If you have already done so, renew your devotion to Him today.
“The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.”
I John 2:17 NIV
Up and at ‘Um Able Ant!
“Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise, which, having no captain, overseer or ruler, provides her supplies in the summer, and gathers her food in the harvest.” Proverbs 6:6-8
The ant is an industrious creature. Small in size, but wise in its ability to optimize its time, skills and resources. Here are some important characteristics of the ants.
1. DILIGENCE: Ants are never lazy! Neither are they poor or hungry! Their efforts, and hard work sustains them! The same diligence will result in you being blessed physically, spiritually and financially!
2. DETERMINATION: “Get ‘er done” must have originally been an ant byword. They need no captain, they are self starters. They seem to manifest an attitude of: If not me, who? If not here, where? If not now, when?
3. DISCERNMENT: They store their food during seasons of plenty, so that they will have adequate amounts in times of scarcity.
4. DEDICATION: Teamwork and unity are apparent. Ants accomplish more by working together than by working alone. Often a number of them will be seen moving an object much too heavy to be moved alone.
5. DEVOTION: They are all out for the Ant Kingdom. We too should live an all out life for the Kingdom of God. “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33
Pray, “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as in Heaven.”
There Are Things You Can See When You “Just Can’t See”
With World War II looming on the horizon King George VI of England included these words in his Christmas broadcast to the nation:
And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year:
“Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.”
And he replied:
“Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the Hand of God.
“That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way.”
May that inspire you as it did England in their dark hour. Bolstered by that wisdom Sir Winston Churchill challenged his countrymen with his immortal lines which have been distorted from this actual presentation: “never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never-in nothing, great or small, large or petty — never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense.”
Tenacity of will reaches its zenith in this text: “That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.” II Corinthians 4:16 – 18 Got it? Let that text be your spiritual night goggles.
When “we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen,” that is a good time to “…put your hand in the hand of God.”
For a person of faith the weight on you is not to be compared with the strength within you.